BLACKWOOD – A few days before Transitional Deacon Logan Nilsen would be ordained to the priesthood, he told his mother, “Mom, it’s not about me.”
“I said, ‘It IS about you. This has been your journey,” Beverly Nilsen recounted as she sat in a front pew of Blackwood’s Saint Agnes Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish, moments before his Ordination Mass would begin. “He said, no. This is not about me at all.”
That humility was on full display May 14 as Bishop Dennis Sullivan ordained Deacon Nilsen along with Transitional Deacons Paul Abbruscato, Christopher Myers, Cesar Pirateque and Stephen Robbins as priests for the Diocese of Camden.
“Go up to the altar of God, the God of our gladness and joy,” hundreds of voices sang, the sound reverberating throughout the church accompanied by trumpets, trombones, violins and more as dozens of clergy processed in along with the five soon-to-be-priests at the start of the Ordination Mass, which was celebrated in English and Spanish and livestreamed on diocesan media.
After the readings and the proclaiming of the Gospel, the men were called before Bishop Sullivan.
“Do you know them to be worthy?” he asked Father Adam Cichoski, diocesan director of vocations.
“I testify that they have been found worthy,” he replied.
“Relying on the help of the Lord God and of our savior, Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the order of the priesthood,” Bishop Sullivan said as the congregation responded with resounding applause.
In his homily, Bishop Sullivan recounted Pope Francis’ image of what it is to be a priest. “He used the image of closeness. An effective priest, said the Holy Father, must have closeness to God in prayer, closeness to his bishop, closeness to his fellow priests and closeness to the lives of the people whom he serves.”
Quoting Pope Francis, the Bishop continued, “A priest needs to have a heart sufficiently enlarged to expand and embrace the pain of the people entrusted to his care while at the same time being able to proclaim the dawning of God’s grace revealed in that very pain.” A priest, Bishop Sullivan continued, “who knows that his proper place is in the midst of the people.”
“Jesus chooses his disciples, his students. My brothers about to be ordained priests, Jesus selects each of you. The Lord choses you. … With lively, mature faith, each of you has responded to the Lord’s choice … to the Lord’s call. And that response has taken you on a journey for a number of years – a journey of spiritual, pastoral, human and theological formators.
“God’s grace has led you here. Guided you and drawn you to the priesthood. At this ordination, the Church affirms that you are the choice of Jesus for the ministry of the ordained priest.”
That was a message that resonated with Theresa Colaizzo, a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Hope Parish, who clasped her hands together with a bright smile as Deacon Pirateque was ordained Father Pirateque.
“He’s cried with us at funerals and shared our joy at celebrations,” said Colaizzo, who got to know the transitional deacon during time spent at the parish. “His closeness to Jesus and Mary just exudes from him. You just see that joy in his face, that brilliance of someone who walks with and knows the Lord.”
Indeed, a light seemed to shine from the faces of the five men as, after the Bishop’s homily, they declared their resolve to undertake the office of the priesthood.
“Do you resolve to be united more closely each day to Christ the High Priest?” the Bishop asked, to which each man responded, “I do.”
The men then lie prostrate as the Litany of the Saints was sung by the musicians, under the direction of Mike Bedics, diocesan director of Worship. Afterward, all again went before Bishop Sullivan, kneeling so Camden’s shepherd could lay hands on each soon-to-be priest’s head, a gesture indicating the bestowing of the Holy Spirit. Priests of the Diocese then also laid their own hands upon each man’s head.
After the bestowment of the vestments of stole and chasuble, Bishop Sullivan anointed the men’s hands with the sacred Oil of Chrism. Mothers and family friends brought up the priests’ patens and chalices before the Kiss of Peace – bestowed by the Bishop and then by the concelebrating priests. The Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Father Michael Romano, former diocesan vocations director and now director of admissions for the Pontifical North American College in Rome, said he was looking forward to what Father Robbins would bring to his priestly ministry.
“He’s going to be a joyful, prayerful, intelligent priest. He has a heart for reaching out to everybody,” Father Romano said, explaining that he got to know the now-priest at the beginning of Father Robbins’ discernment journey. For example, Father Robbins leaned Spanish after witnessing how at least half of his home parish – Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lindenwold – didn’t speak English.
After receiving a first blessing from her son, Darlene Abbruscato explained that she was confident Father Abbruscato would inspire others. After all, he has been inspiring her and others in their family every day.
“Each morning, he sends us his homily – recorded. It’s a great way to start the day,” she said with a smile.
Also inspired by one of the new priests – Jackie Kern, who brought forward the paten and chalice for Father Myers. A longtime family friend, Kerns said, “He was a holy man, a genuine and kind soul ever since he was young. He gives and gives with all his heart.”
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