Father Valentin Iurochkin incardinated into diocese
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ather Valentin Iurochkin, a native of Russia, has traveled the world in his time in the seminary and the priesthood, but now he can officially call East Tennessee his home. Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at a ceremony during a Mass on Dec. 12 that incardinated Father Iurochkin into the Diocese of Knoxville. The Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe was held at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, where Father Iurochkin serves as parochial vicar. “This is a beautiful day for me as the ordinary of this diocese as we welcome Father Valentin into the diocese,” Bishop Stika said. “We pray that his ministry might be fruitful and that he might know that he is loved by the Catholic community of East Tennessee.” Concelebrating the Mass along with Father Iurochkin were basilica rector Father David Carter, Father Arthur Torres, Father Christopher Manning, Father Jerry Daniels, and Father Nick Tran. Deacons Hicks Armor and Gaspar DeGaetano were deacons of the Eucharist, and diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith was deacon of the Word and read the Decree of Incardination later in the liturgy. Attending the Mass were Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation and Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes,” Deacon Jim Bello, director of Christian Formation for the diocese who also serves at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy, Deacon Brian Gabor, campus minister with the Newman Center at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga who also serves at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga, as well as members of the Serra Club of Chattanooga. Club president Larry Skelly was the reader at Mass. The incardination Mass marked Father Iurochkin’s break with the Institute of the Incarnate Word, the community he had been a member
of since his pre-seminary days. In his homily before he incardinated the missionary priest, Bishop Stika said the first missionary is the Blessed Mother. “A missionary points people to Christ, to the Father. Wasn’t it Mary at Cana in Galilee who said to someone, ‘Do as He tells you’? Listen to Him. Listen to her son, Jesus,” the bishop said. “Earlier in this month, we celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Mary born without the stain of original sin, because within her would be contained the Son of God. Today we celebrate a feast day that’s very unique to the Americas: the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And again we see the presence of Mary as a missionary throughout history, whether it was in Knock in Ireland, Czestochowa in Poland, in Mexico, and now even in Wisconsin, it has been proclaimed by that diocese, and all these other places. Mary again is an instrument of God, pointing out to those she would visit to have a message: repent, listen to my Son, pray the rosary, whatever it might be. Mary is a true missionary.” A key encounter in Father Iurochkin’s pre-East Tennessee days was with Father Jesús Guerrero, now the parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Johnson City. “It’s because of Father Jesús, who remembered this young man from Russia who had joined a community that didn’t seem to be the right fit, who invited him to come to that beautiful land of East Tennessee,” Bishop Stika said. “He was a young priest, a newly ordained priest, a priest who could speak at least five languages and knows how to play the piano. His name is Valentin, and he’s concelebrating with me today. “Through prayer and reflection on his part and on my part, and with the recommendations of good priests like Father Carter, Valentin has decided to become a priest of
By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
The native of Russia says he now ‘belongs permanently’ to the Church in East Tennessee
Making it official Bishop Richard F. Stika presents Father Valentin Iurochkin to the assembly after the paperwork was signed incardinating the priest into the Diocese of Knoxville. the Diocese of Knoxville. … He’s gifted. He’s done so well here at the basilica. He works with college students at the Catholic Student Center. He’s filled with joy, and he smiles and prays. It’s a blessing to have people come into the diocese, whether it’s from Africa or Asia or India or Texas—they come into our diocese because they want to do what Mary told them to do with Jesus: ‘Do as He tells you’ and to share the faith.” The official incardination paperwork was signed by Bishop Stika, Deacon Smith, and Father Iurochkin following Communion. “What a blessing Valentin will be to this diocese,” the bishop said. “May his service be long. May his
love continue to be plentiful, as he will hold in his hands that bread and that chalice and say, ‘This is my body, this is my blood, given for you.’ Throughout his life, he has listened to the message of Mary, when she points to Jesus, to Valentin, and to all of us and says, ‘Do as He tells you.’” Deacon Smith read the Decree of Incardination, which was headed, “Richard Frank Stika, by the grace of God and favor of the Apostolic See, third bishop of Knoxville.” The decree stated, “Whereas, Rev. Valentin Iurochkin was a presbyter from the Institute of the Incarnate Word; and whereas, Rev. Valentin Iurochkin, has provided the Diocese Father Iurochkin continued on page B2
Father Giraldo celebrates his 25th anniversary ‘The Almighty has done great things for me,’ says the Colombia-born priest on his silver jubilee
By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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urrounded by the parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi in Townsend, whom he has led for five years as their pastor, Father Antonio Giraldo celebrated his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination on Nov. 20. A native of Colombia who helps the people of his homeland through different charities, Father Giraldo called the occasion of his anniversary Mass on the solemnity of Christ the King “a very special day for me” as he delivered his homily in both English and Spanish. “Twenty-five years ago, I had the privilege of being chosen to serve the Church in the ministry of priesthood,” he said. “Today, I would like to sing with Our Lady, as I did 25 years ago during my first holy Mass: ‘The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.’ I firmly believe the Lord continues using the ‘little and weak’ to do His work among us.” Celebrating the Mass four days before Thanksgiving, Father Giraldo said that “I want this to be a Mass of thanksgiving to God for all He has done in my life and for allowing me to unite with all of you here today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my priesthood.” Many people have asked him how he discovered his vocation, Father Giraldo said. “All I can say is that I was searching for happiness in my life and mysteriously ended up in the priesthood,” he said. “But the good news is that you don’t have to be ordained as a priest to find that happiness. All you need to do is love God, honor your parents, and follow the way of Jesus. May God bless you, and thank you for being here
‘I want this to be a Mass of thanksgiving to God’ Father Antonio Giraldo delivers the homily at his 25th-anniversary Mass on Nov. 20 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend, where he serves as pastor. today.” Bishop Richard F. Stika spoke at the end of Mass. “A 25th anniversary is very significant,” he
said. “I bring with me heartfelt congratulations, thanks, and love for all you’ve done in 25 years of priesthood but especially here in Townsend. It’s Father Giraldo continued on page B3