New priest of the Sodalitium in Argentina: Fr. Adrián Meza
In a moving ceremony held on Saturday, October 28th at 11:30 in the morning, Argentine time, in the Villa Marista Chapel of the Province of Buenos Aires, our brother Adrián Meza was ordained a priest of the Lord. The priestly ordination mass was presided over by Msgr. Pedro María Laxague, titular bishop of the Diocese of Zárate-Campana.
Father Adrián Meza with his family and Msgr. Pedro María Laxague.
The joy of the Magnificat
“My soul really enjoys and explodes with joy”, were the words of our brother Father Adrián Meza in a brief and very emotional message that he gave at the end of the Holy Mass. “A long love story comes and continues with Him, trying to configure me more and more with Jesus crucified”.
Father Adrián shared with us that the day before his priestly ordination, he experienced deep tranquility and inner peace. Praying the Magnificat prayer had been an experience that God provoked in him at the conclusion of his Spiritual Exercises.
During the laying on of hands.
The day of ordination
“I continued to marvel at the gift I was receiving, and I was overflowing with joy internally”, said Father Adrián. The most emotional moments occurred when the bishop and the brother priests laid their hands on him. “Experiencing that communion, that transmission of the Holy Spirit through the hands of the brother priests was truly shocking”.
“Everything involved in the sign of the laying on of hands and the covering that I received, helped by Father Jaime Gómez and Father Alexandre Arosa (priests of the Sodalitium), was very significant. “Both priests are very important in my life, and being vested by them was a very special and moving moment for me”.
During the homily, Monsignor Laxague addressed a few words to Adrián, urging him to live the love that God bestowed upon him at his baptism, now manifested in his ministerial service to Christ and the community. “Act in the name of Christ at all times, on all occasions”, the bishop said. “That can be overwhelming, but remember that He is always with you, telling you: Do not be afraid, I am here with you to accompany you”.
God’s call to the priesthood
Reflecting on his own experience in his vocational journey, Father Adrián shared valuable advice for those who find themselves on that path of discernment.
First, he emphasizes the importance of establishing an authentic and deep encounter with Jesus. “The best way to respond to the call that God makes to us is to cultivate a quality spiritual life, beyond spiritual practices. It is the art of truly meeting the Lord”
Father Adrián Meza with Msgr. Pedro María Laxague and other invited priests.Secondly, Father Adrián exhorts “do not be afraid, that (responding to God’s call) is the fruit of that encounter with Christ, the fruit of listening to the Lord, from which springs taking the leap of confidence, springs faith comes the desire to say Lord, here I am and let’s move forward”.
In summary, caring for and enriching the prayer life is key, since, through this encounter with God, the Lord will provide the tools and strength necessary to respond to the vocation, if this is the invitation that is experienced, to follow Jesus more closely as his priest.