Newly ordained diocesan priest offers Mass of thanksgiving

Friday, Jul. 04, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — As the bells were ringing and the parishioners were rushing into Sacred Heart Catholic Church June 28, the atmosphere filled with joy and a sense of gratitude while the recently ordained Father Jorge Roldán celebrated his first Mass, giving thanks to God and to all of those who have helped him along the way and for the gift of priesthood.

Just hours earlier, at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Fr. Roldán had been ordained a priest by the Most. Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City.

Before the Mass, Fr. Roldán’s parents, Roberto Roldán and Francisca Sánchez de Roldán, vested  their son with the stole and chasuble; his aunt Mayola Roldán and cousin Daniel Gonzales presented him with the chalice as an offering from the people of God.

“Celebrate with joy and faith the Feast of the Sacred Heart with the ordination of Fr. Jorge Roldán,” said Monsignor Alejandro Tinoco, who came from Tlalnepantla, Mexico to concelebrate the Mass.

Msgr. Tinoco, one of Fr. Roldán’s seminary professors, gave the homily at Fr. Roldán’s first Mass as a priest.

“A good shepherd is one that guides through the road to God, and that is what Fr. Jorge is going to do,” said Msgr. Tinoco, who  also directed some words to Father Roldán.

“Jorge, ask God what you can do to always keep your humility and selflessness. … Also ask Him that you will never lose that great gift of service to all the people. Keep yourself always at their service. … Ask God to keep giving you that gift of love that you already have.”

Fr. Roldán radiated joy and peace as he listened to Msgr. Tinoco’s words. 

“It is a great responsibility to have received the gift of ordination as a priest,” Fr. Roldán said. “This is a gift that is not just for me, it is for the Church. … Everything I’ll do will be for and in the name of God. God’s kingdom is always worth it, and I will always work hard to help people to discover it.”

Msgr. Tinoco also asked the people to keep praying for Fr. Roldán.

“Always keep him in your prayers; he will always keep you in his. … Also, Jorge, thank God for your vocation, and thank your parents who supported you and loved you through your vocation,” said Msgr. Tinoco. “Family and friends who have supported Jorge along the journey of his vocation, experience many graces and find great consolation in your new priest.”

After the Mass, many of the parishioners received blessings from the newly ordained priest. 

“I felt a lot of joy and I almost cried when I saw him hugging his parents,” said Teresa Balcazar, a Sacred Heart parishioner. “It is great that we have a new priest and he radiates a lot of love and care for all of us, and that makes me feel very good.”

Before taking up his assignment as parochial vicar at Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, Fr. Roldán will travel to Mexico City, his home town.

“Thank you, God, because you made it possible that my family was here; thank you, God, for my vocation; thank you, God, for this community,” Fr. Roldán said. “Thank you, Diocese of Salt Lake City; thank you, Bishop Wester. …  I just want to say thank you, all!”