It is such a joy and an honor for me to be back home, to see so many familiar faces. But it is especially a privilege to be able to come together as a parish family to celebrate with one of our own on such an important milestone. Today we come to celebrate Jesus Christ, how He continues to be with us through the priesthood, and, in a particular way, for the vocation He has called Michael to live out. The fact that we have young men responding generously to the invitation to serve as priests shows us how the Lord continues to provide for His Church even today.

I first got acquainted with Michael when he was a senior in high school at Timber Creek. He had reached out to me on Facebook asking for prayers because he was discerning whether the Lord was calling him to start the process to apply for seminary. Little did I know at that time that this man would become one of my closest friends in the years that followed…and, honestly, I was quite surprised when that eventually happened.

Being the youngest in my family, I never knew what it was like to have an annoying little brother…until Michael came along. Now, Michael, you know I mean that with a lot of love. For those who know the two of us, you can attest to how Michael and I are kind of the same person. We share the same birthday, March 22^nd. I was born the day after my mother’s birthday; Michael was born the day before his mother’s birthday. If you think that’s just a coincidence: wait, there’s more… The two of us enjoy and dislike the same types of food (give or take a couple of things). We also both have an incredible love for the game of baseball…despite the fact that Michael is a Yankee’s fan. And there’s a few more things that we share…it just gets a little bizarre.

Over the last ten years, as Michael has gone through the process of formation in seminary, it has been a great blessing for me to be able to see the tremendous amount of growth that has taken place in his life. He entered seminary fresh out of high school as an immature kid who really didn’t know quite who he was; and today he stands before us as a priest of Jesus Christ, confident in who he is as a beloved son of God, and prepared to be a shepherd that leads others to an encounter with the love and mercy of the Father.

Michael is a man of great faith, a faith that was instilled in him when he was just a boy. He doesn’t know this, but in preparation for today, I asked his mom and dad to share some things from when he was growing up. They shared about how when he was 5 years old, he would always take the end of the pew at Mass so that he could see the priest process down the aisle. Then at home he would imitate what he saw at Mass. His grandmother would even say: “Este va a ser sacerdote” (“This one is going to be a priest”)…and grandmothers are always right. It was the planting of the seeds of this vocation in his life, which would continue to be fostered as Michael grew up.

When he was a junior in high school, Michael attended his first Chrism Mass which resulted in that vocation being fully recognized in his heart. At that Mass, when the seminarians were asked to stand, he stood up with them. He knew that he was being called to the priesthood and was determined to respond to it…and we are grateful that he has responded with generosity.

Yesterday, was an incredibly special day, as I witnessed one of my best friends being presented to Bishop Noonan and to the people of God in the Diocese and were ordained to the priesthood, the culmination of many years of discernment. I have never been prouder to call you a brother. This is a moment that you have worked so hard for, a moment that the Lord has planned for you from the moment you were created, and it has been such an honor for me to walk with you these last ten years. But yesterday isn’t the end of that journey…it actually marks the beginning of the next phase in this beautiful love story between you and God.

It is not by accident that Michael celebrates his First Mass of Thanksgiving on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Now, I can understand why he didn’t want to preach today…most priests and deacons who try to explain the Trinity in a homily often fall into heresy, because there is no human explanation that can ever adequately describe the essence of the greatest mystery of our faith. So, he left that to me…thanks a lot. For us as Catholics, the nature of the Trinity teaches us about community, relationship, and love. And, Michael, as you embark on your priestly ministry, you are called to mirror those divine attributes in your life and in your ministry as a priest. There are three ways to foster that in your priesthood.

First, embrace the call to communion…

Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect communion, so too are you called to foster that unity within the Church. Your participation in the priesthood is not a journey of faith solely for you. Instead, borrowing the words of a much wiser priest than me, Fr. Adam, my classmate who so wanted to be here – you were called to be a priest at a specific time, to a specific people, for a specific purpose.

The Lord has called you from a community of believers to serve a community of believers. Now more than ever, as priests, we have the task of building bridges, encouraging dialogue, and being sources of reconciliation. In a world often marked by division and discord, the priest is called to be a beacon of the unity that reflects the divine communion of the Trinity. Be present to your parishioners at St. Thomas; listen to them as they share their hearts with you; accompany them in their joys and sorrows; be that shepherding presence in their lives and walk with them in their journey of faith. Your people will teach you how to be a priest. They’ll show you how they need you to be Christ for them. Learn from them.

But also recognize that you cannot serve the people that God has entrusted to you with your whole heart if you are not connected to the Lord, if you’re not in communion with Him. Stay rooted in prayer; don’t neglect the Liturgy of the Hours; keep striving to do that daily holy hour; celebrate Mass every day, especially on your day off. The Lord will sustain you in your priesthood if you allow Him. But also, don’t forget to lean on your brother priests and be there to support us as well. We cannot do this ministry without each other, so work to foster that communion in the presbyterate and remind us of that need for community.

Second, live the love of the Trinity…

The love within the Trinity is self-giving and sacrificial. Jesus most profoundly and beautifully demonstrated that love through His incarnation, by stepping down from heaven, taking on our human flesh, and sacrificing Himself on the cross. He sacrificially gave of Himself that we might enjoy the rewards of Eternal Life. As a priest, you are called to be another Christ, personifying that selfless love, giving of yourself completely and wholeheartedly. You will do that in your daily interactions with parishioners, in how you provide the sacraments for them, in how you teach them in and through your words of preaching. Let the love of God shine through you in those moments. Whether it is comforting the sick, guiding the lost, or celebrating the Eucharist, do everything with a heart full of love.

Remember, love is the essence of a priestly vocation – a love that gives without counting the cost, a love that reflects the eternal love within the Trinity. There will be days when you feel like you have nothing left to give, days when you’re drained completely…and those will be the days when you will have a daily Mass, a funeral, a wedding, and when the emergency calls are coming in every 2 hours. When you have nothing left to give, rely on the Lord…He will be there to walk with you through the challenges.

Finally, be led by the Spirit…

Michael and I were blessed to have the same formation advisor in seminary, Dr. Carol Raza. I know she did this for you because she did it for me…she always challenged her seminarians to listen more attentively to the Holy Spirit and to embrace those gifts of the Spirit. So, Michael, let Dr. Raza’s voice remain in your head. Always think, “what would Dr. Raza encourage me to do?” (Let me tell you, that thought has been so helpful for me in priesthood.) But, keep listening to the Holy Spirit, that amazing and lifegiving breath of God. He will guide you, inspire you, and empower you to be the incredible priest that we all know you will be.

Your ordination has filled you with the gifts of the Spirit; it has equipped you for the mission ahead. Be attentive to His promptings in your ministry. Keep up the practice of frequent confession so that you can remain receptive to that guidance and hear His voice more clearly. The Spirit will lead you to where you are needed most, often in unexpected ways. Stay open to His guidance through prayer, discernment, and humility. The Holy Spirit will help you to preach the Gospel with boldness, to administer the sacraments with reverence, and to serve your people with wisdom. If you embrace those spiritual gifts, the Lord will perform miracles in and through you.

Fr. Michael, your priesthood is a gift to the Church; it is a reflection of the divine mystery we celebrate today; it’s a reflection of the Father’s heart. As you live out your vocation, may you continually draw inspiration from the communion, love, and guidance of the Holy Trinity. Recognize all that He has done in your life to foster those ideals and how He wants to continue to strengthen them in you. But also remember to be yourself. Be authentically you.

As Fr. Angel reminded you on Friday night, the Lord has called you, with your gifts and talents, with your strengths and weaknesses to be His priest. He knows who you are; He knows that you are a big kid at heart; He knows how much you love your people; He knows what brings you joy and what brings you sorrow. Keep being your goofy self. Never lose your sense of humor. And stay close to Him. Remember, you are never alone. The Father’s providence, the Son’s companionship, and the Spirit’s power are always with you.

As you begin your priestly ministry today, know that we, your brother priests, the people of this parish, and those who have gathered here to be with you today…we have your back, we’re rooting for you, we love you, and we’re always here when you need us.

Fr. Michael, may God bless your ministry as a priest abundantly. May you find joy and fulfillment in serving God’s people, and may your life be a living testament to the mystery and majesty of the Holy Trinity. And with that, it’s time to get to work.

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This homily was given at the First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr. Michael Batista at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Orlando, FL.

Photo: Holy Trinity statue in Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Steve Sharp. Used under Unsplash license.