Mass for the Silver Jubilee of Priestly Ordination
of Father Shane Hoctor

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Gabriel’s Church, Reservoir,
on Saturday, 3rd September, 2005, at 6.30pm

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am delighted to join Father Shane Hoctor, his father and family members, and the community of Saint Gabriel’s, as we thank God for twenty-five years of priestly ministry of Father Shane.

A priest is another Christ, called from the people to lead them to God and to bring the things of God to us. Humbly we spend this moment in thanksgiving for the gift of priesthood in one who has served so well, while remembering that the call to holiness is universal and constant. We respond because our God loved us first.

Homily

“Where two or three gather in my name, I shall be there with them.” ( Matthew 18:20)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we gather in the presence of our God in the most powerful meeting between God and human beings, which ever occurs in the world’s history.

At the Last Supper and on the Cross, Christ our Lord offered himself to the Father as a sacrifice which was perfect for the forgiveness of sins and in his words, “Do this in memory of me”, he called his bishops and priests for all time to offer this same sacrifice, one with Christ, the priest and victim.

Indeed, to become another Christ is in fact to leave aside one’s individual preference and will, to take on the compassionate heart which Jesus had for people, loving us uniquely, as if each of us were the only person in the world.

A priest, therefore, is called to be spent in bringing others to Christ and in meeting their needs and burdens with the spiritual remedies which come from him.

The Second Vatican Council stressed the importance of this work in these terms. “To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of the priest – ‘the same one now offering through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross’ – but especially under the Eucharistic species.

By his power he is present in the Sacraments, so that when a man baptises it is really Christ himself who baptises. He is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read and preached in church. He is present finally when the Church prays and sings, for he promised – ‘where two or three are gathered together for my sake there am I in the midst of them’. Christ indeed always associates the Church with himself in the truly great work of giving perfect praise to God and making men holy.” ( Vatican II, Constitution on the Liturgy, n. 7 )

Twenty-five years is a considerable time of genuine service in the priesthood. We become because of bonds of friendship and pastoral care with Father Shane, remembering his early education at St Mary’s, Kyneton, and St Gabriel’s, Castlemaine, as well as at Salesian College, Sunbury. After eight years at Corpus Christi College, Clayton, Father Shane was ordained by Archbishop Little in the cathedral on 16 th August, 1980, and has served as Assistant Priest in Queenscliff, Ferntree Gully, Maidstone, the Cathedral, Geelong, Administrator at Caulfield, and finally here at Reservoir since the beginning of 1997.

Shane has a fine theological brain, has made a magnificent contribution to the prayer life and liturgy of the Church, especially in his nine years at the Cathedral and his eight years here. I am personally deeply grateful to him for the assistance, which he gave me as a Master of Ceremonies in his time at the Cathedral, when he took particular interest in the spiritual care of the young people who ministered around the Cathedral. Here in the parish, the magnificent condition of the parish plant, the renovation of the church and other building works have indicated the genuine pastoral heart and desire to serve the people, which Shane has always manifested.

He has always been a man of the Church, who sought to bring Christ and not himself. His use of his considerable abilities in relating to a wide range of people makes us join joyfully in thanking God for the gifts which he has been given.

Shane has always been a man of the Church, faithful to the Magisterium, clear and concise in presenting its life-giving truths to his people. In the priesthood God always give the increase to our personal efforts and in this moment of thanksgiving we recognise the gifts, which on the day of ordination Father Shane put at the disposal of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and of you, his people.

Shane, congratulations on the attainment of this significant anniversary. Our prayers and wishes go with you in the continued generous service, which you give to the Archdiocese of Melbourne, its bishops, priests and people. Ad multos annos!

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.