Denver Catholic

8 MAY 23-29, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese Five new priests begin ministry at local parishes B efore fi ve of Denver's new priests lay prostrate before the altar of Christ, Archbishop Samuel Aquila reminded them the priesthood is a gift. "It is not something you merit, it is not something that you work for, but rather it is a gift that is bestowed upon you," Archbishop Aquila told the fi ve seminari- ans during their priestly ordination Mass May 16. "It is precisely in the total gift of self that you are called to lay down your life as Christ has laid down his life." Family, friends and clergy packed the Cathedral Basil- ica of the Immaculate Conception as fi ve seminarians who served as deacons were ordained by the archbishop. Deacons Gregory Lesher, Joseph McLagan, Erik Vigil Reyes of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary; Deacon Franklin Anastacio Sequeira Treminio of Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary; and Deacon Tomasz Strzebonski of SS. Cyril and Methodius Semi- nary in Michigan, entered the priesthood. Onlookers watched as the men were ordained in a solemn rite and celebrated with joyful song led by the Cathedral Basilica's choir and music from the Redemp- toris Mater seminary choir. Archbishop Aquila encouraged the men during his homily to invite others to encounter Christ and minister to souls, but not to do it alone. "It is in and with Christ that you are going to make a total gift of self," he told the fi ve men. "You can never do that on your own. If you do it, it will only be by white knuckles. And the Lord does not want white knuckles. What the Lord wants is your heart. And he wants your heart to be confi gured to his heart." He encouraged them to fall in love with Christ so that they could fulfi ll their priestly promises. "But is only through your love of Jesus, and falling in love with Jesus, and staying in love with Jesus that you will live the promises you are making," he said. "And that you will be continually confi gured to Christ, the head shepherd and spouse of the Church. And know, my dear- est brothers and sons, should you fall, always pick-up and begin anew." INTERVIEWS BY ST. JOHN VIANNEY SEMINARIAN«ZACHARY BOAZMAN, WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT. BY NISSA LAPOINT 303-715-3138 nissa.lapoint@archden.org www.twitter.com/DenCathNissa Priests urged to confi gure FATHER GREGORY LOUIS LESHER Age: 30 Born and reared: Born in Chicago and raised in Bolingbrook, Ill. Seminary: St. John Vianney Theological Sem- inary, Denver Most inspirational saint: St Thérèse of Lisieux F ather Gregory Lesher wanted to become a priest since the age of 10, but forgot about it by the time he entered high school. "It was when I was in college (at the University of Denver) that I had a very diƒ erent idea of what I was going to do with my life. I was study- ing international development—I saw myself working abroad somewhere—but I knew that I wanted to be a servant." Then a priest had asked him to pray for vocations and he felt a call. "And from that moment on, it started this two- month cycle where every day I found myself just daydreaming about being a priest, but I was very resistant." He fought with the idea but gradually discerned a vocation by talking with family and priests. After his fi rst year of gradu- ate school, he left to enter the seminary. Father Lesher said he is most looking forward to the sacrament of confession. "I think it's a really precious moment in which you can share and help people." FATHER JOSEPH MARC MCLAGAN Age: 29 Born and reared: Born in Kansas City, Mo.; reared in Grandview, Mo., and Littleton Seminary: St. John Vianney Theological Sem- inary, Denver Most inspirational saint: St. Stephen F ather Joseph McLagan's discernment to the priesthood occurred incrementally during his college years. When study- ing philosophy at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, he said he began to learn more about his faith and the importance of God. He joined Bible studies and taught Totus Tuus in the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyo. Others suggested he had a vocation to the priesthood. "There was defi nitely an immediate feeling of fear," he said, "but more and more as I trusted in this call, joy came about with that." He asked his pastor, Father Rocco Porter, for insight and guidance. "I continued to pursue the thought that God might be calling me to be a priest. So after graduating from college in the fall of 2008, I applied to the seminary in the spring and entered spirituality year in August 2009." Father McLagan said he most looks forward to confession. PHOTOS BY DANIEL PETTY/DENVER CATHOLIC

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