This weekend, two men were ordained as priests by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz. Rev. Quan Nguyen and Rev. Loi Pham are citizens of Vietnam but will be priests for the Archdiocese of Louisville. The ordination ritual is always special for me as we witness the process through which these men become priests.

Central to the ordination rite is the promise of obedience to the bishop and his successors, the promise to offer the Eucharist and other sacraments for the faithful, and the promise to motivated by zeal for the salvation of souls. These promises define the priestly call to service in the Church.

Much has been written lately about clericalism, privileged priesthood, and of course, the scandal of abuse of children, adolescents, and adults. The promises made in ordination do not presume any kind of “privilege” or rank, nor do they suggest “promotion” to higher offices. In fact, the promises ground me in the humility one must have “to act in the person of Christ.” In the ordination ritual, the men lie prostrate on the floor as the litany of the saints is prayed and as the Holy Spirit is called down upon them. Lying prostrate is about the most humbling gesture we can make, suggesting a death to self. This is why priests lie on the floor at the beginning of the Good Friday liturgy.

I have followed the progress of both men throughout the years of formation in seminary. I have prepared their nonresident federal income tax returns the last two years. I know them to be men of prayer and I know them to be humbled about what awaits them. On June 5, I will celebrate the 22nd anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I have been graced with being able to serve four different parishes (Holy Spirit, Ascension, St. Brigid, and St. James). I have had the honor to celebrate baptisms, confirmations, marriages, anointings, reconciliations, funerals – and the central rite of our Catholic faith – the Holy Eucharist. Watching these two men be ordained reminds me of the incredible, life-giving, and life-changing gift God gave me on June 5, 1999. Join me in praying that these two men will spend the rest of their lives as holy, healthy, and happy priests.