The sacrifice men make to answer God’s call – and joy that they did – were themes sounded by those celebrating the diocese’s two newest priests.
Bishop McManus ordained Fathers Peter Bui and Gustavo Correa to the priesthood Saturday at St. Paul Cathedral.
The bishop expressed thanks for answered prayers. Some years ago he had spoken of being impressed with the faith of the Vietnamese people, and had said he prayed the diocese would have a Vietnamese seminarian. Father Bui is the first Vietnamese-American ordained a priest for the Diocese of Worcester. Father Correa is one several men who came from Colombia to serve as priests here.
Bishop McManus welcomed people, including members of the Hispanic and Vietnamese communities, who were present at the ordination or watching it remotely. He said their presence was a beautiful sign of the Church’s universality.
The Mass included Scripture readings and songs in English, Spanish and Vietnamese and the bishop preached about priestly ministry and holiness. As the new priests processed out, the congregation applauded and cheered.
Father Bui’s mother, Michelle Nguyen, said the ordination was an “unforgettable moment.” Speaking of the blessing and privilege of priesthood she said she “can’t imagine that happened to my family.” But, she said, her son received God’s call. Through a translator she said her purpose is to continue to pray for him, so he can serve the flock God has given him.
By being ordained “he not only belongs to my family, but the Church,” especially the Worcester Diocese, said Father Bui’s father, Chien Bui.
“We feel so grateful to have two more priests in the Worcester Diocese,” said Sarah Beltran, of St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury, where Father Correa served.
“He invited us to come celebrate with him,” said her husband, Gabriel Beltran, explaining that their family and other families gathered for a pre-ordination cookout with Father Correa and Father Wilson Suarez.
With translation help, Father Suarez said he is pastor of San Lorenzo Parish in Yolombó, Colombia, Father Correa’s home parish. Earlier, he helped in Father Correa’s vocational process, he said, and came from Colombia for his ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Beltran spoke of Father Correa making a sacrifice to serve as a priest.
Sister Amy Nguyen, of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, knows about such sacrifices from personal experience. When asked by The Catholic Free Press, she admitted that at one point she and Father Bui were interested in marrying.
“We just didn’t give our vocation a chance,” she said. “We didn’t discern.” Each going to adoration, they eventually discerned their vocations, she said.
She entered the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco five years ago and made her first vows last August. She said her assignment is in Tampa, Florida, but she is working at a summer camp in North Haledon, New Jersey.
After Saturday’s ordination she said, “I feel so blessed and so honored to be a witness of how God’s love transformed Father Peter’s life. He chose the greatest path that there is – saying yes to God’s call.”
The ordination also had personal significance for Father Cleber de Paula, ordained a priest for the Worcester Diocese last year and now associate pastor of Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes in Worcester.
“For me it was very special because I know Gustavo; we are friends,” he said. They have mutual friends at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Leominster where each served. Father de Paula said he was happy because he knew how Father Correa was dreaming of this day.
“Imposing my hands on him was very special for me also,” he said. “It was the first time as a priest” to impose hands on a transitional deacon for his priestly ordination.
“Father Gustavo and I have been in seminary together the last three years at Pope St. John XXIII” in Weston, said Deacon Stephen Mullaney, ordained transitional deacon for the diocese last month, in preparation for priesthood. “And since there are only a few seminarians from our diocese there, we form a close bond.” He said he was to serve as a deacon at Father Correa’s first Mass at Our Lady of the Lake.
Deacon Mullaney also knows Father Bui; parishes they served at as seminarians worked together on a youth program. ????
Father Bui’s work with young people was addressed by others at the ordination.
“He wants to help … young people to have faith … and come to the Catholic Church,” said his aunt Niem Nguyen. She said he was always helping people when he was growing up.
Her friend Maryann Stuke, children’s minister and catechetical leader at Immaculate Conception Parish in Nashua, New Hampshire, spoke of “the sacrifice the priests have to make, the support of the priests together today,” ???? and said, “It gives me great hope.” She said this was the first priestly ordination she had attended, and it was “amazing.” Last year she attended Father Bui’s ordination to the transitional diaconate.
Father Bui is “a wonderful person to be a priest, very enthusiastic, dedicated to the youth,” said Dominican Sister Quynh Nguyen, who is studying at Assumption University and does catechesis at Father Bui’s home parish, Our Lady of Vilna in Worcester. She spoke of “his energy when he’s with the kids in the church” and added, “They love him.”
“He was born to be a priest; he just has the personality,” commented Louise McKenna of St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, where Father Bui served as a seminarian. “Even when we got here (before the ordination Mass) he was up there in the church (instead of downstairs where clergy were vesting). He wanted to be with the people.” She called the ordination – the first she’s attended – a “beautiful ceremony.”
It was also the first ordination for Bill Bui of Our Lady of Vilna (not related to Father Bui).
“I really like it,” he said, speaking of all the Vietnamese being together. He said it’s not easy to be a priest, but God calls. Bishop McManus welcomed people, including members of the Hispanic and Vietnamese communities, who were present at the ordination or watching it remotely. He said their presence was a beautiful sign of the Church’s universality.
The Mass included Scripture readings and songs in English, Spanish and Vietnamese and the bishop preached about priestly ministry and holiness. As the new priests processed out, the congregation applauded and cheered.
Father Bui’s mother, Michelle Nguyen, said the ordination was an “unforgettable moment.” Speaking of the blessing and privilege of priesthood she said she “can’t imagine that happened to my family.” But, she said, her son received God’s call. Through a translator she said her purpose is to continue to pray for him, so he can serve the flock God has given him.
By being ordained “he not only belongs to my family, but the Church,” especially the Worcester Diocese, said Father Bui’s father, Chien Bui.
“We feel so grateful to have two more priests in the Worcester Diocese,” said Sarah Beltran, of St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury, where Father Correa served.
“He invited us to come celebrate with him,” said her husband, Gabriel Beltran, explaining that their family and other families gathered for a pre-ordination cookout with Father Correa and Father Wilson Suarez.
With translation help, Father Suarez said he is pastor of San Lorenzo Parish in Yolombó, Colombia, Father Correa’s home parish. Earlier, he helped in Father Correa’s vocational process, he said, and came from Colombia for his ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Beltran spoke of Father Correa making a sacrifice to serve as a priest.
Sister Amy Nguyen, of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, knows about such sacrifices from personal experience. When asked by The Catholic Free Press, she said that at one point she and Father Bui were interested in marrying.
“We just didn’t give our vocation a chance,” she said. “We didn’t discern.” Each going to adoration, they eventually discerned their vocations, she said.
She entered the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco five years ago and made her first vows last August. She said her assignment is in Tampa, Florida, but she is working at a summer camp in North Haledon, New Jersey.
After Saturday’s ordination she said, “I feel so blessed and so honored to be a witness of how God’s love transformed Father Peter’s life. He chose the greatest path that there is – saying yes to God’s call.”
The ordination also had personal significance for Father Cleber de Paula, ordained a priest for the Worcester Diocese last year and now associate pastor of Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes in Worcester.
“For me it was very special because I know Gustavo; we are friends,” he said. They have mutual friends at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Leominster where each served. Father de Paula said he was happy because he knew how Father Correa was dreaming of this day.
“Imposing my hands on him was very special for me also,” he said. “It was the first time as a priest” to impose hands on a transitional deacon for his priestly ordination.
“Father Gustavo and I have been in seminary together the last three years at Pope St. John XXIII” in Weston, said Deacon Stephen Mullaney, ordained a transitional deacon for the diocese last month, in preparation for priesthood. “And since there are only a few seminarians from our diocese there, we form a close bond.” He said he was to serve as a deacon at Father Correa’s first Mass at Our Lady of the Lake.
He said he knew Father Bui because, as seminarians, they were assigned to parishes that did joint projects with youth in the Young Neighbors in Action program.
Father Bui’s work with young people was addressed by others at the ordination.
“He wants to help … young people to have faith … and come to the Catholic Church,” said his aunt Niem Nguyen. She said he was always helping people when he was growing up.
Her friend Maryann Stuke, children’s minister and catechetical leader at Immaculate Conception Parish in Nashua, New Hampshire, spoke of “the sacrifice the priests have to make.” She said this was the first priestly ordination she had attended, and it was “amazing.”
Last year she attended Father Bui’s ordination to the transitional diaconate.
Father Bui is “a wonderful person to be a priest, very enthusiastic, dedicated to the youth,” said Dominican Sister Quynh Nguyen, who is studying at Assumption University and does catechesis at Father Bui’s home parish, Our Lady of Vilna in Worcester. She spoke of “his energy when he’s with the kids in the church” and added, “They love him.”
“He was born to be a priest; he just has the personality,” commented Louise McKenna of St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, where Father Bui served as a seminarian. “Even when we got here (before the ordination Mass) he was up there in the church (instead of downstairs where clergy were vesting). He wanted to be with the people.” She called the ordination – the first she’s attended – a “beautiful ceremony.”
It was also the first ordination for Bill Bui of Our Lady of Vilna (not related to Father Bui).
“I really like it,” he said, speaking of all the Vietnamese being together. He said it’s not easy to be a priest, but God calls.