Bishop Duca Celebrates Rite of Ordination

Living the life of a priest presents many challenges but can also be deeply revealing and draw one deep into the mystery of God’s love and mercy.

That was the message of Bishop Michael G. Duca during an inspiring homily of hope as he celebrated the holy Eucharist and the Rite of Ordination of Priests on May 22 at St. George Church in Baton Rouge.

Father Danny Roussel, Father David Dawson and Father Taylor Sanford were ordained in front of an estimated crowd of 700 people.

“I want to thank the families of these three men,” Bishop Duca said as he addressed the congregation. “We thank you for the gifts of your son, brother and relative to this ministry, to the larger family of the church.”

Bishop Duca said that whenever one enters into a commitment of love, whether it’s the sacrament of marriage and certainly the calling of God to be a priest, one’s mind is filled with “all kinds of ideas.”

“You imagine problems and you say you can handle this problem,” he said. “But very quickly what you learn as you come into this ministry there are profound truths you are only going to learn by living the vocation, by being a priest. 

“Some of them are deeply challenging, some of them are wonderfully revelatory and draw you deep into the mystery of God’s mercy and love.”

He said one of the most beautiful revelations comes at a place where one might least expect it: the sacrament of confession. 

“You begin to hear the sins of the people of God and you learn you are not alone, first of all, and secondly you find such a great dedication and need for the mercy and love of God. 

“You stand in the beautiful and intimate moment when the mercy of God can be dispensed gloriously. And completely bring about peace in mind and heart of believers. Serving as God’s instrument in that moment you are the sacrament of God’s mercy and love.”

Bishop Duca pointed out the great beauty in celebrating the Mass, realizing the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. He told the priests that in that moment “you are the sacrament of Christ the priest.”

He also said during baptism a priest is the one who brings hope of eternal life to that child. He said at that moment “you are the living waters that flow from the side of Christ.”

The bishop said the sacrament of holy orders is a great moment of revelation for the priest but also warned that it’s dangerous to think of it as something that has been given.

“From now on you are a priest and every decision, every choice you make, will be judged in how it promotes that vocation in your life and how it draws you deeper into it or turns you away from your vocation,” Bishop Duca said. “It is a central moderating point of your relationship  with the Lord. You are the living water, you are the priest, you are the confessor, you are our connection mediating between God and man, being our pastors to lead us.”

Challenges can also arise at a time when a priest is not called to consider himself first but to consider Christ first in his life.

“God called you that you might be the sacrament to the world in a unique way. You will be Christ’s presence to the world, because of your talents and gifts.”

“You will bring the Gospel to everyone in unique ways,” he added. “You will be a sacramental presence, you will build up the church in certain ways, in some ways more than others. 

“It is your sacrament. You do not wash away your unique talents and gifts but you put all those things at the service of God. Those things that don’t fit that service, you walk away from them. Those that help you become a stronger priest you use them, not only for your own good but for the good of the church.”

Bishop Duca “joyfully” welcomed the three new priests and said that they are a sign of hope to everyone. 

“We want you to share that hope with us,” he said. “The church will continue to grow in Baton Rouge under your faith, and pastoral care.”