After 2 years during which the pandemic prevented the traditional priestly ordination in Rome of some of the Legionaries of Christ who are finishing their period of studies. On Saturday, May 7th, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello ordained 28 Legionaries at St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica, in Rome. The new priests come from: Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Italy, France, the United States, and Mexico.

Cardinal Bertello said in his homily that “our joy is, above all, an expression of joy and gratitude from the Church to the Lord for having called these young men to dedicate their lives to Him and that today they are counted among His ministers.” He mentioned the priestly prayer from the Gospel of John and, with it, reminded the future priests that “Jesus’ consecration is, above all, a separation from the world, which makes Him the exclusive property of the Father, and an offering because He gives Himself to Him, offering Himself as a victim on the Cross.” He also referred to Pope Francis’ homily during the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass last week: “He reminded us that we must not let ourselves be bewitched by the temptation of triumphalism, success, or confining ourselves to the mentality of a mere official, who, instead of keeping his gaze fixed on Jesus’ Cross, rejoices in his own abilities.”

The Father Savio Zanetta, LC, rector of the theology community at the General Directorate headquarters, noted that this celebration “is like a breath of fresh air amid what we have experienced with the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis that all this has left behind. The ordinations are a visible way of how God wants to bring His word, comfort, and mercy to many people through the new priests.”

The rector of the Legionaries of Christ International College in Rome, Father Christopher Brackett, LC, referring to the newly ordained, said: “We lack words to express what we experience at each priestly ordination, the mystery, the gift, the generosity of those being ordained, but also of their parents, who entrust their children’s vocation to God. Today, without a doubt, our hearts overflow with joy and happiness seeing them arrive at the altar, prostrating before God to receive the ordination. A mystery of grace.”

Father John Connor, LC, General Director of the Legionaries of Christ, shared that “For me, as the general director, it fills me with hope to see these brothers of ours reaching this moment. I thank God and congratulate each of them, their families, their formators, and I pray that the gift they receive today in the ordination bears fruit throughout their priestly ministry.”

Alongside Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, concelebrated Bishops Paolo Shiavon, emeritus auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rome; Jesús Herrera Quiñónez, bishop of Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico; Zeno Hastenteufel, emeritus bishop of Novo Hamburgo; João Francisco Salm, bishop of Novo Hamburgo; Edson de Mello, bishop of Cachoeira do Sul; Edilso Soares Nobre, bishop of Oeiras; Francisco de Assis dos Santos Gabriel, C.SS.R, bishop of Campo Maior; Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus, SDB, Archbishop of Quito; Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira, Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy; and Mons. Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus, attended without concelebrating. Also, 150 priests concelebrated the Eucharist.

The formation path as Legionaries of Christ spans about 12 years, during which discernment is made to discover if priesthood is what God desires for one’s life. They are formed in Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, and undertake an apostolic internship in various locations. The goal is to form a priest who makes Christ the center of his life to radiate Him to souls. The key elements of this formation path are summarized in the Ratio Institutionis “Christus vita vestra.”

A webpage has been created where the ceremony was streamed live in several languages, and from which one can spiritually adopt the new priests by praying for them and their priesthood.