Cardinal Blase Cupich to Ordain Eight Priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Holy Name Cathedral
Chicago, IL (May 10, 2018) – Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, will ordain eight diocesan priests at 10 a.m., on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago. The newly-ordained priests range in age from 27 to 50 and hail from the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as from Columbia, Mexico, and Poland.
“While each new priest has taken a unique path in responding to God’s call, they share the common desire to serve His Church,” said Cardinal Cupich. “The new priests join a brotherhood which enhances their ability to bring renewal, joy and comfort to those in need of guidance, healing and mercy.”
Men become priests through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a celebration rich in symbolism and tradition. At the center of ordination is the moment when Cardinal Cupich imposes his hands on the candidates’ heads and prays over them, asking that God grant them an outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the ministry that they will undertake as priests. After the new priests are clothed in their vestments, Cardinal Cupich will anoint their hands with oil, hand them the chalice and paten for the celebration of the Eucharist, and give to each one the sign of peace.
By ordination, priests receive a wide variety of responsibilities, particularly celebrating the Mass and granting forgiveness of sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Priests also preach the Gospel, and celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick. Diocesan priests make promises of life-long celibacy, prayer for the People of God, and obedience to their bishop at their ordination. It is also expected that priests will lead a life of simplicity consistent with the people they serve.
Each newly ordained priest has completed at least six years of human, spiritual, academic and pastoral formation, which included an exhaustive study of philosophy, Catholic theology, the history of the Church, and pastoral practice. As part of their seminary education, future priests are also assigned at parishes, schools, and hospitals as they develop their capacity to be shepherds of God’s people.
ORDINANDI
Misabet Garcia Gil, 50, from Cuernavaca, Mexico, will have his first assignment at St. Paul Parish in Chicago Heights. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 20 at 12:15 p.m. at Saint Mark Parish, 1048 North Campbell Avenue, Chicago.
Agustín Garza Candanosa, 42, from Monterrey, Mexico, will have his first assignment at St. Gall Parish in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 20 at 12:30 p.m. at St. Gall, 5500 South Kedzie, Chicago.
Robinson Ortiz, 27, from Landazuri, Colombia, will have his first assignment at St. Joseph Parish in Libertyville. He will celebrate his first Mass on Saturday, May 19 at 5 p.m. at St. Juliana Parish, 7201 North Oketo Avenue, Chicago.
Charlie Plovanich, 25, from Chicago, will have his first assignment at The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 20 at 11 a.m. at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 2330 West Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago.
Lukasz Pyka, 34, from Bytom, Poland, will have his first assignment at St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr Parish, 17500 South 84th Avenue, Tinley Park.
Jesús Romero Galán, 33, from Xalapa, Mexico, will have his first assignment at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood. He will celebrate his first Mass on Saturday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Sylvester Parish, 2915 West Palmer Street, Chicago.
Christian Shiu, 29, from Chicago, will have his first assignment at St. Gilbert Parish in Grayslake. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church, 218 West Alexander Street. Chicago.
Jesús Emanuel Torres-Fuentes, 39, from Jalapa, Mexico, will have his first assignment at St. Juliana Parish in the Edison Park neighborhood of Chicago. He will celebrate his first Mass on Saturday, May 19 at 5 p.m. at Santa Maria del Popolo, 116 North Lake Street, Mundelein.
