Father Lim’s first Mass a time of joy, gratitude

Just a few hours after being ordained to the priesthood June 24 by Bishop James F. Checchio in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, Rev. Jose Manuel Lim celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving in the Church of St. Mary of Mount Virgin, New Brunswick.

Father Lim shared that he planned it so the entire day would be filled with his joy of becoming a priest.

Concelebrating the Mass were Father Jonathan Toborowsky, vicar general, and Msgr. John Fell, director, Office of Priest Personnel, as well as brother priests from Metuchen and other dioceses.

Father Lynx J. M. Soliman, parochial vicar, St Aloysius Parish, Caldwell, served as homilist for the Mass.  He and Father Lim met while both were studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, Seton Hall University, and have remained close friends.

In his homily, Father Soliman referred to the Gospel of the day where Jesus sent his 12 chosen disciples with clear instructions to not be afraid of persecution; to speak in the light; to proclaim from the housetops what they have heard. Father Soliman said, “Jesus called those men by name just as he has called Father Lim by name … to go into a world that desperately needs Jesus.”

Father Soliman also described Father Lim has “having the charism of hospitality.”

Father Lim has been assigned as parochial vicar in St. Joseph Parish, Hillsborough, from July 6 through September 6, prior to returning to Rome for further studies. There he will complete his Licentiate in Moral Theology with a focus on medical ethics at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

During his Ordination Mass, a newly ordained priest’s hands are anointed by the bishop with the Sacred Chrism and wrapped with a white linen cloth called the Maniturgium. Since the Chrism is sacred oil, the cloth cannot be discarded. Traditionally, the priest presents this cloth to his mother at his first Mass.

In recognition of the role of the priest’s father in his formation, it has become a tradition for the new priest to present his father with a purple confessional stole worn when the priest hears his first confession.

When each parent is eventually called home to God their respective vestment is buried with them. Then upon entering into the gates of heaven each parent can present their garment and say to Jesus, “My son, too, shared in your priesthood.”

As Father Lim presented the Maniturgium to his mother, Noemi, and the stole to his father, Vicente, the significant presentations proved to be emotional moments for members of the congregation.

The day after his first Mass, Father Lim celebrated Mass for the Sisters of Jesus our Hope at their Motherhouse in Bloomsbury.

He worked closely with the members of this community at the Catholic Center at Rutgers University, first as a student where he received a bachelor’s degree in nursing and, later, as a seminarian assisting with various programs at the center.

Sister Lorraine Doiron, a member of the community, commented at his first Mass, “Father Lim is a good man, he will make a great priest.”

Deacon Vincent Brigande, also a nurse, who served as a Deacon during the first Mass, worked with Father Lim at St. Peter’s University Hospital and knows that being a nurse and a priest will have many benefits in his priestly ministry.

Deacon Brigande described Father Lim as having “brought joy to all he encountered at the hospital, patients and staff as well. I am sure they were drawn in by that joy that he demonstrated every day and shared with others.”

At the end of the Mass Father Lim expressed his gratitude to God for his vocation, to the Bishop for ordaining him and to his parents for all their many gifts and blessing to him in his life, and to all his family.  He also thanked his brother priests for concelebrating and all those present and asked for their continued prayers for him and all priests.

Demonstrating the nature of Father Lim’s joy at being ordained to the priesthood, his Mass card quoted the words of a French Dominican priest, Jean-Baptiste Lacordaire. The last line states: “To bless and be blest forever. O God, what a life, and it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ!”