New priest’s nursing work helped form him for ministry

Fr Emilio Capin was ordained as a priest at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington by Archbishop Martin on September 5.

Archbishop Martin said it was “a day of great joy for the Archdiocese of Wellington. It is a day of thanksgiving to God who continues to call men and women to his service”.

In his homily, the archbishop noted that Fr Capin was born and raised in the Philippines and came to New Zealand seeking a vocation and that he worked as a nurse. Archbishop Martin described nursing as “a profession which is in itself a profound form of service”.

“In many ways, Emilio, your life as a nurse has prepared your heart for something of this,” Archbishop Martin said.

“You have known what it means to care for people when they are vulnerable. You have seen people at moments when they need not simply professional skill, but patience and compassion and a human presence. These gifts will continue to be important in your life as a priest.”

Archbishop Martin said priesthood is “not about a position or an honour or a title”.

“The priest is the one chosen from among the people and appointed for the people. You are called to walk with them, to pray with them, to suffer with them, to rejoice with them, to help them find their way to Christ. . . .

“To help people encounter Jesus is at the centre of everything you do,” Archbishop Martin said, adding that “every homily should, in some way, help people hear the voice of Christ.”

The archbishop added that “the strength of the priest doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from knowing the one who called him”.

Among other subjects touched on by Archbishop Martin were the increasingly multicultural nature of the Church in New Zealand, and the importance of “going out” rather than waiting for people to approach the Church.

At the end of the Mass, Fr Capin said that he has a heart full of gratitude, humility and “a profound sense of calling”. He gave thanks to God and also to the many people who had been with him on his vocational journey, notably his family. He also asked those present to pray for him.

The Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Island Bay on September 6.

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Ordination to the priesthood of Emilio Capin (Archdiocese of Wellington/YouTube)

Ordination of Fr Emilio Capin (Archdiocese of Wellington/Facebook)