New Priests for the Vineyard

June 3 was a grand day for five graduates of Sacred Heart. It was the day of their priestly ordinations for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Entering into the Order of the Presbyterate, through the laying on of hands by Archbishop Allen Vigneron, were Fr. John Bettin, Fr. Andrew Dawson, Fr. Matthew Hood, and Fr. Craig Marion. Each earned a Master of Divinity degree from Sacred Heart and a graduate-level Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree. The STB is conferred by Rome's Pontifical University of St. Thomas through Sacred Heart's faculty.

Fr. Grayson Heenan was ordained for the archdiocese along with his brother Detroit priests. Father Heenan earned his undergraduate degree at Sacred Heart and had been attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome for his graduate studies.

The ceremony took place before family, friends, well-wishers, and scores of priestly co-celebrants at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.

At the conclusion of the ordination Mass, Father Dawson spoke to the congregation as a representative of his ordination brothers. We are now coworkers in a world that needs Jesus, Father said. Thanks also to our spiritual directors and our seminary formation teams that guided us through seminarywho no doubt often wanted us sent somewhere, anywhere, just away! The congregation laughed, enjoying the joke.

Sacred Heart is a regional seminary, educating and forming tomorrow's priests for dioceses within the state of Michigan, throughout the U.S. and internationally. Beside the Detroit ordinations, four more April graduates of the seminary became priests this spring and summer. They are

Fr. Joseph Campbell and Fr. Anthony Smela for the Diocese of Lansing (June 10),

Fr. Jared Holzhuter for the Diocese of Madison (June 30), and

Fr. Patrick Setto for the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle (July 1).

The Class of 2017 will see two more ordinations this year, as well. Deacon Ruben Campbell is scheduled to be ordained for the Companions of the Cross religious community on August 26, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Holy Family Parish in Novi will be the site of the priestly ordination of Deacon James Houbeck, for the Archdiocese of Detroit, on October 7.

To allGod's blessings as you work to unleash the gospel in your new ministries.

Fr. John Bettin, 53

Home parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion

First Assignment: St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores

Fr. Andrew Dawson, 42

Home parish: Guardian Angels, Clawson

First Assignment: St. Fabian, Farmington Hills

Fr. Grayson Heenan, 29

Home parish: St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe Farms

First Assignment: Most Holy Trinity/St. Anne, Detroit (until September 15, then to Rome for further studies).

Fr. Matthew Hood, 27

Home parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion

First Assignment: Divine Child, Dearborn

Fr. Craig Marion, 39

Home Parish: St. Vincent Ferrer, Madison Heights

First Assignment: St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe Farms

Deacon James Houbeck, 30

Home parish: St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Roseville

First Assignment: Holy Family, Novi (currently serving there as deacon).