On a snowy Saturday morning, December 4, 2010, 10 years ago today, I went with Dan and Ann Ruggaber to the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary for an experience like none I had ever had before in my life: I attended an ordination Mass for Ted Mauch, who became a priest that day.
Ted was assigned as a deacon to St. Teresa's, where I attended Church, for the last few months before his ordination. I had the chance to meet then-Deacon Ted when I returned to ValpU for my 2nd year, and I had the chance to get to know him over the course of the succeeding months.
It was in the beginning part of the 2010-11 school year when St. Teresa's announced December 4 as the date for his ordination. I was pleased when arrangements fell into place to attend.
Notably, it was the first time I can recall attending Mass at a diocesan cathedral outside Chicago. The Mass booklet was filled with details about the design of the Cathedral.
The ordination Mass was so grand, with great music, carrying that theme of God's spirit and our calling as His servants. After some pre-Mass songs, there was a lengthy procession, which included servers, the Knights of Colmbus in full 4th-degree attire, and about 50-60 priests. I had never seen so many priests in one place before in my life. As they processed while we all sang the opening hymn, I heard one voice louder than the others, which was Father Kevin, then pastor at St. Terersa's.
Bishop Dale Melczek was the principal celebrant for the Mass--he was then the Bishop of Gary, now Bishop Emeritus. I have memories of him as an insightful homilist. He spoke well to the occasion of the history of the preisthood, stretching back to Melchizedek, and how the power of God was coming upon Ted at this Mass so that he could take his part in the priesthood.
I had seen clips of priest ordinations before in film and photos, so I had some sense of what would happen.
It was a stirring moment when Ted stood before Bishop Melczek, who asked him, "Do you pledge obedience to me and my successors?" to which Ted responded, "I do." I truly wonder what was going through Ted's mind in that exchange, and to make such a strong statement of commitment.
I didn't get a good view of Ted when he prostrated himself on the floor, at which time the congregation knelt and chanted the Litany of Saints. It was an eloquent scene to call upon the holy men and women of the years gone by as Ted took this significant step.
Then there were the gestures when all the priests took their turns to lay their hands on Ted, as part of an ancient gesture of calling upon the Holy Spirit, who empowers priests and all of us faithful in our work to which He calls us.
I happened to be sitting right by the ambry when one of the servers came to it and took out the sacred chrism for Ted's anointing.
Subsequently, it was time for the "Kiss of Peace", which was basically when all the priests gave now freshly-ordained Father Ted a hug. Father Kevin looked so excited when it came time for that part of the ordination rite, and was practically ready to barge right up to Father Ted.
The Mass was close to 2 hours long, but it was so action-packed, it really didn't feel long. The elements of the splendid liturgy captivated me.
Following the Mass, Dan, Ann, and I went to the reception. We got in a long line to greet Father Ted, and then he offered to give us a blessing, my first time receiving a blessing from a newly-ordained priest.
In the gathered assembly were Father Ted's family, and others who had been part of his path toward the priesthood. While I had come in toward the end of his journey, I was so blessed that I could say I was a part of it, and took my place at the ordination Mass as a way to support him.
And it was something amazing to just attend an ordination Mass, as I'm uncertain how many Roman Catholics actually get to have that experience in their lives. It's interesting to think that I've never been to a Roman Catholic wedding Mass, but I have attended multiple ordinations, this one, and another 6 months later.
The Roman Catholic Church opened up in a whole new way for me that day. I gained new insight into what the priesthood is all about by watching the ordination rite. I see that the Roman Catholic Church offers so many pathways to live out the call to holiness, as the saints God has called and equipped us to be.
My years at ValpU were so significant in that I shifted my attitude to approach life more thoughtfully. Rather than just go through the motions, the environment in college really helped me think more deeply about how to live life with purpose, to discern my calling. It was special to see Father Ted take that important step in living out God's calling to his vocation, which impacted how I come to understand what my vocation is and how to fulfill it.
Congratulations, Father Ted, on your 10th anniversary. May God continue to equip and empower you today as He did 10 years ago to fulfill the vocation to which He calls you, so that all the faithful can answer God's call to each of us and collectively as His Church.
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