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By Erika Anderson
ATLANTA—At the ordination of Father Nathan C. Calhoun and
Father Robert A. Frederick Jr., the opening hymn, “In This Very
Room,” was appropriate, for in that sacred place, years of work and study
came to fruition as they were ordained to the priesthood.
The Mass was celebrated June 24 at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta. A
buzz of joy and excitement from many friends and family members saturated the
air as the two men processed into the church, followed by Archbishop John F.
Donoghue and over 50 concelebrating priests of the archdiocese.
Rays from the hot June sun poured in through the windows of the
church as the Scriptures were read and the Gospel was proclaimed.
The rite of ordination began as Father David Talley, vocations
director of the archdiocese, presented the candidates to Archbishop Donoghue
and the congregation, who heartily applauded the men. Accepted for ordination,
the two men then sat in the sanctuary and listened intently as the archbishop
offered his guidance and prayers for their lives of service and expressed joy
in their vocations.
“For our sakes, and in fulfillment of the responsibilities
placed upon them on this day, by Christ and by His Church, these men will now
take care of many of our needs—the need to be forgiven and to know the
mercy of God—the need to hear God’s word preached and the teaching of
His Holy Church explained—the need to have our children brought into
God’s adoptive care—the need that we all must have of dealing with
death and the dying, our own, and of those whom we love, who will precede us
into heavenly being—and most especially, the need that takes its place
with the greatest hunger that mankind can know, the need to be fed with the
Body of Christ,” Archbishop Donoghue said.
“For having heard the wishes of Christ when He spoke at the
Last Supper, we know that without this most precious of spiritual infusions,
His Body, we cannot progress in the way of true love, the way of the Gospel,
and the way that leads to heaven.”
He then specifically addressed the men, challenging them to
continue to embrace their calling.
“As you have approached this day, through the years of your
formation, and especially by your service to the Church as ordained deacons, I
know that it has grown ever more clear to your hearts and minds, just how
precious, and how necessary it is for the ministers of Jesus Christ to imitate
Him in earthly life, and most especially, in those virtuous characteristics
which we call the evangelical counsels, and that are known to us under the
titles of poverty, chastity and obedience,” he said.
“This is especially critical in times like ours,” he
continued. “... For in times when these virtues are rejected, and their
rejection is applauded and praised, the duty of Christ’s priests to live
as paragons for the sake of His Church becomes supremely important. For when
poverty and chastity and obedience are rejected, it is those whom Christ loved
the most who suffer the most.”
He told the two candidates that they were called to be teachers
and examples of the virtues of Christ.
“Poverty, chastity and obedience are for all, but in a
priest, they must reflect the perfection of Christ in such a way that they
shine before men like a light on the hill—and they must shine day and
night, year after year, until the light of your lives is finally quenched in
the blaze of the rewards which God is even now preparing for His faithful
servant-priests who are ordained this day.”
Following the homily, the candidates responded “I am,”
to questions posed by the archbishop, affirming to the people of God their
intent to serve with a clear conscience and a prayerful spirit. Then, kneeling
before the archbishop, they promised obedience to him and his successors.
The community then joined in prayer, kneeling and asking in song
for the intercession of the saints, while the candidates prostrated themselves
on the floor of the church in an act of humble prayer.
Signifying the conferral of the Holy Spirit, the archbishop, in
silence, then laid his hands on each candidate, his actions repeated by each
priest present.
Completing the action of ordination, the archbishop prayed a
prayer of consecration over each man, who was then helped into his priestly
vestments by chosen friends and family members. The new priests’ hands
were anointed and they were presented with the gifts of bread and wine.
Following the presbyterial greeting of peace, in which the new
priests were embraced by their brother priests, Father Calhoun and Father
Frederick joined the archbishop at the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Following the Mass, the new priests processed out of the church to
the sound of joyous applause.
In a reception at the parish hall, the congregation gathered
around the new priests to receive their blessing and offer congratulations.
Catherine Calhoun said that she was tearful when the archbishop
and the priests of the archdiocese laid hands in prayer over her son.
“This is just so good and wonderful,” she said.
“I’m just so proud of him. This day has been the culmination of many
years of hard work and it’s hard to actually believe it’s
arrived.”
John Calhoun said that his son’s ordination was “pretty
amazing.”
“This is the most glorious day in his life and probably in
ours too,” he said.
One facet of his son’s personality, his love of the outdoors,
may help him especially in his priesthood, Calhoun said.
“He’ll relate a lot to the younger people. He has such a
zest for the outdoors and I think that helps him relate to the less
materialistic things in life,” he said.
Father Calhoun, 27, who will serve as a parochial vicar at St.
Monica’s Church in Duluth, plans to travel to Jamaica in July on the
archdiocesan young adult mission trip.
Rev. Mr. Joe Shaute, a classmate of both men at Notre Dame
Seminary in New Orleans, called Father Calhoun a “people friendly,
accessible, approachable person.”
“He has a lot of kid in him and I mean that in a good
way,” he said. “His enthusiasm for life is what you first notice
about him, yet there is a serious depth to him at the same time ... I think he
is the kind of person who is open to trying new things and will be very open to
wherever and whomever he is called to serve.”
Father Frederick’s family was also overjoyed by his
ordination. Arlene Frederick said that her son is making a dream come true.
“This is the fulfillment of all the hopes and aspirations you
have for a child, just to see him so happy,” she said.
Father Frederick’s younger sister, Kristen, said that she
believes her 33-year-old brother will make an exceptional priest.
“He just has an encompassing sense about him that draws
people to him,” she said. “Today is definitely overwhelming to see it
come to a head after all these years.”
Robert A. Frederick Sr. said that his son, who will serve as a
parochial vicar at St. Jude the Apostle Church, Atlanta, is “dedicated to
serving God and man.”
“This was a wonderfully moving experience,” he said.
“He seems so happily satisfied. He has been contented since he began the
training program, which is really a good feeling for me.”
He said that his son’s commitment to serving others will help
to make him a good and faithful priest.
“He has always wanted people to experience different things,
and he has a genuine concern for wanting others to have a full
experience,” he said. “I think he will really be able to help people
to experience God.”
Sister Elizabeth Willems, SSND, a professor of moral theology at
Notre Dame Seminary, flew in for her students’ ordinations. Although able
to spend only a few hours in Atlanta, she said it was important to her to be
there.
“These are both very bright, really fine men of
character,” she said. “They are mature caring men, who will both be
very good in pastoral ministry and they are ready and able to assume
leadership. These are really quality guys.”
As a professor, Sister Willems meets a lot of students, many of
whom make a permanent mark on her heart.
“I wanted to be here just to celebrate with them. It’s
important because I’ve walked with them on this journey,” she said.
“I want to affirm them and let them know that I support them.”
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