MADISON — As the early evening’s sunlight shone into St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison on May 27, the Diocese of Madison was graced with its latest blessing — a new priest.
Fr. Matthew Pearson is the new in persona Christi of the diocese.
During the Ordination Mass, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison laid his hands upon the young man and instilled in him the duty and gifts with which to lead souls to Heaven.
Son of Janelle and John, priest-son of St. Patrick Parish in Doylestown, Father Pearson will soon minister to the communities of St. John Vianney Parish and Nativity of Mary Parish, both in Janesville.
He will also continue his studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, more than 70 miles away from Janesville, in Mundelein, Ill.
Serving as a priest
Prior to his ordination, Father Pearson reflected upon his vocational path, saying that “My overall experience revolves around God’s complete fidelity and providential care. He has never given up on me . . . As I prepare to enter into this great responsibility, I hope to carry with me this trust in God’s care for each one of us.”
He added, “At the heart of the priesthood is a sacrificial care for the Church’s sacraments in order to save souls. God never abandons us. This is most clearly seen through the Holy Eucharist in the celebration of Holy Mass. This precious prayer of the Church will be the heart of my priesthood.
“I also greatly look forward to hearing confessions and reconciling sinners to God’s unfailing love and mercy.”
During his homily at the Ordination Mass, Bishop Hying said that, “The entire diocese rejoices with you in this supreme moment of grace.
“You join the ranks of the presbyterate which stretches all the way back to the Apostles on Holy Thursday night and goes all the way forward to the end of the world.
“You join the notable likes of St. John Vianney, whose humble parish work converted thousands of souls in the wake of the French Revolution’s chaos.”
Bishop Hying added that, “You join the ranks of our presbyterate here in the Diocese of Madison — these priests, these men, who we love and are grateful for and we pray for and minister the sacraments to us and preach the gospel.”
Mass and rites
During the ordination rites, Father Pearson was vested by Fr. Garrett Kau, current pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Spring Green and St. Luke Parish in Plain.
Father Kau was the former pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Doylestown.
Family members Stephanie Pearson, Evelyn Pearson, and Tyler Zacho served as the gift bearers.
Concelebrating the Mass were Fr. Luke Strand, vice-rector at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wis., and Fr. Raúl Gómez-Ruiz, SDS, rector of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Divinity in Hales Corners, Wis., along with priests of the Diocese of Madison.
Seminarian Ryan Ruhle and Brad Grobbel served as readers and newly-ordained Transitional Deacon Simon Tipps served as the Deacon of the Word.
Words of thanks
During the Mass, Bishop Hying thanked Fr. Greg Ihm, diocesan director of vocations, for all of his work for nearly a decade in helping so many men become new priests.
Taking up the position of pastor at St. Mary Parish in Bloomington, St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Cassville, St. John Parish in Patch Grove, and St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Glen Haven, Father Ihm is moving on from directing the vocations office.
Fr. Jared Holzhuter will take on the role of vocations director next month while remaining as the pastor at St. Olaf Parish in DeForest, and St. Joseph Parish in East Bristol.
Music in memory
Music ministry was provided by the Madison Diocesan Choir and Diocesan Schola under the direction of Andrew Kreigh with Glenn Schuster as the organist.
The musical setting for the Mass’s gospel acclamation and final hymn were commissioned “in loving memory of Dr. Patrick Gorman” — the longtime director of the Madison Diocesan Choir and diocesan Office of Worship who died last year.