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News of great joy for the Diocese of Madison by Fr. Paul Arinze, director of vocations
MADISON — With praise and thanksgiving to God, our Father, the Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, announces with joy the ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ of Rev. Mr. David Carrano and Rev. Mr. Gregory Ihm.
The ordination will take place on Friday, June 25, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison.
St. Maria Goretti Church is wheelchair accessible. There will be assistive-listening devices for the hard-of-hearing and a sign language interpreter for the deaf. Large-print leaflets will be available.
Deacon David Carrano
Parents: Virginia and James Carrano, Stoughton
Home parish: St. Ann Parish, Stoughton
Educational background: St. Ann School, Stoughton; Stoughton High School, Stoughton; University of Wisconsin-Madison: Bachelor’s degree in Spanish; St. John Vianney Seminary (St. Thomas University), St. Paul, Minn.; Pontifical North American College, Rome, Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) with specialization in marriage and family, Gregorian University
Intern experiences: Summer intern, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison
Deacon placement: College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., in its Catholic Studies Program in Rome
First Mass of Thanksgiving: Saturday, June 26, St. Ann Church, Stoughton
Appointment as newly ordained priest: Parochial vicar, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison
Deacon David Carrano:
Reflections on Ordination
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pt 1:3).
These words from the First Letter of Peter accompanied me during my final retreat in preparation for ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. During Easter week I made my retreat in Ars, France, where St. John Vianney was the parish priest, giving everything in his power to bring people to Christ. To be there during this Year for Priests was a great blessing and afforded me an opportunity to give thanks for all that the Lord has done for me over my life thus far and especially over these last six years in preparation for the priesthood. I have come to know those things that Peter mentions: mercy, new life, hope, and most importantly Jesus Christ whom God has sent.
My home in Stoughton was a grace-filled place, where the Lord prepared my brothers and me in many hidden ways for His work through the unfailing Christian witness of my parents, Jim and Virginia. St. Ann Parish and School, which I attended, have always shown me in practice what the love of Christ entails, and I am especially grateful for the witness of my long-time pastor, Msgr. Gerard Healy.
A significant time in my faith life was during my time at UW-Madison, where St. Paul’s University Catholic Center was essential in helping me develop a deeper prayer life and discern my vocation. Upon graduating I immediately entered seminary, studying philosophy at St. John Vianney Seminary (St. Thomas University) in St. Paul, Minn., and then theology in Rome at the Pontifical North American College (Gregorian University).
These were grace-filled years, and I am very excited to begin learning in a new way as a parish priest. My studies, pastoral and spiritual formation are all meant to form a basis for the principle objective of the priesthood: to reconcile men to God particularly through the sacraments that Jesus Christ established and through the preaching of the Word.
Please pray for Greg and me this week, that we may gives ourselves fully to the vocation that has been prepared for us. We desire to be holy, trustworthy, and faithful servants of the mysteries of our redemption brought in Christ Jesus.
I will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, June 26, at St. Ann Church in Stoughton in honor of Our Lady. Please join me in any way you can in giving thanks to God, through Mary, for the gift of new life in Christ and the priestly participation in his work of salvation.
Deacon Gregory Ihm
Parents: Sherri and Ray Ihm, Lancaster
Home parish: St. Clement Parish, Lancaster
Educational background: St. Clement Elementary School, Lancaster; Lancaster public schools, graduating from Lancaster High School; Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona, Minn.: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy; Pontifical North American College, Rome, Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) with specialization in liturgy, Angelicum University
Intern experiences: Summer intern, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison, and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie
Deacon placement: University of Loyola, Chicago, study abroad program, Rome
First Mass of Thanksgiving: Sunday, June 27, St. Clement Church, Lancaster. RSVP needed for reception following Mass
Appointment as newly ordained priest: Summer chaplaincy at Camp Gray, Baraboo, before returning to advanced studies in Rome
Deacon Gregory Ihm:
Reflections on Ordination
I was raised in a Catholic family and attended St. Clement Catholic grade school until sixth grade. After graduating from St. Clement’s I continued my studies in the Lancaster public school until I graduated high school in 2002. The Diocese of Madison sent me to Immaculate Heart of Seminary in Winona, Minn., for my first four years of priestly formation. While in this formation program I attended the University of St. Mary’s, receiving a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 2006.
The diocese then gave me the opportunity to continue my studies and formation in Rome, Italy. The North American College is the home of over 200 seminarians from the U.S. and Australia being formed for the Catholic priesthood. While living at the North American College I also attend classes at the Gregorian University, Angelicum University, and presently at the University of Santa Croce.
An important part of formation is uniting academic and spiritual life with pastoral charity. I have received formal training at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and the North American College in pastoral ministry of the sick and suffering along with many other areas where Christ desires to be made present. I have had the opportunity to receive training and minister at nursing homes, at a medical prison, and at a few hospitals. Ministering is an opportunity to be trained in the way Christ works in and with the suffering. A few of these places are St. Anne’s nursing home, medical prison in Rochester, Minn., and a few hospitals in Madison, Wis.
I have also ministered in other ways such as a Bible study at Winona State Newman Center and serving the poor with the Missionaries of Charity in Rome. The summers have been spent learning about parish and priestly ministry at St. Maria Goretti Parish, Madison, and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Sun Prairie. They were opportunities to be mentored by good and holy priests, to meet some great staff, and to serve the people in these parishes by making weekly hospital and home visits.
This past year I was received into the Order of Deacon and offered assistance with different liturgies in the seminary and for other religious communities in Rome. My primary service was to the students at the University of Loyola study abroad program in Rome. I helped organize and give catechetical teachings on prayer, vocations, holiness of sexuality, and the Eucharist.
As ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ approaches, the Lord is calling me to remain with him and stay focused on His Sacred Heart ablaze with love for me and those I will encounter. It is very humbling to see what kind of love the Lord is calling me to be a minister of in the face of my own human weaknesses. My hope and courage is this love that died on the cross so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
I will have a Mass of Thanksgiving for the great gift of the priesthood and God’s goodness in preparing me for this calling Sunday, June 27, at the parish of St. Clement in Lancaster. There will be a reception shortly after the Mass and RSVPs are needed to attend the reception.