Sacrament of Holy Orders Bestowed Upon Nine Men

Sacrament of Holy Orders Bestowed Upon Nine Men

Nine men were ordained Roman Catholic priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains Saturday, May 18.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrated the largest class of priests being ordained in 40 years. A full cathedral was on hand as the men were ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr celebrated the Mass. Bishop Joseph R. Binzer concelebrated the Mass.

The nine priests served as transitional deacons for the last year and graduated on May 12th of this year from The Athenaeum of Ohio / Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West.

The men ordained with their assignments are:

Father Alex Biryomumeisho: Parochial Vicar at St. John Fisher, Newtown & St. Veronica, Mt. Carmel

Father Mark Bredestege: Parochial Vicar at Clermont Catholic Communities of St. Ann, Williamsburg; Holy Trinity, Batavia; St. Louis, Owensville and St. Philomena, Stonelick

Father Zachary Cecil: Parochial Vicar at St. Theresa of Avila and St. William, Cincinnati

Father Christian Cone-Lombarte: Parochial Vicar Ft. Recovery cluster of St. Joseph, St. Joseph; Mary Help of Christians, Ft. Recovery; St. Paul, Sharpsburg; St. Peter in St. Peter.

Father Ambrose Dobrozsi: Parochial Vicar at Dayton XII Pastoral Region of St. Adalbert, Holy Cross, Our Lady of the Rosary, and St. Peter, Huber Heights

Father Andrew Hess: Parochial Vicar at Holy Angels Sidney and faculty at Lehman High School

Father Elias Mwesigye: Parochial Vicar at St. Susanna, Mason

Father Jeffrey Stegbauer: Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Anderson Township

Father Jedidiah Tritle: Parochial Vicar at All Saints, Montgomery and St. Vincent Ferrer, Kenwood

May God continue to “bless these chosen men.”

Pictured (L to R) Front Row: Very Rev. Anthony Brausch, Rev. Mark Bredestege, Rev. Jeffrey Stegbauer, Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Rev Andrew Hess, Rev. Alex Biryomumeisho. Second Row: Rev. Tony Stephens, Rev. Ambrose Dobrozsi, Rev. Elias Mwesigye, Rev. Zachary Cecil, Rev. Jedidiah Tritle, Rev. Christian Cone-Lombarte, Most Reverend Joseph Binzer.

The nine new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. According to an annual survey by Georgetown University, there will be 481 men ordained to the priesthood in the United States in 2019 – an increase of 17% over the 401 men ordained in 2008. The nine men being ordained to the priesthood from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati constitute one of the largest classes this year in the country.