A soggy Wednesday, 21 May, saw the worst traffic jams and public transport chaos in years in Sydney. But that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the faithful who attended the ordination to the diaconate of two men from the Neocatechumenal Way in St Mary’s Cathedral.
Bishop Daniel Meagher presided at the vibrant Mass, full of The Way’s distinctive hymns, guitars and clapping, in which he ordained Giovanni Julio and Jorge Luis Mairena. Members of their families were watching via livestream from Colombia and Costa Rica.
The two have been studying at Redemptoris Mater Seminary to become priests for the Archdiocese of Sydney and to work for the Neocatechumenal Way.
In his homily Bishop Meagher said that he had just come back from a Neocatechumenal gathering in the Holy Land which had also been attended by the leaders of the movement. He said that the experience had reinforced for him some basic truths of the Catholic faith.
“We are called to really listen to the Word of God and allow the Word of God to change us. We are called to celebrate fully each and every Eucharist journey deliberately in the footsteps of Jesus,” Bishop Meagher said. “It was clear to me how real the presence of the risen Jesus was to everyone.”
It was clear that: “our discipleship is nothing without the risen Jesus. We are the earthenware jars. Christ is the treasure. He is our life and our joy. Remain in him and we bear fruit in plenty; cut off we can do nothing.”
In his concluding remarks, Bishop Meagher described the Neocatechumenal Way as a “great blessing” for the archdiocese, and encouraged young people to consider a calling to be ministers of the Gospel.
Finally, Fr Eric Skruzny, the rector of the Sydney’s Redemptoris Mater seminary in Chester Hill, expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the two new deacons.
He also acknowledged Cardinal George Pell, “who we believe from heaven will be smiling upon us in this occasion, who welcomed us to open the seminary in 2002, and also Archbishop Fisher, who’s been just as happy.”
After the Mass, Bishop Meagher told the two new deacons the parishes they will be working in for the next few months until their ordinations to the priesthood next year.
Deacon Julio will serve at St Jerome’s parish, Punchbowl, and Deacon Mairena at St Michael’s parish, Lane Cove.
The final hymn of the evening, “How many good things has the Almighty showered on us,” sung with great gusto by the choir was a fitting coda for a prayerful and exhilarating evening.
Eighteen men have been ordained as priests since Sydney’s Redemptoris Mater seminary opened in 2002. Deacons Julio and Mairena will be the 19th and 20th.
Around the world, nearly 3000 priests have been ordained after formation in Neocatechumenal Way seminaries.