Thou art a priest forever:
Bishop to ordain six men at cathedral; largest class of new priests in 14 years

By Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
May 17, 2007

When six men enter Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral early next month, their lives will be utterly changed.

On June 2, they will have been made priests, able to offer the sacraments and minister to the rapidly growing Diocese of Phoenix.

The fact that this year’s ordination class is the largest in 14 years is special reason to celebrate, said Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, who will ordain the six men.

“We rejoice in every vocation in the Church, for each one builds up the Body of Christ,” the bishop said. “With special joy, in these days, we thank God for priestly vocations because of our great need for priests, particularly in a diocese that is growing so quickly.”

After years of declining vocations across the country, Fr. Don Kline, diocesan director of vocations, sees this year’s ordination class as part of a new trend he hopes will continue.

“It’s getting better,” he said of vocations to the priesthood. “This year we’ve had the most applicants [to the seminary] that we’ve ever had in my eight years here.”

Fr. Kline offered a few theories as to why more men are heeding God’s call to the priesthood. One of them — the recent sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Church in America — might surprise.

“Even through something as scandalous and as outrageously awful as that was, we are still strong,” he said. “The people who have stuck around and have weathered the storm, many of them are very virtuous and very inspiring.”

The recent influx of male and female religious orders to the diocese also inspires young men and women. He noted the presence of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.

They, as well as priests and other religious excited to talk about vocations, create an environment that fosters potential callings.

“We have a lot of priests that are genuinely happy and that enthusiasm is contagious,” Fr. Kline explained.

JPII generation

The six ordinands — Eugene Florea, Craig Friedley, Kilian McCaffrey, John Muir, Ernesto Reynoso and Paul Sullivan — range in age from 29 to 49 and come from different backgrounds.

But they all have one thing in common, Fr. Kline said. They all belong to the John Paul II generation.

“They want to continue the work that he has begun specifically through evangelization, through teaching, handing down the tradition of the Church faithfully,” he said. “Their only agenda is to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

For Craig Friedley, that means promoting the sacraments of the Church.

“Knowing that I can help people to experience the forgiveness and reconciliation that Jesus gave to me, and that I can help others to receive the Eucharist that is our faith” will be the most rewarding aspect of his priesthood, Friedley said.

He added that the sacraments of reconciliation and Communion “will always bring a person closer to God because it is Jesus that is forgiving and giving. He wants always to have a relationship with us.”

Fr. Kline is excited to see the impact these new priests will make on the diocese as they spread their love of the Lord and of the Church.

“They’re genuinely joyful men who were outstanding in their seminaries. They’re not waiting for things to happen,” he said. “They’re instrumental in making the Gospel come alive.”

But even though the soon-to-be priests are enthused about their new lives, leaving the world of the seminary for parish life can be daunting, some of them said.

Paul Sullivan said that his new parishioners can help him through their prayers.

“In addition to that, they can be patient as I adjust to the new lifestyle and as we get to know each other,” he added.

All of the ordinands echoed Sullivan in saying that prayer will be the best aid as they begin their ministry, or as Kilian McCaffrey put it, “Pray for us — and don’t stop on ordination day. Keep praying!”