The stained-glass windows of St. Thomas More, Allentown, seemed to shine with unusual vibrance on June 18, as a “Votive Mass of Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest” was celebrated by the newly ordained priests of the Diocese of Allentown. Father Tyler Loch was the main celebrant, and Father Dominic Civitella was the homilist.
The other newly ordained are: Father Tyler Davis, Father Anh Do Mai, Father Hy Gia Ngô, and Father Jeffrey Tomczyk. Also honored was Father Robert Rienzo, who was ordained in 2025.
In his homily, Father Civitella reminded the congregation to “ask Our Blessed Lady to guide us in living out our vocation faithfully, whatever that may be, conforming us more and more to the will of God.”
The Mass was concelebrated by other priests of the Diocese in the presence of Bishop Alfred Schlert; Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky.; and Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia Keith Chylinski.
Participating were more than 100 of the faithful, who before the dismissal joined the priests in a moving rendition of “Salve Regina.”
After the Mass, an “Ordination Celebration” reception and dinner was held at Lehigh Country Club, where the newly ordained mingled with guests and well-wishers.
In his remarks, Bishop Schlert observed that “all of us here are guests of honor, because we've all been blessed by the Father, Who in our 65th anniversary year has given us the gift of six new priests.”
The Bishop also shared a lighthearted anecdote.
“Someone asked me what it was like watching those newly ordained priests celebrate Mass. I asked him, ‘Did you teach your son or daughter how to drive? You were so proud when you handed them the keys and they drove away. That’s how I felt, except I wasn't terrified, because I knew they weren't going to hit anybody.’”
Offering a toast to the Pope was Father Frans Berkout, Pastor of Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, who invited the guests to “raise your glasses and your hearts to our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. May God grant him the grace he needs to shepherd the universal Church on earth.”
Father Eugene Ritz, the diocesan Vicar for Clergy, toasted “the beloved Church of Allentown. May our faith remain strong, may our hope be ever deepened, and may our charity abound.”
In his toast in honor of America’s semiquincentennial, Father Christopher Butera, Pastor of Sacred Heart, Bath, said, “There's a lot that we can say for the many blessings that God has given to us, but I think I'll sum it up by saying, ‘To the greatest country on the face of the earth, the United States of America.’”
The keynote speech was given by Bishop Chylinski.
“When guys apply to the seminary and are asked ‘Why do you want to be a priest?’ there are all kinds of answers,” he said. “‘I want to help people, I want to serve the Church, I’m attracted to the Sacraments.’ They're all good things, but as a seminarian grows in his formation and gets closer to the Priesthood, he discovers the only reason that he should be a priest is because He called him. It's because it's His will, and if it's His will, where else can he go?
“All of us experience His infinite overabundant love that flows from His Sacred Heart, and it's His will that He use frail human instruments to manifest that love. How awesome is that? What a gift!
“And these seven men have embraced that with utter sincerity and humility and great devotion. And I'm so hopeful to see how this love unfolds throughout their ministry.”
Click here for the list of the newly ordained priests and their parish assignments.
Photos by Vargas Photography.
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