Largest Ordination Class in U.S.

Bishop Serratelli ordains 14 men
to priesthood May 23

CLIFTON   Bishop Serratelli had the joyful distinction of ordaining the largest ordination class in the nation May 23 in St. Philip Church here.

The 14 men of diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences that he ordained to the priesthood for the Paterson Diocese were matched only by the Archdiocese of Chicago in number as the most for any diocese in the United States. The bishop encouraged these new priests — also part of the largest ordination class in the Diocese since 1974 — “to conform your life to the mystery of the Cross.”

The 14 new diocesan priests are: Father Darwin Jesus Lastra Barraza, Father Luis A. Hernandez, Father Jose M. Jimenez, Father Milton Edilzon Camargo Muñoz and Father Giovanni Rodriguez Osorno, all of Colombia; Father Lemmuel Alonzo Camacho of the Philippines; Father Daniel Jan Chajkowski of Canada; Father Jakub Krzysztof Grzybowski, Father Lukasz Iwanczyk, Father Mateusz Jasniewicz, Father Maciej Kranc, Father Kamil Stachowiak and Father Paweł Tomczyk, all of Poland; and Father Stephen Prisk of Clifton.

“It’s good to see that there isn’t enough room for everyone [in St. Philip’s]. It shows your great support and encouragement for these new priests and our love for the Church,” Bishop Serratelli told the standing-room-only crowd that included seminarians’ families, friends, members of faith communities they have served and parishioners from around the diocese who had come to offer their support and prayers. “These young men are gifts from God. The Holy Spirit is truly present in this holy place today,” he said.

The Mass with the Rite of Ordination was steeped in the traditions of the early Church [see related story, page 11]. Bishop Serratelli was main celebrant and homilist of the liturgy, concelebrated with Bishop Emeritus Rodimer and a large number of priests from the diocese and elsewhere.

In his homily, Bishop Serratelli challenged the 14 men he ordained to become “true priests of the New Testament, preaching the Gospel, shepherding His people and celebrating the Lord’s sacrifice.” He urged them to “forgive sins in the name of Christ, comfort the sick, celebrate the sacred rites and pray for the world.” Priests are also called to bring the faithful together into one family in one spirit, he said.

“By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, their lives will become the instrument of Jesus’ life-giving death and resurrection. They stand before all of us, in persona Christi, making Christ real and making Christ visible. Like Christ, the priest must continuingly give himself in love and in service to others,” Bishop Serratelli said.

“Carry out the ministry of Christ the priest with constant joy and genuine love, attending not to your own concerns, but to those of Jesus Christ. See that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe and that you practice what you teach,” said Bishop Serratelli to the new priests during the ordination.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Serratelli thanked Bishop Emeritus Rodimer and also everyone who over the years, helped shape the lives and vocations of the newly ordained, including family, brother priests and those at the seminaries they attended.

“St. John Vianney said that a good priest is the priceless treasure given to a parish and a great gift of Divine Mercy. God sent these men from all over as missionaries,” Bishop Serratelli said. “I pray that young men see them and are encouraged to answer God’s call.”

To resounding applause, the Mass concluded with a long procession out of St. Philip’s Church with Bishop Serratelli and fellow clergy, including the 14 new priests. After the ordination Mass, Bishop Serratelli greeted the faithful, followed by the new priests greeting and giving their first blessings to a broad congregation of well-wishers.

Among them were Luis Alberto Hernandez and Flor Marina Rodriguez, parents of Father Hernandez, who traveled from their native Colombia. Through a translator, his father declared, “We are very happy today.”

“Luis has been working on this [the priesthood] for 10 years. It’s been a long journey — step by step. We have been waiting for this moment,” the new priest’s father said.

Flor Marian Rodriguez told The Beacon, “I hope that God will guide him on this path” and noted that her son’s charisma will help him become a good priest.

“With his charisma, Luis will be able to reach people and orient them on the path of God and preach the Word of God,” the priest’s father said.

On the other side of St. Philip’s was Janina Szczypala of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Sparta, a friend of Father Stachowiak. They are both natives of Poland, she said.

“Today, I’m happy and proud,” Szczypala said. “He will make a very good priest. He is a hard worker, likes to organize things and is a people person. He was brave to leave his family and friends in Poland to come to the United States,” she said.

Before last Saturday’s ordination, a few of the candidates voiced to The Beacon their hopes for the priesthood. Father Camacho said that he was filled with “excitement” about the big day.

“I have been given a bigger blessing [the priesthood] and a bigger responsibility,” said Father Camacho, who noted that he looks forward to “go deeper into the knowledge of the loving God and his people.”

Father Prisk said that he was happy to complete his priestly formation, which he noted took a “long time.”

“I want to administer the Sacraments and especially say Mass and be in a parish,” Father Prisk said. “I want to be a symbol of hope and make faith come alive, especially for those, who don’t have a strong faith or have none.”

An optimistic Father Chajkowski said that he is “excited about the great unknown of what the priesthood entails.”

“I look forward to do God’s work in a pastoral setting — serving the people, saying Mass and administering the Sacraments, which follow people on their journey through life and which continues with our ultimate end with God,” Father Chajkowski said. “Helping people on the journey will be my greatest fulfillment.”