June 10, 2021 | Local News
Fr. Stephen Van Lal Than

As his family looks on, Deacon Corey D. Bruns lies prostrate during the Litany of the Saints at his May 22, 2021 Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

‘Listen to, pray for, and tend Christ’s flock’ – Fr. Corey D. Bruns ordained May 22

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

The Gospel passage proclaimed at the May 22, 2021 Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Corey D. Bruns recounted Jesus’s three questions to Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Speaking to the crowd of clergy, family and friends participating in the liturgy that day at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, Bishop William F. Medley echoed the John 21:15-17 reading in his homily.

Priests applaud to affirm Deacon Corey D. Bruns as a worthy candidate for ordination to the priesthood during the May 22, 2021 Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

“Corey, do you love Jesus?” asked the bishop. “Then feed his lambs. Corey, do you love Jesus? Then tend his sheep. Corey, do you love Jesus? Feed his sheep.”

“My brother Corey, you answer all these questions today with the confidence – perhaps the shaky confidence – of Peter,” said Bishop Medley. “Yet today, Jesus Christ, through the Church, calls you to be a priest based upon the affirmation of those entrusted with your care.”

The bishop advised the soon-to-be-ordained not to assume that he always knows what his flock needs.

“Listen to them,” said Bishop Medley. “Pray for them every day, and ask that God may every day make you a worthy and humble shepherd to feed and tend.”

Bishop William F. Medley lays hands on the head of Deacon Corey D. Bruns during his May 22, 2021 Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. This gesture, accompanied by the prayer of consecration by the bishop, is the act by which he is ordained to the priesthood. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

While the Mass was originally by invitation-only, COVID-19 pandemic guidelines had been adjusted shortly before the ordination day, and more people were able to attend the celebration. However, as has been the practice for all liturgies at the cathedral, this Mass was livestreamed for those who could not be present.

Guidelines on singing in churches had also been recently revised, so the faithful were able to sing with the various musical aspects of the Mass.

Mike Bogdan, director of the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Music, later commented that though a number of pandemic restrictions remained in place that day, “hearing the musical participation of the assembly – after many months of silence – on the parts of the Mass was inspiring.”

“Particularly lovely was hearing everyone sing the antiphon from Psalm 110 that Fr. Corey set to music:  ‘You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek,’” said Bogdan.

Newly-ordained Fr. Corey D. Bruns shares a fraternal greeting of peace with Fr. Basilio Az Cuc during the May 22, 2021 Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

Following the Mass, attendees were invited to a reception a few blocks away at Brescia University, where Fr. Bruns could also give his “first blessings,” a longstanding Catholic tradition on priests’ ordination days.

Speaking with The Western Kentucky Catholic in the week following his ordination, Fr. Bruns said he had been “continually humbled and in awe of the grace and beauty of the priesthood as I exercise my new sacramental ministry.”

“Anointing the sick, absolving sins, celebrating the Eucharist… they all feel so natural, yet I keep finding myself whispering in the back of my head, ‘thank you, Lord’ as I do them,” said Fr. Bruns. “Being his instrument of grace in a more profound and intentional way has been very beautiful.”

And Fr. Bruns’ longtime friend Robin Tomes, who serves as the administrative assistant for the Offices of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Ongoing Formation of Priests, added that she is excited to see the things Fr. Bruns will do for the people of the diocese as a new priest.

“He is a caring and compassionate person who will truly work hard for our Lord,” said Tomes.

View photos from the ordination here

To learn more about the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Vocations, visit owensborovocations.com.

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Publisher |  Bishop William F. Medley
Editor |  Elizabeth Wong Barnstead
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