Dominican Rite First Mass of Newly Ordained Priest

This last weekend saw the ordinations of four friars of our Western Dominican Province.

With the permission of Fr. Peter Junipero Hannah, O.P., the celebrant, here are some pictures of his First Mass of Thanksgiving at the Carmel of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Canyon CA.  Fr. Peter was ordained to the Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ on May 31.  His first Public Mass of Thanksgiving was the conventual Mass of his priory, St. Albert the Great, in Oakland CA, Our Western Dominican Province House of Studies.  As he has on a good number of occasions served as deacon in Dominican Solemn Masses at the Carmel, he wanted his first public celebration of the Dominican Rite Missa Cantata to be with the sisters there.

As you will see in the photos, the current living situation of the nuns is very primitive: the chapel is in the common room of the lodge-residence of a small ranch.  The simply professed live in the bunk house. The solemnly professed in the lodge. Happily, next fall the nuns, thanks to very generous benefactors, will move to the now vacant Carmelite monastery in Kensington, north of Berkeley CA.  Thus the primitive conditions of this current chapel where Mass was celebrated.

At this Mass the servers were: senior acolyte, Rev. Bro. Gabriel Mosher, O.P. (ordained a deacon on May 31); junior acolyte, Bro. Matthew Peddemors; thurifer, Bro. Clement Lapak, O.P.  The Mass was the Votive of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sung by the nuns.  Father's sermon focused on the importance of Our Lady of Carmel in the evangelization of California (the first Solemn Mass in what is now the state was on that feast, Bl. Junipero Serra's favorite mission was at Carmel, etc.) and the mutual love of the Carmelites and Dominicans of our mutual patroness, the Blessed Virgin.

At the altar for the reading of the Officium (Introit) and Kyrie

The singing of the Collect.

The incensing before the Gospel.

Father Peter Junipero preaching.

The incensing of the altar at the Offertory.

The thurifer incenses the sisters behind the screen.

The elevation of the Host.

The elevation of the Chalice.

The priest's Communion.

The Priest turns for the Communion Confiteor (customary in Sung Masses in the Western Province)

The presentation of the Host for the Ecce Agnus Dei.

After the Mass Father Peter Junipero gave first blessings to the Carmelite community. I might add that the Altar Cards for the Dominican Rite seen on the altar were a gift to the Carmelite community in honor of Mother Silvia Gemma's 24th anniversary of profession last month.  I thank the Dominican brothers present for these photographs.