On Thursday, August 22, Santos Cecilio Hernandez was ordained to the priesthood by Mons. Ozwaldo Escobar, OCD, bishop of Chalatenango.
The ceremony took place in the parish of the Inmaculada Concepció in Santa Tecla. Joining Cecilio were his family, many diocesan priests and religious sisters, the members of the Carmelite community at Centro Xiberta, the Lay Carmelite Third Order members from the various communities established in the country, and representatives from the various parts of the Province including Peru, Mexico, and the United States of America.
On the way to Santa Tecla and the ordination of Santos Cecilio Hernandez. Bishop Ozwaldo Escobar, OCD, bishop of Chatalango, El Salvador greets Emilio Rodriquez, O. Carm., while others mill around. The professed Carmelites and the concelebrants being corralled for the procession into the church. Cecilio with two members of the Provincial Council (Emilio Rodriquez and Paul Henson) before the ordination ceremony. Mons. Ozwaldo Escobar, OCD and Cecilio Hernandez with William J. Harry, the prior provincial; Alfredo Guillen, the prior of the Carmelites in El Salvador and formator at Centro Xiberta; Fr. Leopoldo Sosa Tolentino, the pastor of Inmaculada Concepción Parish where the ordination took place. A view of the people gathered at the Parish of the Inmaculada Concepción to witness the ordination. Mons. Ozwaldo Escobar, OCD, imposes his hands on Cecilio during the ordination ceremony. William J. Harry, O. Carm., the prior provincial, imposes his hands on Cecilio during the ordination ceremony. Alfredo Guillen, O. Carm., imposes his hands on Cecilio during the ordination ceremony. William J. Harry and Alfredo Guillen assist in vesting Cecilio as a priest. Mons. Ozwaldo Escobar, OCD, anointing the hands of the new priest, Cecilio Hernandez. Cecilio prays part of the Eucharistic Prayer following his ordination. Cecilio speaks to the people at the end of the ordination Mass in a warm acknowledgement of their role in his formation process. Carmelites and Diocesan priests celebrating the newly ordained following the ordination Mass.
The ordination was televised live via internet and via Radio Titus for those who could not attend. You view the entire ceremony here (the picture starts at 1:59:06):