The diocese gained a priest on Saturday, May 23 with the ordination of Father Zachary Goodchild to the Sacred Order of Presbyter. He was ordained by Bishop Earl Fernandes in a standing-room only Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral.
Father Goodchild, 30, of Pickerington St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, finished his studies for the priesthood earlier this month at the Pontifical College Josephinum in north Columbus.
Hundreds of laity, clergy and consecrated religious from various orders in the diocese attended his ordination Mass.
Major concelebrants included Bishop Emeritus James Griffin, who will celebrate his 92nd birthday next month, and Msgr. Steven Beseau, rector and president at the Josephinum.
The Mass featured sacred music from the St. Joseph Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Brass, directed by Dr. Richard Fitzgerald, the diocese’s director of music and cathedral organist. Dr. Nicole Simental, music director at the Columbus St. Thomas More Newman Center, served as assisting organist.
Lectors for the liturgy included Father Goodchild’s brother, Dustin, 27, and Brother Kevin Cush, O. de M. (Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (Mercedarians)), 26, who serves at Columbus Holy Family Church.
The Liturgy of the Word was followed by the Rite of Ordination.
Then-Deacon Goodchild was formally presented to the bishop. Father Michael Haemmerle, the diocese’s vocations director, testified that the candidate was found worthy for the sacred order.
The bishop then elected, or chose, him for the Order of the Priesthood. The congregation responded with applause.
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Bishop Fernandes spoke directly to Father Goodchild in his homily. He commended the young man for his amicable personality, intellect and musical talent. He also reminded him that his ordination was not because of such traits.
“The Lord called you through no merit of your own,” Bishop Fernandes said. “He chose you. Now, He sends you to proclaim the Good News of what God has done in Christ. You also must be a witness.”
The bishop explained, as a priest, Father Goodchild would make visible the life of Jesus. Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, he would become a “living locus” of God’s presence.
Bishop Fernandes also previewed the Litany of Supplication that would take place during the ordination rite. The gesture symbolizes Christ laying down His life for His flock.
“You will demonstrate this love when you prostrate yourself on this carpet, but, many more times, as the years go by, you must lay down your life – die to yourself – so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in and through you,” the bishop affirmed.
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The homily was followed by an examination of the elect. Bishop Fernandes posed a series of questions to the elect, examining the young man’s resolve to undertake and faithfully fulfill the ministry to which he was about to be ordained.
Kneeling before the bishop, the elect promised respect and obedience to him and his successors.
The Litany of Supplication followed. Then-Deacon Goodchild lied prostrate before the altar as the congregation implored God’s mercy and the intercession of the Blessed Mother and the saints.
Bishop Fernandes then placed his hands on the head of the elect, who knelt before him, and invoked the Holy Spirit. The imposition of hands is an ancient apostolic tradition.
Clergy came forward, imitating the bishop by laying their hands on the elect in succession.
The Rite of Ordination continued with the prayer of ordination. Offering the prayer, Bishop Fernandes asked God to raise the ordinand to the priesthood.
Through the imposition of hands and prayer of ordination, Father Goodchild was ordained a priest.
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He was vested with the stole and chasuble. Father Leo Connolly, pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, vested the new priest with the stole, a scarf-like garment worn around the neck, symbolizing the office of the priesthood.
Father Brian O’Connor, pastor at Canal Winchester Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, assisted with vesting Father Goodchild in the chasuble, a vestment worn by priests for the celebration of Mass.
Bishop Fernandes then anointed Father Goodchild’s hands with sacred chrism. The gesture signifies the new priest sharing in Christ’s sanctifying ministry.
The bishop extended a greeting of peace to the priest as a sign that he is a coworker in the ministry of the Church.
Clergy came forward to extend a fraternal kiss of peace to the newly ordained. They placed their hands on the new priest and embraced him on either side.
Father Goodchild then joined the clergy, seated behind the altar.
His assignments during seminary included St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish (Portsmouth Holy Redeemer, Holy Trinity, St. Mary and Wheelersburg St. Peter in Chains churches), Columbus St. James the Less Church, Canal Winchester Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish and Spanish immersions in Columbus and at Casa Hogar in Lurín, Peru.
He also served at the Joint Organization for Inner-City Needs, now part of Catholic Social Services, and the former St. Lawrence Haven soup kitchen.