Editor’s Note: Fr. Luke Daghir reflects on some meaningful moments during Ordination weekend (May 24-26th). A common question asked of a man after he is ordained: “Were there any moments that were most meaningful?”
Ordination - Friday - May 24th
Priestly Reception
A beautiful tradition is that there is a priestly reception before the Ordination. Also, the Vicar for Clergy shares a biography. Then, in a moment of priestly fraternity, the Bishop personally presents the one to be ordained with a Diocesan stole.
I found this tradition to be meaningful.
The Cathedral Bells
I remember walking to the Cathedral of St. Peter from the Cathedral rectory. There were numerous priests, deacons, seminarians, and Bishop.
As we made our way outside, I could hear the laughter and joy of many. Then I listened to the Cathedral bells ringing and looked at the clock.
“Why would the bells be ringing at 6:53 pm?” I thought to myself. Then, it quickly dawned on me: the Cathedral is announcing what is about to begin. The bells signify to the entire city and diocese that it is “go time.” I felt it, too: like a baseball player who hears “play ball,” the bells signified “game time.”
I could both hear and feel the bells. They sounded like a loud concert, and I could feel the sound in my chest.
As a student at Gannon, I had heard the bells ring hundreds of times before, but this time, it was different.
The Cathedral bells and what they signified were meaningful to me.
The Procession In
St. Peters has a set of stairs in which one climbs up into the Cathedral. When I went to the top and looked in, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of people.
Then I saw many people I knew: family, friends, former co-workers, high school and college classmates, parishioners from parishes I had been assigned to, and many persons I did not know, which moved my heart.
I felt an overwhelming amount of support, and this was meaningful to me.
My Mother
I was sitting next to my mom at the beginning of the ordination. I remember my mom placing her hand on mine during the first reading. I had felt the overwhelming support of many in the procession into the Cathedral, and at this moment, I felt the support culminating in my mom holding my hand.
My mom holding my hand was meaningful to me.
Called Forth
When I was called forth, Bishop Persico looked at me, nodded his head, and smiled. Sometimes, we forget that Bishops had once been ordained a deacon, priest, and then a Bishop. Bishops also ordain men year after year. Bishop understood the moment.
Bishop’s sympathy and encouragement was meaningful to me.
Litany of Saints
Immediately before a man is ordained, there is the Litany of Saints. The entire assembly calls upon the giants of the past. The one to be ordained lies on the marble of the Cathedral, face down, which signifies a dying to self and surrendering one’s humanity to Almighty God.
I could not hear exactly which saints were being called upon, and I remember thinking it did not matter that I could not hear exactly which saint. All saints matter (not just my favorite ones).
I remember hearing the Cathedral's roar and feeling heaven's roar. That was moving to me. I thought of how it was not just the congregation in the Cathedral praying but also the souls in heaven praying for each of us.
Below where I was lying prostrate, directly under the altar of the Cathedral, is where the former Bishops are buried. I felt their prayers as well.
I also thought of the people who had died and positively impacted me. These persons included family, friends, and others in the community I had grown up in.
The Litany of Saints was very meaningful to me.
Investiture with Stole and Chasuble
Having my brother, Fr. Ben, vest me was meaningful.
The Fraternal Embrace
The bishop is the first to show a sign of peace and a fraternal embrace to the newly ordained. Following the Bishop, the brother priests also give a fraternal embrace.
It was meaningful to have my brother priests welcome me to the priesthood.
Concelebrating
The process of becoming a priest takes time (multiple years). However, the moment of becoming a priest during the Prayer of Ordination is quicker and more God’s time than our own time. This reminds us that ordination happens by God’s power, not our own.
After being vested, the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins just like any other Mass. I joined the many priests around me and prayed the words with them.
The words “FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU…” were powerful to me.
The first Mass for a newly ordained is the Ordination itself. The Bishop, who is the principal celebrant, is joined by the many priests who are the concelebrants.
It was meaningful to join the Bishop and priests of the Diocese of Erie, along with visiting priests, for what was truly my first Mass as a Catholic priest.
St. Peter
Within the Cathedral, stained-glass windows depict Peter's life. The moment Jesus first called Peter was directly above and in front of where I was sitting with my dad and mom. This is the moment when Jesus looks at Peter and his brother Andrew and says, “I will make you…”
During the ordination, I thought of how Jesus, through many experiences in my life, had made me, was going to make me a priest in the ordination, and would continue to make me. I thought of Peter and his ups and downs and how my life has been similar to his.
St. Peter was meaningful to me during the ordination.
Holy Hour - Saturday - May 25th
To Celebrate Mass
I vividly recall a moment before the Blessed Sacrament during the Holy Hour at Sacred Heart Church in St. Marys, PA. I remember thinking, “I have the honor of celebrating Mass tomorrow, and I want to.” It was the “I want to” that really moved my heart. Jesus gave me this desire.
The want to celebrate Mass was meaningful to me during the Holy Hour.
Mass of Thanksgiving - Sunday - May 26th
The Mystery of Participation
Celebrating Mass at St. Mary’s Church was powerful. Not only did numerous persons come from my hometown, but many from surrounding towns and even Erie had made the trip. Many priests, deacons, and Knights of Columbus were present.
I gave my mom the maniturgium used in the ordination for the holy oils. I gave my dad the stole I wore during the first time I celebrated confession. I gave my grandma and grandpa rosaries that I held with the holy oils on my hands. I gave my younger brother the cross that was on the altar for the Mass of Thanksgiving.
As meaningful as all those things were, my mind continues to reflect on the great mystery of participation. I am not the first priest from St. Marys, PA, nor will I be the last. The town has had a history of Catholicism since it was founded on December 8th, 1842. Courageous Catholics went from Baltimore and Philadelphia to found a Catholic colony.
To participate in the Mass is to participate with those before, those now, and those to come.
The mystery of participation was meaningful to me.
First Blessings - Within the First Year of Priesthood
To Bless
I have been honored to give First Blessings in multiple parishes, towns, and states.
In time, I felt God moving me to pray for each person so they may dive deeper into the mystery of Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist and learn more about Jesus' genuine love for them.
To pray for others to come to know Jesus more in the Eucharist has been meaningful for me.
Conclusion
As meaningful as Ordination weekend was, it is time to begin the assignment that Bishop Persico has given me. It is time to serve as a priest and “Go teach all nations” in the way the Bishop has assigned me.
+Fr. Luke Daghir
Special thanks to the Diocese of Erie, Anne-Marie Welsh, Kristine Rilling, Becky Polaski, Michelle Hawkins, and Jenn Will for the photos.