As I prepare for ordination to the priesthood later this week the most commonly asked question is, \u201cHow is your family coping?\u201d The reply is that the children have several questions\u2026\u201dWhat do we call you? Father Father?\u201d<\/p>\n
Or \u201cDo we have to go to you for confession?\u201d Answer, \u201cProbably not. I\u2019d say, \u2018I think you forgot something\u2026'\u201d<\/p>\n
or \u201cWhen we\u2019re on vacation could you just say Mass for us on the picnic table so we don\u2019t have to go to church?\u201d<\/p>\n
Actually my wife Alison and four children are taking it all in their stride. To the kids I\u2019m just their Dad, and they probably are not aware how very unusual our situation really is. We\u2019ve spoken about priesthood for as long as they can remember, and we\u2019ve been preparing for this particular step for about a year\u2026applying for the job, discusing the possibilities of moving to America, finally getting approval, moving to South Carolina, getting the paperwork through from Rome, passing exams. The children have been informed and interested at every step of the way. Each one is involved in the ordination. They\u2019re going to Charlotte on Monday to pick up their grandparents\u2013who are flying in from England for the big week, and staying for Christmas.<\/p>\n
Then on Tuesday this week, second grader Elias will be \u2018ordained\u2019 at St Mary\u2019s School. His teacher Sr. Mary Lucy (a wonderful Nashville Dominican) is having a \u2018mock ordination\u2019 so the children can understand up close what will take place on Thursday. Elias\u2019 hand shot up when volunteers were asked for, so he\u2019s going to be \u2018ordained\u2019 in the second grade.<\/p>\n
His older brother, Theodore, is in fourth grade. He\u2019s quieter, and has been observing everything with a bemused, but shrewd eye. In the ordination service on Thursday Theo will join Elias and big sister Madeleine to bring forward my chasuble and stole and present them for the solemn vesting. Maddy seems proud that Dad is being ordained and will be the priest chaplain at her school. She\u2019s the one most likely to stop by my office for a cheerful hello during the school day.<\/p>\n
Benedict is the oldest. At thirteen he is being confirmed on Wednesday night. I\u2019ll serve as deacon at the confirmation Mass, and then Ben will serve as crucifer with the altar servers for my ordination Mass the next night.<\/p>\n
And Alison? My wife has supported my journey to the priesthood ever since the sad day in 1995 when we packed up and moved out of our beautiful English country vicarage. For nearly twelve years we waited and watched and kept on asking the church to confirm my vocation. She raged and questioned and pondered God\u2019s mysterious ways with me every step of the way. I wanted her to take part in the service too on Thursday, but she refused. \u201cI\u2019m just going to sit there and enjoy the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve put as many saints as possible into the Litany of the Saints. It\u2019s going to be a very emotional day for all of us, and I need a long Litany because I plan to empty my tear ducts in the privacy of my prostration before the Lord. We might even have to put a special act in the ordination liturgy\u2013The Solemn Ceremony of Drying the Sanctuary Floor\u2026<\/p>\n
There will be a DVD of the ordination service. For anyone who is familiar with the liturgy at St Mary\u2019s Greenville, it will be worth getting. Watch this space for details in the future.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As I prepare for ordination to the priesthood later this week the most commonly asked question is, \u201cHow is your family coping?\u201d The reply is that the children have several questions\u2026\u201dWhat do we call you? Father Father?\u201d Or \u201cDo we have to go to you for confession?\u201d Answer, \u201cProbably not. I\u2019d say, \u2018I think you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":557,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n