On the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 25th June, Cardinal Vincent Nichols ordained David Cherry, Daniel Daley, Matteo Di Giuseppe and Michael Guthrie to the priesthood at Westminster Cathedral.
Joined by family, friends, many of the faithful, and the saints, the men were 'surrounded by a great assembly of encouragement and example,' in the words of the Cardinal.
In his homily, he rejoiced in the gift that these men were making of their lives: 'They are giving their hearts to the Lord, and thereby to us too. In offering themselves for ordination, they hand over the very depth of their being that they may be bound ever more closely to our Blessed Lord so that he may use them for service to his Body, the Church.'
The Cardinal spoke of the selfless and unconditional love exemplified in the lives of Our Lady and the saints, including St John Southworth, whose body was visible in the midst of the congregation, as the men prostrated themselves.
'Love, of course, if it is true, always becomes costly,' added the Cardinal, reminding the men of the many expressions of love implied in the promises they made at their ordination.
As they promise to follow the way of sacrificial love, he told the men 'Mary will teach you how.'
'Today you give of yourself to the Lord from a heart that is focussed and clear in its intention,' he said. 'Remember this day well. Imitate the actions of Mary, in the Gospel, and ponder these things in your heart every day: the wonder of the gift you are receiving, the goodness of the company you are keeping and the hope that you hold dear in your heart so that, with Mary, you may be made temples fit for God’s glory.'
Fr David Cherry will serve as Assistant Priest at St Lawrence in Feltham; Fr Daniel Daley, as Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Grace and St Edward the Confessor, Chiswick; Fr Matteo Di Giuseppe as Assistant Priest at Our Lady Help of Christians in Rickmansworth; and Fr Michael Guthrie as Assistant Priest at St George, Sudbury.
Please pray for these men as they begin their priestly ministry.
Photo (L-R): Fr Daniel Daley, Fr David Cherry, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Fr Michael Guthrie, Fr Matteo Di Giuseppe (Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk)
Photos from the Ordination Mass
