An ordination
I had never attended an ordination until I did, unexpectedly, a few weeks ago. I was surprised when we arrived at Mass that Sunday that there would be an ordination. Our priest probably had announced it the previous week, but it would have gone over my head. If the announcements are about something I expect to hear, like the time for Holy Thursday Mass, I can easily follow. But if I don't already have an idea what is going to be said, I'm pretty much clueless.
So when we arrived, and I saw all of the seminarians wearing cassocks, and then all the extra priests, and then the bishop (as well as the photographers and videographers), I realized that we were in for a long Mass. After the procession, I was certain we were probably going to witness an ordination.
The priest-to-be-ordained, named Wang, was not from our diocese. He was actually from Hebei province, somewhere north of Beijing. I am not sure which home diocese is his, but some of them have no bishop (either registered or "underground"), so Beijing would be the closest opportunity for his ordination, either way, but, in any case, registered. After Mass a woman handed me a pamphlet about her parish church in Hebei (though I wasn't sure if this was also his home parish or a parish he had been serving, and from the address I couldn't tell in which diocese it was), and invited us to visit any time, pointing out the phone number to call when we were in town.
During the actual Rite, I was surprised that I actually got a little emotional even though I didn't even know this priest. During the Laying of Hands and Anointing, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed. Despite everything else going on with China and Vatican relations, Bishop Li is still the legitimate Bishop of Beijing, and he represents that unbroken succession of Bishops and Priests that date back to the Apostles. That the spiritual genealogy has been maintained, albeit tenuously, all the way to China in 2011 was just incredible to me.
The part that really got me, though, was when Fr. Wang's parents were presented his new priestly vestments. Together they raised them up over their son's head, assisting him one last time. I don't know if this is a normal part of any ordination or local custom, but I was actually teary over this. His parents looked so proud, and I imagined what must have been going through their heads at that moment. Just one last time, before you belong to Christ.
One of the websites from the Beijing Diocese has this report with photos.
So when we arrived, and I saw all of the seminarians wearing cassocks, and then all the extra priests, and then the bishop (as well as the photographers and videographers), I realized that we were in for a long Mass. After the procession, I was certain we were probably going to witness an ordination.
The priest-to-be-ordained, named Wang, was not from our diocese. He was actually from Hebei province, somewhere north of Beijing. I am not sure which home diocese is his, but some of them have no bishop (either registered or "underground"), so Beijing would be the closest opportunity for his ordination, either way, but, in any case, registered. After Mass a woman handed me a pamphlet about her parish church in Hebei (though I wasn't sure if this was also his home parish or a parish he had been serving, and from the address I couldn't tell in which diocese it was), and invited us to visit any time, pointing out the phone number to call when we were in town.
During the actual Rite, I was surprised that I actually got a little emotional even though I didn't even know this priest. During the Laying of Hands and Anointing, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed. Despite everything else going on with China and Vatican relations, Bishop Li is still the legitimate Bishop of Beijing, and he represents that unbroken succession of Bishops and Priests that date back to the Apostles. That the spiritual genealogy has been maintained, albeit tenuously, all the way to China in 2011 was just incredible to me.
The part that really got me, though, was when Fr. Wang's parents were presented his new priestly vestments. Together they raised them up over their son's head, assisting him one last time. I don't know if this is a normal part of any ordination or local custom, but I was actually teary over this. His parents looked so proud, and I imagined what must have been going through their heads at that moment. Just one last time, before you belong to Christ.
One of the websites from the Beijing Diocese has this report with photos.
Comments
my good friend/son's godfather was ordained lat weekend, and while we missed it because my husband was deploying this week, i saw pictures and i know his good priest friend helped him vest for the first time. not sure if *that* is local custom for philly, or what...
And like Mrs 2nd Lieutenant I cried at the end of your post. I love the symbolism of the parents vesting their son. Makes me choke up.