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Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
December 8, 2000
_________________________________
Ordination to the Priesthood
of
Reverend Jim Moore
_____________________
"But
how can this come about…."(Lk:
1.34).
Indeed, my dear friends, one could hardly fault Mary, the young virgin,
asking this question. The sudden
appearance of an angel, the salutation which must have caused some
embarrassment, and the message which seemed to be beyond belief, all must have
left this young girl of Nazareth totally perplexed. And then she had a problem.
She was a virgin and how would a virgin become a mother?
And so her natural response was: "But how can this come about?"
(Lk: 1.34)
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you" the angel answered.
“…Nothing is impossible to God" (Lk: 1.37).
Her immediate response was “….let what you have said be done to
me" (Lk: 1.38).
In these short words Mary gave assent to a process which had already
begun in her some years previously when, in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne,
she was uniquely prepared for her role as Mother of the Redeemer.
This is highlighted in the opening prayer of our celebration today:
"God, our Father, through the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
you prepared a worthy dwelling - place for your Son.
You preserved her from all stain because of the death you foresaw your
Son would suffer" (Roman Missal). This
is the Father's plan. The preservation of Mary of Nazareth from every stain of
sin is intimately and essentially linked to the Redemptive act of the Son of God
and Mary consciously gives assent to this plan by her submission to the
overshadowing of the Holy Spirit at the moment of the announcement of the angel. The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary is one of the four solemnities of Mary celebrated in the Church's calendar
and is the first in precedence in terms of the unfolding of salvation history.
For this reason the feast occupies a singular place among all of the
Marian feasts because it marks the very point of origin from which the
celebration of other feasts becomes possible.
As we celebrate today this feast of Mary we give thanks to God the Father
for having prepared in such a unique way a Mother for His Son.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, drawing on the scriptural text
proclaimed in the second reading of today's liturgy, affirms: “The Father
blessed Mary more than any other created person ‘in Christ with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places' and chose her ‘in Christ before the
foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love'
"(CCC.492). What a mystery we celebrate today! By the divine and mercy-filled intervention of God the Father
the mission He would entrust to His Son began to take shape in time and would be
brought to fulfilment by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Praise the Lord!
It is most appropriate then, my dear friends, as we gather here in this
beautiful Church dedicated to Mary under the title "Our Lady of the Most
Holy Rosary" to praise and thank God on this Feast Day, that we solemnise
the occasion by handing on the mission of Christ, the High Priest, to one of
your own. By the power of the same
Holy Spirit, which overshadowed the Virgin of Nazareth, Jim Moore will today be
moulded into the likeness of Christ, the supreme and eternal Priest.
You will not notice much change in him externally - apart from the
liturgical vestments with which he will be clothed - but by the laying on of
hands he will be totally transformed into a "Priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedik" (Heb.7.17).
As Jim was called today and responded ‘present’, it may have seemed a
very simple procedure but behind that ‘present’ there has been a long
journey of faith. Jim has prayed much about this decision.
He is not known as one to rush things.
The seeds of his vocation were sewn in a truly Christian home and
fostered in his second-level education under the guidance of the Christian
Brothers here in Midleton. I am so glad to see here today Brother James, his former
Principal, who has travelled to be with him today. For fifteen years Jim carried the treasure of his calling
deep within his heart while immersing himself in the salutary profession of
farming. He was indeed very happy
and fulfilled in that profession and through it became deeply involved in all
the organisations which promote the welfare of farmers and the practice of good
farming. The fact that for ten
years he was County Cork Chairman of “Macra na Feirme”, for eight years a
member of Dairygold Co-Operative and for four years Chairman of the Midleton
Branch of the Irish Farmers' Association indicates how dedicated he was to his
profession. In these responsible
roles Jim had ample opportunity to meet and work with people in all walks of
life and it is a credit to his capacity to forge friendships that
representatives of the various organisations in which he was involved are here
today to support him as he takes this major new step in his life.
Indeed, through his professional contacts and encounters in the field of
farming Jim was a true ecumenist, forging bonds with people at home and abroad
which will stand to him now as he put his hand to a new plough turning over a
new furrow in the fertile land of the Lord - in the human soul.
Many of those who met Jim in the course of his work in the organisations
of which he was a member, have travelled to be with him today, from all over
Ireland and from England, faithful also from the Church of Ireland and from the
Church of England, who honour him with their presence.
I welcome you all and thank you sincerely for this singular gesture of
Christian Solidarity.
I should mention also that Jim belonged to another organisation here in
Midleton and became its President in 1993. That is the Midleton Toastmasters and
I am happy to welcome also to this ceremony today the representatives of that
organisation.
Of overriding importance in Jim's life was the fact that he was a member
of the Church. His family
upbringing and his academic formation played a big part in ensuring that he
never forgot that he was privileged to be a member of God's family and, as such,
had received a mission, through the waters of Baptism, to be involved in handing
on the Good News of the Gospel. His
faith meant a lot to Jim and as a successful farmer Jim could quite easily have
continued to play a significant role in the life of his local Church.
However, as we have often heard said in Sacred Scripture there came the
"appointed time". Indeed,
at a crucial juncture in his life, Jim felt within him the stirrings of a call
to priesthood. He could well have
used these words of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she was confronted with the
message of the Angel: "But how can this come about …?" (Lk: 1:34).
He could have said to himself: "Everything is going well for me.
Why should I disturb my life and change direction now?". He approached a priest and confided in him.
"Am I crazy", he asked him.
"Of course you are", said the Priest, "you must be if you
are to put your hand to the plough of the Lord.
Remember, there's no turning back. The
world will consider you crazy but in the mind of God you are wise.
You have heard His call. Trust
in Him and He will see you through". Jim
was not one to rush into things. He
took another year to decide and then there was no turning back.
Jim stands here today in his parish Church, presented by his parish
priest, surrounded by family and friends and supported by the prayers of the
Church, as he offers himself for ordination to priesthood.
He brings to the task all the gifts and charisms which have matured
within him over the years and he is about to be enriched by the power of God's
Spirit to be, in the world, a man of God, a shepherd of souls, a companion on
the journey of faith to all those to whom he will be sent to minister.
Jim, welcome in the name of Christ.
You have now been accepted by the Church for ordination to Priesthood.
As the Rite of Ordination will stress: "Know what you are doing and
imitate the mystery you celebrate"(Rite of Ordination).
Indeed, from the moment of your Baptism you have been enveloped in the
Mystery of God: the mystery of His love and mercy for you; the mystery of His
presence to you at all times; the mystery of His call to you to be "a
priest forever" (Heb.7: 17). Put
your trust in Him and know that you are not called to plough a lone furrow.
The Lord Jesus, who confers on you today the gift of His eternal
Priesthood, will be with you always with His unfailing love.
As you, today and from this day onwards, stand at the Altar to offer the
Eucharistic Sacrifice remember in whose Name, in whose Person you act.
You can only keep alive in you your enthusiasm as a Priest for the things
of God if, from your daily Eucharistic celebration, you are driven to seek Him
in His Eucharistic Presence. Be a
Priest who spends time with the Lord Jesus daily so that in your ministry you
may be able to relate to all people in His Name, listening and being open to
what the Spirit is doing in the lives of those you will be called to serve.
Think with the mind of Christ, speak with the tongue of Christ, serve
with the hands of Christ, love with the heart of Christ.
Jim, may you be ever happy in the Priesthood.
Challenge the world with the freshness of your faith, the surety of your
hope and the warmth of your love. The
world today, which seems to have lost its credence in the efficacy of the
Priesthood, has need of courageous and single minded Priests who give witness,
day in day out, to the love of Christ for all.
Do not be afraid, Jim, to tell the world by word and example that you
have been captured by the love of Christ, harnessed by His Word and sent on
mission in His Name.
I said, Jim, that you are not called to plough a lone furrow.
Indeed you join the Priests of the Diocese of Cloyne, many of whom are
here present, in the task of the Lord. They
will welcome you into their midst as a brother priest and I can assure you that
you are joining a priestly family that is a joy to work with.
You will find them all sincere and genuine colleagues who will support
and encourage you at all times. Your
ordination today will boost their own morale at this present time and will be
for me, your Bishop, a source of great grace and joy.
I thank all the priests of the Diocese who have come to welcome you in to
the Priesthood today. Together with
them I welcome all the priests who have come from outside the Diocese and have
travelled long distances to be here today.
I welcome all the Religious, both the Sisters, Brothers and Priests, who
have come to pray with you and for you today.
In a special way I welcome our Religious Sister, a member of your own
family, Sr. Kay O'Neill, Franciscan Missionary who has travelled all the way
from Zambia in Africa to be with you. Jim,
in your work as a Priest, besides being a collaborator of the Bishop and your
fellow Priests, you will come to realise that the "new evangelisation"
required in the world of today can only be achieved through close collaboration
with all who are called in mission by Christ, that is with all Priests,
religious and laity, in a truly active, collaborative ministry.
May I remind you that in this Diocese of Cloyne you will find, in every
Parish, laity that is really dedicated to the Church and to the spreading of
God's Kingdom on earth. They will
be of immense support to you in your ministry.
It is good to see here present today, Jim, your fellow aspirants to
Priesthood from this Diocese, our seminarians, who have come from St. Patrick's
College, Maynooth. With them have
come many members of the Staff who have been involved over the years in your
formation programme, led by the Dean, the V. Rev. Des Hillery. I thank them for their presence and for all that they did to
prepare you for this day. I welcome
also Jim's classmates, his fellow deacons.
They themselves will be paying much attention to what happens here today
as they prepare for their Ordination Day. At
present Jim is studying for a Masters Degree in the Newman Institute in Ballina,
Co. Mayo and I welcome very particularly the representation from the Institute
who have indeed travelled far to be with Jim today.
Thank you most sincerely.
May I say, Jim, that this must be a very special day not only for you but
in particular for your family. I
welcome and congratulate them all, especially your dear Parents.
They have watched you grow to maturity in faith and life, they have
supported you through all your choices and decisions and now they witness today
God's choice of their son and brother as a Priest.
Truly a great blessing comes to your family today and we all thank God
for it.
Mary asked the Angel: "But how can this come about …?" (Lk.1: 34). By responding to God's plan for her life she, the Virgin of Nazareth, became, by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of the Son of God, a veritable miraculous intervention on the part of God. On this her Feast Day I ask her to protect you, Jim, and draw you ever closer to Her Son, as you now step forward to be transformed, by the power of the same Holy Spirit, into a Priest of Jesus Christ, forever.
Amen.