13 transitional deacons who graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary are being ordained to the priesthood this summer.
SJV’s Ordination Class of 2023 includes eleven different dioceses from around the Upper Midwest; major seminary studies were completed at Saint Paul Seminary and various seminaries in the Midwest and Rome.
Congratulations to the newly-ordained priestly Class of 2023! “For it is declared, ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'” (Hebrews 7:17)
Senovio Sarabia, Jr. (SJV ’17)
Diocese of Beaumont | Ordination February 11, 2023
Home Parish: St. Matthew’s (Glendale Heights, IL)
Favorite Saints: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Padre Pio, St. Sebastian
Favorite Subject: Theology
Favorite Scripture: Matthew 7:13
Words of Wisdom: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”-St. Padre Pio
Matthew Gembrowski (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Saginaw | Ordination May 12, 2023
Home Parish: St. John Paul II Parish
Favorite Subjects: Moral Theology, English Literature
Favorite Saints: St. Francis de Sales & St. John Paul II
Favorite Scripture Verse: Rev. 21:5 – “Behold, I make all things new”.
Words of Wisdom: You can’t give what you don’t have. Cultivate inner peace, and you will be a blessing to all you meet.
Alexander Lorang (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Joliet | Ordination May 20, 2023
Home Parish: St. Bernard’s
Favorite Subject: Psychology
Favorite Saints: St. Teresa of Calcutta & St. Anthony of Padua
Favorite Scripture Verse: Luke 22: 42 – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”
Words of Wisdom: Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Simon Tipps (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Madison | Ordination May 26, 2023
Home Parish: St. Cecilia’s (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
Favorite Subjects: Finance, Latin, Moral Theology
Favorite Saints: St. Philomena, St. Joseph and St. Pius X
Favorite Scripture Verse: Sirach 2:4-6 – “Accept whatever is brought upon you. In changes that humble you be paitent. For as gold is tested in the fire, so an acceptable man in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in God and he will help you.”
Words of Wisdom: Be simple, love God and save souls.
Ryan Glaser (SJV ’19)
Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis | Ordination May 27, 2023
Home Parish: St. Michael (Prior Lake, MN)
Favorite Subjects: Philosophy and Theology
Favorite Saints: St. Jerome, St. Augustine, & St. John Paul II
Favorite Scripture Verse: Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”
Words of Wisdom: Growing up, people always told me to believe in myself if I wanted to accomplish anything. Now I know that I have to trust only God, or nothing I do will amount to anything worthwhile.
William Kratt (SJV ’19)
Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis | Ordination May 27, 2023
Home Parish: Divine Mercy
Favorite Subject: Catholic Studies
Favorite Saint: Saint Anthony of Padua
Favorite Scripture Passage: John 11:25-27 – “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.'”
Words of Wisdom: “Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” -Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Jacob Zemaitis (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Grand Rapids | Ordination June 3, 2023
Home Parish: St. Joseph’s (Wright, MI)
Favorite Subject: History
Favorite Saints: St. Joseph, St. Monica, St. John Paul II, & Venerable Bishop Baraga
Favorite Scripture Verse: Matthew 14:27 – “Do not be afraid.”
Words of Wisdom: Work hard, play hard, pray hard. Also learn how to suffer well.
Andrew Morand (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana | Ordination June 3, 2023
Home Parish: St. Alphonsus (Zionsville, IN)
Favorite Subjects: Ethics, Contemporary Philosophy, Astronomy
Favorite Scripture Verses: Romans 14:8, Matthew 6:21, Psalm 16:5-6
Words of Wisdom: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Peter fell while walking on water, but he was still the only one to try. True trust requires stepping out of the boat.
Jordan Boone (SJV ’16)
Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana | Ordination June 3, 2023
Conner Orabutt (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Rockford | Ordination June 3, 2023
Home Parish: St. Margaret Mary
Favorite Classes: Science and Christian Theology, Psychology of Marriage and Family, and Woman and Man.
Favorite Saints: St. Luke, St. Augustine, and St. John Vianney
Favorite Scripture Verse: Proverbs 23:1
Words of Wisdom: If you do everything for the salvation of souls, everything you do will be full of joy.
Jason Lee (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Des Moines| Ordination June 23, 2023
Jacob Toma (SJV ’19)
Diocese of Duluth | Ordination June 23, 2023
Home Parish: Blessed Sacrament (Hibbing, MN)
Favorite Subjects: Metaphysics, History
Favorite Saints: St. Josemaria Escriva, St. John of the Cross, St. Athanasius
Favorite Scripture Verse: John 15:5 – “I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Words of Wisdom: Be joyful and look for God in the little things.
Jared Clements (SJV ’19)
Diocese of La Crosse | Ordination June 24, 2023
Home Parish: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
Favorite Subjects: Computer Science, Math, Philosophy
Favorite Saints: Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Olaf, and Saint Augustine
Favorite Scripture Verse: Galatians 5:13 – “For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.”
Words of Wisdom: True Freedom comes from giving up control to the Father and allowing Him to work through you as his instrument. It is only in this freedom that love can be transferred and happiness achieved.