Bishop Hubbard ordains five to priesthood

The Record ^ | June 13, 2010 | Cecelia Martinez

[NYer]

ALBANY – Bishop Howard Hubbard ordained the largest group of new priests since 1984 at a ceremony Saturday at the newly reopened Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The five priests ordained include Rendell Torres, 39, a Los Angeles native now residing at Our Lady of Victory Rectory in Troy.

“Although as a child I considered the priesthood, as an adult I was reawakened to my priestly vocation when a long-term relationship with a girlfriend was at its romantic peak,” said Torres, who considered marrying his girlfriend before returning to his calling. “I never felt as peaceful as I do preparing for the priesthood.” Torres is also a former professor of architectural acoustics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but left to pursue his priesthood.

The ordination took place only two weeks after the 158-year-old Cathedral was reopened after extensive renovations to the interior that took over a year and $6 million to complete. The Cathedral is the oldest in New York State, third oldest in the United States and the oldest Gothic revival cathedral in the country.

The Cathedral reopened with the dioconate ordination of four men — James Michael Taylor, Jay J.B. Atherton, Water C. Ayres and Paul Francis Kisselback — on May 29.

Despite road closures due to the Capital District Soap Box Derby, many turned out for the ceremony, which began at 11 a.m. and featured the Bishop as the principal celebrant.

In addition to Torres, David J. Hammond, 26, of Herkimer County; Daniel P. Ryan, 40, of Valatie; Quy Thanh Ngoc Vo, 31, a native of Vietnam now living in Utica; and Matthew B. Wetsel, 29, of Schenectady were also ordained.

Hammond, unlike Torres, always knew that he would enter into the priesthood. “Even when I was a boy, I saw the priest as a heroic figure who was present at the most important times in people’s lives – baptisms, marriages, funerals and all the joys and sufferings in between,” he said. Hammond has also completed chaplain training for the U.S. Navy and hopes to serve as an active duty chaplain in the future.

Ryan worked in the insurance industry for 12 years and credits the Albany Diocese along with family and fellow parishioners and seminarians with helping him decide become a priest. A native of Illinois, Ryan has a bachelor’s degree from Clarion University.

Vo left Vietnam with his family in 1989 and spent six months in refugee camp in the Philippines before immigrating to the United States in 1990. He made the decision to enter the priesthood after working as an organist while studying at the Crane School of Music. “It was then, through prayer and guidance, that I came to the decision to enter priesthood,” he said. Vo served as a deacon at St. Helen’s Church in Schenectady.

Wetsel is a Schenectady native and graduated from Siena College in 2003. He was involved with the campus ministry at Siena and said he was greatly influenced by his experiences at the Isaac Jogues House of Discernment.

“I have the desire to serve God and the diocese of Albany through the sacramental life of the church,” he said.

[NYer]

Several priests lay their hands upon the candidates for the priesthood Saturday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. Shown, left to right, are candidates David Hammond, Daniel Ryan, Rendell Torres, Quy Vo, Matthew Wetsel.

Candidates to the priesthood lay prostrate before the altar as a sign of their humble submission to God's will during a ceremony Saturday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. Shown, left to right, are: Daniel Ryan, Rendell Torres, Quy Vo, Matthew Wetsel (Nate Whitchurch/The Record 6/12/10)

[NYer]

Bishop Howard Hubbard ordained the largest group of new priests since 1984

And this is why we must continue to pray for our bishops.

Interior view of the restored cathedral. Can you find the Crucifix?

[Pan_Yan]

Outer row of columns on the left.

[NYer]

If you are curious about the history of the cathedral and the restoration process, click HERE.

[NYer]

Outer row of columns on the left.

Indeed. Normally, the Crucifix takes the position of honor above or behind the altar, if you can even call that box an altar.

[vladimir998]

I see it, but why isn’t it centralized?

[Dr. Sivana]

I see it, but why isn’t it centralized?

Many churches traditionaly had a big crucifix on the side, and a smaller (but still easily visible) over the high altar.

Since the priest has been turned around, a tiny crucifix is put on the altar in the New Mass. Some churches retain the big one behind the priest, but the problem with that is it makes it appear that the priest is turning his back on Christ.

That extra large crucifix on the left probably could not be placed behind the altar because it is too big for the area. Frankly, given Hubbard's reputation, I am surprised the large crucifix survived at all.

[SuziQ]

God Bless these young men, and may they each have a long, fruitful ministry.

[Salvation]

**Several priests lay their hands upon the candidates for the priesthood **

Goodness, we only had six ordinartions here; but hundreds of priest laying hands on the ordinands. Four were diocesan; one was a Camrleite and one was a small orde rhtat serves the Vietnamese.

Did you attend the ordination? Ours was outstanding.

[Coleus]

our diocese has their ordination tomorrow, saturday. the 4th degree K of C was asked to help usher.