The newly ordained priests are Luis Manuel Calleja Jr., assigned to Our Lady of Grace in Aurora, Kim D'Souza, to St. Anne's in Brampton, Silvio Eljuga, who will be at St. Mary Immaculate in Toronto, Landorff Garcia Mariona, assigned to St. Mary of the Angels in Toronto, and Bart Palczewksi, taking his place at Blessed Sacrament in Toronto.

“The first thing is to have a shepherd's heart,” Collins said about the priesthood in his homily.

The selfless nature of the priesthood arose several times throughout the ceremony, which began with a breakfast and was followed by the ordination Mass. Following the breakfast, the ordinandi prepared for the Mass as deacons for the last time, before proceeding into the cathedral serenaded by the young men of St. Michael's Choir School.

The men were called to the front of the altar following the Gospel, where they were formally chosen by the archbishop for the priesthood. After declaring their intentions, each of the five men knelt before Collins and, at the moment he laid his hands on their heads, officially became priests. They then received their garments followed by an ovation from the congregation and a Kiss of Peace from each of the clergy members present. Following the celebration of their ordination, they each joined in their first eucharistic preparation.

With the final blessing, the archbishop asked the congregation, filled with friends and family of the newly ordained, as well as other members of the faith community and many young people discerning their own vocations, to pray for the new priests.

(Rinaldi, 18, is a Grade 12 student at Brebeuf College in Toronto.)