Joining Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, (center) for a photo on the balcony of his residence after Mass on May 29 are (from left) Msgr. Paul Showalter, retired vicar general; Father Patrick Henehan, diocesan vocation director of formation; Msgr. Philip Halfacre, vicar general; Father Austin Bosse and Father Nicolas Wilson, newly ordained; Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka; and Father Chase Hilgenbrink, diocesan vocation director of recruitment. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

The “best diocese in the world” gained two new priests as Father Austin L. Bosse and Father Nicolas J. Wilson were ordained for the Diocese of Peoria during a Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on May 29 marked by ancient ritual, soaring music of praise, and periods of joyful, sustained applause.

“Carry out the ministry of Christ attending not to your own concerns, but to those of the Lord and all those you serve,” said Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, during an instruction near the start of the Rite of Ordination. “Let the holiness of your life be a delightful fragrance to Christ’s faithful, so that by word and example you may build up God’s holy church.”

Using an ancient symbol of prayer meant to call down the Holy Spirit, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, lays his hands on Deacon Austin Bosse’s head as part of the ordination ritual on May 29. The Mass of Ordination was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

Bishop Jenky was the ordaining bishop and principal celebrant of the Mass. He led the candidates in a series of promises, laid his hands on their heads in invoking the Holy Spirit, offered the prayer of consecration, and anointed the hands of the new priests with sacred chrism. Also present for his first priestly ordination in the Diocese of Peoria was Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka, who with Bishop Jenky received the first blessings from the new priests near the end of Mass.

“Bishop Lou and I, along with all of you, are so happy to be here to celebrate the ordination of two new priests ordained to serve God and neighbor in the best diocese in the world,” said Bishop Jenky in opening remarks. There was extra joy as the recent lifting of many COVID-19 restrictions allowed for masks to be optional and for choral and congregational singing to be robust.

While the ordination Mass was by invitation only, the liturgy was livestreamed by the Diocese of Peoria. An archived video may be found here.

RITE OF ORDINATION

Deacon Bosse, 34, and Deacon Wilson, 26, entered the cathedral in a limited procession, with dozens of priests already seated. They took their place in front of the first pew, where their parents — Armon Jr. and Rosie Bosse of Onaga, Kansas, and Richard and Lori Wilson of Dunlap — were seated.

Following readings proclaimed by seminarians Jonathan Swoik and Nicholas Conner, and the Gospel reading by Deacon Gene Triplett, the priesthood candidates were called forward by Father Patrick Henehan, diocesan vocation director of formation.

Father Henehan presented the candidates to Bishop Jenky, testifying they had been found worthy for the responsibilities of the priesthood. Upon Bishop Jenky’s acceptance, the assembly — which included the priests of the diocese, dozens of women religious from several communities, as well as invited family and friends of the candidates — erupted in applause that lasted nearly a full minute.

The assembly, including family members, priests, and women religious, applaud after Bishop Jenky accepted Deacon Austin Bosse and Deacon Nicolas Wilson as candidates for the Order of the Priesthood at the start of the Rite of Ordination. In the front row here are Deacon Bosse’s siblings, their spouses, and many of his nieces and nephews. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Also during the Rite of Ordination, the candidates prostrated themselves on the sanctuary floor as the assembly chanted the Litany of the Saints. They also received the prayers and an exchange of peace from all priests present. After ordination, the new priests were assisted with their vestments (stole and chasuble) by priests they had selected for that honor — Msgr. Stanley Deptula for Father Wilson, and Father Matthew Hoelscher for Father Bosse.

Their mothers brought forward the gifts of bread and wine, including a ciborium used by sainthood candidate Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who was ordained in the same cathedral in 1919 and whose remains are entombed in the Lady Chapel.

FIRST MASSES, ASSIGNMENTS

In his instruction, Bishop Jenky encouraged the new priests to look to imitate the examples of several noted “priest heroes” of the diocese, including Archbishop Sheen, founding Bishop John Lancaster Spalding, and missionary Pere Marquette. He also urged them to honor the patrons of the diocese, including St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, St. Joseph the Worker, and St. Therese of Lisieux.

“Impart to everyone the word of God which you have received with joy,” instructed Bishop Jenky. “Meditating on the law of the Lord, see that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe, and that you practice what you teach.”

Newly ordained Father Nicolas Wilson offers Communion to his mother, Lori Wilson of Peoria, as his father, Richard, and brother, Ben, look on. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

After the Rite of Ordination, the new priests joined Bishop Jenky, Bishop Tylka, and Msgr. Philip Halfacre, vicar general, at the altar to concelebrate the Mass. A reception followed at the Spalding Pastoral Center, where first blessings were offered to family and friends.

Father Bosse has been assigned as parochial vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Streator, Sts. Peter and Paul in Leonore, and chaplain at Marquette Academy in Ottawa. He was to celebrate his first Mass at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 30, at St. Matthew Church in Champaign.

Father Wilson will become parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island. His first Mass was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

—

EDITOR’S NOTES: Profiles of the two new priests appeared in the May 23 edition of The Catholic Post. Read them here: Father Austin Bosse   Father Nicolas Wilson

About 25 additional photos from the ordination Mass have been posted to The Catholic Post’s site on Facebook.