ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE REPORT:
Wednesday 4 July 2012
By Natina Giacco.
DESPITE THE bitterly cold winter’s evening outside, the spirit inside St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, on Friday, 29 June, 2012,the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, radiated a warm and intensely joyous atmosphere. This environment embraced all who gathered for the ordination to the priesthood of Melbourne Archdiocese’s, Reverend Michael Peter Gallacher.
Read Archbishop Hart's homily
View gallery
I first met Fr Michael in Rome in October, 2010, when I attended the liturgical and Eucharistic celebrations surrounding the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in October, 2010. Along with nine other teachers and 65 students who represented Catholic secondary schools within the Archdiocese of Melbourne, we were blessed to meet Fr Michael while he was still a student for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome. As we participated in our pilgrimage through Rome, Michael accompanied us and became a wonderful spiritual mentor, friend, guide and support to us all. The presence of so many of our Rome pilgrims at Fr Michael’s ordination to the priesthood testified to this.
St Patrick’s Cathedral was filled with people of all ages, from all walks of life. Archbishop Denis Hart was the Principal Celebrant and Ordaining Prelate; he was joined by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv and 60 other priests, who concelebrated the Holy Mass on this grace-filled and inspiring occasion. Archbishop Hart reminded us all of the significance of Fr Michael’s ordination occurring on the solemn feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, and that Fr Michael was ordained into the Catholic Church which was founded by Jesus Christ. It was moving to hear Archbishop Hart thank Fr Michael’s parents, Margot and Peter Gallacher, for raising and nurturing their son within a Catholic home so that he accepted God’s great gift to him of the priesthood. Fr Michael’s siblings, Jane and David were the readers during the Mass.
Archbishop Hart articulated some of the distinct attributes of the priesthood, whereby he is required to be a shepherd, a teacher and a priest. He is required to be a model and an inspiration for all people as he celebrates the Eucharist; all the sacraments, as well as, journeying with people in bringing them to Almighty God. The great gift of Jesus Christ in giving us his priesthood was so beautifully evident in witnessing the humility and affection with which Archbishop Hart and then each of the concelebrating priests laid their hands upon Fr Michael. It was so special to see Carmelite priest, Fr Noel Kierce, assist Fr Michael, a former student of Whitefriar’s College, Donvale, with his investiture with his stole and chasuble.
The joy and beauty of the entire Mass was manifested in the faces of Fr Michael’s parents, family, friends and the entire congregation. How fitting that the servers and the choir for this Holy Mass should comprise the seminarians from Corpus Christi College, Carlton. At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr Michael displayed great humility, graciousness and eloquence in thanking all those people and communities who had shaped the man and now the priest who stood before us all. Fr Michael reminded all of us that we need more priests and he implored the young men in the congregation to ask themselves if Almighty God was calling them to a vocation to the priesthood. The happiness and delight of the evening culminated with Fr Michael imparting his blessings to his family and to the huge numbers of his friends who went to greet him with their friendship, love and prayers.
Vocations News recently spoke to Fr Gallacher about his vocation and his time studying in Rome.
Read more
Photos by John Casamento
Ordination of Michael Gallacher
Wednesday 4 July 2012By Natina Giacco.
DESPITE THE bitterly cold winter’s evening outside, the spirit inside St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, on Friday, 29 June, 2012,the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, radiated a warm and intensely joyous atmosphere. This environment embraced all who gathered for the ordination to the priesthood of Melbourne Archdiocese’s, Reverend Michael Peter Gallacher.
Read Archbishop Hart's homily
View gallery
I first met Fr Michael in Rome in October, 2010, when I attended the liturgical and Eucharistic celebrations surrounding the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in October, 2010. Along with nine other teachers and 65 students who represented Catholic secondary schools within the Archdiocese of Melbourne, we were blessed to meet Fr Michael while he was still a student for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome. As we participated in our pilgrimage through Rome, Michael accompanied us and became a wonderful spiritual mentor, friend, guide and support to us all. The presence of so many of our Rome pilgrims at Fr Michael’s ordination to the priesthood testified to this.
St Patrick’s Cathedral was filled with people of all ages, from all walks of life. Archbishop Denis Hart was the Principal Celebrant and Ordaining Prelate; he was joined by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv and 60 other priests, who concelebrated the Holy Mass on this grace-filled and inspiring occasion. Archbishop Hart reminded us all of the significance of Fr Michael’s ordination occurring on the solemn feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, and that Fr Michael was ordained into the Catholic Church which was founded by Jesus Christ. It was moving to hear Archbishop Hart thank Fr Michael’s parents, Margot and Peter Gallacher, for raising and nurturing their son within a Catholic home so that he accepted God’s great gift to him of the priesthood. Fr Michael’s siblings, Jane and David were the readers during the Mass.
Archbishop Hart articulated some of the distinct attributes of the priesthood, whereby he is required to be a shepherd, a teacher and a priest. He is required to be a model and an inspiration for all people as he celebrates the Eucharist; all the sacraments, as well as, journeying with people in bringing them to Almighty God. The great gift of Jesus Christ in giving us his priesthood was so beautifully evident in witnessing the humility and affection with which Archbishop Hart and then each of the concelebrating priests laid their hands upon Fr Michael. It was so special to see Carmelite priest, Fr Noel Kierce, assist Fr Michael, a former student of Whitefriar’s College, Donvale, with his investiture with his stole and chasuble.
The joy and beauty of the entire Mass was manifested in the faces of Fr Michael’s parents, family, friends and the entire congregation. How fitting that the servers and the choir for this Holy Mass should comprise the seminarians from Corpus Christi College, Carlton. At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr Michael displayed great humility, graciousness and eloquence in thanking all those people and communities who had shaped the man and now the priest who stood before us all. Fr Michael reminded all of us that we need more priests and he implored the young men in the congregation to ask themselves if Almighty God was calling them to a vocation to the priesthood. The happiness and delight of the evening culminated with Fr Michael imparting his blessings to his family and to the huge numbers of his friends who went to greet him with their friendship, love and prayers.
Vocations News recently spoke to Fr Gallacher about his vocation and his time studying in Rome.
Read more
Photos by John Casamento
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
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