Three men are ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Portland

Bishop Ruggieri prays the Prayer of Ordination.

“Amazing!” “Wonderful” “Grateful.”

That is how three young men describe what it was like to be ordained priests for the Diocese of Portland.

“It’s absolutely amazing, phenomenal,” said Father Erin Donlon. “It is still hard to process, but it's unbelievable.”

“Wonderful, wonderful. I am overwhelmed with joy and with humility because I know that it’s not by my own merit but only by God’s love, only by God’s love that I can today become a priest for him, for Jesus Christ,” said Father Thanh Duc Pham.

“I was very emotional. I know that it’s a blessing that God gave me. He anointed me so that I can serve the people, ordained me so I can serve the people,” said Father Hoa Tien Nguyen.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the ordination Mass, which was held Saturday, May 31, at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston. Those attending included dozens of priests, deacons, religious sisters, and family members, some of whom traveled from Vietnam to attend. Both Father Nguyen and Father Pham are originally from Vietnam, while Father Donlon grew up in the Biddeford-Saco area.

The ordination Mass was celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri, with Bishop Emeritus Robert Deeley and Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, among those who served as principal concelebrants. Father Donlon is cosponsored by the archdiocese and the Diocese of Portland, and his priestly ministry will include service in Maine and as a U.S. Navy chaplain.

“Thank you for your ‘yes’ to Christ’s call to be priests of Jesus Christ and to be collaborators with me in our service to the Church. I am grateful,” Bishop Ruggieri said during his homily. “Much responsibility is entrusted to you as priests, not only for your sanctification but more for the self-gift that you will be for the people whom you serve as priests. Always follow the example of the foot-washing Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.”

The bishop counseled the three candidates for the priesthood to always trust in the providential care of Christ.

“Always remember that in the process of pouring your heart and whole being into being other Christs for the people of God whom you serve, at the end of the day, all we, unprofitable servants, can do is entrust everything to the providential care of our Heavenly Father. We are not the saviors; Jesus is. We are unprofitable servants who share that good news with the world and who celebrate his life-giving sacraments, principally the Eucharist, for his people.”

During the ordination rite, the three ordinands resolved to carry out the ministry of the word worthily and wisely in the preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of the Catholic faith, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ reverently and faithfully according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, to pray without ceasing for the people of God entrusted to their care, and to unite themselves more closely each day to Christ, the High Priest.

The three men then approached the bishop individually, each placing his hands in the bishop’s hands while promising respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors. As they did, the bishop said to each of them, “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”

The three ordinands then lied prostrate before the altar, in a sign of humility, while the congregation kneeled and joined in singing the Litany of the Saints.

“I cried a lot during the litany because every time I lay down, I think about Jesus. He asked me to lay down myself for my flock, the people I care for,” said Father Nguyen.

After the Litany of Saints, the three ordinands again approached the bishop who laid hands on each of them in silence, invoking the Holy Spirit to come down upon them. All the priests present then did the same after which the bishop prayed the Prayer of Ordination, asking the Holy Father to draw near and to provide the “helpers whom we need for the exercise of the apostolic priesthood.”

“Grant, we pray, Almighty Father, to these your servants the dignity of the priesthood. Renew deep within them the spirit of holiness. May they hold the office second in order, received from you, O God, and by the example of their manner of life, may they inspire right conduct. May they be trustworthy co-workers with our order so that by their preaching and through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the words of the Gospel may bear fruit in human hearts and reach even to the ends of the earth,” the bishop prayed.

Now ordained, the three priests were vested with stoles and chasubles, symbols of the priesthood. Father Donlon was vested by Father S. Matthew Gray, vocations director of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and Father Bill Clark, SJ, a long-time family friend. Father Nguyen was vested by Father Vincent Bork, a priest from Virginia who became a mentor to him while at seminary. And Father Pham was vested by Father Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, with whom he served as a seminarian.

After they were vested, the newly ordained priests knelt before the bishop who anointed their hands with sacred chrism, which Father Pham described as one of the most emotional parts of the ordination rite.

“When the bishop anointed my hands, I just felt that my hands are now holy hands. That made me think about how I can live a holy life as a priest of God so that I can transfer the blessing of God to the people,” he said.

The three priests were then each presented with a chalice and paten from the bishop who counseled them to “understand what you will do, imitate what you will celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross.”

Each of the priests were then welcomed to the presbyterate with the fraternal sign of peace, receiving a hug and words of congratulations first from the bishop and then all the priests present.

“I think the place that struck me the most during the ordination was the laying on of hands by the priests and the fraternal sign of peace with all the priests. That was just amazing. I kind of got so overwhelmed,” said Father Donlon. “One of the things that was just so nice was that so many of my priest friends from both here in the diocese and outside were here. It was just amazing.”

“Seeing all the people, many priests, and three bishops today praying for me, and I know that all the angels and saints and the people on the earth and in heaven are praying for me today, I was very emotional,” said Father Nguyen.

After participating in the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the first time as priests, Father Donlon, Father Nguyen, and Father Pham then offered their first blessings as priests to the bishop, who knelt before them.

After the Mass, priests, religious, and lay faithful lined up in the basilica's chapel to receive a blessing from those who were newly ordained and to offer their own congratulations.