Florida Catholic | A View Of Priesthood From Two Directions

A view of priesthood from two directions

Seminarians and veteran priests reflect on the chrism Mass

AMY FERRARA SMITH | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 04.04.08

PENSACOLA | Two long rows of diocesan priests processed into the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and toward the altar at the start of the chrism Mass March 18. Already standing at the front of the church were the seminarians who, if they continue to ordination, will one day be a part of that procession of priests who renew their vows to priestly ministry during the annual Mass.

From their different points of view, seminarians and jubilarians reflected on the meaning of the Mass and the priesthood for the Florida Catholic.

“The chrism Mass, for me, is an appointment with all the priests, with the bishop, like Jesus was at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday,” said Father Juan Pedro Hernandez, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Quincy. Father Hernandez has been a priest for nearly 24 years. “For us, it is two days before Holy Thursday to have this appointment to renew our promises, renew our decision to work in the Catholic Church and to receive the oils,” he said.

Michael Nixon, a seminarian serving his pastoral year at St. Paul Parish in Pensacola, said that it is important for him to see the priests reaffirm their commitment to ministry together each year. “We had Father Francis (Msgr. Francis Szczykutowicz) being recognized for 50 years to the priesthood and just all the years of faithfulness and celebration of the sacraments. … They are the people who are giving inspiration to us, the people who are showing us what it means to be a faithful priest of Jesus Christ that I’m hoping and praying to become. It’s very meaningful seeing them all come together with the bishop and all of the other ministries in the diocese, as well.”

Father Ben Klucinec, a retired priest in residence at St. Dominic Parish in Panama City, remembers his feelings about the chrism Mass from his days as a seminarian. “We always looked forward to it because that was one of the highlights right before Easter. They blessed the oils and we watched all of the priests march in. And that was an inspiration. We said, ‘Well, maybe someday.’”

Twenty-five years later, Father Klucinec said the chrism Mass is the “pepper” in his ministry. “I look forward to it,” he continued. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s an inspiration to build up again. Of course, I’m only 87.”

On March 19, the day following the chrism Mass, the Serra Club of Pensacola extended an invitation to the seminarians for lunch at the Pensacola Yacht Club, where club members had the opportunity to meet the men for whom their club continually prays. There, second-year theology student Christopher Rush reflected on the previous day’s Mass.

“To be honest, it’s really exciting,” he said. “The one thing that I see every time I go to the chrism Mass is how many priests there are in our diocese whom I don’t know. … It gives me a sense of excitement that there is so much about the diocese that I have yet to learn, so many priests that I have yet to meet. … So I look at them and I say, ‘I wonder what this guy or that guy is like, I wonder who of these men could be my future pastor, who of these is going to be a good mentor for me as a young priest.’ It makes me look forward to my time of serving the diocese and helps me to look forward to get to know a lot of those men who are my predecessors in giving their lives to God in this diocese.”

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A view of priesthood from two directions

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