Fr.
Michael Eguino, SDB, was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 27, by
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, at his home parish of St.
Benedict in the Bronx.
Fr.
Mike, 30, graduated from Salesian High School in New Rochelle in 2002 and from
Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., in 2008 (B.A. in philosophy). He studied
theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary, affiliated with Seton Hall.
For
the last four years Fr. Mike has been a member of the Salesian formation
community in Orange, N.J. He served as a deacon for the last year at Holy
Rosary Church in Port Chester, N.Y., and his first priestly assignment is to
newly-combined Corpus
Christi-Holy Rosary Parish in Port Chester.
In
August Fr. Mike will take up priestly ministry and teaching at Archbishop Shaw
High School in Marrero, La., and the nearby parishes served by the Salesian
community.
Fr.
Mike entered the Salesian formation program shortly after his high school
graduation and made his novitiate in New York City in 2005-2006. He professed temporary
vows on August 16, 2006, and made his perpetual
profession on August 18, 2012. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate
on May 24 of last year.
Fr.
Mike has teaching experience at Salesian High School (2008-2010) in the fields
of world history and theology. He also served on the retreat team at Don Bosco
Retreat Center in Haverstraw-Stony Point, N.Y., in 2010-2011. Other apostolic
ministry included work in the youth center at Our Lady of the Valley Church in
Orange.
Some
50 Salesian, diocesan, and religious priests concelebrated the ordination Mass
with Cardinal Dolan and Fr. Mike. Three former pastors, all of whom helped
foster Fr. Mike’s vocation, were among those taking part.
Pastor
Fr. Stephen Norton and the assistant clergy warmly welcomed all the visiting
clergy and other guests. The parish choir sang the Mass, under the direction of
Anne Myers. The large parish church was nearly full with Salesians, members of
the Eguino family, St. Benedict parishioners, Sisters of St. John the Baptist,
Salesian Sisters, and representatives from several of the places where Fr. Mike
has served during his years as a Salesian.
Cardinal
Dolan’s homily began with an unusual statement: that he and Fr. Thomas Dunne,
SDB, the provincial, had just lied to everyone. They had testified that Deacon
Michael Eguino was worthy of ordination as a priest. And, said the cardinal, we
all—including Michael—know that he is not worthy. No one is.
The
cardinal observed that a few minutes earlier Michael had lain prostrate on the
floor while the congregation prayed the Litany of the Saints over him—a
testimony of his unworthiness and helplessness. The priesthood, Cardinal Dolan
said, is not a prize to be won, a career to be pursued, a degree to be earned,
but a pure gift from God to someone who admits his unworthiness. It’s all God’s
grace, mercy, and initiative.
Ordination,
the cardinal continued, is all about Jesus and his Church. Jesus continues to
summon unworthy, sinful, and clumsy men to the vocation of sharing God’s grace
and mercy with the Church.
At
one point, the cardinal asked Deacon Michael whether he was afraid. “No,” he
answered. “But I’m nervous.”
Cardinal
Dolan followed up: it’s OK to be nervous. But Jesus tells us often not to be
afraid. God takes care of us. This trust in Divine Providence, in fact, is a
part of the Salesian charism passed on by Don Bosco, the cardinal said.
 |
| Cardinal Dolan, Fr. Mike, and Fr. Mike's parents enjoyed a few moments when Mom and Dad brought up the chalice and paten to be presented to the new priest as part of the ritual. |
On
an earlier occasion, Cardinal Dolan had admired the Good Shepherd cross that is
given to Salesians when they pronounce their perpetual vows. At the end of
Mass, as a token of appreciation for the cardinal’s love for Don Bosco and the
Salesians, Fr. Dunne presented him with a larger version of that cross, to the
cardinal’s extreme delight. He immediately removed his pectoral cross and put
on the Salesian cross.
 |
| Wearing the Salesian Good Shepherd cross, the cardinal half-embraces Fr. Tom Dunne while praising the ministry of the Salesians and Salesian Sisters and expressing his pleasure at the presence of so many members of the Salesian Family at the ordination. |
 |
| At the parish's reception after Mass, Fr. Mike offered his first priestly blessings to all comers --starting of course with Mom and Dad. |
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