THE ORDINATION OF BR ANTONY JUKES, O.F.M.
- Br Antony meets the Bishop and the Provincial in the Friary before the Ordination Mass
- Br Antony introduces his mother to the Bishop
- The concelebrants line up in the cloister before entering the church. In the foreground Deacon Antanas from Lithuania
- The procession enter the church singing "God's Spirit is in my heart". In the picture Frs Chris and Carroll from East St Louis, USA, where Antony ministered as a deacon for three months, and Fr Seamus, in charge of post-novitiate formation at Canterbury
- Br Antony's family is present in force
- and he takes his place with them for the Liturgy of the Word
- The Bishop leads the Penitential Rite
- and then everyone is invited to sit and listen to God's Word in Scripture. In the picture Sr Margaret with Merlyn and John who travelled up from Canterbury
- A reading from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 by Br Antony's older brother Edward
- In response Psalm 88 is sung with the refrain "I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord" led by Ann Moynihan, teacher of liturgy at the FISC
- Then the Bishop invites the whole assembly to stand
- as Deacon Dan from Whitstable proclaims the Gospel reading from St Matthew 5:13-19. Antony has worked with him as a member of the SVP for the past five years
- The Bishop delivers a homily
- and everyone listens attentively. In the picture Antony's Mum Patricia, his brother Edward, sister Maria and her fiance Andy
- Br Seamus, Antony's Guardian,
- presents him to the Bishop for Ordination
- The Bishop examines Br Antony as candidate for the priesthood. In the picture Deacon Alvydas fom Lithuania and Fr David Blowey, an American Conventual friar who acted as MC
- The Bishop then invites him to promise obedience and respect to his Ordinary (in Antony's case the Minister Provincial)
- The Bishop kneels to lead everyone in prayer
- as the Litany of the Saints is sung
- and the candidate
- lies prostate before the altar
- The candidate rises and kneels before the Bishop who lays his hands on the candidate's head in silence
- All the priests present do likewise
- Then, while all the priests keep their hands extended, the Bishop extends his hands over the candidate and says the prayer of consecration: this is the moment of Ordination
- Fr Peter Connor, Antony's uncle, assists him in arranging the stole as it is worn by priests
- and vests him in a chasuble
- Now the Bishop anoints with chrism the palms of the new priest as he kneels before him saying "The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God."
- The gifts of the people are brought forward to the altar by Antony's brother Peter and his Mum
- The Bishop hands the paten and chalice to the new priest saying, "Accept from the holy people of God the gifts to be offered to him. Know what you are doing, and imitate the mystery you celebrate: model your life on the mystery of the Lord's cross"
- The Bishop stands and gives the kiss of peace to the new priest, saying "Peace be with you"
- and all the priests and friars present
- do likewise
- "Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer ... "
- During the Eucharistic Prayer Fr Antony for the first time concelebrates the Mass
- and leads the prayer for the Pope, the Bishop, and the whole people of God
- The concelebrating priests receive the host. In the picture Fr Ferd from East St Louis, Fr Peter Geldert the chaplain at the University of Kent Catholic Society which Antony has been involved in for the past 5 years, and Fr Joseph O'Hanlon who used to teach Scripture at the FISC
- Fr Antony assists the Bishop
- in ministering Holy Communion to all the people
- Several deacons and priests have to assist in bringing Holy Communion to the huge congregatiion
- During Communion all join in singing, "I am the Bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger ... "
- The Bishop concludes the Mass by giving his solemn blessing
- and the Minister Provincial thanks everyone for preparing and sharing in this celebration and invites them to come together in the Becket Centre for refreshments
- Led by the servers
- the clergy process out
- singing with the congregation, "Guide me, O thou great Redeemer"
- until they take leave of the Bishop back in the cloister
- Meanwhile back in the church (Antony with Br Brendan from the Canterbury community)
- Fr Antony gives his first blessing
- and receives the congratulations from Mrs Wheatley, his French teacher from Secondary School
- and from friends and relatives
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