Ordination to the Priesthood Mass – Cay Xuan Trinh

Mass to celebrate the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr Cay Xuan Trinh was held on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at St Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat at 10.30am.

Dr Peter Morris welcomed those who filled the Cathedral and presented the Acknowledgement of Country. All were then invited to stand to begin the celebration, with a great procession of clergy and with beautiful voices and music from the choir.

Following the entrance procession, Ballarat Diocesan Bishop Paul Bird CSsR, Principal Celebrant and Ordaining Bishop, welcomed all present which included over 40 diocesan and visiting priests and a large number of Seminarians from Corpus Christi College, Carlton:

Welcome, everyone, as we begin this Mass of ordination to the priesthood. I welcome Cay who is to be ordained. I welcome Cay’s father and mother, Ngoc and Gam. I welcome Cay’s family and friends in Vietnam and his friends here in Australia.

Tôi chào mừng Cày. Tôi chào mừng bố mẹ Cây, Ngọc và Gấm. Tôi chào mừng gia đình và bạn bè của Cay tại Việt Nam.

I welcome Bishop Peter Connors, Bishop Emeritus of this Diocese. I welcome the priests of the Ballarat Diocese and priests from other places.

I welcome the deacons and the seminarians and the seminary staff and all who have shared the years of formation with Cay.

I welcome the religious. I welcome all the faithful who have gathered here in the cathedral and all those who are joining in this celebration online.

This is a day on which we give thanks for all the mercies God has bestowed upon us. It is also a day on which we pray for continued mercies. We pause for a few moments in silence and pray for God’s mercy in our needs.

Concelebrating the Mass of Ordination with Bishop Paul were:

Most Reverend Peter Connors DD, Bishop Emeritus of Ballarat
Fr Marcello Colasante, Vicar General, Diocese of Ballarat
Fr Ed Moloney, Administrator, St Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat
Very Rev Cameron Forbes, Rector, Corpus Christi College

Mass then began with many family, friends and colleagues of the Ordinand involved in ministries:

Master of Ceremonies: Rev Gary Jones
Seminarians for the Diocese of Ballarat: Simon Zakari and Channa Tilakarathna
Deacon: Rev Jim Curtain
Welcomers / Ushers: Members of St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, Ballarat
Sacristan: Dr Peter Morris
Leader of Song: Roger Hillman
Organist: Geoff Martin
Choir: Members from parishes of the Ballarat Diocese & Vietnamese Choir members
Altar Servers: Simon Zakari, Channa Tilakarathna, Nang Nguyen, Tue Pham
First Reading: Carmel Russo
Responsorial Psalm: Br Tri Coa CP (sung in Vietnamese)
Second Reading: Sr Thanh Nguyen OP (read in Vietnamese)
Gospel: Rev Jim Curtain
Cantor: Dr Susan Crowe
Investiture with Stole and Chasuble: Fr Ed Moloney & Fr Neville Stanislaus
Presentation of Paten & Chalice: Mr Ngoc Xuan Trinh & Mrs Gam Thi Nguyen
Cathedral Decor: Deneise Walsh and St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, Ballarat volunteers
Catering: Brett Hayward – ACU Ballarat Campus Canteen

We welcomed the Vietnamese choir and musicians for singing the psalm and communion hymn in Vietnamese. All musicians and choir members performed beautifully following many hours of preparation and rehearsals prior to the event. Thank you to all those involved in the music ministry, which contributed significantly to this wonderful celebration.

Bishop Paul’s homily invited us to give thanks for Cay’s vocation and offered words of guidance to him as he begins his priestly ministry in our diocese. The homily can be read here.

Thank you to the St Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat Parish volunteers who assisted with the Mass – the choir and musicians, those whose prepared the Cathedral, those who assisted with the clergy vestments, welcomers, ushers, anyone who assisted in any way – your time and attendance before, during and after the Mass was very much appreciated by the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. Thank you also to all those who travelled to attend the Mass.

Newly ordained Fr Cay offered Words of Gratitude before the Final Blessing. Fr Cay’s message can be read here.

Following Mass Fr Cay offered First Blessings from the altar. All were then invited to the Hall for a light lunch, with a warm welcome from Brett Hayward and staff from the ACU – Ballarat Campus Canteen.

The Mass and celebration that followed was a great success for the Ordinand, Cay’s parents who joined us from Vietnam, Cay’s family and friends online, priest colleagues and all the faith-filled in attendance.

The Mass was livestreamed by Vision by Demunck:

Ordination to the Priesthood Mass Booklets

A copy of the Ordination to the Priesthood Mass booklet can be downloaded here.

Mass of Thanksgiving

Fr Cay’s Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 5.00pm.
A copy of the Mass booklet can be downloaded here.