By Ambria Hammel | June 18, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

The holy “Year for Priests” gets underway this week, but local Catholics turned out in droves earlier this month to celebrate a special day in the lives of priests.

Most of the diocese’s priests, and hundreds of friends and families were on hand to witness Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted ordain Robert Bolding, Thielo Ramirez and William Schmid to the priesthood June 6 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

View more than 300 ordination photos

“Live the call which you have received with humility, gentleness and patience,” Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted said during his bilingual homily. “These virtues remain the key for priests to practice in their daily ministry in order to do, with a shepherd’s care, the ministry of God.”

The bishop said the young men — as young as in their late 20s — would be consecrated as “true testaments to the Gospel.” Rows of family members and a standing room only crowd packed the cathedral to witness the ordination.

Fr. Don Kline, who is wrapping up his 10-year term as the diocese’s director for the Office of Vocations, called the ordinands worthy of the priesthood and presented them to Bishop Olmsted. The cathedral erupted in sustained applause.

In unison and in response to the bishop, the elect vowed to preach the Gospel and teach the faith; celebrate the mysteries of Christ, especially the Mass; and through endless prayer, ask for God’s mercy on behalf of others.

While standing at the foot of the altar, Bolding, Ramirez and Schmid also vowed to be more united every day to Christ and to consecrate themselves to God for the salvation of all.

“For your part, you will exercise the role of teacher as Jesus did,” the bishop said.

“Believe what you read. Teach what you believe and practice what you teach,” he continued, “so that what you teach will be nourishment for the people of God.”

One by one, the ordinands knelt in front of the bishop, placed their hands in his and promised obedience to him and his successors.

The candidates then prostrated themselves single file, laying facedown toward the altar while a cathedral full of voices offered a litany of supplication. The prayer sanctified the chosen men.

“When you lie prostrate, it’s a really powerful moment,” Fr. Bolding said days before his ordination. “It symbolizes laying down your life, dying to yourself and giving your life to the Church.”

“It was so powerful this time hearing the people and all of the saints,” Fr. Schmid said.

Powerful moments

The ordinands were excited and nervous for their big day, which Fr. Schmid likened to a wedding — but they made it through humbly.

They knelt in front of the altar as Bishop Olmsted and their soon-to-be fellow priests — one by one — offered a silent prayer during the laying on of hands. Fr. Schmid said it was a powerful sign of their support.

For the laity, watching the new priests don their vestments for the first time was also powerful. Fellow priests removed the deacons’ stoles and replaced them with the priestly stole and chasuble.

The mothers of the newly ordained presented the eucharistic gifts to Bishop Olmsted, who then handed them to each of the new priests.

“Receive the oblation of the holy people to be offered to God,” the bishop told them one by one. “Understand what you do. Imitate what you celebrate and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross.”

The priests then hugged Bishop Olmsted and Bishop James S. Wall from the Diocese of Gallup, N.M. — formerly the Phoenix Diocese’s vicar for priests — who came for the celebration. The priests present also offered their new brothers a congratulatory hug.

Joyful celebration

Fr. Ramirez said he was “definitely filled with joy and gratitude” as he saw so many people during the closing procession. The applause and crowd were a little overwhelming, he added.

The new priest said offering a sign of peace with Bishop Olmsted and his brother priests was a highlight of the Mass. Giving his mother his first blessing as a priest, Fr. Ramirez noted, also stood out.

All three newly ordained spent 90 minutes immediately after the two-and-a-half-hour liturgy offering blessings and receiving congratulatory words in the reception hall.

“Coming out [of the cathedral], I was so overjoyed with all the blessings I’ve received, I could hardly think of anything,” Fr. Bolding said.

He remembers offering the sign of peace as a priest with Bishop Wall as a special moment.

“He was there from day one with my vocation,” Fr. Bolding said.

Fr. Paul Sullivan, incoming director of the diocesan Office of Vocations, hopes that the newly ordained left the Mass “with the same fire and zeal” that the apostles had at Pentecost: “A burning desire to carry forth the Church’s work of evangelization.”

He said all three — who are close friends — are good at explaining the faith convincingly. They also have a love and respect for the rituals that they celebrate, especially the Mass, Fr. Sullivan said.

The new priests celebrated their first Mass the day after ordination at their home parishes. They staggered their Mass times throughout the day so they — and friends and family — could attend each other’s liturgies.

Fr. Schmid now looks forward to hearing his first confession. He said receiving the sacrament has had a profound impact on his life.

“I’m just looking forward to being an instrument of God’s mercy and love,” he said.