Cover
story Louvain helps shape new priests views
By ARTHUR JONES
NCR Staff Tucson, Ariz.
Part of Fr. Christopher M. Orndorffs preparation for the
priesthood was at the American College in Louvain, Belgium, an institution he
termed a wonderful place to form priests because its rather
balanced and looks to the church of the future rather than to the church of the
past.
In the acknowledgments on the back cover of the ordination program
Orndorff paid tribute to his classmates there.
Orndorff, a dark-haired young man with a ready smile, was born in
New Jersey and raised in Arizona. He attended American College in part because
Tucsons Bishop Manuel D. Moreno was on its board and there were
scholarships available.
Louvain, he said, is proud of Vatican II [1962-65] and
should be. Some of the profs were students of some of the people who wrote the
documents for the council.
They were able to tell us, Okay, this is what he was
thinking and doing before [the council] and this is how it played out at the
council, Orndorff said.
Then, looking back, he explained, they evaluated
how the council has been implemented. Okay, here are some shortcomings,
heres what we havent done or This is whats come
and weve done wonders.
Orndorff said he was able to appreciate, after attending liturgies
in Europe, how well by comparison American Catholics worship, with a
feeling of joy and life when you go to Mass.
Whats it like being a new priest? I look around and
Im the youngest priest in the diocese, said the 27-year-old,
and there arent many priests under 30 anywhere.
He said one of his classmates ordained last year told him the most
difficult adjustment at the beginning was losing identity, that he was no
longer Doug, he was Father. But you adjust to that. Im still
learning, he said, in a follow-up interview from St. Francis de Sales
parish in Tucson.
I like people. I think Im pretty good at preaching --
not wonderful but pretty good. I think I can make people feel welcome. Priests
should have a love of God and want to share that with others -- perhaps
thats the most important thing we do.
What about Bishop Francis Quinns homily at the ordination?
Incredible, I called the chancery this morning trying to get copies, so
many people asked me for one, said Orndorff. A lot of friends --
some who are not Catholic -- were amazed by the ceremony and especially by the
homily.
Of Quinns point about the priests sharing leadership,
Orndorff said, Thats the church I was formed in. Of the
bishops comments on celibacy, the new priest added, I thought he
was extremely honest. It wasnt sugarcoated. This is it. It
wont be easy. Dont fool yourself.
The golf-playing and dove-hunting Orndorff is an optimist about
the church. We know its difficult right now, but we know that
things are changing and for the good.
Finally, what does one think about prostrate, face down, before an
altar in a very public place? You feel very alone or, if not alone,
isolated, said Orndorff. You cant see anybody. Youre in
a position that one isnt normally in when theres a whole bunch of
people around you. Just being with myself.
Also, he said with a laugh, I wondered if
theyd vacuumed the carpet.
Had they?
It wasnt too bad, he said.
National Catholic Reporter, September 12,
1997
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