Toronto ordains seven new priests

TORONTO - Friends and family packed St. Michael’s Cathedral May 9 to support, pray for and celebrate with the seven men ordained to the priesthood to serve the archdiocese of Toronto.

“All together we as a people of God, we pray to all the angels and saints that God’s blessings be upon them, that they be good and faithful priests,” Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins said during his homily. “It is a moment of total surrender to the Lord and that is what the priesthood is meant to be. It is to say ‘here I am Lord, I’ve come to do your will.’ ”

The newly ordained priests are Fr. Ricardo Quiñones, Fr. Frank Portelli, Fr. Thomas Lim, Fr. Eric Rodrigues, Fr. Paul Magyar, Fr. Steven Dickson and Fr. Carlos Troya. Quiñones and Troya belong to the Redemptoris Mater Missionary and will serve the universal church where their bishops feel they are needed — locally or globally.

Collins reminded the new priests that they are “not to be served but to serve,” and they are to serve the people of the Lord God and His people. He told them that the moment he lays his hands on their heads they would become “with the power of the Holy Spirit, priests of Jesus Christ forever.”

Quiñones said that “it’s a new beginning because after many, many years I thought about it (his calling) and spent many days thinking about the Pope and it’s to answer in this particular way which is the priesthood.”

For those who are thinking about answering His call, Quiñones said “the word of encouragment is the Word of God, the Word of Jesus Christ which is the message of love. We are called to share this message, the love of Christ which we know can overcome evil, the sign of victory of love for us is Jesus on the cross. We are all invited to share this mission. We all have to answer our call.”

The men walked out of the cathedral to electrifying applause, beaming as they smiled at those gathered.

(French is a member of The Catholic Register's Youth Speak News team.)