The bells of St Patrick’s Cathedral rang out on Saturday, announcing the imminent ordination of Melbourne’s newest priest, Fr Jean-Sébastien Géry. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
Welcoming family members, friends, well-wishers, seminarians and priests to the cathedral, as well as those watching online, Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli extended “a very special welcome” to Isabella and Clancy Géry, who had travelled from Mauritius to join their son “for this beautiful day”, and to the Mauritian community, which had gathered with Mauritian flags in hand, to celebrate the ordination of their countryman.
The first Scripture reading – from the prophet Jeremiah – was read by Fr Géry’s brother, Christopher Géry, and the second reading, from the First Letter of St Paul to Timothy, was read by Sharma Peasnell. Fr Géry’s parents carried the offertory gifts.
In his homily, Archbishop Comensoli remarked that both Jeremiah and Timothy were “likely to have been teenagers at the time in their lives when they received their mission – one a prophet, the other a teacher, but both sufferers for the sake of speaking God’s Word”.
“That isn’t a bad definition of what a priest is,” he said. “By the mission given, a priest is principally a preacher, a speaker, of God’s words into and among God’s people, whether it is heeded or not.”
Speaking at the end of the Mass, the newly ordained Fr Géry thanked everyone for their presence, saying he had ”earnestly desired to celebrate and share the gift of priesthood with you”.
To his friends and family in Mauritius who had woken at 4am to watch the livestream of the ordination, he said, “thank you and bonjour à tous [hello everyone]”.
“Today, I’ve been ordained a priest. It is a gift – a gift I have received through you, the people of God. And it is a gift for you, from the Father himself. And I feel humble and grateful to God, who calls me to your service. And this is my gift: as I have received freely, so do I give freely. Thank you for your prayers.”
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‘It is a gift’: Fr Jean-Sébastien Géry ordained to the priesthood in Melbourne (Melbourne Catholic)
