On Sunday, July 31, those who attended the 10:15 a.m. mass at Old St. Patrick Oratory in Kansas City, had the opportunity to receive many of the graces which flow from the first solemn mass of a newly ordained priest. In this case, the solemn mass of thanksgiving of a native son of the Oratory, Canon David Silvey, who was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on July 7 at the Institute’s church of Ss. Michael and Cajetan in Florence by H.E. Raymond Cardinal Burke.    On this festive occasion, the many faithful of Old St. Patrick Oratory as well as the many family members and friends of the new Canon were able to witness the beautiful sacred ceremonies of a first solemn mass.  

The ceremony began with a solemn procession into the church beginning with Old St. Patrick Oratory’s Solemn Mass altar boy team followed by the vice-rector, Canon Glenn Gardner and then the provincial superior of the Institute of Christ the King in the U.S., Canon Matthew Talarico, who also served as the assistant priest to the newly ordained celebrant. The assistant priest for a first solemn mass is a special privilege granted at the first mass of a recently ordained priest (normally reserved for a bishop and other prelates) and his role is to aid the celebrant at the missal during the celebration of the mass. Following the procession, Canon Silvey intoned the “Veni Creator Spiritus,” which was continued by the clergy and choir.  The Veni Creator is customarily sung at a first Solemn mass begging the Holy Ghost to protect and guide the priesthood of the God’s newly anointed. Since it was a Sunday, the Asperges was sung and all those present received the sprinkling with holy water as is the custom. The mass of the 11th Sunday after Pentecost was sung by Old St. Patrick’s choir aided by several seminarians of the Institute who sang the beautiful Gregorian proper of the mass. The provincial superior, Canon Matthew Talarico, preached the sermon in which he stressed the great dignity and duties of the sacred priesthood as well as the necessity of the priest to remain close to the Holy Mother of God, Mary Immaculate. He then pronounced the declaration of a Plenary Indulgence granted by the Apostolic Penitentiary for the occasion which was accorded to all present.

After the solemn mass, the newly ordained Canon imparted his priestly blessing individually to those present and the faithful, in keeping with the traditional custom of the Church, kissed the hands of the new priest.  Following this moving and solemn ceremony, the clergy, family of Canon Silvey, as well as the many friends and faithful of the Oratory enjoyed a lovely reception in honor of the newly ordained priest at the Catholic Center in the diocesan chancery.

Photos courtesy of Mary Felice Kromm