| New priest cites parents’ love for God as motivation |
KUCHING
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Paul Herry John was ordained a diocesan priest on 5 July, by Archbishop John Ha, the recently elected Archbishop of Kuching. The ordination ceremony was conducted in a special Mass in St Joseph’s Cathedral, witnessed by a full congregation. Many of the congregation came in chartered buses from St Jude Parish in Bunan Gega, the parish where Fr Paul grew up in.
The Mass began at 9.30 am and the celebrants in procession into the Cathedral were greeted with a Bidayuh ceremonial welcome. During the Mass, the rite of ordination began with Paul Herry being called by a designated priest to present himself. Paul Herry was then led by his parents to Archbishop Ha, who after a short inquiry accepted the candidate which was greeted with spontaneous applause from the congregation. Archbishop Ha then instructed the candidate on his commitment, responsibilities, and duties as a priest. The archbishop finally reminded the candidate to seek to bring the faithful together into a unified family and lead them effectively through Christ and the Holy Spirit to God, the Father. The ordination ceremony then proceeded with various activities - promise of obedience, invocation of the litany of saints, laying of hands, prayer of consecration, investiture with stole and chasuble, anointing of hands, and the embrace of peace - all vestiges of conferment of the Holy Order on Fr Paul Herry.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Paul Herry blessed his parents and was then invited to give his maiden speech. He said that he was happy with and touched by many people in his journey to becoming a priest. In his long list of acknowledgements, he singled out his formators in St Peter’s College, his parents and family, Archbishops John Ha and Peter Chung, and thanked them for their guidance, support, and encouragement. But he attributed his greatest gratitude to the Holy Spirit and Mother Mary, whom he described as his greatest teachers. On a touching note, he paid tribute to his parents for their sacrifice, understanding, and love in consenting to allow him to become a priest. He said that his parents’ love for and trust in God motivated him to become a priest. Fr Paul said that they were great parents and was indeed proud of them. He added that their constant encouragment should be an example for other parents.
Archbishop Ha said the ordination was special to him as it was his first as the new Archbishop of Kuching. He spoke of the grace of God that he had granted the Archdiocese another new priest. He was grateful to St Jude Parish, Bunan Gega, for raising three priests for the Archdiocese and he hoped that more would come. He then congratulated and thanked Fr Paul Herry for his courageous and generous response to God’s call. He also addressed Fr Paul’s parents and thanked them likewise and prayed that God would reward them with his rich and abundant blessings for their generous hearts to give their son to God. Archbishop Ha also thanked the formators and ordinary staff of St Peter’s College, the Friends of St Peter, and others who has worked so hard to train and formed priests. He said that their works are so hidden and it was only during occasions like this would their contributions be recognized. In his concluding remarks, he appealed to young Catholics to consider the priesthood and religious life as their one of their choices in life.
Fr Paul Harry anak John, aged 30, was born on December 27, 1973. He grew up in Kpg Mapu Tragu in the St Jude Parish, Bunan Gega. He received his early education in government schools in Serian before joining St Peter’s College in 1996. He was installed lector, acolyte, and deacon in 1999, 2000, and 2003, respectively.
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