Emotions run high as Baltimore Archdiocese ordains five to priesthood

Father Zachary Crowley receives the anointing of hands from Archbishop William E. Lori during his ordination to the priesthood Aug. 22 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

A few minutes before he and four other men were to be ordained priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop William E. Lori, now-Father Zachary Crowley was asked to share his thoughts about the moment.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous and excited at the same time,” he said the morning of Aug. 22 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

The depth and range of emotions felt by Fathers Crowley, Brendan Fitzgerald, Justin Gough, Evan Ponton and Jeremy Smith was audible an hour later, as a fellow priest vested each with a stole and chasuble.

Sniffles could be heard in the sanctuary, notably from the direction of Father Gough being vested by Father Patrick Carrion. Father Gough’s vocation was inspired at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Baynesville by Father Carrion’s brother, Michael, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack last November.

“When he asked me to take my brother’s place,” Father Carrion said, “I said, ‘Justin, this is all so raw right now, someone else might come into mind.’ It was an honor and a privilege to do so. Knowing I was there and he (Father Michael Carrion) wasn’t, I felt bad for Justin.

“During the Litany of Saints, I always envision all of them looking down on us. This time, Michael was numbered among them. It was hard, but wonderful.”

Father Justin Gough shows his emotions as he is about to be ordained to the priesthood Aug. 22 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

It was one element among many that produced a cathartic celebration for the archdiocese. This Rite of Holy Orders was initially scheduled for June 20, but delayed more than two months by the coronavirus pandemic.

That anticipation and release extended to family and friends, limited to 40 for each ordinand because of social distancing requirements.

The proud parents on hand included Father Fitzgerald’s father, Tom.

“I’m overwhelmed. There isn’t anything a person can do with their life that’s more significant,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s the ultimate.”

His crew included one son who went to Calvert Hall College High School, like his son the priest, and another who went to Loyola Blakefield.

“Let’s just say Thanksgiving is a lot of fun, as if the Irish need any more excitement,” Fitzgerald said of the rivalry among the two Towson schools.

Father Ponton’s supporters included Anne and John Nykaza, who drove from Chicago. She went to elementary school in Montgomery County with Ponton’s mother, Marie. The very young priest-to-be was the ring bearer at the Nykaza wedding Aug. 14, 1993.

“He’s pretty special for us,” John Nykaza said.

Father Crowley’s cohort included three teammates from his distance-running days at Fallston High School: Dr. Alex Gibbons, who came in from Cleveland, and Andrew Grabaul and Christopher Wagner.

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Asked when he last went for a run, Father Crowley said “It’s been a crazy week.” For him, “Ordination Week” in the Baltimore Archdiocese included serving as deacon of the Eucharist Aug. 18 at the cathedral, during the episcopal ordination of Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., who mentored him during his pastoral year at Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown.

In his new role as a bishop just four days, Bishop Lewandowski joined Bishop Adam J. Parker as Archbishop Lori’s concelebrants during the ordination Mass.

Anticipation bordered on giddiness for some of the priests assembled for the opening procession, in part because the five matched the largest ordination class for the archdiocese since 2003, but also because other such large celebrations had been halted by COVID-19.

Father Brendan Fitzgerald places his hands in those of Archbishop William E. Lori as the new priest promises obedience to the archbishop and his successors during the Aug. 22 ordination of five priests at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

The archbishop’s homily referenced one, the chrism Mass, a Holy Week staple that was moved to Sept. 14, as he commented on the readings chosen by the ordinands, the first being Isaiah 61:1-3d.

“These words are familiar to us because they are read at every chrism Mass and because Jesus repeated Isaiah’s words in his hometown synagogue of Nazareth,” the archbishop said. “Here, Jesus proclaimed that he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and sent to proclaim the Good News to the poor and the downtrodden.”

He continued, “through the imposition of my hands and the anointing with chrism, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, just as he descended upon Christ in the Jordan. Acting in and through my ministry, the Holy Spirit will fashion in the depths of your soul the living image of Christ the high priest, sent forth by the Father to preach the Good News and to lay down his life in sacrificial love for the forgiveness of our sins.”

The Gospel was John 10:11-16, in which Jesus proclaims himself to be the Good Shepherd.

“In the rough and tumble of daily ministry,” Archbishop Lori said, “you may not have to lay down your life physically for the sake of those you serve, but you will find, as every good and generous priest does, that you will lay down your life for your people day after day. …”

That involves, he said, “… praying for them earnestly before the Blessed Sacrament, seeking forgiveness of your sins in the sacrament of penance and spiritual direction, leading for them a life of simplicity and single-hearted love, bearing their burdens as if they were your own, and dealing patiently and lovingly with them, in wisdom and holiness, just as the Lord, the Good Shepherd, deals with us.”

Father Evan Ponton offers his first blessing to Archbishop William E. Lori at the conclusion of his ordination to the priesthood Aug. 22 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Before the homily, when the archbishop called forward the five during the Election of the Candidates, there was tension on some of their faces. After the homily, during the Promise of the Elect, some of them wore the gravity of their commitment.

The five prostrated themselves before the altar during the Litany of Supplication, as the faithful prayed for them. The Prayer of Ordination completed the act of ordination.

During the emotional exchange between Father Gough and Father Carrion, Father Crowley was vested by Father Gerard Francik, former pastor of St. Mark in Fallston. Monsignor Michael Heintz, one of his mentors at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, did the honors for Father Fitzgerald. Father Ponton was vested by Father Michael White, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, where he had worked as a lay employee. Father Smith was vested by Father Charles Canterna, who sparked in him an interest in the priesthood.

The joy emanating from Archbishop Lori and his fellow priests during the fraternal kiss, which welcomes the newly ordained, was palpable.

The five new priests stood behind the concelebrants and transitional Deacon Scott Kady during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Heading to corners of the cathedral to distribute Communion, some had to be reminded there was a pandemic going on, as Father Kevin Ewing, associate pastor of the cathedral, whispered to Father Smith, “Jeremy, mask.”

Before the closing prayer, after the archbishop offered thanks for the families, parishes and seminaries that formed the five priests, he led the congregation in a show of appreciation. Before it became a standing ovation, Father Smith, at 43 the oldest in the bunch, clapped his hands in the direction of his fellow ordinands.

Father Jeremy Smith distributes Communion during Mass following his ordination to the priesthood Aug. 22 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“I’m overjoyed, the grace in the air, you could feel God’s presence,” said Father Smith, who also studied at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. “Seeing all the priests and men in formation, and all the friends who were ordained from the last eight years, that’s pretty powerful.”

He will serve at Immaculate Conception, Towson. Father Crowley will serve at St. Louis, Clarksville, and St. Francis of Assisi, Fulton; Father Fitzgerald will serve at Sacred Heart, Glyndon; and Father Ponton will serve at St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park. Father Gough is headed back to Rome, to complete his studies at the Pontifical North American College.

Before they headed off to their assignments, the new priests bestowed their first blessings to lines of people on the cathedral plaza.

To read profiles of the new priests and other stories about vocations, click here.

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