April 27, 2011 // Local
Congregation of Holy Cross to ordain two priests
NOTRE DAME — The Indiana Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross will ordain two new priests on Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, bishop of Peoria in Illinois, will confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Rev. Mr. John Britto Antony and Rev. Mr. Paul M. Ybarra.
“The international Holy Cross community is blessed to welcome these men who will bring hope and joy to many people through our ministries,” says Holy Cross Father David T. Tyson, provincial superior for the Congregation of Holy Cross, Indiana Province. “These ordinations are a time of gratitude and celebration for us.”
John Britto Antony
The youngest of five children, John Britto Antony was born in the village of Agraharam, Salem, India, to devout Catholic parents, Antony and Natchathiram. He enrolled in the Juniorate program of Holy Cross in South India at the age of 13, joined the Brothers of Holy Cross in 1984 and made his final profession of vows in December 1990. Britto holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Annamalai University in Chidambaram and a master’s degree in English from Loyola College, Madras University in Chennai. He also studied philosophy and theology at the esteemed Pontifical University of Jnana Deepa Vidya Peeth (J.D.V.) in Pune, India, and later earned a bachelor’s in education in English, a master’s in education from Annamalai University and a master’s in philosophy from Periyar University, Salem, India.
As a professed brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Britto served in a variety of leadership roles, most recently as vicariate superior for the Brothers of Holy Cross in South India from 2005-2009.
During his years of ministry in India, Britto’s desire to seek ordination to the priesthood grew, and in 2009, he joined the Eastern Province of Priests and Brothers in the United States where he was assigned to study in the theology department at the University of Notre Dame. Ordained to the transitional diaconate in September 2010 in Bennington, Vt., Britto has served as deacon at Sacred Heart/St. Francis de Sales Parish since September of last year.
Following his ordination, Britto will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, May 1.
Paul M. Ybarra
Paul M. Ybarra was born in Los Angeles, Calif., and attended West Covina High School before entering the University of Notre Dame in 1998. There he earned a bachelor of arts degree in film, television and theatre in 2002 and a master’s in education through the Alliance for Catholic Education prior to entering formation with the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2004. While completing his master’s degree at Notre Dame, Ybarra taught middle school English and social studies at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Goodyear, Ariz. Following a novitiate year in Colorado Springs, Colo., Ybarra professed first vows with the Congregation of Holy Cross in July, 2006, and returned to Moreau Seminary to continue theology studies at the University of Notre Dame.
During his time in formation, Ybarra worked with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County in Indiana, as a chaplain at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, and served as a member of the staff at Holy Redeemer Parish and School in Portland, Ore. In addition he participated in the marriage prep program at St. Pius X Parish in Granger, returned to St. John Vianney Parish in Arizona as a pastoral associate, and completed an internship with the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame.
Prior to his profession of perpetual vows with the Congregation of Holy Cross and ordination to the diaconate in August 2010, Ybarra was awarded a master of divinity degree from the University of Notre Dame. During the past year, he has been assigned to St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin, Texas, where he has served as a transitional deacon.
Ybarra will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, May 1, at 11:45 a.m., and later that evening at 10:30 p.m. in the Dillon Hall Chapel at Notre Dame.
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