Posted On 2016-04-29 In Covenant Life, Schoenstatters

New Schoenstatt Father ordained

BRAZIL, Karen Bueno •

“Christ loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20) is the certainty and motivation behind the vocation of the new Brazilian Schoenstatt Father, Fr. Ailton Brito Alves.  On Saturday 16 April, the Schoenstatt Family, parish community, many friends and family — in Brazil and abroad — gathered for his priestly ordination at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Way, in São Bernardo do Campo/SP.

Bishop Pedro Carlos Cipolini of Santo André/SP presided over the celebration and advised the new priest: “Never forget God’s mercy for you.” The chosen gospel (Lk 7:36-50) carried the image of the sinner who washed Jesus’ feet. “The Pharisee’s disapproving look prevents him from seeing Jesus,” said the bishop.  “Jesus shows that sanctity is in a love that welcomes and forgives.  The Good Shepherd isn’t shut away in palaces, but is among the sheep.” On Fr. Ailton’s motto, Bishop Cipolino urged: “The best way to return this love is by loving Christ in one another and the Church.  Love the people with your whole heart, more than yourself, more than your Institute.  Be happy, be the merciful priest that the Lord has called.”

During the ordination rite, the candidate prostrated himself humbly on the ground as a sign of his full and complete giving of self to God, while the choir intoned the Litany of All Saints.  Then the concelebrating priests laid their hands on the new priest, imploring on the Holy Spirit.  With the blessing and divine grace, Fr. Ailton then put on his priestly garments – the stole and cassock – brought by his family members.  The unction of the hands and the offering of bread and wine brought the rite to an end, where everyone congratulated the new priest.

Fr. Ailton’s first words — with his customary joy — were of gratitude for all those who accompanied his vocational journey.  He concluded saying: “Jesus, I will go with you where ever you go, no matter where, it only matters that I will go with you.”

As a family

‘Joy’ is a word that families use.  “To see your son ordained is a great honour for a father.  It is a great joy and a great honour to have a son who is a counsellor to friends and strangers alike,” said Manuel Brito Alves, Fr. Ailton’s father.

“It is a great joy for the family to have a Schoenstatt Father, that we don’t even have the words to describe it,” said his younger brother, Lucas Brito Alves.  For him, this ordination “brings more hope, more unity, with Ailton taking the word of God to all.”

Fr. Ailton is part of the Dilectio Patris Vivens ex Sion (Living Love of the Father from Zion) course, which is also a family, explains Fr. Júlio Fabiano Rodrigues, his course brother who was also recently ordained: “The course is a family and it is very important for us to be together, to accompany Ailton, be near him.  This ordination represents for us the history of God working in each one of us.  The mystery of vocation represents an undeserved gift that we receive in priesthood.” There are eight members in this course, two of which will be ordained soon.

“We see each ordination as a brother who participates intimately in the family of the Schoenstatt Fathers,” said the superior, Fr. Vandemir Meister, “and therefore it is a joy to receive Ailton as a priest in our community.” Furthermore, “for the Schoenstatt Family it is an even greater joy because there is one more priest who can work directly with the Schoenstatt Movement in Brazil.”

The ordination was streamed live on the internet so that everyone, at the Basilica or on the web, could respond to his request, which is once again emphasized: “Pray for me.”

 Video

Source: maeperegrina.com.br

Original: Portuguese. Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Cape Town South Africa

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