Witnesses to Joy: Fathers Aaron Jenkins and Joseph Newton ordained archdiocese’s newest priests

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein kneels in prayer on a prie dieu while, from left, deacons Joseph Newton and Aaron Jenkins lay prostrate during the praying of the litany of the saints. The two were ordained to the priesthood on June 7 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. Assisting Archbishop Buechlein are, from left, seminarian Benjamin Syberg, Ford Cox, the archbishop’s administrative assistant, Benedictine Father Julian Peters, administrator pro-tem of the Cathedral Parish and seminarians Daniel Bedel and Martin Rodriguez. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

Witnesses to joy.

That is what Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein charged Fathers Aaron Jenkins and Joseph Newton to be just moments before they were ordained to the priesthood on June 7 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. (See more photos here: Gallery One | Gallery Two)

“Aaron and Joe, to proclaim and to witness joy—this is the core of your mission,” he said. “The Apostle Paul called Gospel ministers servants of joy. He wrote to the Corinthians,

‘Domineering over your faith is not my purpose. I prefer to work with you toward your happiness.’ ”

Archbishop Buechlein, quoting Pope Benedict XVI, also exhorted the men to be ordained to ‘ “always think back to this moment’ ” that ‘ “is full of mystery because this is the origin of your new mission.’ ”

After the liturgy, Father Jenkins said he would follow that advice in the future. (Read Father Jenkin's vocation story here)

“When I’m feeling inadequate or not up to the task or down or sad or whatever it might be,” he said, “I can always think back to this day, this moment and remember all the blessings that were poured out on me today and just know that those graces are still with me.”

Archbishop Buechlein also encouraged those to be ordained to be steadfast in prayer.

“Joe and Aaron, the heart and soul of a priest is being a friend of Jesus and being a friend of Jesus means being a man of prayer.”

Father Newton said afterward that he looks forward to deepening his friendship with Christ through his priestly service. (Read Father Newton's vocation story here)

“It’s a beautiful ministry and I just pray that, as the archbishop said in his instruction, as long as I keep prayer with me, Christ will be with me in all that I do in order that I may serve him.”

In March, Russ and Linda Jenkins had processed up the main aisle of the cathedral to give the offertory gifts to their son during an Easter Vigil liturgy during which they were received into the full communion of the Church.

Less than two months later, they were processing up the same aisle, this time with their son at their side.

“I thought of him as the gift we were giving to God,” Linda Jenkins said. “It was very symbolic.”

The new priests’ parents also looked to the distant past with love.

“I found it very moving,” said Caroline Newton, Father Newton’s mother. “I was looking at the boy that I raised, up there, all grown up. And I just felt so much love for him.”

Russ Jenkins, Father Jenkins’ father, said that when his son was having his priestly vestments put on him, he saw “his whole life, when he was younger and what it’s come to.”

The ordination liturgy was a respite for Russ Jenkins, who works for a utility company in Rush County and had put in more than 80 hours of overtime that week because of the damage done by severe storms.

Less than 500 people attended the ordination liturgy, which usually draws large numbers of the faithful.

The relatively low numbers were in large part due to the massive amount of rain that fell on central and southern Indiana on the day of the liturgy.

Thunder and rain pounding the roof of the cathedral could be heard throughout much of the liturgy.

But the storms could not dampen the spirits of the priests and their family and friends.

“I got a tear in my eye—which is unbelievable because I’m not a crier—when they were lying prostrate [during the litany of the saints],” said Larry Newton, Father Newton’s father. “I was thinking, ‘This is it. He’s giving himself to Christ.’ ”

When they were both younger, Father Newton and his brother, Thomas, had frequently served at Mass together.

“It’s going to be different watching him up there [at the altar],” said Thomas. “It will bring back a lot [of memories] and will make you feel good and proud that he’s the one up there doing it.”

Mollie Rauh, Father Jenkins’ sister, looked to her brother’s future.

“He’s going to bring a lot of happiness to a lot of people.” †