Father Thompson celebrated his first Mass on Saturday afternoon in the Cathedral.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, Deacon George Stearns, Diocesan Chancellor, announced the first priestly assignments for Father Thompson – Parochial Vicar to St. Henry Catholic Church and Co-Chaplain of Hispanic Ministry. Both appointments are effective Monday, June 25. Scroll to the bottom of this story for additional appointments made public at the Mass.
Bishop Provost, in his homily, spoke to the new priest and to all in attendance about the importance of obedience mentioned in the second reading of the Mass of Ordination from the Letter to the Hebrews, which “correlates so well with the first words spoken by our Lord following his Resurrection in the Gospel of John, ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ The priesthood rests upon an appreciation of obedience that finds its roots in the mission of Jesus Christ to fulfill the will of God.
“Jesus comes to do the Father’s will,” Bishop Provost continued “Jesus will say ‘the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.’ This entails rejection, suffering and ultimately death. Jesus struggles with obedience, not because there is any suggestion that in the end He will choose against the Father’s will. Instead, the struggle exists to show the free will of Jesus at work, embracing the Father’s will completely and entirely.” The Bishop quoted scripture from Matthew, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will but as you will.’
He also pointed out, using Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange’s The Three Ages of the Interior Life, “Obedience has been called ‘the highest of the three evangelical counsels.’”
Later, Bishop Provost noted that “If Christ learned obedience from what He suffered, then we must do the same. When authority decides against our preconceived notions, when the faithful criticize our absence from the parish, and when a lack of attentiveness to duty causes disruption, these are the facts that unsettle our pride of life.”
The Bishop closed his remarks saying, “Entering the Cathedral today as a deacon, you will leave as a priest. Allow your heart to be a priestly heart. Let your heart be contrite and humble. Give God room to act in your life and transform your will ever more fully into what He desires. May Christ, who learned obedience through what He suffered, be your inspiration, guide and example. When tempted to let the “cup” pass you by, pray the words of our Lord in the Garden: ‘Not as I will, but as you will.’”
The priests of the Diocese joined Father Thompson in concelebrating the liturgy with Bishop Provost.
The complete text of Bishop Provost's homily is found at http://live.lcdiocese.org/bishop-provost/homilies/1094-priesthood-ordination-2012-.html .
Official Appointments
By order of the Most Reverend Bishop:
Effective Sunday, July 1, 2012:
The Very Reverend Marcus Johnson is appointed to a second three-year term as Dean of the Central Deanery;
The Very Reverend Aubrey Guilbeau is appointed to a second three-year term as Dean of the Western Deanery;
Effective Monday, June 4, 2012:
The Reverend Ruben Buller is appointed Master of Ceremonies to the Bishop and Director of the Office of Liturgy and is assigned for summer study at the Liturgical Institute of the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Chicago to achieve a Master of Arts Degree in liturgy;
The Reverend John Huckaby is appointed Bishop’s Liaison to the Lake Charles Chapter of ACTS Missions;
The Reverend Jacob Scott Conner is appointed Diocesan Chaplain to the Boy Scouts;
Effective Monday, June 25, 2012:
The Reverend Herbert May is appointed Diocesan Chaplain to the Companions of Honor;
Effective Monday, July 2, 2012:
The Reverend Jeffrey Starkovich is appointed Vocation Recruiter for the Eastern Deanery;
Effective Wednesday, August 1, 2012:
The Reverend Ruben Buller is appointed Parochial Vicar of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish in Lake Charles, remaining Master of Ceremonies and Director of the Office of Liturgy and without compromise to his studies at the Liturgical Institute;
Effective Monday, July 2, 2012:
The Reverend Derek Covert is appointed Judicial Vicar for a term of three
years and Secretary Adjutant to the Bishop;
Effective Monday, June 25, 2012:
The Reverend Dean Bryan Thompson is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Henry Parish in Lake Charles and co-Chaplain to the Office of Hispanic Ministry.
Given from His Chancery, this 26th day of May in the Year of our Lord, 2012.
+ Glen John Provost
Bishop of Lake Charles
