BY SUSAN STEVENOT SULLIVAN

Two days before Pentecost, when visitors from foreign countries heard the Good News of Jesus proclaimed in their own tongues, Rev. Mr. Victor Jose Reyes was ordained in a ceremony which included Spanish, Latin and English.

A native of Barcelona, Venezuela, Rev. Mr. Reyes’ journey to ordination ended May 20 at Christ Our Hope Parish in Lithonia, where he has served for three years.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue presided at the liturgy, while the ordination was celebrated in Spanish by Bishop Agustin A. Roman, auxiliary bishop of Miami, who also delivered the homily.

Seated in the first row along the main aisle, Rev. Mr. Reyes’ father, Antonio, and sisters, Lobelia, Maria and Eulalia Reyes and Luisa Decena, and nephew William Whitney, all visiting from Venezuela, beamed as the thump of the conga and bombo drums and trill of the zampona flute joined the chorus in Spanish calling the procession of clergy to the altar.

Lobelia Reyes proclaimed the first reading in Spanish, which was followed by the second reading in English and the Gospel in Spanish. Text in the alternate language was provided in the program. The Mass was celebrated in Spanish.

Following the homily, Rev. Mr. Reyes prostrated himself on a distinctively patterned rug in the center aisle. The litany, led in English by fellow St. Meinrad Seminary student John Howren, filled the intimate atmosphere of the informal church.

The along on of hands was performed first by Bishop Roman, then by Archbishop Donoghue, then by each of the two dozen priests present.

The new priest was then dressed in brightly-bordered vestments by his father and sister, Maria, and Father Austin Fogarty, pastor of Christ Our Hope. He then received a Chalice and paten from Bishop Roman, followed by often emotional embraces of peace from the priests present. This clergy sign of peace was celebrated with a lively and compelling performance of “El Profeta” by the Hispanic musicians.

The Mass then proceeded as usual until before the final blessing when the archbishop, bishop and then Father Reyes made final remarks.

The Archbishop thanked God, Father Reyes, Father Reyes’ family, the parish and Bishop Roman for their roles in the occasion.

“Victor,” the archbishop said, “we hope this is only the beginning of many, many years in the Lord’s service.”

Bishop Roman shared the story of a poor, uneducated couple who were urged by a doctor to abort the child the woman was carrying because of medical problems. Acting in faith they refused and the child and mother survived the birth. The child became a priest and then a bishop, the bishop said. The mother lived to see all of this and died only seven years ago.

“I am that child,” Bishop Roman said, concluding with comments about the difference the Gospel can make in the lives of others, a task Father Reyes now assumes with more emphasis than ever before.

Before the Mass ended Father Reyes gave his first blessings to Archbishop Donoghue and Bishop Roman, who knelt before him in turn.

After the liturgy, friends and family members had many favorable comments about Father Reyes’ gifts and abilities.

“I hope he brings sensitivity, which he quite a lot of,” said Father Carlos Garcia Carreras, SJ. “I’m sure he’ll bring commitment and I’m sure too, he’ll bring happiness. He’s a very happy fellow and a very friendly fellow.”

Father Reyes’ father, Antonio, expressed great happiness at the event, with the help of a translator, calling it “a day of great emotion and satisfaction.” Father Reyes’ oldest sister, Maria, expressed similar sentiments, saying she felt, “really fulfilled from the Lord.”

“Victor is a very hard worker,” Maria Reyes continued. “He’ll work very hard in the evangelization of the parish.” She expressed confidence that God would give her brother strength for the challenges ahead.

Graduates and students of St. Meinrad College and School of Theology in Indiana, where Rev. Mr. Reyes received his mater of divinity degree May 12, were well represented. They included Cathy Lavender, Brother Alberic Farbolin, OCSO, Frederick Porter (a deacon at the liturgy), John Howren, Dan Fleming, Jay Harpring, tom Williamson, Michael Williams, Brother Jacob Komba, OSB and president/rector Father Eugene Hensell, OSB.

The ordination was also attended by friends from Green Bay, Wis., Birmingham, Ala., Kansas City, Kan., Montgomery, Ala., and Evansville, Ind.

The reception that followed the liturgy was enlivened by Hispanic musicians and dancers from St. Michael’s Church in Gainesville.

Father Reyes’ first Mass the following day at Christ Our Hope was held by candlelight, because a sudden storm had brought down power lines. The storm and resulting closed roads and other problems prevented many of the guests from attending the Mass of Thanksgiving. Father Reyes said he was pleased with the celebration nonetheless.

Father Reyes, 37, brings a degree in business to his ministry. He speaks English, French and Spanish and has experience teaching foreign languages and working in administration.

Following his diaconate ordination last year, Father Reyes expressed his expectation of working closely with the Hispanic communities within the archdiocese, where he did much of his preparatory pastoral work.

He has been assigned as parochial vicar at St. Jude the Apostle in Atlanta with additional responsibility for Hispanic ministry at St. Jude and at St. Patrick in Norcross.