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ORDINATIONS OF REV MR GLEN TATTERSALL & REV MR JOHN FONGEMIE.
For
more photographs of the occasion click here.
In an historic ceremony on 15 December 2000
His Excellency Bishop Kevin Manning ordained Glen Tattersall and John Fongemie
to the diaconate. Bishop Manning of Parramatta ordained the candidates
first to the sub-diaconate and then to the diaconate followed by Pontifical Mass
according to the traditional Latin rites.
Whilst frequently occurring in America and Europe, this was the first time a
Bishop in Australia had celebrated the ordination rites according to the
traditional Latin forms since the liturgical reforms of 1969.
The solemn Latin Mass was accompanied by beautiful Gregorian Chant and Polyphony, both of which were recognised in the Second Vatican Council as having a special place in the Roman Liturgy. The music was provided by the choirs of the Maternal Heart of Mary. The servers were also from the Maternal Heart Community.
Other local clergy assisted on the day as well as priests from Canberra and Melbourne who came to Sydney for the historic occasion.
After the event Bishop Manning remarked how much of a pleasure it was to be able to confer the orders and celebrate the Mass and how pleased he was to be able to participate in such an occasion.
Rev Mr Tattersall said that "it's wonderful at last to receive the Church's call through the voice of a Successor of the Apostles - an objective confirmation of one's interior conviction of God's call to holy orders." Rev. Mr John Fongemie F.S.S.P. expressed his gratitude saying, "I am most grateful to His Lordship Bishop Manning and His Grace Archbishop Pell for their pastoral solicitude toward the Fraternity's members and its apostolate."
Rev.
Mr Tattersall has been a long time member of the Maternal Heart Community, and
was one of its founding members. He has had a large involvement in the promotion
of the traditional movement in Australia and was the founding chairman of the Ecclesia
Dei Society. Rev. Mr Fongemie is originally from America and is currently
stationed at the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter's house in Melbourne along with
Rev. Mr Tattersall, Fr Laurence Gresser F.S.S.P. and Fr John Rizzo F.S.S.P.
The candidates were ordained for the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, a ‘Society of Apostolic Life’ erected by Pope John Paul II, which is dedicated to the celebration of the traditional Latin liturgy (according to the 1962 books). The Fraternity was recently accepted into Melbourne by Archbishop George Pell, who has also celebrated the traditional Mass on a number of occasions.
Since the promulgation of Ecclesia Dei many religious communities and vocations have flourished with people committed to the traditional liturgy. Indeed, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of that promulgation Cardinal Ratzinger remarked of the "great number of priestly and religious vocations who, zealously, joyfully and deeply united with the Pope, have given their service to the Gospel in our present era of history" as a result of that document. "Through them, many of the faithful have been confirmed in the joy of being able to live the liturgy, and confirmed in their love for the Church, or perhaps they have rediscovered both. In many dioceses - and their number is not so small! - they serve the Church in collaboration with the Bishops…" In light of such, he said, "all this cannot but move us to gratitude today!"
The ordination of these two young men must lead Australian’s, especially those members of the Maternal Heart of Mary Community, to a special feeling of gratitude in recognition of the significance of this historic event.
The following Sunday the Maternal Heart of Mary Community was privileged to have the two newly ordained participating at the solemn Mass as sacred ministers. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Laurence Gresser, the first of Lewisham's fold to be ordained, with Rev Mr Glen Tattersall as deacon and Rev Mr John Fongemie as subdeacon. Rev Tattersall also delivered the sermon during which he thanked all those of the Maternal Heart Community, especially Fr Terence, who had offered, and continue to offer, their prayers and support for their vocations.
