Bishop William K. Weigand ordained Arbel Cabasagan and Martin Ramat to the priesthood Oct. 26 in an ordination Mass in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento.

The bishop told the two new priests that “being a priest requires solid faith — faith in Christ, his call and your consecration — blind trust, really.”

“This ministry is not a human one,” he said. “You are ordained to do what Christ asks, what the church directs, what pastoral need and zeal for souls require, whether you are comfortable or not, whether you think or are adequate or not, whether you are nervous or not. You simply step out in faith and trust as instruments of Christ and do the best you can.”

Being a priest requires a lot, Bishop Weigand noted, mentioning selflessness, generosity, energy, initiative, creativity, courage and hard work. “This is not a life for weaklings,” he said. “It is a call to be restless and on fire for doing Christ’s mission. You will want to do your best to resist any inclination to be passive, non-engaged, lethargic or concerned for personal comfort. The priesthood is not a job, nor even a profession. It is a vocation — and not of your choosing, primarily.”

He encouraged the new priests to make prayer and a deep personal relationship with Christ the foundation of their priestly life.

“If not, there will be little chance of keeping vibrant your vision, your motivation and your effectiveness,” he said.

Priesthood, for all its challenges, “is a joyous pursuit and joy is a sign of God’s presence,” the bishop said. “As priests, you are called to the joy of Christ and you will communicate that joy to others, in all your do and say and think. Our priestly ministry releases the joy and goodness in others, the goodness in our world, the goodness that leads people back to God.”

Father Casabagan will serve as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Sacramento and Father Ramat will serve as parochial vicar of St. Isidore Parish in Yuba City.

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