"What you seek in the stars … dwells in your heart"

Priestly Ordination of Father Pastor Ignacio Achával in Córdoba, Argentina

El neo-sacerdote: P. Pastor Ignacio Achával The newly ordained Fr. Pastor Ignacio Achával Der Neupriester P. Pastor Ignacio Achával
Mons Rodríguez abraza al Neo-Sacerdote Bishop Rodríguez with the new priest Bischof Rodriguez umarmt den Neupriester
Primera Misa First holy Mass Primiz
La familia de Schoenstatt presente The Schoenstatt family present Die Schönstattfamilie ist da! Fotos: Juan Barbosa © 2008

ARGENTINA, Juan Carlos Barbosa. "What you seek in the stars, … dwells in your heart," with these words the good natured story told by Father Pastor Ignacio Achával, newly ordained priest, was concluded at his first Mass in the Child of God Parish in Villa Carlos Paz, Cordoba, Argentina.

The family of Córdoba knew that what they would experience on the 1^st of March 2008 would be a transcendent event, and it was providentially placed at the beginning of the path toward the celebration for the first forty years of the Solidarity Shrine. This Shrine is where the beloved Mother and Queen captured the heart of her son, Pastor, forever. This Shrine saw him grow in body and spirit. This is the Shrine where Pastor Ignacio Achával obtained his FIRE many times, the one from which his name comes (Ignis = Fire) as his course brother Father José Tomás Pérez explained in the homily of his first Mass.

Villa Waracalde took time preparing…

During the time prior to the ordination, everything was under control, although the pacing was totally intense. The choir began to practice the songs two months ago. The Shrine’s pastoral staff worked ardently. The Sisters of Mary made sure the grounds would truly be a Garden of Mary. The Family organized the care of and housing of more than forty people including priests and seminarians, several visitors from Brazil, Chile, Parguay, and the different provinces of Argentina attending the ceremony. Everyone was mobilized and Pastor was behind every detail…

His family was present… Completely!

With affectionate and selfless effort, the beauty of Villa Warcalde complemented the framework of the celebration, where the Queen would give something essential something dreamed of…a sunny day. Light! She was here!

Slowly his relatives arrived; their joyful expressions clearly obvious. The joy was contagious and simultaneously infected Pastor as well since this was the day longed for and dreamed of in his life, which had finally arrived. This day would fulfill his most precious dream for which he had prayed thousands of hours, about as many as he had worked during his formation: receiving his Priestly Ordination.

"Older young faces" joined in the celebration, the friends and brothers of his first Boys’ Youth groups. Little by little, many with their children in their arms or holding their parents’ hands arrived to share the day with THEIR FRIEND. Lucas Sánchez, Matias Altamira, Hernán Cornejo, Gonzalo Gómez Pizarro, Pablo Gagliardi, Pedro Urrets Zavalia, Mario Depetris…Those who had dreamed, shared long nights of growth, through never-ending discussions in the search for truth and with similar desires: to grow in the Love of God and of others with STEADFASTNESS. This steadfastness is another of the characteristics Father Pérez stressed in his sermon the following day. The Bishop of La Rioja, Monsignor Robert Rodriguez and a great friend of the Solidarity Shrine, would ordain our beloved Pastor in a few minutes.

The great moment arrived

Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, Regional Superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers, called the candidate to the presbyter as he presented him to the Bishop he requested the Rite of Ordination for Pastor. After the reading of the Gospel and the Homily, there were prayers imploring the Holy Spirit, the Litany was sung (a very close friend very touchingly intoned them) and after the consecration prayer, he was vested with the priestly chasuble and the stole, his hands were anointed, and he was given his Chalice and Paten. Then Bishop Rodriguez embraced him with a strong and effusive embrace, and then presented him to the Assembly. Thousands of tears fell at this moment in which the choir sang, "He performed wonders in me…" From this moment on our beloved Pastor was now and forever– our Father Pastor.

Loved by all of his family and his Schoenstatt Family, the newly ordained priest expressed a few brief words of gratitude filled with emotion and feeling.

He did not forget his parents and relatives, his beloved Maguie, his cousin, his friends, HIS Shrine and of course, the beloved MTA, who had led him through life by the hand. She had taught him to cultivate LOYALTY, another characteristic of his personality cited by Father Pérez.

Thank you, Father Pastor for allowing us to experience this unforgettable journey to your Priestly Ordination and also of your first Mass.

Thank you because in them you allowed us to enjoy the company and closeness we have always had.

Thank you also because during these two ceremonies we met so many beloved people we had not seen for some time and who gave us a new breath of life and the desire to say…Pray for us, pray with us!

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj