Oaths Taken

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, when we recall the moment that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, saying "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. ... Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:31-38). Mary is a great example of answering God's call. I reflected on that in my Christmas letter, for those of you that received it. An interesting note about the dating of the Annunciation: it is celebrating the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb. Thus, it is remembered exactly 9 months before we recall his birth at Christmas.

Today, on this great feast, 13 of my classmates and I approached the altar, placed our hands on the Gospel in turn, and took oaths of celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of God, oaths of fidelity to the Catholic Church, and we made professions of faith. These are required of those to be ordained to Holy Orders in the Catholic Church.

It was an exciting day. And in just a couple of days I will be attending the ordination of my classmates from Saint Louis at the magnificent Cathedral Basilica. Then I will be flying home for Holy Week.

Pictured above are, in the front row from left to right: Anthony Gerber, Michael Grosch, Johnson Lopez, Brother Jerome Lies (A member of the Intercessors of the Lamb in Omaha), Brian Alford, Timothy Foy, and Marco Deloera. In the back row, left to right: Kevin Vogel, Jason Signalness, Henry "Bo" Purcell, Joseph Jaskierny, Andy Syring, John Fogliasso, and James Weeder.