Living the Truth in Love. Priesthood Ordination of Deacon Leonard Dim Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola May 4, Priesthood A Family Matter

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1 Living the Truth in Love Priesthood Ordination of Deacon Leonard Dim Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola May 4, 2012 Priesthood A Family Matter We wish to offer a warm welcome to the parents and family of Deacon Leonard Dim as we gather this evening to celebrate his ordination to the priesthood. You have made a long journey to the Diocese of Palm Beach from Nigeria to be here for the ordination of Leonard and we especially that you, Mr. and Mrs. Dim, for the gift of your son to the Church and in particular to the Diocese of Palm Beach. Your presence here is not only a visible sign of your love for Leonard but also a sign of the unity of the family of the Church. Deacon Leonard has prepared for many years for his ordination this evening and we all rejoice as a new priest is given to our Diocese and its presbyterate receives a new member. An ordination is indeed a family matter, not only for the family of the one who is ordained, but for the entire Church and especially today for the family of the Diocese of Palm Beach. 1

2 Family life and priesthood are intimately bound. Last week, as we celebrated the ordination of sixteen deacons at the parish of St. Thomas More in Boynton Beach, it seemed almost providential that a wedding immediately followed the ordination. The young men ordained as deacons in preparation for priesthood committed themselves, as did Deacon Leonard last year, to celibacy for the sake of a deeper relationship with God and the service of the Church. The young couple committed themselves to each other that they might grow in a deeper relationship with God and bring new life into the world and into God's family, the Church. The deacons and the couple made a sacrifice of giving in different ways but for the same purpose. The priest truly is one who stands in the center of the Church as a father. It is precisely for this reason that from this day forward Leonard will be called "Father." He gives up his own family in order that the entire People of God will become his family whom he will look after and for whom he will care as Christ, Himself. How beautifully is this relationship expressed in our first reading this evening from the Acts of the Apostles as the priests of Ephesus are admonished by St. Paul "to watch over... the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that He has acquired with His own Blood." My brother, Deacon Leonard, these words are also addressed to you this evening as you assume the spiritual fatherhood of the particular people to whom you will minister in the Diocese of Palm Beach. You devote your life to caring for these people which Christ has redeemed by His Blood. 2

3 The care of a priest for his people is epitomized in the Gospel passage which was proclaimed from St. Matthew's Gospel. Here we see the Lord going around with great compassion to all people to care for them. This care for them is expressed not only in his "curing every disease and illness," but most especially in His "proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom." We are told that "at the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." Like a shepherd tends his flock, a father cares for his family even to the point of laying down his life for them. As a father of the People of God, you will have the compassion of Christ which holds out to them the greatest gift of all - the assurance of God's love. My brother, Leonard, You will enflesh this love in the sacraments you celebrate for your people and most especially in the gift of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist you will feed your family with the Bread of Life Himself. You will be so joined in ordination to the Person of Christ that His words become yours - "This is my body given up for you. This is the chalice of my Blood poured out for you." As you are privileged to pronounce these words in the Person of Christ, always remember that you are also to give your very self to the people you serve. The sublime moment of your day, from this day forward, is this manifestation of God's compassion and love which you are privileged to celebrate in the Eucharist. Everything you do will flow to and from this mystical moment. 3

4 As the family of God, we are all called to holiness. That holiness is expressed in the particular vocation in life to which God has called us. It may be as a married couple within a family or it may be as a priest, deacon, religious or single person. Our mutual roles within the Church are not distinct but support each other in this call to holiness. As a priest, Leonard, you will display the compassion of Christ, expressed in the Gospel today, by helping your people grow in what really matters - holiness, their relationship with God. While you will be a father to your people, you must never forget that you are one with them. It is your humanity which will enable you to be a compassionate understanding father because you know the human condition and the yearning for God we all share. You must grow in the holiness that is proper to your way of life as a priest each and every day. Your people must see in you, Leonard, a man of God who prays and leads them in prayer. People do not expect you to be perfect. They know that you will make mistakes. However, they expect you to be holy. They expect you to live the message of the Gospel which you hand on to them. In a few minutes, you will be ordained a priest by the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer. The central part of that consecratory prayer which will change your very being into that of a priest is the solemn words, "Renew deep within him the Spirit of holiness." Holiness is what it is all about. It is nothing less. Your own personal holiness and the holiness of the people to whom you will be a father are the sole objectives of your priesthood. 4

5 Deacon Leonard, you are the first African priest to be ordained for our Diocese. As well expressed by your wonderful family here this evening, you add to the richness and beauty of our culturally diverse Diocese. Our diversity truly represents the mosaic that is present in all families but is especially expressed in the Diocese of Palm Beach. This diversity also expresses that of the first Pentecost when many nations were present but united by the Holy Spirit as the Church came into existence. It is truly the Church which unites us as a family as it feeds our deepest desire - that for God. As I expressed in my homily at your diaconate ordination last year, you come from a nation which is renowned for its courage in carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ. Africa is a nation that is marked by heroic martyrs who had the courage to lay down their lives for the sake of their family which is the Church. Your own uncle, truly present with us this evening in the communion of saints, is a witness to this. African Catholics have displayed the faith which has caused the Church to stand firm as a family of Christ knowing that holiness, even to the shedding of blood, is what makes all the difference in our lives. Deacon Leonard, all of your wonderful family and all present here this evening, we rejoice that we are a family of the Church in Jesus Christ. This evening we receive another father - Father Leonard Dim who will unite us more closely as he serves us in his priesthood. He will feed us with the Bread of Life and lead us all more closely to the holiness of life to which we are called. He will do this not only by his ministry but by the example of his life as well. 5

6 Please continue to pray and support Leonard in his ministry as he continues to serve as and support us in our vocations. While many in our world today may consider what we are doing this evening of little consequence, we know it makes all the difference in the world. The world needs what we do tonight more than anything else. My brother Leonard, continue to grow in holiness as you take up your fatherly ministry. The Lord who begins this good work in you this evening will always bring it to fulfillment. Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito May 18,