Bishop Larry Silva prays over priesthood candidate EJ Resinto as he lay prostrate in the sanctuary after the chanting of the Litany of Saints. (HCH photos | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Bishop Larry Silva ordains EJ Resinto a priest who will bring Christ’s joy to others
By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The sun shined brightly on the gilded statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in downtown Honolulu on her feast day.
It befitted the Islands’ patroness to radiate joy and light on that Saturday morning as hundreds of faithful gathered at the church of her namesake for a special celebration.
Bishop Larry Silva, in a warm and colorful Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace on July 9, ordained for the Diocese of Honolulu its newest priest, 28-year-old EJ Resinto of Lihue, Kauai.
Upwards of 500 local religious, parishioners, friends and family members packed the cathedral basilica’s upstairs balcony and downstairs pews to support Resinto in his sacramental milestone.
Dozens of priests and deacons from several islands, and a handful of visiting Mainland clergy, joined the liturgy’s main celebrant, Bishop Silva, in the sanctuary.
Resinto’s fellow diocesan seminarians assisted in the Mass as acolytes. Deacon Alfred Guerrero, a seminarian scheduled for priestly ordination next year, served as “Deacon of the Gospel.”
Presenting the candidate
The ordination Mass began with an opening procession that went through several rounds of the entrance hymn, “Laudate, Laudate Dominum.” Beats from a Hawaiian ipu added a local touch to the festive song of praise.
The Rite of Ordination began after the Liturgy of the Word. Father William Shannon, who until July 1 was diocesan director of seminarians, called Resinto forward and presented him to Bishop Silva as a candidate for priesthood.
“Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose EJ, our brother, for the Order of the Priesthood,” the bishop declared. The congregation voiced their assent with a resounding, “Thanks be to God!”
Bishop Silva then delivered his homily, which hearkened to a verse in the liturgy’s First Reading from the Book of Isaiah: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”
Citing recent terrorist attacks around the globe and police unrest in the U.S., the bishop noted “the people who walked in darkness … are not only those who lived centuries ago.”
“The shadow of death is palpable” in our modern times, he said. Yet, “we are not meant to be a people of gloom.”
“It is Jesus alone who is zealous to smash the yoke that burdens us,” Bishop Silva said. “He needs servants to be united with him in love and prayer,” to show that “this life can overcome darkness.”
Mary, he explained, “gave flesh to the light.” St. Damien de Veuster, who was ordained a Sacred Hearts priest at the Honolulu cathedral, and St. Marianne Cope, who worshipped at the church when she arrived in the Islands, had been called to bring hope in troubling times.
“God has brought a litany of saints not to shine with their own light, but with the light of Christ,” Bishop Silva said.
He encouraged Resinto in his priestly vocation to “be the bearer of light.”
“From this day forward, EJ will extend those hands over bread and wine … to change those simple elements into the body and blood of the Prince of Peace himself,” the bishop said. “With the grace of the light that shows nothing is impossible, he will bring people to the joy that is Christ the Lord.”
After his sermon, Bishop Silva called Resinto forward again and asked him several questions about his priestly responsibilities. Resinto pledged his resolve by responding, “I do.”
A lauhala mat was then brought to the sanctuary, on which Resinto prostrated himself before the bishop. As he lay on the floor, the congregation chanted the Litany of Saints.
Laying on of hands
After the litany, Resinto knelt before Bishop Silva. The bishop silently laid his hands on Resinto’s head, ordaining him a priest with a solemn gesture passed down from the time of the apostles. Other priests present at the Mass then each took a turn repeating the bishop’s gesture and praying over Resinto.
The freshly ordained Father Resinto was helped into his stole and chasuble by Father Shannon, Father Lio Faletoi and Father Anthony Rapozo, the last Kauai man ordained a priest for the Diocese of Honolulu.
Bishop Silva afterward anointed Resinto’s hands with the sacred chrism. Bread and wine were then brought to the bishop, who in turn handed them to Father Resinto for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The ordination rite concluded with Father Resinto’s brother priests greeting him with the “Fraternal Kiss of Peace.”
Father Resinto’s parents, Eddie and Shanlyne, served as the gift bearers for the offertory procession. His younger brother, Ridge, was also at the ceremony.
The newly ordained priest assisted Bishop Silva at the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
After Communion, Father Resinto in a brief speech expressed his gratitude to his immediate and extended family; to the parishioners at St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi, St. Michael Church in Kona and St. Theresa Co-Cathedral where he had served as a seminarian; to all the parishioners on Kauai and to Bishop Silva for his support.
Father Resinto was slated to celebrate his first Mass as a priest at his home parish, Immaculate Conception Church in Lihue, on July 10. He will return to Oahu to begin on July 25 his first priestly assignment as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ewa Beach.
