The Ordination to the Priesthood is traditionally celebrated on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29 in the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

All of the prayers for the Ritual and the Mass are found in the Roman Pontifical (PR )

Gloria is said.

Presentation of the Candidates occurs after the Gospel and before the Homily.

Ordination rite occurs after the Homily and is followed by the Offertory.

Preface of the Day is used

In the Roman Canon, the proper formula of the Hanc igitur is said.

Preparation before mass

Before mass the following arrangements are set:

• The Bishop’s candle is placed above the altar

• The Chair from the Narthex placed next to the vestry door

• The Candidates’ birettas are placed under the front choir stall pew on the epistle side, closest to the altar.

• Candidates’ stoles and chasubles are placed on altar rail

• Tables are placed next to sacristy door with the gremial, annointing towels, pitcher of oil, basin, water and towel.

• Chairs are placed in front of front pews in the nave, for the candidates.

• The first pews on Gospel side are roped off for visiting (concelebrating) priests

• Mass leaflets are placed in choir stalls

• Two ablutions cups are set out in the sacristy and vestry

• Alms basins are set out in the sacristy

The prayers before mass are said in the Great Hall of the Chancery. Servers should assemble there 15 minutes before the mass is scheduled to begin.

Entrance Procession:

Knights of Columbus

Thurifer and boat

Tunicled Crucifer and torches

MC of the Mass (MCM)

Choir

Seminarians

MC to Oridnands (MCO)

Candidates

Visiting (concelebrating) Priests

(Principal) Concelebrating Priests

Acolyte

Deacon of Mass

Bishop with Chaplains

MC to the Bishop (MCB)

Mitre and Crozier

At the beginning of the entrance hymn, the knights take their positions in the aisle.

At the first sung verse, the thurifer begins the procession as usual.

MCO directs the Candidates to their places at the chairs placed in front of the first pew.

MCO directs visiting priests to their places in the front pews on the Gospel side.

Concelebrating priests proceed straight to the altar to osculate and then move to their places in the Sedilia.

The chaplains go straight to their places in the front Gospel-side choir stall, in the seats closest to the altar.

At the altar steps, the Acolyte stands on Bishop’s left (facing the altar) and MCB stands on Acolyte’s left.

Introductory rites and Liturgy of the Word proceed as normal for a Pontifical Mass.

Gospel Procession

At the conclusion of the second reading, all wait for a nod from the MCO to rise for the Gospel procession.

Gospel procession is formed as usual.

As the Gospel procession begins, the MCM moves the Bishop’s chair to the center of the Chancel, directly behind the Bishop. The Bishop stands facing the congregation, just inside the chancel gate.

Calling, Presentation, and Election of the Candidates

After the Gospel, all sit except for the Bishop and his attendants.

The deacon calls the candidates. Each answers present when called and comes forward to make a sign of reverence to the Bishop.

The Candidates are presented to the Bishop as he stands in the Chancel just inside the gate.

The Bishop says the words of Election

Homily

The Bishop remains at his chair in the Chancel for the homily. The Deacon and Acolyte take their seats flanking the cathedra.

Promise of the Elect

After the Homily, as the Bishop rises and his attendants move into the chancel, the MCM moves the Bishop’s chair backward to the foot of the altar (leaving room to walk behind it). The Bishop and attendants move to the foot of the altar in front of the chair facing the congregation. The mitre and crozier stand on the Epistle-side of the Bishop facing inward, the MCB on the Bishop’s left in front of the Deacon. The MCM moves behind the chair to a place in front of the Epistle side choir stall, facing inward, mirrored by the MCO standing on the Gospel side. Servers remain at their spots in the choir stalls. All remain seated except the Bishop’s party and the Ordinands in the chancel.

The Ordinands stand before the Bishop as he questions them and they make the appropriate responses.

Promise of Obedience

Each candidate kneels before the Bishop (seated) for the Promise of Obedience. He then steps back to his place in the chancel facing the Bishop.

Invitation to Prayer

The Bishop rises and, facing the people, says the invitation.

When directed by the Deacon, all kneel for the Litany of Supplication, facing the altar.

Ordinands lying prostrate.

Litany of Supplication

Choir sings Litany of Supplication as all make the responses.

At the end of the Litany, the members of the Bishop’s party stand while others remain kneeling. Concelebrants move to positions behind the Bishop. MCM moves around behind the Bishop’s chair to the Gospel side at the altar step. MCO moves into the nave and brings visiting priests forward, forming a line in the front choir stall on the epistle side.

Laying on of Hands

At the laying on of hands, the Bishop lays his hands on each candidate first. Then the concelebrants and then visiting priests come forward. After laying on of hands they turn and ascend to the foot pace on the Gospel side, moving around behind the Bishop’s chair to form an arc around the Bishop. The MCM helps guide the priests to their positions.

Prayer of Ordination

Standing with hands outstretched, the Bishop says the prayer of ordination.

Investiture with Stole and Chasuble

At the investiture of the stole and chasuble, the candidates rise and don their vestments in the chancel just inside the altar rail.

Meanwhile the MCM passes the gremial and oil to the Acolyte and Deacon of the mass. The MCB takes the gremial and puts it onto the Bishop. The MCM moves the table with the anointing towels to the end of the front choir stall. The Acolyte passes the first towel to the MCB, who places it onto the Bishop’s lap.

Anointing of hands

Each candidates kneels before the Bishop. As each new priest is anointed, the MCO assists him in standing and moves him toward the MCM, waiting at the sacristy door, where he is led into the sacristy to clean and dry his hands. The new priests remain in the sacristy.

Immediately after the last new priest moves to the sacristy, the MCM or Acolyte takes up the water basin and towel for the Bishop to wash his hands. The MCB removes the gremial. The gremial and oil are passed to the MCM who removes them to the sacristy. The basin and towel are also passed to the MCM for removal. The MCM removes all but one table and places the alms basins on the remaining table.

Presentation of the Gifts

As the paten and chalice are brought forward, the MCO and new priests remain in the sacristy. When the Bishop has received the vessels, the new priests are brought out by the MCO.

After the new priests receive the paten and chalice, they are placed on the credence table by the Deacon of the Mass.

Fraternal Kiss

When the Bishop stands to offer the fraternal kiss, the MCM quickly removes the Bishop’s chair to the sacristy. After each priest offers the fraternal kiss to the new priests, he moves directly back to his place in the front pew of the nave.

After the fraternal kiss, the Deacon, Acolyte and MCM turn towards the altar. They are joined by all the other servers. The new priests move to the front choir stall on the Epistle side.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

At the offertory, the servers all genuflect and prepare the altar for communion as usual. The torch bearers do NOT close the gate when they present the alms basins to the ushers.

At the Pray Brethren, the concelebrants move up to the altar and the visiting priests are brought into the chancel by the MCO. The visiting priests are lined up in the chancel, in front of the choir stalls on both sides. As they enter, the MCM gives each a prayer card. The MCM and the MCO place the cushions in the gate opening and stand on either side of the gate facing the altar for the Sursum Corda. During the Preface, the MCM and MCO close the gates and remain standing inside the gate facing the altar behind the visiting priests. At the Benedictus, the MCM and MCO move forward, genuflect at the altar steps and take their positions for the Eucharistic prayers.

At the Our Father, the MCM collects the prayer cards from the visiting priests then returns to his place at the altar step.

After the concelebrants have received the Blessed Sacrament, the MCM gets the ablution cup from the sacristy and meets the concelebrants at their place in the epistle side choir stall to ablute their fingers. The MCM then moves to just inside the sacristy and waits for the visiting priests. The visiting priests go the altar in pairs to take communion, then move to the sacristy where the MCM is waiting to assist them in ablutions. They are then directed out the sacristy door and back around the church and into the nave.

After the distribution of communion, the ablutions proceed as usual. Mass concludes as normal, with the new priests joining the concelebrants in the recessional.