Ottawa, Canada (Wednesday, 06-17-2015, Gaudium Press) The Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, SJ, Archbishop of Ottawa, will preside at the ordination of Mr. Richard Lorenz and Mr. Gerard Plant to the priesthood at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica , Ottawa, on Friday, June 19, 2015.

Both Richard Lorenz and Gerard Plant were born in Saskatoon, SK. Richard Lorenz was raised in the Catholic faith. His mother brought him to Sunday Mass, his uncle told him that the religious thinkers in the Middle Ages were intelligent, and his great aunt – a nun with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary – explained how to understand the Bible. In his late 20s, Lorenz noticed that he and his friends were overtaken by their worldly interests, whereas his aunts and uncles strove to follow the Gospel, and their faith in Christ gave their lives solidity, meaning and direction.

He began attending Mass at St. Brigid’s parish in Manotick Station. He became more involved in his parish in his 30s, and joined the Knights of Columbus at St. Isidore in Kanata. He served as a Eucharistic minister and brought Communion to the residents of Forest Hill. The call to the priesthood grew louder through this.

Lorenz was inspired by a line from a homily at the Easter Vigil: “We look back at Christians from 1,000 years ago and marvel at their courage for putting up with their difficult times. But, 1,000 years from now, people will look back at us and marvel at our courage.” He joined the seminary in 2010. His ordination motto is King David’s quote to Abiathar: “Stay with me. Do not be afraid (1 Sam 22:23).”

From a young age, Gerard Plant felt called to serve God. His love for God flows from the love his parents had for Christ. His father told him inspiring stories of saints’ lives that gave him a desire to serve God like the saints did before him.

Plant grew lax in his relationship with Christ journeying outside of his home when he was 16 years old, moving out west. After obtaining his high school diploma, he traveled to Europe, and to Japan where he taught English, and then returned to Canada to work in construction and mining. During this time of work and travel, he continued to feel a burning desire to become a priest. Through much prayer, quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament in adoration and speaking with priests, family and friends around him, he was able to soften his heart to finally answer the call to the priesthood that had followed him for so many years.

Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” resonated in Plant and allowed him to give over the reins of his life to Christ. Giving up control and trusting the Father’s plans led him to the seminary and to his ordination to the priesthood. He does not feel worthy of the great task ahead, but trusting God gives him the grace to answer the call to the priesthood and serve God and His Church.

Source Archdiocese of Ottawa, Canada