Just one week after the beautiful ordination of three seminarians of our diocese to the order of transitional deacons, another ceremony took place: Father Joseph Spears, a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), was ordained to the priesthood, after more than seven years of preparation and studies. Spears’ family, many SOLT members, and friends were present when the bishop laid his hands on his head in silent prayer and anointed his hands with Chrism oil.
Bishop Mulvey highlighted in his homily three aspects fundamental to the priesthood today. First, self-knowledge. “We often think we know ourselves, but only God knows who we are.” It might be tempting for priests to know what God wants, but they should never presume. “We always need to exercise the ‘listening in the Spirit,’ searching for the will of God.”
The second point is to be open to everyone. The bishop warned against labels like “conservative” or “liberal.” “People tend to close the circle and stay only with those they are comfortable with, but “We are called to serve everyone – do not become exclusive in your community.” The third piece of advice was humility: “It is what the world needs to see and what the Church needs today.” The bishop closed with a quote from St. Paul to the Philippians, “Humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3).
The community prayed the litany of the saints before, going back to the practice of the early Church, the bishop laid his hands on the elect, conferring on him the Holy Spirit. After him, all priests did the same. Father Joseph Spears was invested with stole and chasuble. Then, the bishop anointed his hands so they might be blessed to do the work of God, to break the bread, to offer God’s blessing and to anoint others for healing.
After the Mass, Father Joseph Spears gave his first blessing to the bishop and all present in the Cathedral. Father Peter Marsalek, General Priest Servant of the SOLT community, thanked the bishop for his guidance and service and revealed Fr. Joesph’s first temporary assignment to a parish in Michigan, Detroit.