Parents, be proud of your son's priestly vocation

By RICO and CAROL ESCALANDA
Special to the WCR
Rome

This exhortation of Pope John Paul became more meaningful during the priestly ordination of our son Roderrick Francisco Vidallo Escalanda in St. Eugene's Basilica in Rome on Sept. 12.

On this day, with more than 2,000 people present, we understood more fully the great honour and joy of being a parent as our son walked to the altar of the Lord.

Bishop Javier Echevarria, prelate of Opus Dei, ordained 24 deacons from 12 countries as priests of Opus Dei.

We are former parishioners of St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton and now live in Calgary. Roderrick was born in 1970 in San Francisco and received a degree in mechanical engineering in 1991.

He served as a professor of physics and mathematics at the University of Asia and the Pacific.

In 1993, he went to Pamplona, Spain, and received his bachelor in theology from the University of Navarre. Later in 1996, Roderrick moved to Rome and received his doctorate in philosophy of religion at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

He now teaches philosophy of religion at that university.

In his homily, Echevarria described the priest's mission as one of bringing "the hope of a holy life, the gift of peace to hearts, freedom from the bonds of sin and certainty of a reward which lightens the cares of life."

To the families, the bishop said, "God is closer to you today than ever, . . . and beseeches you to support this son, brother or friend of yours in his efforts to serve the Church, by your faithfulness to your vocation."

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter