THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 44, NO. 39 | JUNE 2, 2023
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Deacon Tim Skoch processes into Prince of Peace Church on May 27 for his ordination to the priesthood.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Deacon George Rhodes has his hands wrapped in cloth after having them anointed with chrism.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Deacon Colm Larkin is all smiles as he sits before the altar prior to being ordained a priest for the archdiocese.
Trio of men become archdiocese’s newest priests
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
O
LATHE — One of Mike and Ginny Skoch’s favorite pictures of their son Tim is from when he was around 2 years old. He was wearing a plastic rosary around his neck. “He just beamed,” she said. “He was always very happy.” That photo was on display during the celebrations surrounding the ordination of her son — along with Colm Larkin and George Rhodes — to the priesthood. The ordination Mass was celebrated at Prince of Peace Church in Olathe on May 27 by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. One of the greatest joys of his ministry, said the archbishop in his homily, is to ordain men to the priesthood. “There’s nothing more important that I do as a bishop than ordain priests,” he said. “God can use one holy, selfless and dedicated priest to touch the hearts of hundreds or thousands — tens of thousands — of men and women.” And what a day for an ordination — on the vigil of Pentecost. “Today, through this ordination, the Holy Spirit is being poured anew into your hearts to empower you to not be prophets of doom, but to be bearers of joy, glad tidings for the lowly, healing for the broken-hearted, liberty for the captives, comfort for those who are mourning,” the archbishop said. Likewise, he continued, the ordinands were to always remember to extend God’s mercy through the sacrament of reconciliation. “Be generous in making yourselves available to the people of God for opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation,” he said. “Jesus is empowering you to speak on his behalf the words of divine mercy.” After the homily, the Rite of Ordination continued with the three men lying prostrate on the floor as the congregation chanted the Litany of Saints. The litany was followed by the archbishop laying his hands on each man in turn, ordaining them to the priesthood. It was followed by all of the other priests in attendance doing so as well.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The priests of the archdiocese perform the ritual of the laying on of hands on, from left, ordinands Tim Skoch, George Rhodes and Colm Larkin. The three were ordained priests on May 27 by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at Prince of Peace Church, Olathe.
BE GENEROUS IN MAKING YOURSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION. JESUS IS EMPOWERING YOU TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF THE WORDS OF DIVINE MERCY. ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
Calling the entire experience “phenomenal,” Mike Skoch said, “The liturgy itself is beautiful, but I sat there,
fighting back tears. The most beautiful thing is seeing my son so happy.” As a priest, the couple thinks their son will benefit from the servant leadership he exhibited at a young age. “If there wasn’t a server, he was always like, ‘Can I go serve?’” Ginny recalled. “I feel like he had a real servant’s heart from very early. . . . He always had a desire to do not only what was right, but what God wanted him to do. “He sees a need, and he does whatever he can to fulfill it.” The Skoches never pushed any of their children into a religious vocation, although Ginny admits she did offer some prayers that one of her sons would become a priest. “Because the harvest is great and the laborers are few, I said, ‘Lord, you know I have four sons. Maybe one of them could become your priest,” Ginny said, her voice trembling. Mike agreed.
“It had to be God’s call,” he said. “We certainly hoped and prayed.” “It’s been really neat to watch the Holy Spirit work in his heart and in his life,” Ginny said, adding that another moment that will definitely stick out in her mind from the ordination Mass is the fraternal greeting. One by one, all of the priests in attendance embrace the newly ordained as their brother. “That touched my heart a lot,” said Ginny. “He’s talked a lot about becoming part of that brotherhood.” Mike agreed, saying, “He eagerly anticipates being [and serving] among his brothers.” Serving alongside his brother priests is also important for the newly ordained Father Colm Larkin, something with which Clare (Larkin) Ostmeyer said her brother will have no >> See “THE CHURCH” on page 7