Bishop Matano receives a blessing from newly ordained priest, Father Anthony Amato.
Bishop Salvatore Matano ordained Father Anthony Amato a priest on Saturday in Sacred Heart Cathedral-Rochester and on Sunday morning celebrated his first Solemn High Mass in the Usus Antiquior or Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite at St. Thomas the Apostle in Irondequoit.
Father Amato’s first parish assignment is with St. Patrick’s Parish – Owego and Blessed Trinity’s Parish’s three churches of St. Margaret Mary – Apalachin, St. John – Newark Valley and St. James – Waverly, effective Tuesday, June 27.
Father Amato replaces Parochial Vicar Father Peter Van Lieshout who has been advanced to Parochial Administrator of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Parish’s three churches – St. Felix in Clifton Springs, St. Francis of Phelps and St. Dominic of Shortsville.
In a post-ordination talk between Father Amato and Bishop Salvatore Matano, Father Amato explained, “Formally committed the rest of my life to service in Christ. Profound experience when Bishop Matano laid hands on my head and all he priests in the diocese followed suit. Bishop Matano handed me his chalice and patent – ‘my tools of the trade’ – signifying that after many years of prayer and study, I am now qualified to celebrate Mass. The joy and gratitude I have today – there is no way I could not be happy right now.”
Distributing Holy Communion with Father Peter Van Lieshout, the Deacon of his first Mass and the priest he’ll replace in Tioga County.
On Memorial Day, Deacon Amato gave the Benediction at Owego’s Service of Remembrance. He shared, “Home parish is our Mother of Sorrows Church and School. Entered Becket Hall in August 2011 and Theological College in August 2012. Completed a Master of Theology Studies degree in Historical / Systematic Theology from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Entered the seminary because during my time living in Boston, through my studies and through prayer, God’s call became irresistible and I had to find out what He is asking of me.”
Father Amato preaches his first homily in St. Thomas the Apostle of Irondequoit.
Asked what was one of the major influences leading him to consider priesthood, Father Amato stated, “My interest in the priesthood began to grow in high school as I developed my love of theology. During my senior year of high school at Aquinas, I went on the school bus trip to Italy during Spring Break and I was in Florence the day Benedict XVI was elected as the Pope. I went to Rome the next day and ever since that moment the influence of Benedict has shaped my journey towards priesthood as I began to take responsibility for my faith and grow in my discipleship.”
the Latin Mass is obsolete and has been supplanted by the New Mass in English. Why would one want to return to this Old Style which is very unfriendly to the laity.
The Latin Mass is not obsolete. There are tens of thousands of people who attend every week. The idea that it is “unfriendly” to the laity is absurd; millions of laity down through the ages knew no other type of Mass. And what about the Byzantine Rite? Is that also “obsolete”?
There is nothing unfriendly about the mass. The Latin Mass is the true sacrifice unadulterated by men. Survived almost 2000 years. This is true progress representing the one and only true faith.if Amato is faithfully good, TBTG
the original mass was not in Latin
When a latin mass is celebrated in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington and it is filled with young people, that tells me the Latin mass is relevant.
In Nashua NH, the bishop invited the priestly Fraternity of St. Peter to run an abandoned parish in 2017. The first year, there were 250 parishoners. Two years later, the number has increased to 400… More young people and families.
But these people are special. Extreme reverence when in church. No talking before and during mass like in our parish. People genuflect when crossing the altar.