By Susan Stevenot Sullivan, Staff Writer

ATLANTA--As fragrant incense rose to the rafters, three candidates for priesthood processed down the center aisle of the Cathedral of Christ the King June 3.

Their progress was marked by the movement of the processional cross visible above the heads of those who crowded the pews and lined the walls which resounded with alleluias.

On the day before the celebration of Pentecost, Rev. Mr. Mark William Lacey, Rev. Mr. Serge Etienne Ward and Rev. Mr. Richard Knox Young, all of whom are multilingual, were ordained by Archbishop John F. Donoghue for service in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

In his homily the archbishop recounted the story of the risen Lord’s appearance to the disciples who had been fishing and the conversation with Peter that followed.

“Simon, do you love me?” Jesus asks again and again. ‘Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.’ Now in Peter’s old sorrow and in his new joy, we realize the authority, the power and the true meaning of what Jesus entrusted to Peter and the apostles so long ago, and which he continues to entrust to his bishops and priests of today.”

“It is the duty to forgive, and to love--to love purely, unconditionally and with healing as the sole motivation.”

“It is such love which bore the fracture of Peter’s denial, a terrible sin, which was finally healed on this mornings, by the contrition of Peter and by the confident forgiveness of his master, Jesus Christ,” the archbishop continued.

“It is the same love that has brought us here today, and its power intersects our celebration from several sources.”

The archbishop spoke of the love of family and friends and the role of the Holy Spirit in priestly vocations.

“Like the burning coal in the mouth of Isaiah, the Holy Spirit has come to these men and led them to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and they have answered like Isaiah, “Here I am Lord. Send me!”

“In other words spoken to another prophet, the young and fearful Jeremiah, Mark and Serge and Richard have received God’s mandate, his mission, his orders: ‘To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak ... see, I place my words in your mouth!”

“Words of faith, hope and love, joined to the sacramental gestures of healing and forgiving, this is the meaning of the priesthood, then and now this is the meaning of that early morning conversation, held on the lake of Tiberias centuries ago between the broken but healed man, Peter, and the broken but risen Lord, Jesus Christ.”

“This is the meaning of our celebration today, where once again, he speaks those same words to these men he has chosen from our midst, ‘Feed my lambs, feed my sheep,’” the archbishop said during his summation.

Later, when the candidates prostrated themselves on the floor of the main aisle for the Litany of the Saints, the meager sunlight of the morning strengthened its glow through the glass windows of the cathedral. The radiant portraits of the saints illuminated the church as the congregation invoked the prayers of dozens of holy men and women.

After the archbishop laid hands on the candidates, each of the more than 60 priests present did the same. The three men responded with a harmonious “I am” to the prayer of consecration which followed.

Once invested with stole and chasuble by fellow priests, the palms of the new priests’ hands were liberally anointed with holy oil by the archbishop as each knelt in turn before him.

During the presbyteral greeting of peace, Father James K. Byrne, pastor of a rural church in County Wexford, Ireland, and uncle of Father Mark Lacey, encompassed his lanky nephew in a lingering bear hug that lifted the new priest feet from the floor.

On the other side of the sanctuary, a moved and joyful Father Richard Young wept as he received embraces from his fellow priests.

The liturgy of the Eucharist began with all of the priests present assembled around the altar. It ended in a joyous recessional which fragmented outside the cathedral as throngs of well-wishers surrounded the new priests and first blessings were given. A reception provided by the Serra Club of the archdiocese followed in the Hyland Center.

Comments from friends and family members heard before and after the liturgy were filled with joyful memories and quiet pride.

Father Ward’s mother, Jeanne Marie Ward, of Paris, spoke of the event that transformed her son’s life, participation in an Operation Rescue at an Atlanta abortion clinic in 1988.

“That experience was the turning point in his life,” Mrs. Ward said. “I truly believe it was one of the most moving experiences in his life. It was the first time he really had to evaluate his beliefs. He determined there was no room for compromise. It was at this time his faith became his strength and his foundation.”

Mrs. Ward added that her son’s radiant smile that morning spoke of his confidence in his call to the priesthood.

I’ve known Serge all his life,” said Deacon Mike Ascolese, Father Ward’s godfather and a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for the last 16 years. “We were having dinner at Underground about a year before he entered the seminary when he first brought it up. I encouraged him to go on with it.”

Deacon Ascolese vested Father Ward during his transitional diaconate ordination, proclaimed the second reading at his priest ordination and served as deacon at his first Mass.

“Serge is a very sensitive person,” Deacon Ascolese continued. “He’s sensitive to people’s feelings and their needs. He has some visionary qualities. He’ll be good for the church of the future.”

Helen Jackson met Father Richard Young when she worked with the Order of Christian Initiation Program at St. Joseph Church in Athens.

“After he joined the church he told me one day he’d like to become a priest,” she said. “I gave him all the encouragement I could. He has a very warm personality. I think he will be a very devout priest.”

Margaret Dorzan, who was commissioned a eucharistic minister with Father Young at St. Joseph, agreed. “I know he’ll make a wonderful priest.”

Polly Young, his mother, said the last eight years provided ample notice of the ordination.

“He was raised in a religious family,” Mrs. young said. “He’s a born teacher. He’s not money-oriented; he’s people-oriented. He was in the Peace Corps. He’s always had a big heart.”

Father Mark Lacey’s family includes an aunt and an uncle who have religious vocations. His uncle, Father Byrne, also a principal concelebrant at the ordination Mass, celebrated the 35th anniversary of his own ordination at Father Lacey’s first Mass on Pentecost Sunday.

It’s a great day,” said Father Byrne, “and great to be here. He’s a very sincere young man. I wish him well and hope he’ll be happy.”

Father Byrne’s sister, Margaret Byrne, also of County Wexford in Ireland, and Father Lacey’s godmother, said the occasion of his ordination was not to be missed.

“I think he’s great,” she said. “Mark was always a sort of special guy, I think. This is his big day.”

Father Lacey’s siblings were unanimous in their perception that his path to ordination showed steady growth. Each also supplied as individual observation.

“He puts his best into whatever he’s doing,” said his sister Kate Dolan. “he’s so calm, even today. He was the one who kept my husband calm the day of our wedding. He takes things in stride. I think that will help when he’s out in the parishes.”

“We’re looking forward to having him home,” said his sister Mary Anne Lacey. “This will be the first time in 15 years the whole family will be together in one city.”

In a sense speaking for all of those who crowded into the cathedral to witness the ordination of a special friend, minister, brother, son or classmate, Sean Lacey concluded his comments with a heartfelt declaration.

“We are very proud of him.”