Two Men Ordained Priests for the Diocese of Baton Rouge

On June 14, Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Father Huy Duc Tran and Father Josh Zelden the priesthood of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The new priest’s families and friends packed St. Joseph Cathedral for the ordination Mass.

In the liturgy of the word, priest candidate Zelden’s daughter, Maeve Zelden, read the first reading from Jer 1:4-9 and Hoang Pham read the second reading from 2 Cor 4:1-2, 5-7. Deacon Hunter Larocca of the Diocese of Lake Charles read the Gospel, from Jn15:9-17.

The proclamation of the word was followed by the Rite of Ordination.

Deacon Lorroca called the candidates to come forward. 

Father Andrew Merrick, director of seminarians, Father Joshua Johnson, director of vocations, and Father Joshua Rodrigue, rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, presented the candidates to Bishop Duca. The priests testified to the candidates’ readiness for priesthood. Bishop Duca chose the elect for priesthood and all present expressed their assent by applause. 

Priests elect Zelden and Tran then sat before the bishop, who addressed them and the assembly on the dignity of the priesthood.
Top right photo: Pictured with Bishop Michael G. Duca, center, are newly ordained priests, Father Josh Zelden, left, and Father Huy Tran. Photos by Abry Larryison | Digital media manager, Diocese of Baton Rouge
Above photo: Bishop Duca prays the prayer or ordination.,Referring to the Gospel reading, Bishop Duca began his homily with Jesus’ statement to the disciples: “It was not I who chose Christ, but Christ who chose me.”

He pointed out that seminarians may think, as he did when he was in seminary, they were choosing to follow God’s call to the priesthood.

“As you live life more and more you will begin to find it’s exactly what it says. It was not I who chose him, but it was Christ who chose me,” said Bishop Duca.

The vocation of the priesthood, marriage or any kind of love commitment “gets hold of you.” And as Jesus told Peter, love will take us places where we do not want to go, according to the bishop.

“But we do go, because it is what it means to be faithful to our calling,” said Bishop Duca.

The “veil” of understanding Christ was lifted for the apostles on the mountaintop of transfiguration, emphasized Bishop Duca.

He reminded them that Jesus has called them to be salt and light to the Earth.

“That’s how we bring more flavoring to a word that more and more becomes secularized,” he said.

The bishop reminded the candidates that God called them to be priests because he sees something in them that can make them the priest they are meant to be.

The sacraments of the church are easy places where we see the presence of God, stated the bishop.

“But you must carry it off, as Pope Francis said, and Pope Leo (XIV) as well, into the peripheries as well to make sure the Gospel message gets to all,” said Bishop Duca.

Following the homily, the bishop questioned candidates Tran and Zelden on their willingness to embrace the office of priesthood. Each candidate knelt before Bishop Duca and promised their respect and obedience to him and his successors.
 
Father Zelden , left, and Father Tran lie prostrate in front of the altar during the singing of the Litany of Supplication.
In a stirring part of the Mass, the priest candidates laid prostrate before the altar while attendees sang the Litany of Supplication.

Afterwards the priests elect knelt before Bishop Duca, who laid his hands on their heads in silence. The priests then did the same. With the elect kneeling before him, the bishop offered the prayer of ordination.

Following the prayer, the newly ordained priests were vested with the stole and chasuble garments of the priestly office. Father Tran was vested by Father Andrew Merrick and Father Zelden was vested by Father David Dawson. Bishop Duca then anointed the priests’ hands with sacred oil, which consecrated them for sanctifying the Christian people and offering sacrifice to God. 

After the presentation of bread and wine, Bishop Duca gave Father Zelden and Father Tran a hug as a fraternal sign of peace. The priests then did the same.

In a moving part of the Mass, Bishop Duca knelt before Father Tran and Father Zelden to receive their blessings.

Father Tran and Father Zeldens faces were radiant with joy as the congregation erupted with claps and cheers as the processional hymn, “Oh God Beyond All Praising” resounded in the Cathedral.