August 15, 2020

The Diocese of Springfield welcomes five new priests at ordination ceremony

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – With masks and seated every other row, people gathered at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield to witness the ordination of five new priests in the Diocese of Springfield. After a two-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the men processed into St.Michael’s ready to serve Christ and his church.

Archbishop-designate Mitchell T. Rozanski was the principal celebrant, assisted by Bishop Emeritus Timothy A. McDonnell, Msgr. Christoper Connelly, rector of the cathedral, and Deacons Leo Coughlin, Angel Perez, and Jose Rivera. The new priests ordained in the Rite of Ordination are Fathers Valentine Nworah, Matthew Barone, Michael Goodreau, Sinh Hong Trinh, and Stanislaus Achu.

“Today is a great day of rejoicing for the city of Springfield,” Archbishop Rozanski told the congregation. “Mary’s ‘yes’ to God continues its story as we ordain these five men for the sanctification of God’s people.”

Following the homily, the ordination rite began with the calling of the candidates. Archbishop Rozanski asked about the worthiness of the candidates. As the rite continued, the candidates lay prostrate on the altar as a sign of total submission to God, as the congregation sang the Litany of the Saints. This was followed by the laying on of hands, the most solemn part of the ceremony.

“We realize in their formation, in being prepared for the priesthood and finally coming to sacred ordination, they are dedicating their lives for the sake of God’s people,” the archbishop said. “So as they spend their lives serving God’s people, it’s also important to have the prayers and support of all of our people for these new priests, not just on the day of their ordination, but every day.”

Father Nworah grew up in Nigeria. He was a student of religious studies at Siena Heights University, in Adrian, Mich., and of speech communication at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. He will be the parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield.

“My hope is to continue in my joy that our Lord Jesus Christ received the gift of sonship from the father and today he has shared that gift of being son with him through the priesthood. So this is what I expect to share with the people of God – the gift of the priesthood that Christ has given me,” said Father Nworah.

Father Barone is from Chicopee and attended the former St. Patrick Elementary and Holyoke Catholic High schools and Our Lady of the Elms College. He will be the parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Springfield.

“I’m very excited to get to work in the parish to be able to minister to the people of the diocese of Springfield, to bring the sacraments to the people. It’s a great gift God gives us through ordination,” said Father Barone.

Father Goodreau grew up in Wilbraham where he graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“I am hoping to work with the people as much as possible,” said Father Goodreau, who will be the parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Pittsfield. “Some of the people may have been afraid to come to church or have been away for a while. So to reach out to those parishioners, people who have been on the rolls for a while and maybe give them a call and invite them back.”

 

Father Trinh was born in Vietnam and spent 17 years in a refugee camp in the Philippines. He will be the parochial vicar at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Springfield.

“My hope in my ministry is to bring the love of God to the people so that’s always present in their lives,” said Father Trinh.

Father Achu also grew up in Nigeria. He attended Providence College before entering St. John’s Seminary, in Brighton. He will be the parochial vicar at Holy Name parish in Springfield

“I’m hoping to share with the people of God and the people of Springfield this gift of the priesthood God has given to me, to help bring the people to him, to help spread his joy, his Gospel, his love, to let them know he is always with us to the end of time,” said Father Achu who will be the parochial vicar at Holy Name Parish in Springfield.

“The mission once ordained is to go out into the parish and serve the people of God as a priest, but being able to celebrate the sacraments specifically the celebration of the Mass, to truly bring Christ to the people is an incredible gift not only for the people but for the priest,” said Father David Darcy, the co-vocations director for the Springfield Diocese.

And while the ordination was delayed, many believe it was God’s Providence as the new date fell on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“But what a beautiful feast of Mary’s Assumption of the celebration and completion of her life and her maternal care for all of us to ordain these five priests for service of the church here in Springfield,” Archbishop Rozanski said.

At the end of the Mass, Fathers Christopher Malatesta and Robert Gentile presented Archbishop Rozanski with a gift from all of the priests of the diocese. Archbishop Rozanski leaves for St. Louis next week but will remain the apostolic administrator of the diocese.