ARTICLES

New priest told to ‘stay close to Jesus’

By Steve Neill
of The Catholic Virginian

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was filled Saturday morning, Jan. 16, for the ordination to the priesthood of John David Ramsey, a former professor at Hampden-Sydney College.

“A lot of people are here today from all parts of the diocese,” said Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo. “It shows the deep respect for our priests and the needs of our diocese for men to come forth to serve our Christian community.”

Father Ramsey comes to the priesthood with more formal education than is the norm for priests at ordination. This was a point humorously made by Father Michael Boehling, pastor of the four Portsmouth Cluster parishes, who gave the homily.

“I remember when he first arrived at the seminary (Theological College of Catholic University of America) and the faculty discovered that, with his doctorate in systematic theology and moral theology, John David could be teaching the classes the rest of us were required to take!” Father Boehling said.

“To say the least, the faculty was perplexed. “What do you do with this guy?” he asked rhetorically as the congregation chuckled.

On a more serious note, Father Boehling urged the man about to be ordained to “stay close to Jesus.”

This advice was given to him by a Filipino bishop who had visited his parishes in Portsmouth as he left to return home.

“It was great advice — timely advice — and I want to share it with you today, John David, as you begin your new life as a priest.

“Stay close to Jesus. In the weeks, months and years ahead, you will face many challenges. Simply, stay close to Jesus.”

Father Boehling reflected on the readings of the ordination liturgy, particularly the Gospel of John.

“It reveals the heart of both the Christian life and the priestly life: the need for an intimate relationship with God that comes only through prayer,” he said. “Above all else, the priest must be a person of prayer, living a Eucharistic life, in communion with Christ and His Church. Simply put, there is no other way.

“In the years to come, you will look back on this day and ponder the great mystery of your vocation,” Father Boehling continued.

“As you do so, remember these words from the Rite of Ordination, ‘You have been chosen from among God’s people and appointed to act for them in relation to God. . . Always remember the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve, and to offer his life as a ransom for many.”

In conclusion, Father Boehling repeated some advice he got from Bishop DiLorenzo when he came to install him as pastor of the Portsmouth Cluster parishes.

“Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!” the Bishop told him and Father Kevin Segerblom.

“John David, buckle up — it’s going to be a wild ride!

“May the Lord bring to completion the good work He has begun in you this day. May you always stay close to Him.”

Many who had come for the ordination knew Father Ramsey from his early days as a Catholic after he completed the RCIA at St. Theresa Church in Farmville to his last assignment at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Yorktown.

“I was a witness to his coming through the RCIA,” said Deacon Emmett McLane of St. Theresa’s. “Believe me, we used him as a resource and mentor to the Hampden-Sydney students because he just had a spirituality and he was willing to share it.”

Alex and Ann Cipriani, of St. Joan of Arc, were joyful at the ordination liturgy and at the Mass of Thanksgiving Father Ramsey celebrated the next day at St. Benedict Church in Richmond.

“He’s such a remarkable individual,” Mrs. Cipriani said.

“We’ve lived all over the world and John David epitomizes what you’d hope to have in a priest and a friend,” her husband told The Catholic Virginian.

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