Father Randolph Sly Ordained for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter

Catholic Online ^ | 6/25/12 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

...This former Protestant Archbishop knew that coming home to the fullness of the Catholic Church meant selling all to buy the treasure in the field.(Matt. 13:44) He laid aside a thriving ministry of many years with no assurance of any possibility of ordination to either the diaconate in Christ or the Holy Priesthood. Over the years that followed his entry into the Church he humbly offered his multiple gifts in many ways, including serving as the Associate Editor of Catholic Online. He has been a model in his love for the Lord and fidelity to the Church. The fruit was evident in the lives of the many faithful who attended his priestly ordination on Saturday.

It was also evident back on June 2, 2012 when Father Sly was ordained to the diaconate in Christ by his Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. On that day I had the privilege of vesting him in diaconal stole and dalmatic. I knew then that he was only going to be a deacon for a few weeks. However, I was happy to share the ministry with him even for a short time. He has a priestly soul and the Church needs as many priests as the Lord can provide in this new missionary age.

I am persuaded that Saturday's priestly ordination of Father Sly was a prophetic seed. It is a part of the entire prophetic action of the establishment of the Ordinariate for groups of former Anglicans by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. He is the Vicar of Christ and is acting in that capacity for the whole Church in this historic moment in Catholic Church history...

[tcg]

I wept throughout much of the beautiful ordination liturgy. I couldn't hold back the tears of gratitude to the Lord for His fidelity to this wonderful man who sacrificed so much to live his life at the heart of the Catholic Church for the sake of the world. They were tears of joy for the Church which will be richly enhanced by his priestly ministry. Finally, they were tears of brotherly affection. I had the privilege of being his friend during his journey home to the full communion of the Catholic Church. I acted as a road-sign as he made the way, being pulled by the Splendor of Truth. Father Randolph Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online.

[sayuncledave]

Deo Gratias, and thank you very much for sharing this with us. Welcome home, Father Sly.