BY GRETCHEN KEISER

and KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writers

ATLANTA--A triple ordination at the Cathedral of Christ the King June 29 concluded a season in which the Archdiocese of Atlanta ordained 11 men to the priesthood.

Rev. Mr. John Anderson, Rev. Mr. Craig David and Rev. Mr. William Williams were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John F. Donoghue.

Earlier this year five candidates were ordained at Holy Spirit Church in Atlanta, and three men were ordained for the archdiocese at Transfiguration Parish, Marietta, in Colombia, South America and Ireland respectively.

Archbishop Donoghue called the June 29 ceremony "one of those precious occasions for happiness" in the life of the Church: "happiness . . . for these men about to be ordained, who have searched so long and so patiently within their own souls to establish the fact of their vocation . . . happiness for their families and close friends . . . and happiness for the Church, who knows like a good mother, that because of what these men give today, new life will enter the Body of Christ."

Front pews were filled early not only by family members of the three to be ordained, but by parishioners who have already developed ties to them during their seminary or diaconate days.

Ann and Bob Legere from St. Gabriel's Church, Fayetteville, said they developed a friendship with John Anderson when he brought Communion to Legere daily during a hospital stay. Anderson served his first pastoral stint in the Fayetteville parish while in seminary and celebrated his first Mass there June 30.

Blanca DelValle said Rev. Mr. David's efforts to polish his Spanish and minister in the Hispanic community at St. John Neumann Church in Lilburn while a deacon had already touched hearts.

"He's very intelligent and he knows what he believes. He is very strong and I think he knows that he wants to be a priest and he wants to be a good and holy priest," she said. His first Mass was celebrated at St. John Neumann June 30 and his first Mass in Spanish was planned for the following Sunday, July 7, she said.

Rev. Mr. Williams, eighth in a family of 14 children from Erie, Pa., was supported by many members of his extended family, including his parents and siblings, who came from Pennsylvania to attend the ordination and his first Mass.

The rite included the presentation of the candidates by Msgr. Don Kenny, archdiocesan director of vocations, their acceptance by the archbishop and the consent of the people which was expressed with prolonged applause. The candidates then took their places on the altar where they listened to Archbishop Donoghue's homily.

The archbishop said that the challenge that must be faced is that of preserving the day's joy and happiness. "One answer is . . . to work to keep the word of Christ active in our lives . . . A sure way, then to keep the happiness of salvation in our lives, is to hear and obey the word of Christ."

The archbishop said that another way to keep hold of this blessed happiness is to cling to the wisdom and the comfort of the Church. He explained that in order to do this the people of the archdiocese need priests.

"We need men who will dedicate their lives, not just to the happy ideals of the ministry, but to the realities of the ministry: men who will rise early to offer Mass; who will stay up late to advise and to consult with parishioners; men who will not hesitate when the call comes from someone's deathbed; men whose ability to listen will make the difference in the lives of those who seek to confess their sins, to mend their lives and to be restored to the state of grace."

The archbishop said that priests are, for the most part, agents of happiness to the people of God. "For the Church and for the world, this is a great blessing, a great service in an age when selfless careers are neither extolled or even much advertised. And we are relieved that Christ has thought of us, has instituted the priesthood and has called these men to be our priests."

While the archbishop looked directly at the three candidates, he called them "beloved sons, for such has the Holy Spirit made you to me." They looked back in earnestness as he urged them to "apply your energies to the duty of teaching in the name of Christ, the chief teacher. Share with all mankind the word of God you have received with joy. Meditate on the law of God, believe what you read, teach what you believe and put into practice what you teach. Never forsake the guidance, the wisdom and the protection of our Holy Church."

The rite of ordination then continued as the candidates promised their obedience to the archbishop and his successors as they knelt before him and prostrated themselves on the cathedral floor while he and all the community invoked the prayers of the saints.

Then Archbishop Donoghue laid his hands on the head of each candidate in an action signifying the conferral of the Holy Spirit and other concelebrants did the same. The new priests, joining the brotherhood of priests who gathered for the ordination, were vested in stole and chasuble.

Father Anderson was helped into his vestments by Father Stephen Churchwell and Father Greg Benassu. Dorothy Williams, mother of the new priest, and Father Cecil Cornelle assisted Father David with his vestments. Father Williams was helped into his vestments by Father Bill O'Toole and Father David Prenatt, classmates from seminary.

The archbishop then anointed the palms of the new priests with holy oil as they knelt before him. Each newly ordained priest then received a chalice and paten from the archbishop. At the conclusion of the rite sustained applause followed the archbishop's embrace of his newest priests.

During the offertory procession the gifts were brought to the altar by the parents of two of the new priests, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Williams, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson, and by Rosaura and Erica Elzey, sister-in-law and niece of Father David.

The three new priests concelebrated Mass with their priestly brothers of the archdiocese for the first time. Each shared a part in the recitation of the Eucharistic prayer. Each then offered the Body of Christ to family and friends as they stood in long lines before them to receive the sacrament.

Outside the Cathedral following the Mass the traditional first blessings were bestowed by the newly ordained on all who asked, from fellow priests and Religious to families and newfound friends.

Dorothy Williams, beaming with joy, said that "everybody else (in the family) knew the secret but me" when her son, Father David, decided to enter the seminary. "I just thought he wanted to help people," she said. "He was always a devout Catholic. . . Father James Joseph Kelly was a big influence in bringing him up. Some would call him a little Father Kelly."

Although there are two religious vocations in the family now, she said she never actively promoted this path. "I never tried to tell my children what to be as long as they were good, productive citizens."