December 17, 2008

Native of Mexico ordained a priest for Denver Archdiocese

By John Gleason

Under the watchful eye of a Knights of Columbus honor guard and accompanied by the peeling of church bells, the Denver Archdiocese’s newest priest was ordained the morning of Dec. 13 during a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. 

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., ordained Deacon Miguel Angel Enriquez, 29, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, a priest.

Concelebrants of the Mass were Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley; Msgr. Thomas S. Fryar, V.G., pastor of the cathedral; Father Jorge De Los Santos, O.crs., vicar for Hispanic Ministry; Father Bernard Schmitz, vicar for clergy; Father Michael Glenn, rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, which the new priest attended; and Father Florian Martín-Calama, rector of Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary.

More than 30 priests, 15 deacons and dozens of seminarians were among the estimated 500 family, friends and well wishers who joined in the bi-lingual celebration. 

At the Rite of Ordination, Deacon Enriquez was called forward by Father Glenn and presented to Archbishop Chaput.

“Is he worthy?” the archbishop asked.

“I testify that he has been found worthy,” Father Glenn replied.

In his homily, Archbishop Chaput emphasized a key phrase in the Scripture reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted.” 

“Part of this ceremony is the anointing with oil,” the prelate said.  “In Hebrew, the word for anointed one is ‘messiah.’  To be anointed means to be marked to preach glad tidings—the Gospel; to preach the liberty and true freedom that God wants us to (enjoy); and to comfort those who mourn—to bring them hope.”

Next came the prayer of supplication, the laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination to the priesthood.  Deacon Enriquez knelt and professed his obedience to the archbishop as the priestly office was conferred upon him.  Following investiture with stole and chasuble, his hands were anointed by the archbishop.

“The Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed and the Holy Spirit empowered, guard you and preserve you that you many sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God, said the archbishop.  

After Father Enriquez received the chalice and paten, and was met with mighty applause by the congregation he took his place upon the altar to concelebrate the Mass.
In a previous interview with the Denver Catholic Register, then-Deacon Enriquez said he looked forward to his ordination and was excited about the gift he was to receive from God.

“There is nothing I should boast about myself,” he said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Archbishop Chaput took several moments expressing gratitude.

“Thanks to all of you who came to be part of this today. One group I want to acknowledge is St. Pius X Parish,” he said, referring to the church where the new priest served as deacon and will return as parochial vicar. The archbishop gave special recognition to the large number of young people from that parish who attended the ordination.

Acknowledging the great number of seminarians in attendance, the prelate said,“I’m sure that the priests, deacons and laity wish to express their true gratitude to you for studying to be priests.”

Archbishop Chaput also thanked the family of Father Enriquez, many of whom had traveled great distances to witness the event.

“The family is the first church,” he said. “We learn at the feet of our parents how to love one another and how to love God.  We thank God for the gift of Father Miguel and ask God to bless us with many vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate and to religious life.”