ordination

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The entrance into the Franciscan church in Aleppo, Syria, of the twins George and Johnny Jallouf, friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, who were ordained priests on July 6, 2024. The two ordinands are wearing the priestly vestments with which they were clothed during the ordination rite. They were 15 when the war in Syria broke out. Their vocation was born and grew amid the Battle of Aleppo. “I tried to attend Mass every day,” George recounted. “I was afraid, but I kept repeating to myself ‘I fear nothing because you are with me.’ This phrase guided me, reassured me, gave me peace.”

Different paths to same vocation: Twin brothers ordained priests in Aleppo, Syria

Jul 10, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

It marked the first priestly ordination in 17 years at St. Francis Church in Aleppo, a city that suffered massive... Read more

Cardinals Christoph Schönborn and Gerhard Ludwig Müller.

Cardinals Müller and Schönborn: Ordination of women is impossible

Jun 10, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The two German-speaking cardinals have said publicly that only men can be ordained to the priesthood. Read more

Father Gregory Miller plays Ultimate Frisbee during the annual "Cassock Classic."

New priest finds calling to young adult ministry through Ultimate Frisbee

May 26, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Father Gregory Miller fell in love with Ultimate Frisbee in high school and was a part of his school’s team,... Read more

The Cathedral Church of St. John in Albuquerque, N.M., seat of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, which hosted the attempted ordination of Anne Tropeano Oct. 16, 2021.

Santa Fe archdiocese: Woman's attempted ordination invalid

Oct 21, 2021

By Carl Bunderson

The supposed ordination of women is invalid, the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe reiterated Monday, shortly after... Read more

Pope Francis greets Benedict XVI at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on Nov. 28, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis thanks Benedict XVI on his 70th ordination anniversary

Jun 29, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called the pope emeritus “the contemplative of the Vatican.” Read more

The late Fr. Livinius Esomchi Nnamani in his hospital room

Priest with cancer dies 23 days after his hospital room ordination

Apr 26, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“His altar was the [hospital] bed, where he was able to unite his sufferings to those of Christ." Read more

Pope Francis ordains 10 men to the priesthood May 7, 2017.

Detroit man thought he was a priest. He wasn't even a baptized Catholic

Aug 22, 2020

By JD Flynn

Father Matthew Hood of the Archdiocese of Detroit thought he became a priest in 2017. He hadn't even been baptized.  Read more

Cardinal Michael Czerny June 27 with candidates for ordination.

Commentary: Ordination amid coronavirus - A call for humility and courage

Jun 30, 2020

A guest commentary from Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ.  Read more

Father Connor (left) and Father Peyton Plessala. Courtesy photo.

‘God chose to call us’: The story of two brothers ordained Catholic priests on the same day

Jun 11, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Peyton and Connor Plessala are brothers from Mobile, Alabama. They’re 18 months— one school grade— apart.  Read more

 Michel Los, a young priest with terminal cancer at a military hospital in Warsaw, Poland.

Facing terminal cancer, Polish man ordained priest in hospital bed

May 28, 2019

May is ordination month in many dioceses, but the ordination of Fr. Michal Los, FDP, a member of the Orionine... Read more

ope Francis ordains 10 men to the priesthood.

Who are the new priests of 2019?

May 12, 2019

By Mary Farrow

This year, 481 men in the United States will kneel in cathedral churches and be ordained as Catholic priests for... Read more

The ordination of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2018.

If a bishop doesn't pray, he's not doing his job, Pope Francis says

Mar 19, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis marked Monday's Solemnity of St. Joseph by ordaining three new bishops, telling them prayer is a primary ecclesial... Read more

Pope Francis lays hands on a Bangladeshi deacon as he ordains him to the priesthood during a Dec. 1, 2017 Mass in Dhaka.

Pope Francis ordains 16 priests in Bangladesh

Nov 30, 2017

Celebrating Mass in the Bangladeshi capital on Friday, Pope Francis ordained 16 men to the priesthood.  Read more

Pope Francis ordains 10 men to the priesthood May 7, 2017.

Pope urges new priests to serve with joy, never sadness

May 7, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Sunday Pope Francis ordained 10 men to the priesthood, telling them to imitate Jesus in every aspect of their... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, April 13, 2016.

Pope Francis reiterates a strong 'no' to women priests

Nov 1, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

During a press conference Tuesday aboard the papal plane from Sweden to Rome, Pope Francis said the issue of women... Read more

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passes through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Dec. 8, 2015.

Here's how Benedict XVI will celebrate his 65th anniversary as a priest

Jun 14, 2016

By Elise Harris

On June 29 Benedict XVI will celebrate the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood – a milestone he... Read more

Deacon Fernando Camou of Phoenix after being ordained speaks to CNA at a reception at the North American College in Rome, Oct, 2, 2014.

Young men at ordination: 'I can't imagine a better way to live'

Oct 3, 2014

By Elise Harris

Transitional deacons ordained this week in St. Peter’s Basilica shared their experience of overwhelming joy in serving God, which stems... Read more

Fr. William Carmona Lopez was ordained a deacon and priest on Sept. 8, 2014 at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital Northwest.

Family finds hope in priestly ordination of dying seminarian

Sep 10, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

Family members of a priest who died of cancer just two days after his ordination say that his brief priesthood... Read more

Ordination at the Fraternity of St. Peter's Roman Parish, Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini in Rome, Italy. June 22, 2013.

Group celebrates first ordinations since reunion with Rome

Jun 29, 2013

By Carl Bunderson

For the first time since coming into clear union with the Pope, the religious institute the Sons of the Most... Read more

Fr. Scott Carroll of the Diocese of Toledo.

Ohio priest dies of cancer two days after ordination

May 10, 2013

Father Scott R. Carroll, ordained a priest of the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, on May 8, died of cancer two... Read more