June 12, 2009
Father Ryan Hilderbrand ordained for diocese June 6
Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger lays hands on the head of Deacon Ryan Hilderbrand, ordaining him as a priest of the Diocese of Evansville. Behind the bishop are Deacons William Brandle, Robert Letona, Dennis Hilderbrand and Michael Waninger. (Message Photo courtesy Richard W. Morris, Jr.) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor), and MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Father and son were at the altar. Mother and sister were in the front pew. Deacon Ryan Hilderbrand was ordained a priest June 6 by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger at St. Benedict Cathedral, in the presence of his family and the entire church family.
At the altar, Deacon Dennis Hilderbrand beamed brightly during the ceremonies for his son.
After the ceremonies, Terrese “Terri” Hilderbrand, the mother of the new priest, said, “It looks like he’s going to be doing God’s work, and that’s what God asks from all of us.”
She was surprised — and pleased — that her son was assigned to the Montgomery area, serving St. Peter Church along with All Saints Church in Cannelburg and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Mont-gomery. The announcement was made by Bishop Gettelfinger at the conclusion of the celebration.
“He will do well as long as he does what God wants of him,” his mother said. “He has always belonged to God. He was never ours. Our children belong to God. We didn’t sacrifice anything. We are blessed.”
The new priest’s sister, Julie Morris, was pleased, too. “I’m very proud of my brother,” she said. “He’s very happy in his life, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Scripture readings were proclaimed by John Kelsey, Brian Emmick and Deacon Robert Letona. Deacon Dennis Hilder-brand had the first role in the Rite of Ordination — the calling of the candidate.
“Let Ryan Paul Hilderbrand, who is to be ordained a priest, come forward,” he said.
Father Bernie Etienne, vocations director, then presented the candidate to the bishop, testifying that “he has been found worthy.”
After the “laying on of hands” by Bishop Gettelfinger, all the priests who were present also laid hands on the head of the new priest (including Father Philip Kreilein, who had baptized Ryan as an infant).
Fathers Robert Deig and Michael Madden assisted the new priest in vesting. Father Ray-mond Reising, health permitting, had also been invited to assist.
Also at the altar for the ordination Mass were Deacons Michael Waninger and William Brandle. Seminarians of the di-ocese were acolytes and ser-vers. Masters of Ceremony in-cluded Deacon Tom Holsworth, Scott Whitehouse and Matt Miller.
Terri Hilderbrand, Julie Mor-ris and Richard Morris, Jr., and William Santo-Salim Limandi-brata were the gift-bearers.
Jeremy Korba directed the diocesan choir and Mark X. Hatfield was the organist.
In his homily, Bishop Gettelfinger cited the Gospel passage in which Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. When Peter says “Yes,” Jesus tells him to “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.”
Bishop Gettelfinger said that so far, Ryan Hilderbrand had been “entrustsed with baby sitting.” Now, at ordination, it is time to “take care of the rest of the family.”