Print Issue: January 23, 2003

Newly Ordained Priest Will Serve In Athens

Archbishop John F. Donoghue lays hands on Rev. Mr. Dayro Rico, a church tradition that indicates conferral of God's Holy Spirit upon the ordination candidate. (Photos by Michael Alexander) At the altar, newly ordained Father Dayro Rico reads a prayer during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Father Dayro Rico administers a blessing to Sue Almodovar at the conclusion of his Jan. 11 rite of ordination to the priesthood, which took place and the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. The newest priest in the archdiocese will serve as a parochial vicar at St. Joseph's Church, Athens. Vocations director Father Brian Higgins joins his brother priests in laying hands on ordination condidate Rev. Mr. Dayro Rico. Luis and Sue Almodovar, right, hand the chasuble to Father Larry Niese, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Athens, as he helps vest Father Dayro Rico. Father Dayro Rico is surrounded by well-wishers following his rite of ordination to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta.

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

ATLANTA-At the ordination of Father Dayro Rico, his friends whose lives he has touched praised his gentle, loving spirit and ability to unite and inspire people through his Christian example.

He was ordained Jan. 11 by Archbishop John F. Donoghue at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

The large congregation included those from parishes at which he has served pastoral internships, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Carrollton and St. Theresa in Douglasville.

Before the ceremony, Sue Almodovar, a 20-year member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help who is married to a native Puerto Rican, spoke about how as a seminarian, Father Rico had built up the church's Hispanic ministry.

"He's just one of the most lovable, caring persons that you'll ever, ever meet. We're so proud that he's come this far. It should have been a long time ago. He was a dynamic individual that brought together people of all cultures, races. He worked very diligently to bring together the Spanish community into the church, working with the Anglos. He brought all the people of Carrollton together as one family. He was very instrumental in that," she said.

"He is a very hard worker and he demands that everyone work together and work in the forefront. He's such a humble individual. He never takes credit for anything he does. He always gives credit to God. He's going to make a wonderful priest because he loves his God and his church. His humility will give him the ability to walk in Christ's footsteps and be a good shepherd. He's just a blessing to everyone who he comes in contact with."

The candidate sat by the Almodovars as he waited for vocations director Father Brian Higgins to testify on his behalf to Archbishop Donoghue of his worthiness for ordination. The archbishop then chose him for ordination as the people of God responded with applause.

In his homily the archbishop spoke of God's steadfast faithfulness to those who trust him, referring to the young prophet Jeremiah's calling "to do things greater than any individual could hope for himself," and of his reply to God that "I do not know how to speak . . . I am too young."

"These are words any human being might say, knowing that God has called him to do something special, something outside the pale of normal human life. But it is a fact that God did give Jeremiah the strength to prophesy, to stand before his enemies and proclaim the word of truth--it is a fact that God did overcome the armies of Pharaoh, and send the Hebrew children up out of the land of Egypt, and into the promised land-the land of their hope, their freedom and their redemption."

Referring to the hope, freedom and love of God through Christ, the archbishop said that the Good News was expressed through the sacrament of holy orders and through every individual involved in the fulfillment of his vocation.

In addition to searching the hearts of family members, God "looks into the heart of the man himself, and distinguishes there, a hunger to serve . . . as Christ served--in poverty, in purity, and in steadfast obedience to the will of the Father," he said. "To him is given the sweet burden of sharing in the labors of Jesus Christ--strengthened, it is true, by the promises to live as Christ did, simple, chaste, and obedient--but tested also, as Christ was tested, by human need, and by the Evil One, who works for the fall of anything that God has raised up."

Archbishop Donoghue instructed the candidate to celebrate the sacraments with the mind of Christ.

"Lead the faithful into the ways of life exemplified and blessed by the Lord--the ways of poverty, of chastity, of obedience--and when death comes, be at their side to steady and ease their farewell to this earth, and their entrance into eternal life," he concluded. "Do your part in the work of Christ the Priest with genuine joy and love, and attend to the concerns of Christ before your own, remembering again the words of St. Paul: I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

The candidate affirmed his intent to serve and promised respect and obedience to the archbishop and his successors. The archbishop, followed by fellow priests, extended his hands in prayer over him, invoking the Holy Spirit through whose power the church ordains priests. Father Rico then joined the archbishop at the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Father Rico was deeply grateful for the many attendees from his spiritual family, as his family in Colombia wasn't able to come because of civil unrest.

Almodovar, recalling how she and Anna Edwards drove the new priest to seminary when he first entered, said, "It gives me hope for tomorrow when I see young men of his caliber giving their lives to the church. He worked very, very diligently in everything they asked him to do with the church. He has a very positive attitude and worked towards the goal of being a true vicar of Christ."

Martin McNulty, a seminarian, met Father Rico in Boston when they were neighbors. As he was studying Spanish and Father Rico studied English, they helped each other acquire new languages. After visiting his friend in the seminary and at parishes, he's been impressed with his ease at adapting.

"He's real charismatic. He seems to hit it off no matter where he goes with the people. He's very friendly, a hard worker and he has a real love for the church and for the people," McNulty said. "I feel that he's going to make a great priest."

His former volunteer English teachers at St. Aidan's Church in Brookline, Mass., also made the trip. They gave him an "A" for English, adding he now has a tinge of a Southern accent.

Shirley Morrison said when he was studying English "he endeared himself to everyone in the neighborhood and the neighboring town."

"Everyone loved Dayro. He did work for the different people he met while studying," she said.

"He's a beautiful person, so spiritual . . . Just knowing him will strengthen your faith and love of God. He's a gift to me."

Msgr. Leonard Coppenrath also met Father Rico in Boston, as he lived at his rectory and assisted at St. Aidan's. He was a mentor to him.

"He's an outstanding young man," he said in a telephone interview. "He's a very loving, giving person, generally a beautiful guy, that's the number one (quality), and very bright . . . People responded well to him and we found him very spiritual . . . He has a beautiful sense of humor . . . He just mixed in so well and paid attention to everybody."

Graciela Cortez, a member of St. Joseph's Church in Athens, expressed gratitude for his work in the parish since arriving last fall. He has strengthened the Hispanic ministry, holding retreats, encouraging marriage for couples living together and drawing youth to the church.

"When I listened to him the first day I said he's going to be the best . . . Everybody loves him in the church," she said. "Everybody wants to be here, but some of them don't have a car or a ride."

Grizelda Huerta, 23, and 25 other young people from St. Joseph's were able to come. While she doesn't know him well, she said that he has helped unite the Hispanic and Anglo youth, regardless of their social class or ethnic background.

"He is 100 percent a man of God. With his joy, he gives us God," she said. "He believes in us and inspires us to carry on."