Encounter

Four new priests for the Diocese of Phoenix take part in the Eucharistic Prayer during the Mass of Ordination on June 6 at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church in Chandler. ‘Priests of the Lord, Ministers of God’ Four transitional deacons raised to the order of priesthood By Joyce Coronel I n a solemn liturgy resplendent in tradition, four young men from the Diocese of Phoenix were ordained to the priesthood June 6 at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church in Chandler. The four newly minted priests hail from throughout the diocese and include Fr. Nathaniel Glenn, Fr. Kevin Penkalski, Fr. Gabriel Terrill, and Fr. Estevan Wetzel. Ordinarily, an ordination Mass draws a standing-room-only crowd to the diocese’s cathedral, Ss. Simon and Jude, or one of the larger parishes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things were a bit different this year and attendance was by invitation only. In the weeks leading up to the Mass, each of the ordinands was given 40 invitations to distribute to family and friends who traveled from around the country to be there for the big day. St. Juan Diego Parish, dedicated just three years ago, was chosen due to the ease with which it live-streams the Mass. Five cameras provided viewers, who watched live via Facebook and YouTube, a sense of sharing in the sacred moment. The trilingual Mass of ordination was concelebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares and the Rev. John Nepil of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Scripture readings were in both English and Spanish and select hymns and responses were sung in Latin. As the Mass got underway, Bishop Olmsted expressed his gratitude to parents, parishes and brother priests and deacons who played a role in the lives of the four men to be ordained to the priesthood. “God has called them to serve in His kingdom, called them to years of formation, prayers and sacrifices and offerings through all this time,” Bishop Olmsted said. “Today the Lord changes their lives in a substantial way for the sake of the kingdom of God.” After the Gospel was proclaimed by — ORDINATION, Page 6