Father Jim's Ordination
It was the day of Uncle Jimmy's ordination.
Annie was sitting in church, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Mother and Dad sat each to a side of her.
The children had been left with Mrs Mitchell, who had become a firm friend of hers.
The family took up quite a few of the front benches.
Grandpa and Granny Duncan sat in the first row.
It was strange to think of Grandpa Duncan as being the father of a priest.
He had a dreadful temper, which he often lost with his wife and children, though he always treated his sons- and daughter-in-law with a distant courtesy and was a dutiful if unenthusiastic grandfather to their children.
He was widely respected because of his generosity to the poor but Annie infinitely preferred her grandmother, who was softspoken and gentle, with a broad, creamy face, and who had once told her how much she loved Dad.
"Your father has always been such a loving and devoted son," she said.
"He's only ever given me love."
With a jolt Annie realised that everyone was standing.
She followed suit and opened her hymnal to join in the lovely words of the entrance hymn.
The gracious ceremony of ordination continued.
The Bishop introduced Uncle Jimmy to the congregation and spoke of the wonder of ordination.
He explained that God calls His people to follow Christ, and to become holy.
God has called us all from darkness into His marvellous light.
The Christian Church is the Body of Christ.
This means that everybody belongs to God in a special way.
The Bishop went on to explain that God calls forth priests from His people to serve Him with dedication and honour, and to lead the people to holiness.
Priests dedicate their lives to preaching that God is the Ruler of Heaven and Earth, and that we all belong to Him.
Priests offer praise and prayer.
They explain the Gospels and the Bible so they can lead people with sureness to the right path to God.
Priests study the Gospels, Scriptures and subjects which help people to learn more about God.
Priests celebrate the Eucharist, and help people to live their lives well.
The time came for Uncle Jimmy to be ordained.
He knelt before the Bishop, who, in silence, laid his hands upon his head.
The Bishop ordained Uncle Jimmy, praying silently as he called on the Holy Spirit of God to ordain Uncle Jimmy.
Uncle Jimmy thereafter put on the ministerial vestments and knelt down in front of the Bishop, who handed him the Book of Gospels, saying;
"Receive the Gospel of Christ, Whose herald you are.
Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practise what you teach."
Then the Bishop gave him the sign of peace.
The organist struck up the hymn "Praise my soul the King of Heaven."
Everyone stood up and sang from their hearts.
What a glorious sound it made, all those priests on the altar and all the people of God in the pews singing out their praise and thanks to God for the new labourer he had sent to the harvest.
Uncle Jimmy was radiant as he listened to the singing of the others.
After the hymn, the Bishop anointed Uncle Jimmy's hands with chrism oil.
When all had sung the hymn to the Holy Spirit of God that followed, the Bishop gave the chalice and paten to the young priest.
Then the new priest joined the Bishop and his fellow priests in offering Eucharist.
From where she sat, Annie could see the look on Granny Duncan's face as she received Holy Communion from the hands of her son.
She was very happy.
There was no mistaking the look of love on Father Jim's face as he gave the Host of Jesus to his mother.
Grandpa Duncan, looking as irascible as ever and only a little more red than usual, followed his wife, and Father Jim smiled tenderly as he gave his father the Holy Eucharist.
Annie followed shortly after, feeling privileged to receive Jesus from the hands of her very own uncle.
After Mass, Uncle Jimmy came and sought her out.
Father Jim cleared his throat and said: "It's a great source of joy and honour to be a priest, Annie, but I'll need prayers.
Will you pray for me?"
"I'll pray for you every day from now on, Uncle Jimmy," Annie promised.
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Evening had fallen when she went out to pick mulberry leaves for Herbie and Doreen and her schoolfriends.
After filling her plastic carrier to capacity, she rested her head against the tree stem.
She recalled the day, just over a year ago, when she had first learnt about the Church's seven sacraments.
Since then, she had been present at the celebration of each one of them.
Remembering her promise to pray for her uncle, she folded her hands and asked Jesus to guide him to be a good and faithful priest.
The path to belief in God of Mrs Benson and William had taught her that God is at work in all of us.
For God is our Father in Heaven, Who loves us totally.
The kitchen door opened and Annie could see her mother, framed in the doorway, anxiously looking out for her.
"Coming, Mom," she called.
Then armed with her bag of leaves, she slithered down the trunk of the mulberry tree and went back inside.
THE END
Image by Catherine Nicolette