and Jim Zettel Ordained
Frs. Miguel Angel Suarez, SDB, and
James Patrick Zettel, SDB, were ordained priests on June 29 by Cardinal Oscar
Rodriguez Maradiaga, SDB.
The solemn rite took place at Holy Name
of Jesus Church in New Rochelle in the presence of hundreds of members of the
families of the two new priests, Salesians, Salesian Sisters, Cooperators, Don
Bosco Volunteers, parishioners from Port Chester, Toronto, and Belle Glade,
staff from Salesian HS, students from Salesian and Don Bosco Prep, camp staff
from Toronto, and friends of the newly ordained.
Fr. Miguel, 45, a native of Mexico City,
is the son of the late Angel Suarez and Guadalupe Morales. He has three sisters
and a brother. His sister Elizabeth Suarez
carried his stole and chasuble in the entrance procession and blessed him as
the ordination ritual began after the reading of the gospel.
Fr. Miguel resided in Port Chester and was
a member of Holy Rosary Parish there when he discerned a vocation to become a
Salesian in 2001 so that he could work with young people and immigrants as he
saw the Salesians doing in the parish.
His pastor at that time, Fr. Tim Ploch, and Fr. Tom Ruekert, presently
the pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Port Chester, assisted in vesting Fr. Miguel.
Miguel made his novitiate at Mary Help
of Christians in New York City and made his first profession there in 2004. He
made his perpetual commitment to God in 2010.
Bro. Miguel earned a bachelor’s degree
in philosophy at Seton Hall University in 2007. During his practical training
at Salesian High, he taught religion and coordinated the intramural sports
program. As part of his religion teaching he took up John Paul II’s theology of
the body, on which he continued to speak occasionally to parish and youth
groups while studying theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South
Orange, N.J. He earned a master’s degree in theology at Immaculate Conception
in May of this year.
During his years studying theology, Bro.
Miguel directed the RCIA program for Spanish-speakers at Our Lady of the Valley
Church in Orange, N.J. He also served as a general assistant to the candidates
first trying out Salesian life.
Fr. Miguel’s first priestly assignment
is to St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade, Fla.
Fr. Miguel, vested for the 1st time as a priest. His sister Elizabeth carried the vestments in procession, blessed him at the beginning of the ordination ritual, and assisted in his vesting. |
Jim had already earned a bachelor’s
degree in philosophy from St. Jerome University in Waterloo, Ont., and as a
seminarian earned a master’s in pastoral ministry at Seton Hall in 2007.
His parents carried his chasuble and
stole in the entrance procession. Fr. Luc Lantagne, who was provincial in
Canada when Jim entered formation, and Fr. Mike Pace, pastor of St. Benedict’s
Parish in Etobicoke, Ont., assisted in his vesting.
Fr. Luc Lantagne and Fr. Jim's parents help him put on priestly vestments for the 1st time. |
During his years of theological study,
he found Jerusalem a very interesting place to live and to do pastoral
ministry. He writes: “Jerusalem made for an interesting variety of pastoral
work. Much of it involved working with the Filipino chaplaincy, which organizes
the pastoral life for migrant workers who come to Israel. Within the chaplaincy
(much of its work originates from our Salesian community), I was a catechist
and deacon for the San Lorenzo Ruiz Filipino Community. I also was the main
catechist for the children preparing for sacraments in 2010-2011. Along with
the chaplaincy, I participated on a rotation with other community members to
provide recreation with a hospice for the physically and mentally handicapped
run by the Daughters of Charity (St. Vincent de Paul Sisters). On an informal
basis I also gave tours of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to English-speaking
pilgrims. I say, ‘informally’ because I and the others in the community are not
official guides, but during our studies we were encouraged to offer assistance
to pilgrims who came and had questions about the holy places since all of us
gained much knowledge in class and on weekly archeological excursions.”
Fr. Jim’s first priestly assignment is
to St. Benedict’s Parish in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto.
Cardinal Rodriguez anoints Fr. Jim's hands with sacred chrism. |
The cardinal said that Peter’s
confession of faith established a new relationship between him and Jesus, and
we who confess the same faith now, in this Year of Faith, share in that
intimate relationship.
The cardinal challenged the new priests
to be true pastors of the young like St. John Bosco, and like Don Bosco to be
holy and to be priests always and everywhere, conforming themselves to the
heart of Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment