First Priestly Ordinations In Six Years

From the Diocesan Website:

SAGINAW – Bishop Robert J. Carlson today ordained two men to the priesthood at St. Mary Cathedral, 615 Hoyt Ave. in Saginaw.

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw's new priests are:

Father Andrew Booms, 29, of Harbor Beach, studied theology at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., and the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He also earned a bachelor’s degree for psychology with a minor in philosophy from Saginaw Valley State University in 1999. He has been appointed to serve as associate pastor at St. James Parish in Bay City and as a religion teacher at All Saints Central High School in Bay City following his ordination.

Father José Maria Cabrera, 26, of Lampayeque, Peru, studied theology at the Mundelein Seminary in Mundelien, Ill., and the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He also studied philosophy at John XXIII Theological Institute in Lima, Peru. Before coming to the Diocese of Saginaw, Cabrera served as a missionary in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. Cabrera has been appointed to serve as associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Midland following his ordination.

"This is a time of great celebration for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw," said Carlson, the fifth Bishop of Saginaw. "Anytime you have priests being ordained, it's exciting because it"s a sign of a growing church.

"We also are excited about the ordination of five transitional deacons tomorrow– that means we will have five new priests within the next year, God-willing – and that we will have 20 men studying for the priesthood this fall. Add to that, all of our commissioned lay ministers, dedicated religious and deacons and it becomes clear that we have many wonderful disciples serving each parish across the diocese. This all is a sign that our local church is alive and growing with wonderful energy and vigor."

Fathers Booms and Cabrera are the first priests ordained by Bishop Carlson for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw since his appointment in February 2005.

Bishop Carlson also is set to ordain five transitional deacons at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 3516 E. Monroe Rd. in Midland. Those who will become transitional deacons include:

Nicholas Coffaro, 26, of Garfield Heights, Ohio. He is enrolled at SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake.

Christopher Coman, 33, of Saginaw. He is enrolled at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

Denis Heames, 34, of Chula Vista, Calif. He is enrolled at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

Daniel Roa, 28, of Venezuela. He is enrolled at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelien, Ill.

William Spencer, 74, of Ann Arbor. He is enrolled at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

Transitional deacons include those who are in their final stages of seminary formation who will most likely be ordained to the priesthood in the next year.

Since 2000, the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw has celebrated two priestly ordinations and a total of four priestly ordinations in the last decade, since 1997. The last time two priests were ordained here within the same year was 1995 and the last year more than two were ordained was 1982.

With Fathers Booms and Cabrera, the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw currently has a total of 59 active priests serving within its 106 parishes. Many of the diocese’s 36 senior (retired) priests, 15 priests from other dioceses or religious orders, also serve to celebrate the sacraments for the people of the 11-county Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw was established in 1938 and includes an estimated 132,000 faithful living in Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties.

I wasn't able to attend yesterday because I was in the midst of travel. I will however be attending the ordinations and the ABLAZE! youth rally today. Hope to see you there!