Ordination to the priesthood
Largest ordination class in diocese since 2000

This Friday, May 23, four transitional deacons will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Madison. This is the largest ordination class in the Diocese of Madison since the year 2000, when five men were ordained.

	Editor's View Mary C. Uhler

A special section in this week's Catholic Herald [print edition only] provides details on the ordination along with profiles of the four deacons: Brian Dulli, David Greenfield, Lance Schneider, and Patrick Wendler. All four offer personal reflections on their call to the priesthood.

Sign of health of local Church

	Rev. Mr. Brian D. Dulli	Rev. Mr. David J. Greenfield
	Rev. Mr. Lance J. Schneider	Rev. Mr. Patrick J. Wendler
	Related articles this week: • Ordination to Priesthood May 23 • Bishop's column -- Spiritual motherhood: Loving support for priests

During his recent visit to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI said that "the ability to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is a sure sign of the health of a local Church."

Commented Msgr. James Bartylla, director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison, "Through the help of God, the intercession of Our Lady, the Mother of Priests, and the prayers of so many faithful, the diocese is indeed healthy in this regard."

Priests need our support

In his column on Page 3 of this week's paper [online here], Bishop Robert C. Morlino also expresses joy on the ordination of these four men. He points out, too, that all people in the Church share in the "spiritual motherhood" of priests. This means that all of us should do our part to support and nurture our priests, from the newly ordained to those men who have been priests for many years.

In this same issue of the Catholic Herald, there is a feature article on Fr. Laverne Meier, a diocesan priest celebrating his golden jubilee [print edition only]. Father Meier mentions that a priest "is a part of every family but has none himself." Priests are fortunate to share many intimate moments with the people they serve: births, baptisms, First Communions, weddings, and deaths. Yet they also live alone and could be lonely if people didn't reach out to them in friendship.

Recent trends in ordinations

This year's ordination class across the United States (see graphic -- print edition only) continues a trend of recent years with more foreign-born and older men entering the priesthood. Although the men being ordained for the Diocese of Madison are not foreign-born, they are older. Three are "second-career" vocations. One is a convert to the Catholic faith.

These older men bring a wealth of experience to the priesthood in family life and jobs. Yet, they, too, will need the support of the people they will serve.

With joy we welcome four new priests. I encourage everyone in the Diocese of Madison to pray for and with them as they begin their ministry in the diocese. Remember, too, to pray for and support all of our priests. What would we do without them!

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