More than 50 men who were ordained Catholic priests of the Legionaries of Christ today in Rome.

More than 50 men who were ordained Catholic priests of the Legionaries of Christ today in Rome.

ROME, December 23 -- Franc Cardinal Rode CM, prefect of the Institute of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, today presided over the ordination of 55 priests of the Legionaries of Christ.

The newly ordained priests join the 650 Legionary priests already engaged around the world in a wide variety of apostolic works to help the Church and society. In addition to the now more than 700 Legionary priests, the order has more than 2,500 seminaries in formation.

Together with the 12 Americans, 3 Canadians and one Irishman, Fathers from the following countries have been ordained from: Mexico, 22; Spain, 9; Italy, 3; Brazil, 2; Chile, 1; Venezuela, 1; Germany, 1.

The site of the ordination, The Basilica of St. Mary Major, is the oldest and most important Marian shrine in Rome. According to tradition, pilgrims returning from the Holy Land to Rome brought with them fragments of the manger in which Jesus was laid. These relics are preserved in the basilica in a golden reliquary beneath the Altar of the Confession. Thus, this site has special meaning to Christians during the Christmas season.

“Be convinced that you are priests the world needs, because the world needs God, because without Him life has no meaning, because God is the only antidote to sadness and despair, because He is the only remedy to death,” Cardinal Rode told the new Fathers in his homily. “Live joyfully! No difficulty, no weakness can ever be cause to abandon yourselves to sadness or despair.”

Cardinal Rode ordained 59 Legionaries at the same site in November of 2004. At the end of that ceremony, he presented on behalf of Pope John Paul II, the definitive decree of approval of the statutes of the Regnum Christi Movement. Regnum Christi is the lay movement affiliated with the Legion. The movement has more than 65,000 members around the world.

The ordination ceremony drew a crowd of more than 2,500, including family members of the new Fathers, Regnum Christi members, nearly 600 Legionary Priests and Brothers working or studying in Rome and Italy, and several national ambassadors to the Holy See.

“We pray for these new priests to be holy, to live in order to love God and serve people in a spirit of charity,” said Fr. Alvaro Corcuera LC, General Director of the Legionaries of Christ. “We pray that they may be priests according to the Heart of Christ, to share his love with others, giving their lives in service of the Holy Father and all Bishops in communion with him.”

Several of the newly ordained Fathers had comments on their path to the priesthood:

	Fr. Timothy Walsh LC, Cornwall, Ontario: My years as a seminarian have gone by quickly. Throughout this period, I have come to discover another type of light, the Light of God. I have come to personally know Jesus Christ, to love him and to share in his dreams and his mission.
	Fr. Daniel Ray LC, Pinchot Park, Pennsylvania: Those last three years were an intense yet beautiful time of study and prayer, with the added incredible grace of being present for all the events of the passing of John Paul II. His life and witness have deeply marked the kind of priest I strive to be.
	Fr. Anthony Sortino LC, Scottsdale, Arizona: When God called me, I started sweating and getting nervous, but I reached the conclusion that God only wanted the best for me and if He was calling me to the priesthood, it would be for my greater happiness and His greater happiness; and that’s what happened: I am the happiest man in the world.

Newly Ordained Legionaries from the United States:

	Fr. Jose Pio Centeno LC: Norwalk, California
	Fr. John Donahue LC: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
	Fr. Stephen Ellis LC: Thompson, Ohio
	Fr. Daniel Hennessy LC: Dallas, Texas
	Fr. David Koonce LC: Mayfield, Kentucky
	Fr. Timothy Moran LC: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
	Fr. Michael Mullan LC: Elkton, Maryland
	Fr. Daniel Ray LC: Pinchot Park, Pennsylvania
	Fr. Jason Smith LC: Forest Lake, Minnesota
	Fr. Anthony Sortino LC: Scottsdale, Arizona
	Fr. Chad Wahl LC: Zanesville, Ohio
	Fr. Daren Weisbrod LC: Milan, Indiana

Newly Ordained Legionaries from Canada:

	Fr. Paul Hubert LC: Montreal, Quebec
	Fr. Raymond Joseph Jubinville: Saint Paul, Alberta
	Fr. Timothy Walsh LC: Cornwall, Ontario

Newly Ordained Legionaries from Ireland:

Fr. Dominic Farrell LC: Newtownards, County Down

In addition, Fr. Nikola Derpich LC, a native of Watsonville, California, was ordained a priest of the Legionaries of Christ on the feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8. The ceremony took place at the chapel of the Legion’s Center for Higher Studies in Rome.

Presiding was Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops and Fr. Nikola’s cousin. Fifty five priests, most of them legionaries of Christ, concelebrated with Archbishop Eterovic and the newly ordained priest. Fr. Derpich’s family and about 400 legionaries of Christ who study in Rome accompanied Fr. Derpich.

In addition, Fr. Nikola Derpich LC, a native of Watsonville, California, was ordained a priest of the Legionaries of Christ on the feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8. The ceremony took place at the chapel of the Legion’s Center for Higher Studies in Rome.