pathways 3: JESUIT ORDAINS JESUIT

pathways, August 2007

 

 

 

"It was a very moving moment for me to come back amongst a large gathering of Jesuits in Melbourne, and this time, and for the first time, as a Bishop," Bishop O'Kelly told pathways.

 

"Everyone present was conscious of the significance of the occasion as one of their own number ordained one of his brothers to the priesthood. 

 

"My Jesuit identity has now been moulded somewhat differently by the Episcopal ordination.  Being called as a Jesuit Bishop to ordain a brother Jesuit added to the harmony of my soul."

 

Bishop O'Kelly, whose Episcopal ordination was less than 12 months ago, ordained Fr Bermudez-Goldman in Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorn, Melbourne, on Saturday, June 30 (pictured above). Among the guests at the ordination were several of Fr Bermudez-Goldman's family from overseas.

 

In his homily, Bishop O'Kelly said: "It seems to me, Sacha, that you are admirably suited to be ordained a priest in the Society of Jesus, for the Church, for the people of God.  John Paul II wrote to priests once, 'we need heralds of the Gospel who are experts in humanity, who have shared to the full the joys and sorrows of our day, but who at the same time are contemplatives in love with God'."

 

The Australian Province of the Society of Jesus, and the Australian Church, now has a priest with a background embracing Nicaragua, the United States, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Cambodia and Australia.  Fr Bermudez-Goldman has degrees in Engineering and Theology, and has worked as an engineer in the United States.  He has taught in a high school in Central America and was a lay missionary with the Mary Knoll Missionaries, working for some years in Tanzania and Cambodia, where he met Jesuit Scholastics, and seeds of a Jesuit, priestly vocation were planted.  He also has had many experiences of serving people on the edges, and the youth of Australia.

 

In July, Tom Renshaw SJ was ordained in his home town of Queanbeyan by Bishop Pat Power (Auxiliary, Canberra-Goulburn) (pictured right)  and Bishop O'Kelly.

 

Fr Renshaw studied at the Australian National University and practiced law in Sydney before he was drawn to becoming a Jesuit priest.  In more recent years, he has been attracted to the Society's educational works and he is currently finishing a Dip. Ed. at the Australian Catholic University.

 

Both new priests will be involved with the Jesuit's World Youth Day programme, MAGiS.

 

Bishop O'Kelly said that his own Episcopal ordination meant that the Australian Province had been called to serve the Church in new way.

 

"In the Province, we are still coming to terms with my appointment, because as most people realise, it is a quite exceptional thing for a Jesuit to be ordained as a Bishop.

 

"I pray that as Bishop, I will be able to continue to endorse and encourage the works of the Province, and always continue to be regarded as a companion by my fellow Jesuits."

 

 

 

Bishop O'Kelly told pathways that it had been a privilege to be involved in the joy of the occasion,  "and relishing Sacha's own joy.  He could not stop smiling, and nor could his sister from Costa Rica." 

 

In his homily, Bishop O'Kelly said: "You seem irredeemably able to note the positive in all things.  I suspect that were you to have been on the Titanic that night, Sacha, you would have said something like, 'what a lovely iceberg!'."