By Kathi Stearns and Susan Stevenot Sullivan, Staff Writers

ATLANTA--Before Gregory Richard Benassu was presented to Archbishop John F. Donoghue as a candidate for ordination to the priesthood, he entered the pew reserved for family and friends to find them crying tears of happiness.

Those few people knew that he had survived an arduous journey during which his first goal had been merely to survive the cancer that threatened his life.

His aunt, Marion Case, could not hold back the tears as she later told the story of Father Benassu’s battle with Hodgkin’s disease.

“He was diagnosed with cancer when he was 10,” she said. “We really thought we were going to lose him because the doctors told us the cancer was in its fourth stage, and at the time, chemotherapy for this type of cancer was just being developed.”

According to Mrs. Case, Father Benassu’s mother, Josephine, who died suddenly from an aneurysm while in her forties, prayed daily for her son’s return to good health.

“She always believed that the Lord would take care of Greg,” Mrs. Case said. “When she died, Greg was cancer-free and he has been cancer-free ever since,” she said as the tears flowed freely.

“I can feel Josephine’s presence in church today,” Mrs. Case said. “I know she is so proud of Greg. He is going to do great things cause he’s already been through hell on earth.”

In addition to his immediate family, hundreds from St. Mary’s Parish in Rome and St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Kennesaw attended the ordination rite held at the Cathedral of Christ the King at 10:30 a.m. July 8. They had come to know Father Benassu, 35, in Rome when he completed a pastoral internship there; he will serve as a parochial vicar in Kennesaw.

An hour before the Mass began Rev. Mr. Benassu arrived at the church, personally greeting each of his guests.

Forty-four priests from the archdiocese including Dom Bernard Johnson, OCSO, Msgr. Edward Dillon, vicar general, and Msgr. Donald Kenny, chancellor, concelebrated the Mass.

The first reading was presented by Rev. Mr. Paul M. LaPalme, a friend of Father Benassu’s and seminarian for the Diocese of Alexandria. The second reading was read by Father Benassu’s sister, Gail Rolak. The Gospel was proclaimed by Rev. Mr. Paul Burke.

During his homily Archbishop Donoghue spoke of the transformation of St. Francis of Assisi as he discovered the Lord’s will, and of the sending forth of the prophet Jeremiah. He also recalled Jesus’ instruction on the responsibility of the shepherd to “feed my lambs, feed my sheep.”

“Like St. Francis or anyone who answers the call of the Lord, the exact nature of Gregory’s future work is unknown to him and to us,” the archbishop said. “But based on the witness he has given, our minds are indeed persuaded that Gregory is willing to submit his entire person, his entire will, to the wishes of God.”

The archbishop reminded Father Benassu that the priesthood is forever linked to the eucharistic sacrifice. “The truth of your visible bond with Jesus Christ will be reaffirmed every single time you take up and receive His body from your own hand and when you offer it to the people according to His command.”

The foundation for Father Benassu’s vocation was established during his year as an undergraduate at Rider College near Trenton, N.J. He was a lector and working closely with two parish priests, attending Mass regularly and making retreats.

“He was the type of person who never missed Mass,” said Mrs. Rolak. “It was at this time that I realized he was a very spiritual person who was dedicated to living his faith.”

After graduation from college he spent four years as a computer programmer and one-and-a-half years as a computer analyst. While commuting to his job on the train, Father Benassu would read the Bible while everyone else studied The New York Time and the Wall Street Journal.

The turning point came in the office elevator one day as he shared a ride with his boss.

When he looked at his boss he saw a man who was middle-aged, divorced and doing a lot of traveling. He thought that this could be him in 10 years.

It was then that he began to reflect on the words of the two parish priests that he met while he was in college who had encouraged him to explore a religious vocation.

Father Benassu’s father, Alfred Benassu, believes that his son’s discernment process and work in the secular world will help him serve the needs of his flock.

“Greg is someone who truly loves life,” he said. “He will bring a lot of world knowledge to the people he serves and more importantly will share his fantastic attitude toward life with everyone he encounters.”

The rite or ordination includes the presentation of the candidate by Msgr. Kenny to the archbishop, his acceptance by the archbishop and the consent of the people, which is expressed by applause. Later, the candidate promises his obedience to the archbishop and his successor and prostrates himself while the community invokes the prayers of the saints. Finally, Archbishop Donoghue lays his hands on the head of the candidate and all other priests to the same.

Following a prayer of consecration, the new priest is vested in stole and chasuble. Father Benassu was helped into his vestments by his father.

During the offertory procession a chalice that incorporates the diamonds from his later Mother’s engagement ring, was brought to the altar by his 10-year-old nephew, Graham. The chalice is a gift from his sister and her family and a friend, James Culver, and was made in Italy this March.

“I wanted him to have something that will go with him wherever he goes,” Mrs. Rolak said. “I want it to be a reminder of my mother’s love for Greg and our family’s love for Greg. He is just so special to all of us.”

After the liturgical celebration, the priest gave first blessings and bear-hugs to those who had attended his ordination.

Father Benassu’s family stood behind the crowds in amazement as hundreds sought out the newly ordained priest.

“The support Greg has received has just been incredible,” his father said. “I know my son is where he belongs.”

“We just want him to know that we are supportive of his decision and let him know that we look forward to working with him,” said Deacon David Rauth, a permanent deacon at St. Catherine’s.

Father Benassu has worn a path between Rome, Italy and Rome, Georgia, during the last few years, studying in Italy and doing pastoral services in St. Mary’s Church in Georgia.

His priestly ordination was followed by a homecoming dinner that evening with members of St. Mary’s Church. His first Mass was celebrated there July 9 and was followed by a reception at the parish.

The chalice used at both Masses has the largest stone from his mother’s ring set at the base inside a fleur-de-lis, which is a symbol of Mary, Mother of God.

“So I have my two mother represented,” Father Benassu said.

The continuity between Rome and Atlanta, apostles past and priests present, is further mirrored in the chalice’s utilization.

The chalice was used first by Pope John Paul II in Rome, whose authority is from Jesus through St. Peter and his successors. Archbishop Donoghue, whose authority is from the pope, was the second priest to use the chalice at the ordination Mass. Having promised the archbishop respect and obedience, Father Benassu then used the chalice at his first Mass.

“There’ll be a lot of firsts coming up in my life,” Father Benassu said of his ministry. “I’m obviously looking forward to that with everything I have.”

Those who have worked with him as a seminarian are looking forward to having him back in the diocese to stay.

“He’s very well liked by the people here,” said St. Mary parish secretary Judy Barcik. “Greg is a very spiritual person. He’s been an inspiration to me. I’d become a Catholic about a year before he spend his pastoral year here. He gave me a lot of insights. We have a lot of discussions.”

Mrs. Barcik said a Bible study group in the parish was as inspired by Father Benassu as a seminarian as he was by them.

Born in New York City, but raised in Green Brook, N.J., he entered the seminary for the Diocese of Trenton after years in the workplace. During his second year of study at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, he met Msgr. Kenny, vocations director for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Impressed by the emotional, spiritual and financial support offered to Atlanta’s seminarians, he joined Msgr. Kenny’s growing group of future priests.

A pastoral year at St. Mary’s was followed by three years of seminary studies in Rome, Italy, interrupted only by his transitional diaconate ordination at St. Mary’s on July 9, 1994.

Father Benassu left Rome this summer with an undergraduate degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and a master of arts in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

His international experience in Rome and the scope of his education have expanded his perspective.

“I find it difficult sometimes to give one-word answers to very big questions,” he said. “We have 2,000 years of Jewish theology to draw on and you’re dealing with God, who has no limits. It’s humbling.”

“God is always beyond,” he continued. “We can say something about God because of what he’s revealed and what we know by reason, yet God is a mystery. It’s a paradox.”

Mrs. Barcik described Father Benassu as somewhat of an introvert. His spiritual, intellectual and mischievous sides become evident, she said, to those who get to know him. She added that he has not “deleted” his computer background.

“He helped me implement the computer system here,” she said. “He was very patient as he bailed me out of each computer mess I made. I was never sure what to expect when I turned on the computer each morning.”

Mrs. Barcik said that Father Benassu has a real talent for listening, a talent which was especially evident when he visited the sick and did a lot of one-to-one counseling with younger people in the parish.

“I think I have an ability to listen and to remember,” Father Benassu said. “It sounds trite, but I care about people. Sometimes that’s all they want, someone to listen to them and care about them.

Father Benassu said his listening skills, his time spent caring for people, his interest in Scripture, his faith, his computer skills and his enjoyment of teaching all come together in his vocation.

“It all seems to connect. I’m really awed by some of it,” he said.