OMI VIỆT NAM::Ordination Mass for Deacons and Priests – Missionary Oblates English Ordination Mass for Deacons and Priests – Missionary Oblates "At your word, I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:5) On the morning of Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Phu Cuong Cathedral, Bishop Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc, Bishop of the Diocese of Phu Cuong, ordained six Oblates as deacons and five deacons as priests from the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, along with one Salvatorian (SDS). Concelebrating with him were the Delegation Superior, priests from both Congregations, and priests from within and outside the diocese. Also attending the Mass were religious brothers and sisters, benefactors, relatives of the newly ordained, and the Community of God’s People. At exactly 8:30 a.m., the procession of concelebrants joyfully entered the sanctuary. Opening the Mass, the Bishop expressed his joy that the Lord's missionary field would now have additional fervent missionaries. He invited the congregation to join in prayer and thanksgiving for God's grace upon the two Congregations, especially for the candidates in today’s Mass. After the Gospel reading, the ordination ceremony began with the calling of the candidates. Father Philip Huynh Xuan Huong called the names of the candidates, and Father Anthony Dinh Xuan Hung, the Delegation Superior, formally requested the Bishop to ordain them. The candidates approached the altar, standing before the Bishop and God’s People, openly expressing their desire to fulfill the holy office and their commitment to the mission they were about to receive. In his homily, the Bishop reflected with the candidates and the liturgical Community on the theme “Do not be afraid” in their missionary lives. To start his sermon, the Bishop shared about a conversation he had with the candidates before the Mass. “Are you nervous?” he had asked. One candidate replied affirmatively but was unsure of the cause, perhaps due to fear. The Bishop then delved into the theme, beginning with the first reading, where the prophet Jeremiah was chosen, called, and consecrated by God and then sent forth, but he still feared his own unworthiness and his responsibility toward the flock. God’s response, “Do not be afraid,” encourages us to have courage and accept the mission God gives us. What we should fear is failing to live according to God’s will, His teachings, and the hopes of His people. This sense of fear wasn’t unique to Jeremiah; even Jesus, the eternal High Priest, in His human form, wept and pleaded with the Father before His Passion. The candidates should recognize their humanity and be mindful of the sacred duty they are called to fulfill, fearing that they might not live up to God’s expectations. In today's Gospel, Jesus calls His disciples, and similarly, He calls the candidates to proclaim the Good News to the poor and those in need. The Bishop urged them not to follow worldly ways by wielding authority over others but instead to dedicate themselves to the salvation of their brothers and sisters without instilling fear. The Scriptures mention “do not be afraid” 365 times, showing that we face fears every day. Yet God always calls us to “Take courage, do not be afraid” (Isaiah 35:4). God accompanies, supports, and enables each person to overcome fear. Concluding his homily, the Bishop encouraged the candidates to be courageous, remain calm, and avoid being overwhelmed by fear, hoping they will become missionaries who bring the Good News of peace and not of fear. After the homily, to prepare themselves for the sacrament of holy orders, the candidates humbly prostrated, invoking the intercession of the saints with the Litany of the Saints. The laying on of hands and the ordination prayer are the central parts of the ordination rite. The laying on of hands signifies blessing and the impartation of grace. Through the Bishop’s imposition of hands and the ordination prayer, the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon the candidates to carry out the ministry of priesthood and diaconate. The concelebrating priests approached the altar and laid their hands on the candidates as a sign of welcoming them into the priesthood. Holding the vestments with care, the family members of the candidates approached to present them with the garments, encapsulating the sacrifices, hardships, and labor they had endured to weave together this robe of grace. The new priests donned their vestments, and the Bishop anointed their hands with oil, consecrating them and making them worthy to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily. Following the ordination rites, the Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Before the choir’s final hymn, Father Anthony offered words of gratitude to the Bishop, priests, religious brothers and sisters, and the entire liturgical Community. Representing the Oblates, the Delegation Superior thanked the Bishop for his constant love and support for the Congregation. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the priests, religious, benefactors, relatives, and friends, both near and far, for joining in the Mass and for their solidarity with the newly ordained and the Congregation. The Congregation also extended special thanks to the parents and families who, out of love for God and humanity, offered their beloved sons to the religious life. The ordination Mass concluded in a spirit of joyful thanksgiving for the many wonders that God has worked and continues to work in each newly ordained member and for the Congregation. According to Delegation tradition, in the afternoon of the same day, the newly ordained offered a Mass of Thanksgiving with their fellow Oblates and representatives of their benefactors and relatives in the chapel of the Congregation. In the days to come, as they embark on their mission amidst the vast sea of challenges ahead, it is hoped that the newly ordained—these “fishermen”—will always be ready to follow the Lord’s command to cast their nets. Above all, may they carry within themselves a burning love, fearless and unwavering; a love that is of Christ, a love that God’s people have longed for. May the Immaculate Mother, model of all missionary Oblates, help them remain faithful to grace and ready to sacrifice all out of love for God and neighbors. "There will still be concerns, worries, anxieties, moments of grace, happiness, and peace in this life of consecration. Let all be entrusted to the One who loves and has called you. May you be ready to continue the journey that He has planned for you, opening a new door to a new path—the path of the Oblate priesthood and diaconate. May these blessed days be a source of motivation for your future mission.” Thanh Trung, OMI. 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