Thirty-eight men from 18 countries were ordained to the priesthood for the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei Saturday 26 May, including Brendan O’Connor, a 53-year old architect from Dublin.Bishop Javier Echevarría, prelate of Opus Dei (pic'd here), conferred the ordinations Saturday afternoon in Rome, reminding the ordinands in his homily that they will be instruments of the Holy Spirit "to illuminate souls and answer the questions that weigh upon the hearts of many people."
A reported 1,500 people were present for the ordinations that took place in the Basilica of St. Eugene.
The new priests come from Ireland, the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Colombia, Italy, the Philippines, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, France, Congo, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya and Guatemala.
Fr O’Connor, born and raised in Dublin, has been a member of Opus Dei since his student days when he said he learned from St. Josemaría “to see professional work and involvement in the affairs of society as ways of serving others”.
The call to the priesthood was one to which he was willing to respond if it became opportune, he said, and so gradually completed the relevant studies in philosophy and theology.
Although the priesthood involves a different way of contributing to society and to the Church, he says he doesn’t see it as a fundamental change in terms of personal commitment.
“In the course of our lives, I think we all develop a disposition either to identify with God’s plans for us in the service of others or to ‘do our own thing’,” he said.
When asked by The Irish Catholic what practical steps might be taken by priests and laity to protect the family in this time of crisis, he said: “The biggest challenges facing the family—a reality which precedes the political community—are not legal or institutional, but personal and cultural.
“Whereas marriage is about others, the dominant cultural value is about self. Without a stronger culture of personal commitment, it is more difficult for people entering marriage to understand that their true happiness does not depend on where they live, what they drive or where they take a holiday.
”The happiness of their children is more firmly assured by the company of brothers and sisters than by the latest video games.”
Fr O’Connor said that teachers, priests, and others involved in supporting families have an important role to play.
“The particular role of the Church has always been to help people to distinguish what is important in life and to bring those values to bear in their own lives, and in their involvement in the affairs of their community,” he said.
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