FACEBOOK @FLORIDACATHOLIC July 3-9, 2020
FLORIDA Catholic
VENICE DIOCESE
BOB REDDY
of the Florida Catholic staff
Venice Bishop Frank J. Dewane presided over the ordination of Fa- ther Franckel Fils-Aime in a Rite of Ordination, an age-old ceremony that was witnessed by the faithful on June 27, 2020 at Epiphany Cathe- dral in Venice. Bishop Dewane told Father Fils- Aime that through ordination, he becomes forever raised to the rank of priest in the Body of Christ. With that rank comes great responsibil- ity - to sanctify, to teach, to love and serve just as Christ taught. "Thank you for coming forward in your response to the call of Jesus Christ," Bishop Dewane said of the long and sometimes difficult jour- ney made by Father Fils-Aime to reach this moment. "We celebrate you as you are sent forth to preach the Gospel, to be the good shepherd of God's people, and to celebrate the Liturgy, especially the Lord's sacri- fice on his table. In doing so you bring together the faithful of the community as you pray with them and for them to the Lord." Father Fils-Aime, 41, was born in the Cornillon region of Haiti in the town of Potino, said he feels blessed by God to be ordained and feels the love of the people of the Diocese of Venice. "I am grateful for all of the prayers and support I have received during this journey and feel I am prepared to serve the people as I continue to trust in God." The ordination was a bright mo- ment for the Diocese during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. All present wore masks and main- tained social distancing. While there were many family and friends present, the immediate family of Father Fils-Aime was not able to attend as they were home in Haiti, unable to travel. To help bridge that gap in distance, the ordination was streamed live through social media. To start the Rite of Ordination, Diocese of Venice Vocations Direc- tor Father Shawn Roser called the transitional deacon forward as he presented himself for ordination to the Bishop. The Bishop, on behalf of the entire Church, accepted him and called him to ordination as a priest by saying: "Relying on the help of the Lord God and Our Sav- ior Jesus Christ, we choose Franckel Fils-Aime, our brother, for the Order of the Priesthood." During the Rite of Ordination, Deacon Fils-Aime knelt before Bishop Dewane to express his de- sire and willingness to be ordained as a Priest and to fulfill the respon- sibilities that come with ordination, which included a promise of respect and obedience to the Bishop and his successors. He then lay pros- trate before the altar for the Litany of Supplication (Litany of Saints). After this solemn act of prayer, the Sacrament of Ordination was conferred when he again knelt be- fore Bishop Dewane, whom in silent prayer, imposed his hands on the head the ordinand. Each priest then came forward to pray over Father Fils-Aime. Next, Bishop Dewane, with his hands outstretched, prayed the Prayer of Ordination. Father Fils-Aime was then vested in stole and chasuble by Fa- ther Timothy Navin, Pastor of San Marco Parish in Marco Island, the location of his first pastoral assign- ment as a seminarian of the Dio- cese. The hands of Father Fils-Aime were then anointed with the Sacred Chrism by the Bishop, the sign of the special anointing of the Holy Spirit who will make his ministry fruitful. Next, the Bishop presented Fa- ther Fils-Aime with the chalice and paten which all priests are called to present to God in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The Rite of Ordination is concluded with the Bishop giving a fraternal kiss of peace to the newly ordained priest, welcoming him into the Diocesan Presbyterate or priesthood. Bishop Dewane intro- duced Father Fils-Aime to all those present to enthusiastic applause.
JOURNEY TO ORDINATION
A recent graduate from St. Vin- cent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Father Franckel completed more than 14 years of priestly discernment and forma- tion. He first entered seminary in the Dominican Republic studying to become a Franciscan Capuchin Friar. He spent nine years in for- mation before discerning a call to Diocesan priesthood in Venice. During this time, he studied in the Dominican Republic and Brazil,
Priest ordination celebrated in midst of Pandemic
Bishop Frank J. Dewane lays his hands on the head of Franckel Fils-Aime during his Ordination to the Priesthood June 27, 2020 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. (SCREENSHOT) The hands of newly ordained Father Franckel Fils-Aime are consecrated with Sacred Chrism by Bishop Frank J. Dewane June 27, 2020 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. (PHOTOS BY BOB REDDY FC) Newly ordained Father Franckel Fils-Aime with Bishop Frank J. Dewane on June 27, 2020 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice.
PLEASE SEE ORDINATION, 2
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