Five Dominican friars were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Christopher Cardone, O.P., on Saturday, May 25, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC: (left to right) Fr. Christopher Daniel, O.P., Fr. Cornelius Avaritt, O.P., Fr. Charles Rooney, O.P., Fr. Luke Neitzke, O.P., and Fr. Cyril Stola, O.P.
In his homily, Archbishop Christopher Cardone, O.P., a Dominican friar of the Province of St. Joseph and archbishop of Honiara in the Solomon Islands, told his newly ordained brothers to stay close to Mary because she will help them be faithful friar preachers, to be men of prayer, and that the sacrifice of the Mass should be the heart of their day.
Archbishop Cardone reminded them of the stained glass window over the door of the Dominican House of Studies where these men were formed these last six years. The image is of Jesus sending the apostles out to the world. He told the newly ordained that they, too, have been trained to be sent out to God’s people and to always remember that Holy Father Dominic wanted his friars to be apostolic preachers. “Brothers, Christ and the Church will be sending you out today, to an uncertain world. Be apostles of hope and mercy. Be men of prayer. Be friends of Jesus who bring light and life and the good news of the Gospel to all people, conscious with great certainty that the love of the Lord is the fruit that endures, and the fruit that lasts forever.”
“Initially, it was a sense of duty that drew me to the priesthood. Being raised in the military and being in the Navy myself, fulfilling your duty, to God, country, and family, was something that your honor depended on. But this sense of duty changed into love; the longer I fulfilled my duty, the more my love grew. Now I stay, and seek ordination, so that I can continue to grow in this love and bring the love of God to those who do not know him.”
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