The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange, ordained four men to the priesthood on Saturday, June 6. They are Nam Linh Doan, Alejandro Nicolat Herrrera, Jakub Mackowicz and Michael Rizzo.
The ancient and solemn ceremony was altered significantly to ensure the safety of the four soon-to-be-ordained priests, their guests, and officiants.
It is the second ordination held at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove since the cathedral was dedicated in July 2019.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the public was not invited to the ceremony, but viewers were able to watch the event live via Christ Cathedral’s Facebook page at christcathedralmass.com.
Limited numbers of family members and guests of the four deacons were spaced apart from one another in the cathedral that had undergone thorough cleaning and disinfecting, says Lesa Truxaw, director of the Diocese of Orange Office of Worship.
In addition, some parts of the ritual were adapted for safety reasons, including the traditional fraternal kiss and the laying on of hands, Truxaw says. A post-ceremony reception did not take place, but may be rescheduled at a later date. Everyone in the cathedral except Bishop Vann wore masks, she adds, and participants were frequently using hand sanitizer during the ritual.
The new priests will join the large and vibrant Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange community, the 10th-largest diocese in the United States. The diocese traces its beginnings to St. Junipero Serra and the first Catholic missionaries who founded the Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1776. Today the Diocese of Orange has the distinction of being one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation.