Joy as two young priests ordained

During the ordination Mass of Fr Anthony Trenwith and Fr Tony King-Archer on August 4, Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn shared with them what he called a “lovely truth”.This was that even though the seminary part of their formation might have ended, they will learn in parish life that the People of God will continue their formation.

“They will continue to form you as priests by the holiness and goodness of their own lives. They will walk with you and support you with their prayers and their love,” Bishop Dunn
said in his homily at St Patrick’s Cathedral on the feast of St John Vianney, the patron saint of diocesan priests.

Using the example of St John Vianney, who carried on despite feeling inadequate on many occasions, Bishop Dunn said no priest is perfect, or has all the gifts, or works alone.

Pope Francis in his recent exhortation on the call to holiness, wrote that no saint is perfect, but the saints are faithful, they “keep on keeping on”, the bishop added.

What really matters is the answer to the question posed by the risen Jesus to St Peter in the Gospel reading chosen by the two new priests for their ordination Mass — “do you love me?” Bishop Dunn continued.

“Tony and Anthony . . . know that that is the one question that matters for those who are to be ordained priest — that people will look to our priests and they want to see that
face of Christ.”

Fr Trenwith had worked for seven years as a lawyer before entering the seminary, and Fr King-Archer had worked as an accountant.

But as they wrote in the order of service, “as we ourselves have come to realise, all of what we have done in our lives before now has been leading us to this point — guided by
God’s hand”.

“We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we embark upon our ministry, that we may be good and faithful servants of the Lord and of his people, sharing what we have received from him with all those whom we encounter.”

Bishop Dunn prayed that the newly ordained “will be faithful, good, holy, joyful priests . . .
sharing the joy of the Gospel”.