As is its custom, the Holy Cross community in the United States celebrated its priestly ordinations on Saturday of the Easter Octave, April 15, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. This year two men were ordained: Fr. Andrew Fritz, C.S.C., of the United States Province of Priests and Brothers, and Fr. John Sebastian Gutierrez, C.S.C., of the Moreau Province.
"It is a beautiful thing to witness men who have heard God's call and have invested in being formed into the image of Christ now ordained to be sent forth to attend to the needs of the people of God,” said Fr. James Gallagher, C.S.C., Rector of Moreau Seminary.
The night before the Ordinations, the Holy Cross community, the families of Andrew and John Sebastian, and other invited guests from their parishes gathered at Moreau Seminary for the celebration of Lucernarium, a special candle-lit prayer service. Fr. Patrick Hannon, C.S.C., Instructor in English at the University of Portland, presided and preached at the prayer, which included the blessing of the patents and chalices Fr. Fritz and Fr. Gutierrez were to receive the following day for their Ordinations.
The ordaining bishop on Saturday was the Most Rev. Patrick Neary, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud and former Rector of Moreau Seminary (2004-2010). It was Bishop Neary’s first time presiding at priestly Ordinations following his own episcopal Ordination on February 14.
Following the Ordination Mass, there was a reception in the campus's Main Building, and then a formal dinner later at Moreau Seminary for invited guests. Among the large group of Holy Cross religious present for the Ordination and festivities was Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Following their Ordinations, Fr. Fritz and Fr. Gutierrez will continue to serve at their current parishes, St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear, Arizona, and St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin, Texas, respectively.