DEACON OLIVER COUGHLIN WAS ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on June 7 by Bishop Kevin Vann in the presence of family, friends, dozens of fellow priests and hundreds of the faithful at Christ Cathedral.
THE ORDINATION MASS OF FR. OLIVER COUGHLIN WAS CELEBRATED ON JUNE 7 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL. PHOTOS BY KAYLEE TOOLE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The Rite of Ordination was celebrated during the Mass, immediately following the Liturgy of the Word and before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Many ancient rituals were followed during the ceremony. First, Deacon Oliver was presented to Bishop Vann where the bishop examined Coughlin about his intentions to serve as a priest. In his homily, Bishop Vann reminded Deacon Oliver that, “The life and ministry of a priest is to make sure that the path of those who love God follow that path and stay on that path so that we can find the way to the Lord.”
The homily was followed by Deacon Oliver promising his obedience to Bishop Vann and his successors. Next, during the Litany of Supplication, the congregation prayed for the candidate as he lay prostrated before the altar.
DURING LITANY OF SUPPLICATION, THE CONGREGATION PRAYS FOR THE CANDIDATE AS HE LAYS PROSTRATE BEFORE THE ALTAR.
Deacon Oliver then knelt in front of the altar during the Laying on of Hands where Bishop Vann placed his hands on his head, signifying the imposition of the Holy Spirit and the bestowal of authority for the priesthood. The priests in attendance then laid their hands on his head in a similar fashion.
Bishop Vann then offered the Prayer of Ordination while invoking the Holy Spirit.
The newly ordained Fr. Oliver Coughlin was then vested, that is, clothed in the stole and chasuble, identifying him in his new role as a priest, by Fr. John Boles and Fr. Luke Mata. Bishop Vann then anointed the hands of Fr. Oliver followed by the Handing Over of the Bread and Wine and afterwards the Exchange of the Sign of Peace.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist continued at the conclusion of the Rite of Ordination.
FR. OLIVER COUGHLIN BLESSES THE FAITHFUL FOLLOWING HIS ORDINATION MASS CELEBRATED ON JUNE 7.
In attendance for the ordination were Fr. Oliver’s parents and several of his siblings.
“It was a moving and beautiful ceremony,” said his father, Frank. “We were overjoyed to see him so happy and deeply grateful to all the people who came out to support him.”
His mother, Katharina, shared: “Words cannot adequately express the joy we have in our hearts seeing our son ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange. Praise be to God!”
Fr. Oliver was born and raised in Orange County into a large Catholic family. The second oldest of seven siblings, has two brothers and four sisters. Growing up, he attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa and La Purísima Catholic Church in Orange. After entering the seminary, his home parish has been St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church in Anaheim.
Prior to entering the seminary, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from UCLA and a juris doctor from Notre Dame Law School.
After working as a litigation attorney for a period of time in Chicago, Fr. Oliver continued his discernment to become a priest of Jesus Christ.
“Several things inspired me to discern the priesthood including the example of holy priests that I’ve had the blessing to know during my life, especially as a young adult,” Fr. Oliver shared.
He served as a transitional deacon at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for the past six months since his deaconate ordination Dec. 14.
His first Mass was celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, the day after his ordination.
“I enjoyed the opportunity of giving regular Sunday homilies as a deacon,” he shared. “It is one thing to read and study Scripture in seminary for personal devotion or for class, and quite another thing to reflect on Scripture from one’s lived experience ministering at a parish, reflecting on how God’s word speaks today to the lives of those to whom one ministers.”
He added: “The community at St. Vincent de Paul is wonderful. It has been such a blessing to minister with Fr. Kevin, Fr. David and the parish staff. I have learned so much from them in these last few months.”
Fr. Oliver’s first priestly assignment will be as parochial vicar at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Huntington Beach.
“I am very excited about my new assignment as parochial vicar at St. Bonaventure beginning in July,” Fr. Oliver said.
St. Bonaventure’s pastor Fr. Vincent Hung Pham is equally pleased.
“St. Bonaventure parish and I are very grateful that Fr. Oliver Coughlin is assigned here.”
Fr. Pham added: “For his ordination Mass, hundreds of us came to celebrate with him. In my conversations with him, I learned that he is eager to start his priestly ministry at St. Bonaventure. He is a man of prayer, wisdom and dedication.”