Three seminarians – Joseph Menkhaus, Scott Swinerton and David Verbsky – entered the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on May 21 as deacons. About two hours later, they left as newly ordained diocesan priests.
“You have come here for a change of title, and soon, by the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration, you will become Father Joe Menkhaus, Father Scott Swinerton and Father David Verbsky. But this title change comes with an interior change,” Bishop Edward Malesic told them. “You will be signed and sealed as priests forever, men who intercede and offer sacrifice on our behalf.”
(See photo gallery above. Click here to view an archived copy of the livestreamed Mass.)
The bishop recalled his ordination 35 years ago in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He said the cathedral was named after the Irish saint and great evangelist, a fact that wasn’t lost on him. As a priest, he knew he must be an evangelist, a bearer of the Gospel. That’s why there are three shamrocks on his coat of arms, he explained.
Since the three new priests were ordained in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, he instructed them to do the work of an evangelist. “Bring glad tidings to the lowly, heal the brokenhearted, free those who are enslaved by sin and offer the oil of gladness to a world that often finds itself in misery,” the bishop said.
Priests are essential to the ministry and mission of the Church, he said. “You will open us to the possibility of resurrection and new life. You are needed – never doubt that. And we are grateful that you answered the call of Jesus to be our priests.”
By their sacramental consecration, they are configured to Jesus as the head and shepherd of the Church, the bishop said. They will be endowed with a spiritual power that shares in the authority of Christ. “Use that authority to serve us as you proclaim the word, become stewards of the mysteries of our sacrament and shepherd the people of God in the various assignments that you will receive as priests of the Diocese of Cleveland.”
The priests represent the Church and the bishop, he said, encouraging the ordinandi to “Show us 24/7 what it means to believe in Jesus, to follow him and to proclaim him. Use your spiritual power to serve us … Attract people by the peace of Christ who dwells in you.
As good stewards of the mysteries of the sacraments, the bishop said they should “Be lenient in your judgments and wise in your counsel. In everything you do, serve the Lord with gladness. That means a smile is often required on your faces,” he added. At Mass, they should remind themselves they are giving themselves for the life of the Church in imitation of Jesus. The bishop also urged them to do what they were taught at the seminary by Bishop-elect Michael Woost: “Trust the rituals of the Church. Your prayer for us must always come from your heart. That requires you to know us well.”
As shepherds of souls, Bishop Malesic told the new priests that is their work and ministry. However, he asked them to consider where they are leading us. It should be to Jesus, he said. “Shepherd us into his pastures.”
In the day’s Gospel, Jesus was speaking not only to Peter, but to the three new priests when he asked, “Do you love me?” the bishop said. When they answered, “Present” as their names were called, he said they were telling the Lord that he knows they love him. As part of their ordination, he gave them another command: “Feed my sheep,” the bishop said.
That will require humility, he told them. “Put others before yourself. And you will be humbled when you learn that the people you lead are often holier than you are,” the bishop said. “Good shepherds are humble enough to learn from the sheep about life, love and faithfulness … Never stop wanting to be converted more and more toward the Lord until that time when you become saints yourselves.”
The bishop also offered this advice to the newly ordained, recommending they learn to say “yes” to their assignments before they’re tempted to say “no.” He quipped, “That will make me and my successors very happy. Stay the course and persevere. Pick up the cross of ministry and walk forward with it. Trust in Jesus. Have hope … Listen to the Lord who loves you. Never doubt that Jesus loves you. And have the ability to laugh at yourself.”
He also urged them to resist the spirit of division that the devil uses to weaken the Church “You must be agents of unity and not of division. Stay close to the pope, the bishop and the people you are being asked to serve.”
Finally, Bishop Malesic said they should “Live the mystery that is being placed in your hands. Live the mystery of Christ who brings life to the dead, light to those in darkness, forgiveness to the sinners and hope to the hopeless. Share him with us. We need him.”
Concelebrants at the ordination liturgy included Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries; Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa; Auxiliary Bishop-elect Woost; Benedictine Abbot Gary Hoover; seminary officials, professors, home parish pastors of the newly ordained, pastors of their first assigned parishes and diocesan officials.
During the Mass, a new song, “Lord I am not Worthy,” was sung. Father Menkhaus wrote it along with his classmate Deacon Connor Hetzel, who will be ordained next month as a priest for the Diocese of Youngstown, and Monica and Max Menkhaus, two of Father Menkhaus’ siblings.
Home parishes, parents and first assignments for the three new priests are:
Father Menkhaus -- St. Monica Parish in Garfield Heights, son of Joseph and Christy Menkhaus of Cuyahoga Heights, parochial vicar – St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake.
Father Swinerton -- St. Mary of the Falls Parish in Olmsted Falls, son of David and the late Sharon Swinerton of Olmsted Falls, parochial vicar – St. Mary Parish in Hudson.
Father Verbsky -- St. Mary Parish in Chardon, son of William and Sharyl Verbsky of Mentor, parochial vicar – St. Francis de Sales Parish in Akron.