Rite of Ordination

Tears flowed freely seven years ago as Father Joshua Johnson lay prostrate on the altar at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge.

A Gospel choir left many in tears as it sang the Litany of the Saints during the ordination ceremony.

“I was so grateful that God called me, God chose me despite that everything I had done in my youth, that after all of the sins I had committed, God would still call me to be a priest,” he said.

As vocations director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Father Johnson will play a prominent role when three men are ordained at St. George Church in Baton Rouge on May 22. Deacon David Dawson, Deacon Danny Roussel and Deacon Taylor Sanford will be part of a celebration rite that traces its roots to biblical times, including the Last Supper and the Passion.

“It is a joyful celebration, totally moving,” said Father Johnson, who was ordained in 2014. “I think it’s super exciting for the people, and I think it is life 

giving to the priests that go because the priests renew promises they made.”

Father Johnson explained the ordination ceremony consists of seven parts, leading off with the Election of Candidates. After the Gospel is proclaimed, a deacon participating in the ceremony will ask the priest candidates to come forward and stand before Bishop Michael G. Duca.

Bishop Duca will ask the men if they have been found worthy and at that point a designated clergy member will testify that the candidates are worthy and have been found capable to become priests.

“What is significant about this is the priest is saying on behalf of the entire church that these men are ready to be priests, which is a cool thing,” he said. “These men have been in the diocese, parishes, ministries, worked for Catholic Charities (of the Diocese of Baton Rouge) and the consensus among the people has been that we want these men to serve as priests.”

He explained that every seminarian is evaluated after each assignment so “there is an integral role everyone plays in formation of these men seeking ordination.”
 

Seven parts of Ordination

Election of Candidates

Promise of the Elect

Litany of Supplication

Laying of Hands

Vesting

Kiss of Peace

Final Blessing

The bishop accepts the testimony of the priest and the congregation, which is affirming, Father Johnson said, “because the people are saying the men ‘are capable of walking with us, serving us as our shepherd.’ ”

The second part is the Promise of the Elect. After the bishop gives his homily, he will ask each candidate if he can be faithful, responsible and carry out the duties of the priest.

Father Johnson said Bishop Duca will also ask the three candidates if they will promise to always preach the Gospel and faithfully proclaim the teaching of the church, resolve to pray without ceasing, pledge obedience to the Gospel and promise to be celibate. 

“A lot of people think that celibacy is the most difficult promise but I find once they have been ordained a few years most priests say obedience is the most difficult,” Father Johnson said. “When you are assigned certain places you fall in love with the people that we are serving. Now we have to leave (when assigned to another church parish). We are being invited by God to go someplace else.”

He said the candidates’ response to the bishop’s questions will be “I do, with the help of God” because “we can’t do it on our own; only with God’s grace.”

The third part of the ceremony is the Litany of Supplication when the candidates lay prostrate before God on the altar and the Litany of the Saints is sung. 

“Most guys will say that is the most powerful part of the liturgy, when we cry our eyes out,” Father Johnson said. “We recognize that we are being prayed for by the body of saints in heaven.”

Following the Litany of Supplication is the Laying of Hands, when Bishop Duca will lay hands on each candidate in silence and call down the Holy Spirit on them. Father Johnson noted the laying of hands is biblical, following what the apostles did when they brought in a new apostle to replace Judas.

“It connects us to the entire church when we receive ordination from the bishop,” Father Johnson said. 

During this part the bishop also recites the prayer of ordination.

“This is a very powerful part as God wants me,” he said.

Now ordained and having experienced an inward change, the fifth part of ordination is Vesting, which is reflective of outward changes. The newly ordained priests will receive help in vesting from a priest whom he considers a mentor, a friend or a former pastor.

“For a man to be asked to vest someone is a complete honor,” said Father Johnson, who asked Father Andrew Merrick, currently the pastor at Christ the King Parish and Student Center in Baton Rouge, to vest him.

“I admire him,” added Father Johnson, who ironically will join Father Merrick as parochial vicar at Christ the King in July.

 At this point the bishop will also anoint the hands of the new priests with holy oil as well as present the body and blood of Christ to each with the words “imitate what you celebrate.” 

“We are being asked to be broke and open for the people,” Father Johnson said. “This is my physical body I am giving up for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, so use me however you want. I love that.”

The sixth part is the Kiss of Peace, which differs from the sign of peace. The kiss of peace is first given by the bishop and then the remainder of the priests as a sign of unity with each other and “connecting us with the bishop again.”

Concluding the ceremony is the Final Blessing when the  bishop kneels before the newly ordained priests and receives their first blessing. Father Johnson noted that anyone receiving a blessing from a priest during his first year of ordination will be granted a plenary indulgence.

“It is important for priests to attend because of the power of the priesthood,” Father Johnson said. “I don’t think we can fathom the gift of the priesthood. Literally, these men are now in the person of Christ.

“Going to ordination reminds us who we are.”