Four ordained to priesthood for Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
June 21, 2011
HOUSTON — Representing the diversity of the local Church, newly ordained priests Fathers Eurel Manzano, Jude Ezuma, Phong Nguyen and Victor Perez all share one call to serve the Lord.
“This ordination epitomizes the make-up of this Archdiocese,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who ordained the four men to the priesthood on June 4. “The languages of the Liturgy of the Word we have heard this morning from Asia and Africa and from South America … are who and what our people are. And what a great joy it is to have shepherds that come from those people.”
The congregation at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart included family, friends and lay faithful from the various parishes and ministries where the new priests have served during their years of formation to the priesthood.
Principal concelebrants were Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, retired Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto and Bishop Emeritus Blaise Morand, Diocese of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. The multi-lingual Mass was celebrated in English, Igbo, Filipino and Vietnamese.
Cardinal DiNardo reminded those congregated that the Archdiocese celebrates Mass in more than a dozen languages every weekend.
“You want shepherds that arise from the generosity and variety of groups that make up this beautiful Archdiocese,” he said. “They echo cultures of who we are.”
Father Manzano is assigned to Prince of Peace Church; Father Ezuma is assigned to the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart; Father Nguyen is assigned to St. Rose of Lima Church; and Father Perez is assigned to St. Cecilia Church. The priests will serve their respective parishes as parochial vicars.
Photo 1
Archdiocesan and religious order clergy lay hands on the priestly candidates during the Mass of Ordination at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, June 4.
Father Phong Nguyen is called forward for the Rite of Ordination.
A priest welcomes Father Eurel Manzano with an embrace during the Ordination.
Father Eurel Manzano and the newly ordained priests concelebrate the Eucharist with Cardinal DiNardo and other priests of the Archdiocese.
Father Victor Perez distributes communion wearing, for the first time, the priestly stole and chausuble.
The new Archdiocesan priests are photographed with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo just moments following the Mass of Ordination. In the photo are Father Jude Ezuma, LEFT; Father Victor Perez; Daniel Cardinal DiNardo; Father Phong Nguyen; and Father Eurel Manzano.
Sister Hien Pham, F.M.S.R, serves as a lector during the multilingual Mass of Ordination, which was celebrated in English, Igbo, Filipino and Vietnamese.
Father Jude Ezuma distributes communion to the faithful who filled the pews of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.