With nearly 2,500 attendees, some from different countries, O’Malley said the cathedral almost looked like the church of the Pentecost, with pilgrims from every nation.
“It is always a special blessing to witness the Sacrament of Holy Orders; however, today for me I particularly connected with the representation of different cultures during the ceremony…the Vietnamese, Hispanic, African; for instance, the gospel procession was the Cameroon Catholic community,” said Tina DelGuidice, Christ by the Sea parishioner and longtime volunteer leader.
“I loved all the cultural mixes…it is so great to see the church from different places,” said St. Mary’s parishioner and church bulletin editor Vanessa Lorusso.
Five of the new priests are from Massachusetts, and a sixth is from Connecticut; however, the remaining five are from Cameroon, Columbia, El Salvador, Mexico, and Vietnam, creating increased diversity within the archdiocese.
The parishioners of the Christ by the Sea Collaborative are especially appreciative of Father Scott and all three of the men with bonds to the collaborative who have recently been ordained — Father Matthew Harrington, Father Hung Tran, and Father Christopher Letizia — as well as those before them, such as Father Hein Vu, leaving their handprints on the hearts of those they served.
The collaborative said farewell to Father Hein, of the 2023 ordination class, who has served as parochial vicar at the parishes for the past year, as well as recently ordained Father Matthew, who served at the collaborative during the past two years for his pastoral formation and diaconal ministry.
Mary Jane Silva, recipient of the Cheverus Award for serving at St. Mary’s parish for many years in many capacities, read a poem at the Mass for Father Hein’s farewell and Father Hung’s welcome.
An excerpt from Silva’s poem captures the emotions of many: “He opens his heart; he was always there/He went above and beyond; we know we’re in his prayers. You can feel his faith coming from within his heart/I can’t help but hearing ‘How Great Thou Art’ …And to add our blessings, beautiful hymns will be sung/As we welcome our new vicar, an inspiring Father Hung. Our Lord took him by the hand and said, ‘Come with me’/St. Mary and St. Anthony Parish await you to show their love and faith in thee. Welcome Father Hung and to your wonderful parents, who made you what you are today.”
Parishioner Rob Mortel reflected on Father Matthew’s impact at the collaborative, noting that he got involved in whatever capacity he was needed, calling him a true example of a priest’s vocation.
Father Matthew, like at his ordination to the diaconate last year, was still highly moved by lying prostrate during the Litany of the Saints as the church is unified in prayer. Another moving part of the ceremony is the Laying on of Hands.
“The most touching moment for me during the ordination is when the bishop lays hands on the head of each one being ordained, praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is central to the ordination ritual,” said Father Scott, who just celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. “Then, all the priests who are present also lay hands on the head of each one being ordained.”
The new priests will serve within the archdiocese, and their first assignments will be associate pastors or parochial vicars to gain experience. Eventually, like Father Hein, they may move to another church based on need and on their abilities and interests.
Father Scott explained usually a priest stays at a church for at least two to three years, so Father Hein’s move after just one year did come as a surprise; however, St. Ambrose in Dorchester has a need for a second priest who speaks Vietnamese.
Father Hung Tran, also of the ordination class of 2024, will be joining the collaborative as parochial vicar. At Mass on Sunday, June 16, he was introduced by Father Hein, who passed the torch by saying he “fell in love with the parish and received a lot of love, joy, and peace over the past 11 months and 17 days,” and knows the parishioners in Hull and Cohasset will now share those blessings with Father Hung.
Father Hung says his mother is the first person who encouraged him to become a priest; in his ministry, he wants to be among his flock and help them as much as he can.
“I am happy to share with them, to help them, and pray for them,” said Father Hung.
Father Matthew, who has been assigned to St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Medfield and St. Jude in Norfolk, began serving his home parish in the second grade as an altar server because he was intrigued by the rituals of the Mass. For his Eagle Scout project, he built outdoor stations of the cross at St. Adelaide’s in Peabody, where he has lifelong connections.
“What stands out to me most is how humbling it is to become a priest and to be used by God, to say Mass, to hear confessions…it is not what I do, but what the Lord does,” said Father Matthew. “It was a blessing to grow closer to Christ while serving here [Hull and Cohasset], and hopefully, by God’s grace, he was able to draw you closer to himself through my ministry.”
Karen Harrington, Father Matthew’s mother, said she was honored when he sought her out so she could be the first family member to receive his blessing as a priest.
All of the priests asked parishioners to pray for them, especially prayers of thanksgiving to God that they have answered his call and are ready to serve. The parishioners will continue to pray, as Cardinal O’Malley directed them, that God who has begun a good work in each of these priests bring it to fulfillment and continue to cultivate pastoral charity within their hearts.
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