Promoting Vocations: Newly Ordained in North Carolina

 

Father Voitus

Two great reasons to celebrate in the state of North Carolina this past weekend.  In the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Jugis ordained Deacon Voitus and in the Diocese of Raleigh, Bishop Burbidge ordained Deacon Buckler into the priesthood!  Here's a video of Father Voitus's ordination:












Rev. Mr. Brendan Buckler.
(Photo from Diocesan website.)

 On Sunday, my family had the great pleasure of attending the First Mass of a newly ordained priest.  We drove a little way (about two and a half hours) to see it but it was truly worth the drive there and back.  The Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form was heavenly to say the least.  There must have been about 20+ priests altogether, some Diocesan, some from orders like the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP).  Father Brendan Buckler was ordained just this past Saturday by Bishop Burbrige of the Diocese of Raleigh.  From their website:

"The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge will celebrate a Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood for Rev. Mr. Brendan Buckler, Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral In Raleigh. Deacon Buckler, the son of Michael and Carol, graduated from Towson State University in Maryland in 2001. He entered the Diocesan formation program in 2003, completing a pastoral internship year at St. Thomas More Parish in Chapel Hill. In 2004, he attended seminary at Theological College in Washington, completing Philosophy studies. He reentered the formation program in 2007, completing his studies for the Priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.

Last June, he was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate before returning for his final year at St. Charles. Bishop Burbidge has announced that upon ordination to the Priesthood, Deacon Buckler will be assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest."

Here is a video clip of then Deacon, now Father Buckler regarding his call to the priesthood and upcoming ordination:

My boys loved watching all the priests and seminarians before, during, and after Mass.  My six year old got especially excited when they all took a group photo just outside the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  He came running to me and smiled from ear to ear, "Mom, I can't believe that one day I will be having my first Mass and taking a picture with all the guys at the steps of a Cathedral too!"  {mission accomplished, was what I thought, my eyes swelled up with tears to hear my little one utter those words}.  As soon as I find that picture I will post it on here!  :)



Father Buckler's First Mass Celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh
was done in the Extraordinary Form.  It was a Solemn High Mass.



Congratulations to Both Dioceses and to Fathers Buckler and Voitus!

Please join me in praying for these two Holy Men of God!:

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

By the late John J Cardinal Carberry

Keep them; I pray Thee, dearest Lord.

Keep them, for they are Thine

The priests whose lives burn out before

Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them, for they are in the world,

Though from the world apart.

When earthly pleasures tempt, allure --

Shelter them in Thy heart.

Keep them and comfort them in hours

Of loneliness and pain,

When all their life of sacrifice

For souls seems but in vain.

Keep them and remember, Lord,

they have no one but Thee.

Yet, they have only human hearts,

With human frailty.

Keep them as spotless as the Host,

That daily they caress;

Their every thought and word and deed,

Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

Want to learn more about the Extraordinary Form of the Mass?  Visit Father Z!  :)



Blessings,
Mama Erika