Diocese thrice blessed with new priests

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was filled to capacity for the Mass of Ordination at which transitional deacons William Ganci, Robert Johnson and Paul Lambert received the sacrament of holy orders to the presbyterate.

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC

Posted: 06.19.09

Eliana Howell, front, and Erica Thomas of Un Pedacito de Mi Panama (A Little Piece of My Panama) perform a traditional Panamanian dance during the Eastern Deanery Gathering June 6 at John Paul II High School in Tallahassee.

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, lays his hands on the heads of, from left to right, Deacons William Ganci, Robert Johnson, and Paul Lambert during their ordination to the priesthood June 13.

PENSACOLA | Three men stood before God and their bishop June 13 and pledged their lives to the Lord in the sacred priesthood and to the service of the people of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was filled to capacity for the Mass of Ordination at which transitional deacons William Ganci, Robert Johnson and Paul Lambert received the sacrament of holy orders to the presbyterate.

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, celebrated the Mass, with the priests of the diocese, priest friends and seminary classmates of the ordinands and priest members of the seminary faculty concelebrating, assisted by the deacons of the diocese. Altar servers were the seminarians of the diocese.

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC
Bishop Ricard pours sacred chrism on the hands of Father Johnson as he prepares to anoint the hands of the new priest. v

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC
Bishop Ricard anoints the hands of Father Lambert with sacred chrism, signifying that the new priest’s hands are consecrated to the service of God and his people.

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC
Bishop Ricard and Father Ganci exchange a congratulatory hug.

The diocesan choir provided music for the Mass, along with the Perdido Brass. Lectors were Philip P. Ganci, father of Deacon Ganci; and Good Shepherd Sister Claire Lambert, aunt of Deacon Lambert.

At the beginning of the ordination rite, Msgr. C. Slade Crawford, director of the diocesan office of seminarians, called the men forward. Msgr. Keith Brennan, rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, then attested to the worthiness and preparation of each of the men, graduates of the seminary that serves all the dioceses in Florida.

In his homily, the bishop thanked all those present, asking them to continue praying for the men as they begin their priestly ministry. Citing the Gospel (Mark 6:7-13) in which Jesus sends the disciples out “two by two,” the bishop said that the Lord would be pleased that “we have increased that number to three today. Thank you, Lord!”

The bishop continued, saying that on the feast of St. Anthony (June 13), the saint was a model of preaching in a way that would lead others to God, not to the self. He encouraged the men to always preach the one who sent them.

“Anthony also was known for preaching in wide open spaces, in meadows and fields, finding the people where they were, just as Jesus did. Your ministry also calls you, my dear brothers, to go out beyond the confines of the pulpit or the comforts zones within the walls of our parish churches. We must go out to those open spaces where people are to be found in their struggles and conflicts; where there is little comfort. It is in those deep, dark hidden places, places where the light burns so dim that it is almost extinguished, where your preaching should be heard. We must go where we are needed or, more correctly, where the word of God is needed; where the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us,” the bishop said.

Following the homily, the three stood before the altar and promised their faithful discharge of the office of priest, worthily and wisely preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith, faithfully and reverently celebrating the Mass and the sacraments, praying without ceasing, and consecrating themselves to God for the salvation of all. Then each approached the bishop, who was seated in the cathedra (bishop’s chair), and promised to respect and obey the bishop and his successors.

As the choir intoned the litany of saints, the men lay prostrate before the altar on the floor of the cathedral. The saints whose intercession was sought included those who have been influential in the lives of the men, along with those who hold a special place in the life of the local Church.

Then each man again approached the bishop, kneeling in front of him. At the moment of ordination, Bishop Ricard imposed his hands upon the heads of each of the men, signifying the transmission of the power of the sacrament. The bishop then prayed the prayer of ordination.

The new priests were then assisted in vesting in the stoles and chasubles that are signs of the office of priest. Father Robert Johnson was assisted by his brother, Father Kevin Johnson; Father Lambert was assisted by Father Michael Flynn; and Father Ganci was assisted by Jesuit Father Guillermo Arias.

The bishop then anointed the palms of each man with sacred chrism, consecrating them that they might “sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God.”

As the gifts of bread and wine were prepared, each man was presented with the chalice and paten as the bishop exhorted him concerning the celebration of the Eucharist. Then the three joined the bishop at the altar to pray aloud for the first time as priests the words of the eucharistic prayer, transforming bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

At the conclusion of the Mass, each of the new priests introduced his family members who were present. Following the recessional hymn, the men returned to the front of the cathedral where they offered the traditional “first blessings” to family and friends.

Father Ganci has been assigned as parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Parish, Tallahassee. Father Johnson will serve as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish, Pensacola. Father Lambert has been assigned as parochial vicar at St. Ann Parish, Gulf Breeze.

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