Father Rosenmeyer ordained June 7

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
“Relying on the help of the Lord God and of our savior Jesus Christ, we choose this, our brother for the Order of the Priesthood,” Bishop John E. Keehner declared at the June 7 priestly ordination Mass of Father Jacob Rosenmeyer at the Sioux City Cathedral of the Epiphany. The new priest graduated from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary outside of St. Louis, in preparation for ordination.
 
Father Rosenmeyer, a native of St. Benedict and member of Divine Mercy Parish in Kossuth County, is the first man to be ordained by Bishop Keehner. The bishop was ordained as shepherd of the Diocese of Sioux City on May 1.
 
‘Do you love me?’
In his homily, the bishop noted the Gospel reading from John 21 was also proclaimed at his recent episcopal ordination and illustrated how the Scripture applied to Deacon Rosenmeyer’s priestly ministry.

 Watch the ordination Mass

“’Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’” the bishop quoted the first line of the Gospel. “In other words, do you love me more than your nets and your boat? Do you love me more than your former way of life? … It’s not an easy question to answer with any degree of honesty or integrity.”
 
He said it is a question that Christians should ask themselves each day – do they love Jesus more than their former way of life?
 
Jesus asked Simon Peter three times, “Do you love me?” in the Gospel reading. Three times, the apostle answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” The bishop pointed out that the word for love that Peter uses is more general than the same word Jesus used, which refers to “total self-giving.”

 “But that doesn’t matter. Jesus meets Peter where he is. He accepts the love that Peter is able to offer in return and puts him immediately to work,” Bishop Keehner explained. Deacon Rosenmeyer, soon to be ordained a priest, is asked the same questions by Christ on that day, the bishop said.
 
“Do you love Jesus more than anything else in your life?” Bishop Keehner asked the deacon. “Do you love Jesus enough to feed his sheep, to tend his sheep and feed his lambs?”
 
Loving Jesus enough to serve as one of his priests, proclaiming the word, serving at the altar, administrating the sacraments and serving the people will not be easy, the bishop warned.
 “It will entail suffering. It will necessitate that you learn what it means to embrace the cross of Jesus as you encounter it in your daily living and to carry that cross wherever he might lead you, including through the valley of darkness and the shadow of death, including those places of which you are most afraid,” Bishop Keehner said.
 
However, “do not be afraid” is often repeated by Jesus in the Gospels. The new priest should understand his role in the celebration of the sacraments and the Eucharist and to “imitate what you celebrate.”
 
In his priestly ministry, Father Rosenmeyer will leave his former life behind to walk each day with Christ, even in the difficult times. He will focus on the “concerns of Christ” rather than his own and taking care of the people of God.
 
“Jacob, as you go forth this day, you do so no longer living for yourself but for your flock. You go forth a new man, consecrated to Christ, configured to him in service as a priest, prophet and shepherd,” Bishop Keehner said. “Give yourself to him. Hold nothing back.”

 Photo gallery

The rite
Following the homily, Deacon Rosenmeyer faced the bishop and made the promise of the elect including resolving to preaching the Gospel and celebrating the sacraments in the tradition of the church.
 
Kneeling before Bishop Keehner, Deacon Rosenmeyer pledged his obedience to the current bishop and his successors. He then prostrated himself before the altar while the Litany of Saints was chanted.
 The deacon returned to kneeling before the bishop for the laying on of hands in silent prayer. While the choir chanted Veni Creator Spiritus, the priests in attendance took their turns to place their hands on the deacon’s head and offer their prayers. 

With his hands extended over Deacon Rosenmeyer, Bishop Keehner chanted the prayer of consecration.
 
The newly-ordained priest was then vested in a priest’s stole and chasuble by Msgr. Edward Girres, former pastor of Divine Mercy Parish. Father Rosenmeyer then had his hands anointed with the oil of Chrism before kneeling in front of the cathedra.
 
Father Rosenmeyer’s parents, Richard and Joyce brought forth the gifts for the Mass, received by Deacon Bill Black who brought them to the bishop. Bishop Keehner placed the paten and chalice into the new priest’s hands.
 
“Receive the oblation of the holy people to be offered to God. Understand what you will do, imitate what you will celebrate and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross,” the bishop recited the ordination rite.
 
Father Rosenmeyer received the sign of peace, the fraternal kiss from the bishop, before sharing the sign of peace with Bishop Nickless and the priests in attendance. The new priest was then seated with the principal concelebrants of the Mass.
 
At the conclusion of the Communion rite, Father Rosenmeyer offered his first blessing upon Bishop Keehner, then to Bishop Emeritus Nickless.

 Ordination & first Mass recap 

Diocesan principal concelebrants for the ordination Mass included Bishop Emeritus Walker Nickless, Msgr. Kevin McCoy, vicar general; Father Brad Pelzel, vicar general; Father David Esquiliano, judicial vicar and pastor of the Cathedral Parish; Msgr. Edward Girres, rector of the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption; Father Shane Deman, director of seminarians and vice-rector for formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Father Matthew Solyntjes, pastor of Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County and West Bend and Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations.
 
Visiting clergy serving as principal concelebrants included Father Jason Schumer, vice-rector for Cardinal Glennon College; Father Donald Henke, formation advisor and professor at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary; and Father Brian Fischer, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Cottleville, Missouri, where the new priest was serving during his final semester in seminary.

 Father Rosenmeyer's first blessing - Bishop KeehnerDeacons of the Mass included Deacon Robert Williams of the Diocese of Tulsa, Deacon William Black of Divine Mercy Parish and Deacon Alan Loew of St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. Readers were Sister Kathy Knipper, OSF, and Ron Patterson. 

Father Rosenmeyer celebrated his first Mass the following day at St. Cecelia Church, Divine Mercy Parish, in Algona. Bishop Keehner sat in choir and priests of the diocese and visiting priests and deacons were in attendance.