Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-07-15
2af1tnfrHn1 Daily @tapatth
New Priest
At Catholic
Church Heard

Father Zachary Ralston, recently
ordained in London, Canada, to the
Catholic priesthood, held special ser
vices in st. Pauls Catholic church
here Sunday morning at 1870 o'clock
His services consisted Of holy mass
and benediction.
Father Ralston is son of Mrs.
Kathryn Ralston, Henderson business
woman. His ordination in the Cana
dian city took place May 18, and
since then he has held services in the
Greensboro Cathonc church, where
his mother lived before coming to
Henderson several years ago.
Assisting in the services Sunday
were Robert Ralston, brother, and
Ernest Edelin, as acolytes and SER
VerS. Father CletuS j. Heifrich, pas
tor Of the church, preached special
sermon. During Inc services Miss
Olive Pickering, OF RoXborO, was the
organiSt; 4 solo Was sung by Father
Helfrich, and choir members assist
ing were Mrs. d. D. Mcintyre, Mrs.
Mary Spruill and Miss Polly Nc
Intyre. James P. B. Council WaS
usher
About 100 friends of the Ralston
family and members of the ST. Paul'S
congregation were present 10 pay
tribute to Father RalSton by way vi
encouragement in his career, and 10
congratulate his mother. From 4 10 &
p. m. Sunday reception was held
in the Catholic rectory on College
street
For the services the affairs were
decorated with pink and white
gladioli, ferns, zinniaS, cosmos and
yellow wax candies. Inc church was
filled to capacity, with the service
suggesting the SolCmnity OF the holy
sacrifice being offered by the newly
ordained Father Ralston.
Father Helfrish outlined in his
sermon some OF the duties of the
priest. His text was, AS the father
hath sent me, l also send YOU" from
John 20:21. He said God found a
priesthOd. body Of natural men
with supernatural powers" In will
ing that all men snare the blessings
Of Christs redeeming sacrifice, God
provided that mortal man be in
vested with this privilege and power"
and the priesthood "dispenses. with
consecrated hands, the fruits of
Christ's redemption
The rite Of baptism is one of the
functions of the priest, Father Hell
rrich said, freeing the soul from the
spiritual bondage of Satan and max
ing them children of God and win
ming for himself the proper title of
father. thus becoming "the spiritual
father of their souls, giving them a
new birth by the waters of saliva
ton" The priest is the father of
the reiuvenated soul through for
giveneSs Of sins. and then the mass,
or sacrament, wherein, with santi-
fled lips, the priest whispers these
words which perform the miracle Of
miracles, which changes bread and
wine into the body and blood of
Jesus Christ himself"
The principal office Of the priest
is to offer sacrifice, Father Hell
frich said, in offering the changed
bread and wine, because the body
and blood OF Jesus. Another import
ant duty of the priest sis to forgive
sins; but only God can forgive sins"
But God does give to others the
delegation, the right and the power
to forgive sins in his name and
through his power
The priest possesses the same
powers which Jesus Christ possess
ed" the speaker said and, turning
to Father Ralston. said: "You are his
ambassador. his leeate. you are an
other Christ" adding the blessing
NAV the blessed mother Mary, the
mother of Jesus Christ and his
priests, keep you in her heart as
her own son, for thou art a priest
forever"