Six men ordained priests for Archdiocese of New Orleans

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

With the distractions and busyness of life today, how does God get a person's attention when he is calling them to the priesthood,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond asked June 4 as six deacons were before him at their priestly Ordination Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. 

While the call to the priesthood remains a mystery, Archbishop Aymond said God placed a unique summons on the hearts of Deacons Joseph Alfonse DiMaggio III, Andy Gil Gonzalez, Lennin Arroyo Martinez, Jeffrey Austin Merritt, William Patrick Mumphrey and Kesiena Dennis Obienu. And, after much prayerful discernment and seminary formation, “They said ‘yes’ to God’s call.”

Each heard unique call to priesthood





Father DiMaggio, 49, had long thought about the priesthood, but ran from the call until he overcame his fears to enter the seminary while praying in an adoration chapel. 

Coming from Communist Cuba, Father Gonzalez, 40, joined the Catholic faith through baptism at age 12 at a church near his home. How his church’s youth group spread the word of God through service touched his heart and led him to study and teach – first with the Marist Brothers in Cuba and Guatemala – before finding his home in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.




 

Father Arroyo Martinez, 41, a native of Colombia, remains awed at the consecration of Jesus’ body and blood. While at Notre Dame Seminary, the loving guidance of St. Jerome parishioners in Kenner helped him gain confidence in his English-speaking skills and affirm his priesthood calling.

Father Merritt found comfort that God was using powerfully him as a hospital chaplain during his seminary pastoral work. Now 32, he longs to share his gifts at his first assignment at St. Dominic in New Orleans.




 

Father Mumphrey, the oldest of the ordinands at age 60, has engaged in the works of the Catholic Church throughout his life, so it was only natural he became a priest and plans to continue spreading joy through his ministry among parishioners he loves at Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell. 

When God attracted Father Obienu’s attention, this native of Nigeria, who had studied with the Jesuits and is a spiritual director, learned to be Christ-like and walk with downtrodden people after Hurricane Ida. He said, “’Take me. I give you all that I am and all that have.’”










“These stories remind us of God's love, God's call and God's patience,” Archbishop Aymond told the friends and family at the Mass who have journeyed with the six men on their priesthood path. “After much prayer, study and priest information, they have said yes to the Lord – a profound yes. From their hearts they have said, ‘If it is I that you call, I'm willing.’”

A priest’s duties
Archbishop Aymond reiterated the three-fold ministry of the priesthood just as it was handed down from the apostles to men who were close to Jesus more than 2,000 years ago. Priests are to preach the word of God and be shepherds who feed and tend to God’s people by administering sacraments with anointed hands. 

“You will teach and confirm the Word of God,” Archbishop Aymond said. “It is your responsibility not only to proclaim the word, but to break it open in such a way that others can apply it to their daily lives, and it will give them guidance. The people of God are hungry today (for the Word of God) and … that word can make a difference in their lives.

“You will speak in the name of Jesus Christ when you say, ‘This is my body’ … and when you say, ‘I absolve you from your sins’ … when you anoint the sick and … offer them the healing of Christ. God will use your hands to heal, to bless and to consecrate. Human hands, doing the work of the Lord, the work of Jesus, as he would want us to do in his name today. 

“Thirdly, my brothers, as a priest, you will make the Good Shepherd present in 2022. You will walk with people in their normal daily lives and … in darkness … You will hold their hand as they cry, and you will say to them with the deepest of compassion, ‘You're not alone.’  … I ask you to seek out the lost and the wounded and seek out those who are away from the church or who have been hurt by the church. Give up on no one. Jesus didn't.”

Archbishop Aymond told the six new priests to follow the advice of St. Peter to be patient and humble priests “who preach the truth of God’s words with love and kindness” and to stay close to the Lord by praying often, seeking the fraternity of their fellow priests and taking Pope Francis’ lead to show the compassion and mercy of Jesus to others.

The new priests exited the Ordination Mass feeling blessed as those in attendance clapped and cheered.

“It’s overwhelming, it’s phenomenal,” said Father DiMaggio, who will be a parochial vicar at St. Clement of Rome in Metairie.

“It is scary calm, where you’re solid and know where you’re supposed to be and God’s with you all the way,” said Father Merritt.

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