Ordination of Jason Giombetti

On May 20th, more than seventy of the faithful of St. Cecilia Parish and the Giombetti family traveled to Lowell to attend the Archdiocesan Ordination Mass that included our parish’s own Jason Giombetti. Father Giombetti was one of eight men ordained by Cardinal Seán O’Malley to serve in the Archdiocese of Boston. Immaculate Conception Church was packed with family and friends of the new priests, plus many clergy.
In his homily, Cardinal Sean told those who received Holy Orders that they should be good servants, but not to be a mere functionary who does what is expected but is not loyal when things are rough. Rather they should be true friends of God and of their people. He also enjoined them to defend the faith, but to do it without shouting.
During the vesting ceremony, during which the new priests received their chasubles and stoles, Father Giombetti was vested by former St. Cecilia’s Parochial Vicar, Father Jeremy St. Martin. Fr. Cornell was among the priests who gave Father Giombetti the blessing of the laying of hands.
Father Giombetti is a true son of our parish, having been baptized here, and received First Communion and Confirmation as part of our Religious Education Program. After receiving his undergraduate degree in psychology from Suffolk University, he returned to St. Cecilia’s as Religious Education Director and Youth Minister. After a time working at a similar position at St. Patrick’s in Natick, he entered St. John’s Seminary to study for the priesthood.
Father Giombetti’s first priestly assignment is at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bridgewater where he is the Parochial Vicar. This assignment began on the first of June with priests filling the choir area in the sanctuary, St. Cecilia’s musicians used the choir loft, where they were accompanied on the organ by Dr. Janet Hunt, the organist and director of music at St. John’s Seminary. When the closing procession reached the inner doors of the church, the processing priests paused, turned, and led the congregation in chanting the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen). Many commented that this was one of the most beautiful and moving Masses they had ever attended.