ROCHESTER — A charter bus parked outside Sacred Heart Cathedral isn’t an everyday sight, but on June 27, it carried more than two dozen well-wishers from Geneva, Waterloo and Seneca Falls who came to celebrate the priestly ordination of Father David Cataline.
This visible sign of support from Father Cataline’s home parish in Geneva and the Waterloo and Seneca Falls parish where he has been serving as a deacon for the past year left the newest priest of the Rochester Diocese moved and humbled.
“It was just very joyful to see all these people make their way here, finding time to get here and be here, to be present this day was just a blessing,” Father Cataline, 50, told the Catholic Courier.
The cathedral wasn’t only filled with supporters from those two parishes. Bishop Emeritus Salvatore R. Matano, along with more than 50 priests, deacons and seminarians, also were in attendance as Bishop John S. Bonnici ordained Father Cataline to the priesthood during the 10 a.m. Mass.
Father Cataline will be united in Christ in a new way
In his homily, Bishop Bonnici called then-Deacon Cataline’s ordination a “glorious day” and spoke of the rites of ordination, such as the laying on of hands, the solemn prayer of ordination, the investiture with stole and chasuble, the anointing of hands, and the handing on of bread and wine.
“You will be configured to Christ in a new and permanent way, empowered to act in persona Christi, the person of Christ,” he told then-Deacon Cataline. “You will be embraced as a brother priest.”
Bishop Bonnici also noted that the foundation of all authentic priestly ministry is communion with Christ and shared the things a priest does to offer himself as sanctification to God’s people: be a man of prayer; celebrate the sacred mysteries with reverence and joy; be present to his people with the heart of a Good Shepherd; and remain united with his bishop and brother priests, and to honor the ministries of deacons, religious and the lay faithful.
“David, love Christ deeply, serve his church joyfully, offer the sacraments reverently, preach the Gospel boldly and feed his sheep generously,” Bishop Bonnici said. “May your yes to Jesus’ call inspire others to follow the same path. May you always be a happy and holy priest of God.”
Ordination filled with special moments for Father Cataline
After the homily, then-Deacon Cataline knelt before Bishop Bonnici and made his promise of respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors. He then prostrated himself for the litany of supplication, during which the congregation invoked the intercession of the saints on his behalf. Laying prostrate was a moment of the liturgy that stood out to him.
“It (the Litany of the Saints) always gets me,” he said following his ordination.
The priestly ordination rites continued with the laying on of hands, for which then-Deacon Cataline knelt before Bishop Bonnici, who laid his hands atop the ordinand’s head, calling the Holy Spirit down upon him. Then the priests present also laid their hands on him. Bishop Bonnici prayed the prayer of ordination, conferring the priestly office upon Father Cataline.
Then, Father Cataline was assisted in the investiture of stole and chasuble by Fathers Paul Bonacci and William Coffas. After Father Cataline was vested, Bishop Bonnici anointed his hands with sacred chrism before handling him a chalice and paten containing bread and wine, pointing to the priest’s sacred duty to offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Bishop Bonnici, then Bishop Emeritus Matano and the priests, welcomed Father Cataline into the order of priest with the fraternal sign of peace.
Father Cataline’s ordination was a special occasion for Bishop Bonnici
During his words of thanks after the final blessing, Bishop Bonnici noted that the Mass was offered for Father Cataline’s father, John, and brothers, John and Michael, who all passed away while Father Cataline was in formation for the priesthood.
“We know they are brimming with pride in God’s kingdom as we come together today,” Bishop Bonnici said.
The bishop also noted that the ordination was his first priestly ordination and called Father Cataline his “first born.”
“I guess you can say my not-so-little bundle of joy,” Bishop Bonnici said laughingly, who then minutes later received Father Cataline’s first priestly blessing.
Father Cataline looking forward to priestly ministry
After the liturgy’s recessional hymn, Father Cataline imparted his first priestly blessings on family and friends, including the 43 people who traveled by bus for the ordination.
“We all love Father David,” said JoAnn Ryrko, who organized the pilgrimage to Father Cataline’s ordination. “He’s so spiritual, he’s so special. He’s blessing to our parishes.”
Many of those who traveled from Geneva, Waterloo and Seneca Falls were to be present as Father Cataline celebrated his first Mass of thanksgiving as a priest June 28 at St. Stephen Church in Geneva. On Aug. 14, he will begin his first priestly assignment as parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena and Immaculate Conception parishes in Ithaca. At part of his assignment, he also will minister to the students in the Catholic communities at Cornell University and Ithaca College.
“I’m excited, I’m excited to go down there,” Father Cataline said of his new ministry. “I’m looking forward to celebrating the Mass and all the sacraments, but fully the Mass.”
Tags: Bishop John S. Bonnici, Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, Holy Orders, Priests
