A holy Mass was held on Sunday, May 22, at the Izmir Göztepe Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, on the occasion of the initiation of the shepherd service of the 56-year-old Polish Father Ireneusz Bochynski. In the absence of the Archbishop of Izmir, Monsignor Martin Kmetec, the ceremony was led by General Vicar Father Fellyanus Dogon. Rector of St. John’s Cathedral, Father Ugo de Rosa, Priest of Karşıyaka St. Helena Church, Father Dariusz Bialkowski, and former Priest of Göztepe Church, Father Gabriel Ferone, accompanied the ceremony. Şerkan Şahin, who played the organ, and Mesut Kalaycı, the attendant of the Cathedral, enlivened the ceremony with proper hymns.
First, Father Fellianus introduced the new parish priest, and Father Ireneusz’s Official Letter of Appointment was read by Father Dariusz. Then the priest leading the Mass invited the entire congregation to prayer to form one family united by faith, hope, and love, then gave the holy water to the new shepherd. Father Ireneusz first blessed Father Fellianus, then all the participants.
After reading the Acts of the Apostles and Words from the Book of Revelation, the new Priest of Göztepe Church, Father Ireneusz, read the Words from the Gospel of Jesus Christ written by St. John.
After the sermon, Father Fellianus asked Father Ireneusz five traditional questions at the renewal of his priesthood vows, to which he replied, “Yes, I want to.”
At the end of the ritual, the Tabernakl – Sacred Tent – Key was handed over to the newly appointed priest by the Deputy of the Archbishop of Izmir.
At the time of the cocktail given in the church garden after the ceremony, Father Ireneusz had a warm conversation with his congregation and accepted the congratulations of the participants.
(SAT-7 TURK/İZMİR-Nathalie Ritzmann)
