After many years of study and vocational discernment rooted
in faith, seven men were ordained to the priesthood and one
man to the transitional diaconate by Arlington Bishop Paul S.
Loverde during a combined ordination Mass June 6 at the
Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Hundreds of priests, deacons, seminarians, family members and
friends joined the combined Cathedral and diocesan choirs in
song to celebrate the vocational journeys of newly ordained
Deacon Colin Davis and Fathers Dort Bigg, Kevin Dansereau,
Joseph Farrell, Drew Haissig, Brian McAllister, Richard
Miserendino and Noah Morey at the ordination Mass.
Prior to the Mass, family members of the ordinandi were
overcome by joy and gratitude to God.
“I feel that it’s the greatest thing that could happen to any
man,” said Grace Otero, grandmother of now-Father Bigg. “It’s
just marvelous. I can’t express any more than that.”
“It’s just such a beautiful gift from God,” said Kathleen
Morey, Father Morey’s mother. “He’s always been the one in
the family that cared and thought for others, so to see him
dedicate his life to the Lord in this way is beautiful. We’re
just so grateful.”
Although William Haissig initially had trouble coming to
terms with the fact that his son Drew wanted to become a
priest, he realized that his son had a
vocation to the religious life when now-Father Haissig walked
out of a screening of the religious film, “Fishers of Men.”
“My wife asked me why he had left, and I told her, ‘He
knows.’ She said, ‘He knows what?’ and I said, ‘That he is
called to be a priest.'”
After seeing his son’s reaction, Haissig went to confession
and the priest asked him to consider why God was calling his
son to the priesthood.
“I knew that it was because his life would be better than I
could ever ask for and I could not feel more blessed to call
him my son today.”
During his homily, Bishop Loverde spoke directly to the
candidates for the diaconate and the priesthood. Looking at
Colin Davis, the bishop encouraged the candidate for the
diaconate to recognize his role as a “minister of Jesus
Christ” in order to facilitate “the sanctification and
nourishment of God’s people.”
Turning to the seven candidates for priesthood, Bishop
Loverde encouraged them to “carry out the ministry of Christ
the Priest with constant joy and love” by always keeping the
Good Shepherd as their example.
“Conformed and configured to this same Lord Jesus through the
Sacrament of Holy Orders, you too must be good shepherds,
laying down your lives daily for the salvation of the people
entrusted to your care,” said Bishop Loverde. “Be merciful to
them like the Good Shepherd … so that you may lead
them to God the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit.”
At the reception in Burke Hall after the ordination, the
diocese’s newest priests had difficultly expressing their
overwhelming happiness in words.
“There are experiences in life where you’re just so joyful
that words don’t seem to justify feelings because words
cannot contain them,” said Father Miserendino. “But it’s such
a grace – this day has been so fantastically graced. I’m so
grateful to God.”
Echoing the sentiments of nearly all the ordinandi, Father
McAllister emphasized how humbled he was by the amazing
experience.
“I’m filled with joy and gratitude, but I am especially
humbled,” said Father McAllister. “I am absolutely humbled
that this is the way that God chose to work in my life.”
Father Bigg only had one word to express the powerful
emotions he felt.
“Gratitude. That’s the only word,” said Father Bigg. “It’s an
incredible thing to look back on life and see how divine
providence leads you and guides you in ways that you don’t
even realize. God writes straight with crooked lines.”
United with his brothers in Christ, Father Morey is looking
forward to the future. “I know I’m joining a winning team in
the Arlington Diocese, so I’m excited to get started.”
Willis can be reached at [email protected].
