Vocations - Priestly

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Archbishop John C. Wester to Ordain
One Seminarian to the Priesthood
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
131 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Saturday, May 27, 2023 | 10 a.m.

ALBUQUERQUE – Friday, May 27, 2023–IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, will ordain one seminarian to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe.

Reverend Mister Cameron Degani will be ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The ceremony, celebrated by Archbishop Wester, will be a solemn and momentous occasion attended by fellow clergy members, family, friends, and members of the parish. With prayers, laying on of hands, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, Deacon Degani will receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, becoming a conduit for God's grace and embodying the teachings of the Church.

Biography provided by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Vocations
Deacon Cameron Degani is from St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish (Newman Center) in Albuquerque, NM. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he studied Chemical Engineering. He experienced God’s call to discern the priesthood in his second year of studies. God continued to move his heart to be excited to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and walk with people in their faith journeys. Over the years, he has been able to experience the beauty of our parishes and people throughout the archdiocese. He looks forward to serving in priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe beginning this summer.    
Click here for the worship aid, click here to livestream.
Contact: Office of Vocations 505.831.8143--END

Archbishop John C. Wester to Ordain
Two Seminarians to the Transitional Diaconate
Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community
11 College Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87508
Saturday, May 20, 2023 | 10 a.m.

ALBUQUERQUE – Thursday, May 18, 2023–IMMEDIATE RELEASE-- Archbishop John C. Wester will ordain two seminarians to the transitional diaconate in the Roman Catholic Church, Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community in Santa Fe.
Brother Patricio Chacon, O. Praem. and seminarian Jacob Romero will be ordained to the transitional diaconate. The newly ordained deacons will be given the authority to baptize, witness marriages, and preach the Gospel.  This is the final step prior to priesthood.

Biographies provided by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Vocations
Brother Patricio Chacón, O. Praem entered the Norbertine Community of Santa Maria de la Paz in Albuquerque as a postulant and was vested as a novice in 2017. In 2019, Br. Patricio professed first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of New Mexico and is studying theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL. He professed solemn (final) vows in 2022. He is involved in youth ministry, ministry to those who are homebound, those who are bereaved, and in Chicago, campus and parish ministry, all influential in his vocation. 
Br. Patricio has two sisters, three brothers, three nieces, and one nephew. He is the son of Amadeo and Adela Chacón, who live in Capulín, located in northern New Mexico. It is through his rootedness in family that he felt God call him to his vocation, living a life of service to his Norbertine brothers and sisters and the local church.    
Jacob Romero was born in Santa Fe, NM, to Christopher and Euphrasia Romero. He grew up in Los Alamos and attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, where he received all his sacraments. When he was nine years old, he considered the priesthood and entering seminary in high school. At the University of New Mexico, he attended the Aquinas Newman Center and again felt called to the priesthood. After three years of studying electrical engineering, he entered the seminary. He attended Mount Angel Seminary and studied philosophy for three years. Following graduation, he attended Theological College, the National Seminary of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, for theology studies. This year, he completes his third year of theology, graduating with a Sacred Theology Baccalaureate, and will begin the Sacred Theology Licentiate program focusing on Liturgical Studies in the fall. He feels tremendously blessed to have served in various parishes throughout the archdiocese and prays he will be a worthy servant to the archdiocese as he is ordained a deacon.

Click here for the worship aid, click here to live stream.

In early February 2023, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Vocations Office welcomed eight men to the annual priestly discernment weekend retreat. It was a grace-filled time of prayer and learning about discernment and priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

I would like to thank these men for participating and being willing to follow wherever the Lord may lead and for all who supported us in prayer. Thanks also to those who support the vocations office through the Annual Catholic Appeal or other financial gifts; your generosity makes our work possible!

Fr. Michael Niemczak, Vocation Director

Click here for the Catholic Club for Religious Vocations.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe | June 4, 2022
Left to Right: Rev. Peter Arteaga, MSpS (former formator at Mt. Angel); Rev. Darrell Segura, Rev. Daniel Dupre, Most Rev. John C. Wester, Rev. Agustín Henderson, Rev. Adrian Sisneros, Rev. Michael Niemczak (Vocation Director), Very Rev. Steven Beseau (rector of the Josephinum) 
Click here for the ordination video.
Photo courtesy Sarah McIntyre Photography

Aquinas Newman Center, Albuquerque | June 2, 2022
Left to Right: Very Rev. Steven Beseau (rector of the Josephinum), Rev. Mr. Cameron Degani, Most Rev. John C. Wester, Rev. Michael Niemczak (Vocation Director), Rev. Michael DePalma (pastor of Newman Center Parish)
Photo courtesy Sarah McIntyre Photography

May 27, 2022
NEWS RELEASE:  Archbishop John C. Wester to Ordain One Seminarian to the Transitional Diaconate and Four Seminarians to the Priesthood More> En Español>

Pontifical College Josephinum Celebrates 123rd Commencement Exercises

The Pontifical College Josephinum celebrated its 123rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The graduating class included seminarians from the (arch)dioceses of Birmingham; Columbus; Lugazi, Uganda; Ogdensburg; and Santa Fe, and the religious order of the Fathers of Mercy. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts degrees were conferred upon the seminarians by Very Reverend Steven P. Beseau, Rector/President. The Josephinum, in affiliation with the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy, offers a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology degree which was awarded to two graduating transitional deacons.

Deacon Daniel Dupre received an MDiv, MA, and STB.