On Saturday, June 7, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond, Bishop Barry C. Knestout ordained three men to the priesthood: Father Andrew Clark, Father Samuel Hill, and Father Matthew Kelly.
At the beginning of Mass, the organ thundered the hymn “Lauda Jerusalem,” and the bishop, the three young men to be ordained, and more than 60 priests processed in through the nave. The cathedral was completely full, with some of the faithful in overflow seating.
At the start of the Rite of Ordination, the three candidates were called forward and presented to the bishop. The bishop then gave his homily.
“As I look at the needs of this local Church, I am reminded of Jesus’ words: ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few,’” said Bishop Knestout. “Yet here before us gathered at the cathedral are three generous young men, who, after many years of study and formation, desire to be instruments of Christ’s peace, reconciliation, and hope within the Church.”
The candidates then promised obedience and respect to the bishop and his successors and lay prostrate before the altar while the assembly sang the Litany of the Saints.
“During that moment, the entire Church on Earth and in heaven is praying for you … You lie down and the prayers are just washing over you,” said Father Kelly.
Recalling the moment, he quoted Psalm 42:8: “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your torrents, and all your waves and breakers sweep over me.”
“It’s a beautiful moment of the ordination rite,” said Father Clark. “I was praying along with it, singing the responses.”
Each candidate then knelt before the bishop in turn, and the bishop laid his hands on their heads, invoking the Holy Spirit. The other priests who were present then followed the bishop, laying their hands on the heads of Father Clark, Father Hill, and Father Kelly in turn, signifying their incorporation into the order of priests.
While the choir sang the ancient hymn “Veni, Creator Spiritus,” the bishop anointed the hands of Father Clark, Father Hill and Father Kelly with sacred chrism, and placed a paten containing bread and a chalice containing wine mixed with water in their hands. Welcoming them into the priesthood, the bishop and the priests then greeted Father Clark, Father Hill and Father Kelly in turn with the fraternal kiss of peace.
“It was an experience of being loved so deeply by the whole Church,” said Father Kelly.
“I had a sense of peace and awe at what was taking place,” said Father Hill. “You could spend a lifetime unpacking the mystery of what happens at a priest’s ordination.”
‘Truly moving experience’
Immediately after the Rite of Ordination, Father Clark, Father Hill and Father Kelly were able to concelebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the first time.
Immediately after the Rite of Ordination, Father Clark, Father Hill and Father Kelly were able to concelebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the first time.
Robert Clark, Father Clark’s father, said it was an “extremely proud and happy moment.”
“To see him … be accepted by the bishop and come up on the altar and join the bishop and all the priests, it was very emotional,” he said. “He and the others put in a lot of hard work to get to this point.”
Mitch Clark, Robert’s cousin, attended the Mass with his wife, Dolly. Mitch and Dolly are Baptists; Dolly had been to Mass once when she was very young, and Mitch had never been before.
“It was beautiful,” said Dolly. “The cathedral is incredible. We know that Andrew is going to make an impact in his community.”
“The community that filled these walls today … it’s amazing. All these people are not relatives of these three young men,” she continued. “They’re here to support their faith and what these three are going to bring to the faith.”
John Hopkins, the grandfather of Father Hill, is a Methodist and said he is still learning about the Catholic faith.
“It was a very impressive service,” he said. “We are all mighty proud of Sam – we love him to death.”
Jackie Kelly, the sister of Father Kelly, said she has a hard time not bragging about her baby brother – especially now that he’s been ordained.
“I talk about him all the time to all of our friends,” she said. “He’s very humble and holy – and he’s always doing something special.”
Parker Harnack, a parishioner of St. Benedict, Richmond, was one of many without a familial connection to the new priests, but still came to be part of the special day.
“It’s so amazing being here at the cathedral, seeing these young men choosing the priesthood, choosing the faith, in such a profound way,” said Harnack. “It was a truly moving experience.”
Celebrating Mass
Father Clark, Father Hill and Father Kelly all celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost for their first Mass. Father Clark celebrated at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Peter, Richmond; Father Hill celebrated at the Basilica of St. Andrew, Roanoke; and Father Kelly celebrated Masses at St. Benedict, Richmond, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Richmond, after celebrating a private vigil Mass with the Comboni Missionary Sisters just hours after his ordination.
To celebrate Mass, said Father Clark, “was wonderful – it was a huge joy.”
Father Hill offered Mass for the first time relatively close to his hometown of Bedford.
“My family, people I met when I was too young to remember them, friends from high school, from college, from seminary, from assignments I’ve had, all were together to support me and celebrate the priesthood,” said Father Hill. “It was easy to be thankful.”
“On the one hand, [celebrating Mass] feels extremely natural, like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be, it flows from my heart,” said Father Kelly. “On the other hand, maybe I still need to pause for a minute and let this sink in, because this is a big deal.”
First assignments
Father Clark will be assigned to the Basilica of St. Andrew, Roanoke; Father Hill will be assigned to St. Bridget, Richmond; and Father Kelly will be assigned to Blessed Sacrament, Harrisonburg. In September, Father Hill will return to Rome to complete his Licentiate of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
“It’s a very exciting assignment. I’ve never been stationed in the Western Vicariate, and I’m from the east. I love the mountains, but mountains are strange to me – and strange can be good,” said Father Clark.
His last assignment was as a deacon at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. “Bishop Knestout joked I’d be going from one basilica to another,” said Father Clark.
On sharing a name with the patron of the basilica, he said, “I love St. Andrew – he’s one of my two patron saints. To be in a church in his patronage is rather neat. To be in our newest basilica is a distinct honor.”
Father Hill said that he was excited for his assignment at St. Bridget, though he admitted he doesn’t yet know the parish or the area well.
“The bishop has, for the first time, entrusted to my care the souls of a particular people in a particular place. I can’t wait to get to know the people at St. Bridget,” said Father Hill.
Like the others, Father Kelly has been assigned to a parish with which he is relatively unfamiliar. He compared his assignment to Blessed Sacrament as “a veiled bride.”
“I don’t know anybody there yet, but … I’m very excited to get to meet them and to be their servant,” Father Kelly said.
Read more about Father Andrew Clark.
Watch a video reflection by Father Clark.
See more photos of Father Clark from ordination.
Read more about Father Samuel Hill.
Watch a video reflection by Father Hill.
See more photos of Father Hill from ordination.
Read more about Father Matthew Kelly.
Watch a video reflection by Father Kelly.
See more photos of Father Kelly from ordination.