By Fr. Terry Young

Last week, amid the centuries old ritual of the Church and the general rejoicing of my friends and relatives, I was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. It was, of course, a time of personal fulfillment for me. After many years of study and prayer, ups and downs, doubts and fears, I reached a great goal. Yet there was something far more significant to that occasion than one man reaching a personal goal. From beginning to end one could not help but see that that celebration said much about our archdiocese.

First of all, I think the celebration said something about the generosity and spirit that is possible and present in our diocese. People from four parishes in the metropolitan area freely gave of their time and resources in a variety of ways in order to make the ordination of one of their priests a memorable and joyful occasion. More than a hundred women at St. Thomas More prepared food for the luncheon following the ordination. Ladies from Immaculate Heart of Mary prepared the church and hosted a reception following my First Mass. The choirs of Assumption Parish and St. Thomas More practiced long hours in order to provide fitting music for this special occasion. Parishioners from Holy Cross did much to turn out an ordination booklet. In all there was a tremendous sense of joy an unity among the people of these various parishes who gave so freely of their time and effort. This is the sort of unity and fellowship that our archbishop and Pastoral Council have tried to suggest to us is not only a real need but is a real possibility in North Georgia. On this occasion no one brought up anything about parish boundaries or what each parish was obligated to do. People from various parishes simply saw the needs of the occasion and contributed according to their own talents.

Secondly, I think this celebration said something about the way many of the people of our Catholic community feel about the priesthood. Much has been said and written in recent years about the Catholic priesthood. Many men have left the priesthood. Priests are involved in a variety of social action activities. The Church’s approach to training and educating her priests has changed radically in the last five years. The priestly ministry has undergone change and will continue to undergo change as the Church seeks to meet the needs of her people in this second half of the twentieth century. Yet in the midst of all of this, the actions of the people at my ordination showed that enduring affection for the priesthood that has been a part of the Catholic spirit down through the centuries. No one could have left this ordination celebration last week without being convinced that the priesthood still has a place in the lives and affections of our North Georgia Catholic community.

Finally, I was greatly touched by the gestures of affection which were extended to me personally. Sometimes when you visit parishes, people will complain that their parish is cold and unfriendly. I don’t think I’ve ever visited a parish that didn’t show real signs of warmth and friendship. That warmth and friendship sometimes needs to be encouraged, and that is a job for every member of a parish community –priests and people alike.

The celebration is now over. My relatives and friends have left town, my friends here have returned to their work, and I now look forward to taking up my new assignment at Holy Spirit. Yet I think each of us has carried away from that ordination celebration an impression that he will not easily forget. For my part I shall not only remember the generosity and affection that so many people showed to me on that day, but I shall always remember that experience of being with a Catholic community in what was most certainly one of its finest hours.