|
Master of ceremonies for the Mass was Father Arturo Cepeda, archdiocesan vocations director; deacon of the word was Deacon Pat Rodgers; deacon of the table was Deacon Edward Lopez; and deacons to the archbishop were Deacon Robert Gorman and Deacon Mike Millard, a friend of the ordinand from the Diocese of Bismarck, N.D. Acolytes included Robert Switalski, Diocese of Richmond, Va.; Edwin Vigil, San Antonio; Brother Joseph Hoffman, Mission of Divine Mercy; Brother Moses of Jesus, Mission of Divine Mercy; Brother Mario Galindo, MSF; Miguel Alovizures, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; and seminarians from the San Antonio Archdiocese.
Father Barnum presented Deacon Peinemann to the archbishop for ordination, and Archbishop Gomez instructed the people and the candidate concerning the responsibilities of the priest.
In his homily Archbishop Gomez said the ordination was a day of celebration of God’s love for Michael and for the whole church. “This is my first time to administer the sacrament of orders as archbishop of San Antonio. I hope for many more,” he said.
The priesthood is a gift, said the archbishop. “And in Michael’s case, it took some time for that special journey,” he added, to laughter from the congregation.
Archbishop Gomez continued, “There is no doubt God is the one calling us. He is calling us in the same way he called the apostles, and is still calling us today. Today, we ask for the grace to open our ears and souls to God’s call.”
Addressing Peinemann directly, the archbishop said, “Michael, you must never forget that the one who called you was God himself. Your vocation is a precious gift. The vocation to priesthood is a call to personal dedication to Christ, and the most important thing for a priest is his personal relationship with Christ.”
He concluded by saying, “The priest should be the good shepherd of God’s people. And to make it happen, we priests have to be identified with Christ, who is the Good Shepherd. And it should be done in a spirit of humility and with a love for others, to be an example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.”
Afterwards, Deacon Peinemann then declared in the presence of the faithful his intention to undertake the priestly office and fulfill its obligations.
Following the litany of the saints, Deacon Peinemann went to Archbishop Gomez and knelt before him. The archbishop placed his hands on Peinemann’s head. Then all the priests present placed their hands upon the head of the candidate.
Archbishop Gomez later prayed the prayer of ordination. Afterwards, the newly ordained priest was assisted in vesting, putting on the symbols of priesthood, by Myles Peinemann, May Anne Peinemann, Melissa Martin, Kimberley Peinemann, Msgr. Edward Bily and Father John M. Foster.
Anointing the hands of the newly ordained priest with sacred chrism was then done by the archbishop. The paten, containing the bread, and the chalice, containing the wine mixed with water, were brought forward by the family of James F. Murphy, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, in whose memory the chalice was donated. They were given to Archbishop Gomez, who placed them in the hands of the newly ordained priest as he knelt before him.
Following that act, the archbishop exchanged the kiss of peace with Father Peinemann. The other priests present then offered the new priest the kiss of peace.
At the conclusion of the liturgy, the newest cleric in the archdiocese gave a few remarks. “It’s a honor from Almighty God to be a servant and a priest in the Archdiocese of San Antonio,” said Father Peinemann. “In this year of the Eucharist, I will continue to pray for all of you as I am given this new responsibility of changing the bread and wine to the Body of Blood of Christ.”
A reception followed in the parish hall with food provided by the Catholic Daughters, Holy Smokers and the St. Ann Christian Mother’s Society.
Father Peinemann celebrated his first Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul that Saturday evening.
He has been officially assigned as parochial vicar at Notre Dame Church in Kerrville.
Ordained to the priesthood at age 65, he was answering a call that began over 50 years ago. After completing eighth grade at Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School, his first seminary enrollment began in 1953 at St. Anthony High School Seminary in San Antonio, which he attended for two years. Feeling a different calling, he completed his high school studies in 1957 when he graduated from New Braunfels High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University, and a master’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake University. He taught both in the East Central Independent School District in San Antonio and in the Comal Independent School District in New Braunfels.
God’s providence led Peinemann to marry Bettie B. Neal on June 11, 1976, and blessed them with one daughter, Kimberley. Through the years, Bettie and Michael’s teaching careers complimented each other. They were also both active in church and youth activities. After Bettie’s diagnosis of cancer, they retired from teaching in 1994. The Sunday following his retirement, Deacon Fred Fey approached Peinemann to ask him to consider studying for the diaconate. Knowing that God would lead them, he accepted, with Bettie’s approval, and the couple began attending diaconate classes while scheduling the chemotherapy and medical treatment required by Bettie’s illness. By the grace of God, Peinemann was ordained a permanent deacon on Sept. 12, 1999, with Bettie in attendance.
While serving the spiritual needs of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Michael and Bettie continued her medical treatments. Bettie was born to eternal life on May 5, 2001. Within two weeks of
Bettie’s passing, Michael and Kimberley were talking about his desire to become a priest. Kimberley immediately said, “Mom said that is what you would do.” It was a total shock to Michael as he and Bettie had never talked about it.
Following two years of discernment and his enrollment at Oblate School of Theology for philosophy and pre-theology classes, Peinemann was accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was enrolled in a special program for second career vocations at Sacred Heart School of Theology in August 2003. During the two years of academic and spiritual formation, Peinemann has been drawn closer to God and to serving the needs of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Throughout his life’s experiences he has felt great comfort in Psalm 139:7-9,
“Though I walk amid distress, you preserve me;
against the anger of my enemies you raise your hand;
your right hand saves me.
The Lord will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, oh Lord, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.”
As he begins his journey as a priest, Father Peinemann realizes that he is called to be a humble servant of the Lord. As he reflects upon the path the Lord has used to bring him to this point, he understands the message of Pere Jean-Pierre de Caussade who stated, “God speaks to every individual through what happens to them moment by moment.” He realizes that God has used his parents, grandparents, family and friends throughout his life as the voice of God to lead him to become a fisher of men.
The parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul are grateful that they have been allowed to be witnesses of Father’s Peinemann’s journey and ordination, and they pray that God will continue to work powerfully through the ministry of one of their native sons, Father Michael Peinemann.
Today’s Catholic Editor Jordan McMorrough contributed to this report. |