On Saturday, Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV offered one more initial Mass of Thanksgiving, this time at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where he served as a transitional deacon.
Viatorians serving the holy altar: Associates Mickey Prault (left) and Buddy Miller (center) as lectors and Fr. Jhobany as celebrant and homilist.
When Fr. Jhobany reached the ambo to preach his homily, he made one quick comment to the congregation to whom he had been preaching for the past year: “I’ve been here in this place more times, so I feel less nervous over here than at the beginning,” Fr. Jhobany said, gesturing toward the presider’s chair.
In the past year at Maternity BVM, Fr. Jhobany assisted priests with Masses, preached homilies, and took part in a variety of ministries around the parish and at neighboring churches. This included accompanying a local young adult community based at Maternity BVM that draws from neighboring Olivet Nazarene University and area colleges.
“It was a privilege to work with Jhobany as a transitional deacon and to serve with him at Maternity BVM Church. I appreciated the support of our parishioners and the encouragement that they gave to Jhobany,” Fr. Jason said.
Fr. Jhobany followed in the footsteps of Fr. John Eustice, who served at Maternity BVM as a transitional deacon during the preceding year. Fr. Jason has served this parish for several years, and his experience coupled with the lively faith community, skilled parish staff, and partnership with Catholic schools create a great environment for the formation of Viatorian transitional deacons. The parish threw a dinner reception for the parish to gather and congratulate Fr. Jhobany.
Fr. Jhobany consecrates the Eucharist with his brother Viatorian priests in the beautiful “mother church” of our Viatorian province, Maternity BVM.
Fr. Jhobany was joined by several brothers as concelebrants: Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, pastor; Fr. Moses Mesh, CSV, parochial vicar; Fr. John Peeters, CSV and Fr. Patrick Render, CSV, who were his housemates this past year at St. Patrick Parish rectory in Kankakee; Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV, former parochial vicar at Maternity BVM; and Fr. John Eustice, CSV, who was his classmate at Catholic Theological Union as they both prepared for priesthood. Many more Viatorians also shared in Fr. Jhobany’s ordination weekend and first Mass in Colombia last month.
Additionally, Associates Ken and Michelle Barrie, Ann Perez, Brigette Brankin, and Dan Masterton joined in the congregation, and Associates Mickey Prault and Buddy Miller, who are also parishioners, served as lectors.
These Masses of Thanksgiving are a customary way for newly ordained priests to share their gratitude with the faith communities that have been integral to their vocations and their lives of faith. Now that Fr. Jhobany has returned to the Bourbonnais-Kankakee area and celebrated at Maternity BVM, he will settle into some of the routines of priesthood and sacramental ministry in his life as a Viatorian – and discern with congregation leadership in order to identify God’s invitations and determine what will come next.
“I have been working where God has sent me,” Fr. Jhobany said. “So I don’t know what will be next, but all these years have been a growing process of learning and having faith in God’s mercy.”
Fr. Jhobany greets congregants as he processes out from Mass.