By Thea Jarvis

Franklin Forts, described by Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, as "the second African-American of Georgian cloth to be ordained for the archdiocese of Atlanta," received the holy orders of priesthood June 1 under a cloudless morning sky.

Surrounded by family and friends, clergy and Religious of the archdiocese as well as visiting churchmen and women, Father Forts committed himself to a life of service to the people of God and obedience to his archbishop in ordination ceremonies at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

"I enter with no illusions regarding the demands placed on the clergy in these times of declining numbers and questions concerning the quality of today's priestly candidates," Father Forts had written in a pre-ordination letter quoted during Archbishop Lyke's homily.

But his desire to serve motivated him to imitate "the work of Christ," proclaiming the Kingdom despite challenges that mark the late 20th century Church, said the priestly candidate.

"God's relationship with me and with all people stands at the center of our understanding of God, of ourselves and of other people," he said. "We are created for relationship with God, through Jesus and with one another."

After formal presentation by archdiocesan vocations director, Father Donald Kenny, who attested to the candidate's worthiness and intent, a beaming Rev. Mr. Forts faced the waiting congregation, who demonstrated their approval with hearty applause.

"Franklin, this priesthood is not easy to attain," Archbishop Lyke told Forts in the homily that followed his presentation. It requires "skill that is both innate and learned, an ability to risk failure, a capacity to exhibit your efforts before others who may accept of reject them."

Christ, "the center of this priestly tapestry," infuses the vocation with "surpassing power," making its tradition of service both effective and sublime, the archbishop said.

Welcoming Forts in the name of the Church, "like proud new parents," the archbishop performed a ritual examination of the candidate, who offered his responses in a strong, clear voice.

Forts then knelt as Archbishop Lyke silently laid his hands on the candidate's head. The congregation prayed quietly while the many priests gathered for the ordination filed to the altar to lay hands on him as well.

Father William Calhoun, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Toccoa and the first African-American to be ordained for service to the archdiocese, was among those extending his blessing.

Father Bruce Wilkinson and Father Joseph Peacock, who along with Father Edward Dillon and Father John Adamski were chief concelebrants of the Mass, helped Forts vest in the stole and chasuble symbolizing his ordained priesthood. Archbishop Lyke anointed Forts' hands with chrism and presented him with the chalice and paten signifying his priestly office.

Standing beside Archbishop Lyke, Father Forts shared in reading the eucharistic prayer with his brother priests and distributed communion while the combined choirs of the cathedral and the church of Saints Peter and Paul led the singing.

"I don't know what to say," Father Forts told the congregation as Mass was concluded, except "thank you."

At a reception in the cathedral's Hyland Center hosted by the archdiocesan Serra Clubs, guests had an opportunity to visit over brunch and congratulate the new priest.

Sister Mary Kendra Bottoms, SND, who had proclaimed the Old Testament reading in which the young shepherd David is chosen to be the Lord's anointed, said the newly anointed Father Forts "is going to be an excellent priest."

"He has what people need," said Sister Bottoms, who had met Forts four years ago in Cleveland at a conference of black clergy and Religious. "He is open, humble and aware of his own limitations, very much like Jesus."

Tramell Alexander, who attended the ordination ceremonies with her husband and two young children, has known Father Forts since his summer assignment at St. Anthony's, where she and her family are parishioners and where Forts entered the Catholic Church in 1977.

She has found Father Forts to be "a really warm person, really gentle," she said. "Everybody loves him."

Mrs. Alexander knew Forts' mother even before he came to St. Anthony's. The two are co-workers at AT&T in Atlanta.

Minnie Forts, whose father was a deacon of the Baptist church, had no difficulty with her son's interest in the Catholic Faith.

"I didn't try to dissuade him" when he first began attending Mass at St. Anthony's as a young teenager, she said. "We all serve God. We just serve him in different ways."

Franklin Forts, Sr., said his son had "covered a lot of ground to get this far" and he was supportive of the vocation his son had chosen.

Rodney Forts, just back from service in Saudi Arabia, and Forts' sister, Sandy Walker, who brought her seven-month-old daughter, Crystal, to the ordination, were proud and happy for their older brother.

"It's something very special," said Rodney, crisp and smiling in his dress uniform.

Wrapped in the warm encouragement of family and friends, Father Forts seemed at ease as the reception drew to a close.

"I'm happy to be a priest," he said. "I'm happy where I am right now. I'm content."