Three Hours of “Priest Forever” <br/><br/>

The following is a true story. It happened on January 24, 1997, Friday at 4 p.m. Bishop O’Brian, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, rushed into the bedroom of Mr. Eugene Hamilton. The Bishop brought with him Holy chrism (consecrated oil) and pallium (Bishop’s vestment) in preparation for Eugene (Gene)’s ordination into priesthood. Later on, he was ordained on that day, while he was still ill, as witnessed by his parents and a few friends.<br/><br/>

Gene was a first year student of Theology in the Archdiocese of New York. Due to cancer, he was confined at home for recovery. On one hand, he pleaded fervently with the deceased Philadelphia Cardinal Cooke for his prayer to intercede for his recovery from his illness. On the other hand, he prayed that he might become a priest before he died.<br/><br/>

Card. O’Connor, the Archbishop of New York at that time, was familiar with Gene. He knew that Gene was a young man who lived his life as a “Victim” in the spirit of self-sacrifice. Thus, the Cardinal wrote a personal letter to the Holy Office in Rome, requesting a special merit for Gene to be exempted from the remaining theology curriculum and be ordained as a priest. This request was granted by Pope John Paul the Second.<br/><br/>

It was scarcely three hours for Fr. Gene to live his priesthood before he passed away. But in those three hours, he lived out a reflection of Christ’ passion as the Priest on the Cross.<br/><br/>

The vocation as a priest is not a job. At all times, he has a role to lead incessantly all human beings to come to the altar of God, in the name of Jesus Christ.