Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Called, consecrated, sent

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Called, consecrated, sent

“Called, consecrated,sent.” With these simple yet profound words Saint John Paul II described the stepping stones to the Sacramental Priesthood.

Paul C. Iverson and Ernest Russell Mower received such a call and through years of preparation and discernment have had their calls ratified.

On May 30, 2015, I will have the privilege of consecrating Deacons Iverson and Mower to the priesthood of Jesus Christ and his Church through the laying on of hands and the power of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Then they will be sent forth to serve, to preach, to minister the sacraments to the people of God in the name of Jesus. Paul Iverson, a son of St. Anthony Parish In Wylie, will be sent to serve St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Frisco. Russ Mower a son of St. Jude Parish in Allen, will be sent to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Plano.

It is said that the greatest gift is the gift of self. Paul and Russ have given themselves to the service of God, but their gifts of themselves is possible only because of the gifts of others; parents, teachers, family, pastors and the myriad of those who have shaped their lives. We thank and bless them all for their gifts that have made this happy event possible.

I pray theses two young men will be blessed with many years of ministry in the Lord’s vineyard.

 

Four new priests

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It is with great joy that I will ordain four deacons to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dallas on Saturday, June 2, at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The ordinands are: Rev. Mr. Zach Webb, Rev. Mr. Ruben Chen, Rev. Mr. Edwin Leonard and Rev. Mr. Paolo Capra.

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Three Priestly Ordinations

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Climbing Mount Carmel has long been a metaphor for spiritual growth as we journey toward God, so it is very appropriate that our three ordinands to the priesthood will reach that significant milestone in their journey on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Nothing gives a bishop greater joy than ordaining men to the presbyterate, welcoming them as co-workers in the Lord’s Vineyard. The three transitional deacons to be ordained on July 16, Alan Paul McDonald, Arthur Okwuchukwu Unachukwu and James Hideo Yamauchi, have spent years preparing for this moment.

Representative of the true catholicity or universality of the Church, each of the ordinands represents a different culture, Asian, African and European.

Deacon Unachukwu attended Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving, and St. Mary Seminary Houston. Following ordination he will be assigned as parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in McKinney.

Deacon Yamauchi attended Holy Trinity Seminary and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Following ordination he will return to Rome where he will continue studies in Canon Law at Gregorian University.

Deacon McDonald attended Redemptoris Mater Misssionary and Diocesan Seminary for Westminster Diocese, London, England and the Redemptoris Mater Missionary and Diocesan Seminary in Dallas, from which he is the first student to be ordained to the priesthood. Following ordination he will serve as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Dallas.

Priestly vocations are the result of God’s call nurtured by parents. I especilly want to acknowledge the parents of our ordinands whose love and support have made these happy events possible: Sir Emmanuel and Lady Rose Unachukwu of Nigeria, Brent and Jackie Yamauchi of Sachse, Texas, and Alan and Jean McDonald of England.

Please keep these three ordinands in your prayers as they continue their ascent of Mount Carmel as servant leaders of the Church.

Our new seminarians

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Monday evening I had the joy of meeting and welcoming 12 new seminarians for the Diocese of Dallas with celebration of Mass and a dinner. This year the Lord has blessed us with an even dozen, a twenty percent increase over 2009. Altogether we have 55 seminarians for the Diocese.

The annual Seminarian Convocation is underway this week as they prepare for the beginning of the academic year. Each year the number of seminarians has been increasing thanks to God and to the prayers of all the people of the Diocese who regularly pray for vocations. I also thank all or our priests who promote vocations in their parishes.

Not only do we have larger numbers of seminarians entering, we also have more approaching ordination. In 2011 we will ordain three new priests for the Diocese and in 2012 we will ordain six more.

On October 5 there will be a public welcome for all of our seminarians at the Fairmont Hotel, I urge you all to join in welcoming these fine young men. Contact Holy Trinity Seminary for information.

Most of all I urge you to continue your prayers for our seminarians and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Without prayer there will be no vocations.