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Contact: Patricia M. Chivers Archdiocese of Atlanta To Ordain Eight Men to the PriesthoodATLANTA - Eight men will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on Saturday, June 27 at 10:30 am. at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road NE in Atlanta. Receiving the sacrament are Tim Gallagher, Bill Hao, Omar Loggiodice, and Brian Lorei from Mount St. Mary's Seminary; Nicholas Azar from the Pontifical North American College; Salomon Garcia and Dominic Tran from St. Vincent Seminary; and Ignacio Morales from Seminario Diocesano de Morelia and the Pontifical University of Mexico. When asked when he felt called to the priesthood, Bill Hao said, "I have always felt called to become a priest ever since I was a little boy. What actually made me sure was thinking that even if after getting married and having a family of my own, I would always look back and regret why I hadn't become a priest. Now, after a full career and five years of formation, I am finally beginning a new chapter in life of loving and serving God and neighbor as a priest." Tim Gallagher was asked how he felt as the day of his ordination approached and he responded, "I am very humbled that Jesus has called me to lay down my life and follow Him in His priesthood and I am grateful that Archbishop Wilton Gregory has confirmed this call and will be ordaining me to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I see it as a sure act of God's love, patience, and generosity to call me from my little town of Madison, Georgia, to be a priest, even though I resisted for years. It took the help of our Mother Mary through the Rosary to turn me back to her Son's Church and to open my heart and mind to following Jesus as a Priest in a time when I was rejecting many things of the Catholic Faith. So it is appropriate that I'll be ordained on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Perpetual Help as she continues to help me embrace God's will. How exciting and providential it is for me to be ordained as the Church begins to celebrate the Year of the Priest with St. John Mary Vianney promoted as the model of all priests. I hope to imitate his priesthood as he was so effective in imitating Christ's priesthood." Holy Orders is one of seven Sacraments of the Church. The ordination ceremony includes various rituals, rich in meaning and history, e.g.,, the prostration, laying on hands, anointing of hands, giving of the chalice and patent, sign of peace. The essential rite of the sacrament is the laying on of hands - that is the moment when a man becomes a priest. For more information regarding Vocations log on to www.calledbychrist.com. ###
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