The Diocese of Allentown is blessed this year with six young men who will be ordained to the Priesthood June 6.
The Ordination comes amid a Jubilee Year of Grace in which Bishop Alfred Schlert has asked the faithful for fervent prayer for new vocations. In that context, the men who are about to become the newest priests for the Diocese were asked what advice they would give to someone thinking he might one day want to be a priest.
Rev. Mr. Dominic Civitella
“If the Priesthood is even a thought, do not hesitate to enter the seminary, which is the best place to discern,” said Deacon Civitella. “Place your vocation in the Immaculate hands of Mary and ask her every day: ‘Mary, please lead me to my vocation. Grant me the grace to respond generously to what God is asking of me.’"
The people of God “are hungering for the beauty of our faith and are desiring a deeper understanding of the eternal truths of the Catholic Church,” he said. “I am excited to do my part in our parishes, with the help of Our Blessed Mother, to meet the needs of the people.”
Growing up in Easton, his home parish is St. Jane Frances de Chantal. The youngest of three children, his parents are Michael and Allison Civitella. Before entering the seminary, he earned a degree in English Writing from Slippery Rock University. His Transitional Deacon year was spent at Sacred Heart, West Reading, and Holy Rosary, Reading.
Rev. Mr. Tyler Davis
“Find a good spiritual director, preferably a priest,” said Deacon Davis, advising someone who might be thinking of a future in the Priesthood. “Speak to him about how you are discerning God's call and discuss the signs that God has revealed in your life, leading you to believe you are being called to the seminary.”
During his final year of formation, he was assigned to St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, “where I was afforded the gift of frequent preaching.” Proclaiming the Gospel is a foundational aspect of being a priest, he said, and delivering frequent homilies allowed him to hone his skills in the pulpit.
He grew up in Coopersburg, and his home parish is Assumption BVM, Bethlehem. He is the son of Todd and Michelle Davis, and converted to Catholicism while studying marketing and philosophy at DeSales University. He worked as a sales and marketing representative at a family-owned biotech company and a startup meal delivery company before entering the seminary.
Rev. Mr. Tyler Loch
If you are wondering whether you want to be a priest, “pray honestly and ask God plainly to make you know what He wants you to do with your life,” said Deacon Loch. “Don't try to impress God with your prayer, and don't be ashamed to talk to Him about the ‘ugly stuff.’ Just give Him your heart and trust that He will guide you in His time.”
During his year as a Transitional Deacon at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, Deacon Loch got to know “the lived experiences of real people,” he said. “Life can be messy, and as a priest I look forward to bringing God's Mercy to His people in the Sacrament of Confession.”
He grew up in Ironton, and his home parish is Holy Trinity, Whitehall. His parents are Daniel and Maria Loch. He entered the seminary after graduating from Parkland High School in 2018.
Rev. Mr. Anh Do Mai
Deacon Mai advises a young man wondering if he should become a priest to “learn about the person of Jesus Christ as much as possible, especially under the aspect of Christ the High Priest.” He also suggests “finding a good spiritual director who can help with the discernment process.”
During his year as a Transitional Deacon at Holy Infancy and Incarnation of Our Lord, both Bethlehem, Deacon Mai said he learned to pray diligently for his parish and his parishioners. “This is something I plan on continuing daily. Christ is constantly providing me with the necessary grace to serve His people, despite my limitations. I trust that His grace will be even more pronounced in my life as His priest.”
Born in Vietnam, he moved with his family to Reading in 2006 when he was 8 years old. He entered the seminary after studying chemistry at Temple University for three years. He is one of two sons of Dieu Mai and Nhung Pham. His home parish is St. Paul, Reading.
Rev. Mr. Hy James Gia Ngô
Deacon Ngô has four pieces of advice for a young man wondering about becoming a priest: “Do not be afraid to take the question seriously. Create space for silence and honesty before God. Do not discern alone, but rather, speak with a trusted priest, a spiritual director, or a vocation director. And understand that a vocation is not about being perfect or having everything resolved; it is about being willing and open to let Him lead – even with some uncertainty.”
During his year as a Transitional Deacon at Queenship of Mary and Assumption BVM, both Northampton, his most significant lesson, he said, was learning how to listen. “I realized that people are not looking first for perfect answers, but for a shepherd who is present, attentive, and rooted in Christ.”
He hopes “to be a priest who walks with people, helping them encounter Christ in both the ordinary and the difficult moments of life.”
Deacon Ngô grew up in Bien Hoa City, Vietnam. He is the fourth of five children and a son of Mrs. Oanh T. Tran and the late Mr. Ngo Dinh Bo. He worked as an architect after university and before entering the seminary.
Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Tomczyk
“My advice to someone considering a call to the Priesthood,” said Deacon Tomczyk, “is this: The seminary's primary purpose is to help a man discern the movements of God in his life, and where God is calling him to live Christian virtue and sanctity in the world. Whether or not the Priesthood is the ultimate realization of that discernment, you will never regret giving this time to God. So be brave, be bold.”
He spent his year as a Transitional Deacon at St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven. It was a privilege, he said, to witness the desire people have for God and His Church. “Seeing that hunger for the living God fills me with the conviction to remain a conduit of God's grace, through whom the people may draw even closer to God,” he said.
He is the oldest of three children, and a son of Todd and Rebecca Tomczyk. His home parish is St. Catharine of Siena, Reading. Deacon Tomczyk earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Lock Haven University and taught for several years before entering the seminary.
Ordination and Evening Prayer
The Priestly Ordination will be Saturday, June 6 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. Due to the limited seating of the Cathedral, attendance is by ticket only, with seating reserved for the families and invited guests of the Ordinands.
On the eve of Ordination, all the faithful of the Diocese of Allentown are warmly invited to gather with Bishop Alfred Schlert and the six men preparing to be ordained for Evening Prayer on Friday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral. Evening Prayer is open to all the faithful, with no ticket or registration required.
Both the Vigil and the Ordination Mass will be livestreamed for those wishing to participate from home – viewers can stream them online at www.ad-today.com/live or on YouTube at youtube.com/@DioceseofAllentown. Alternatively, both may be watched on television on Service Electric Channel 50.
Photo by Norm Steinruck. Pictured left to right are Deacon Tomczyk, Deacon Davis, Deacon Loch, Bishop Schlert, Deacon Civitella, Deacon Mai, and Deacon Ngô.
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