Venturing out – Fr. Chris Collins (left) and Fr. Daniel Hendrickson receive a final blessing as they venture out into the world after being ordained by Bishop of Grand Island, Neb. Fr. William J. Dendinger.

Nearly 150 fellow priests gathered to concelebrate the Ordination Mass and bless Fr. Daniel Hendrickson and Fr. Chris Collins. The Most Reverend William J. Dendinger, Bishop of Grand Island, Neb. was the ordaining prelate.

Both celebrated their first Masses the next day. Fr. Collins celebrated first at St. Benedict the Moor in Omaha at 11 a.m. Fr. Hendrickson returned to St. John’s to celebrate at 6 p.m. and also scheduled masses of Thanksgiving on June 18 at St. Agnes Church in San Francisco and July 22 at St. Patrick’s Church in Fremont, Neb.

Collins returned to his roots to celebrate with the community at Sts. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix.

“The whole community appreciated the enthusiasm and commitment of this young man and we are very proud of him,” said Sister Raphael Quinn, IBVM, principal of the grade school where Collins graduated. “We had a nice reception afterward and some of his classmates were there.”

Fr. Collins is now working is pastoral ministry at Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge, S. D.

Fr. Hendrickson is completing a summer assignment at Milwaukee’s Gesu Church before moving on to pastoral ministry in Tanzania, East Africa.

Nearly 150 priests assemble to concelebrate the ordination at St. John’s in Omaha.

Bishop Dendinger shares a sign of peace with Fr. Chris Collins and Fr. Daniel Hendrickson.

Fr. Daniel Hendrickson puts his hands on the chalice and paten receiving the offering of the Holy people of God.

Newly ordained Fr. Daniel Hendrickson is vested in chasuble and stole.

Newly ordained Fr. Chris Collins is vested in chasuble and stole.

Bishop Dendinger anoints the hands of Fr. Daniel Hendrickson with sacred chrism, an anointing with the Holy Spirit and with power.

Bishop Dendinger imposes hands on the head of each ordinand as a gesture of missioning to a role in the Church.

Fr. Tom Krettek (Provincial) and Fr. John Paul (Assistant Provincial) impose hands to share in the convoking of the Holy Spirit upon the newly ordained."