A CROWDED St Stephen’s Cathedral welcomed three men to the priesthood for Brisbane archdiocese on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul last night.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge ordained Fathers Isaac Falzon, Minje Kim and Gerard Lai and told them they had been called like Saints Peter and Paul “into the work of the new creation”.
“The one who calls them also sends them out, as he did Peter and Paul,” he said.
“This evening, these three men say yes to the call, as they have through the years of their formation.
“But they cannot know what that yes will mean; nor did Peter and Paul when they said yes. Still less can they know what the mission will entail.
But one thing is certain: all will be well if they keep saying yes in the face of all that’s unexpected and even unwelcome or painful.”
He said God never disappoints or betrays.
“‘The Lord stood by me and gave me power’, says Paul near the end of his life,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“The same Lord will do no less for Isaac, Minje and Gerard as they set out on the same apostolic journey through death into life, surrounded by the holy people who belong not to them but to Christ.”
In his vote of thanks, Fr Kim reflected on the first phrase of the first book of the Bible– “in the beginning”.
“In every new beginning, no one is alone,” Fr Kim said.
“We are always together… with our Lord.
“The three newly ordained priests, Fr Isaac, Fr Gerard and I have just embarked on the new beginning of the journey of the priesthood.
“It is important for the three of us to acknowledge our own parents… who were at the very beginning of our lives.
“Parents, thank you for joyfully accepting the gift of life given to the three of us by God and for nurturing us as an offering to God, just as our Mother Mary did for Jesus.
“Without your parental love and sacrifice, we would not have been able to wholeheartedly accept God’s invitation to love one another and love everyone.
“Your love as parents will continue to be a grounding component of our mission, where we strive to show God’s love and mercy to all.”
Fr Kim thanked everyone involved in their discernment and formation through Canali House, Holy Spirit Seminary, Vocation Brisbane, their placement parishes and the Brisbane clergy.
“We look forward to working with you for God and our Brisbane community from now onwards,” he said.
