Scenes from the ordination of Rev. Huong Dinh and Rev. Candelario Jimenez on May 22 at the Cathedral of Christ the Light. The celebrant, Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ arrives at the altar; the two men to be ordained kneel before the altar; Bishop Barber lays his hands on Rev. Dinh; before the Gospel is proclaimed; Rev. Jimenez gives Communion; the two new priests leave the cathedral together. See more photos in the August issue of The California Voice magazine. ALL: Chuck Deckert/Special to The Catholic Voice

Ordination to the Order of Priests

‘The faith of the martyrs … people need to see that faith in you’

By Michele Jurich
Staff writer

The faith of the Martyrs of Vietnam and of Mexico, and the faith of the early pastors in what became the Diocese of Oakland, provide examples for the two priests ordained May 22 at the Cathedral of Christ the Light.

In encouraging Rev. Huong Dinh and Rev. Candelario Jimenez to be good shepherds, the bishop pointed to examples from their native lands in his homily.

Bishop Barber offered the example of St. Andrew Dung Loc, one of the first native Vietnamese priests. �He and his companions inspired generations of faithful Vietnamese Catholics who even in our lifetime have suffered for the faith,� he said.

Father Jimenez, Bishop Barber said, had asked that St. Cristobal Magallanes be included in the Litany of Saints during the Mass. In 1920s Mexico, when the government closed the seminaries and forbade Masses, Father Magallanes opened a clandestine seminary and celebrated secret Masses.

At the time of his execution, Father Magallanes �gave away his meager possessions to his executioners, then he gave them absolution.�

He gave them examples from the history of the Diocese of Oakland, at the parishes to which the men have been assigned. Father Dinh is serving at St. Anthony Parish in Oakland and Father Jimenez will serve at St. Isidore Parish in Danville, beginning July 1.

�In times like these, with diminishing congregations, amalgamation of parishes, maybe it�s time we re-emphasized the faith that built and started it all, and fidelity to that faith as the key to a successful future,� he told the priests.

�The faith that the martyrs of Vietnam, the martyrs of Mexico, the faith that the founding pastors of the Diocese of Oakland had, that same faith being lived today in our priests and people of our diocese � people need to see that faith in you, good shepherds who will lay down your entire lives for your sheep,� Bishop Barber said.

Both men were ordained in a cathedral, about three-quarters full of family, friends, parishioners and well-wishers. About 100 of their brother priests participated in the Mass, offering blessings and the Sign of Peace.

It was the largest gathering at the Cathedral of Christ the Light since March 16, 2020. Last year, the ordination was held outdoors in Mary�s Garden at Santa Maria Church in Orinda.

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