Rev. Mr. Alexander Brown will be ordained as the newest priest in the Diocese of Allentown on Saturday, June 3, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
Bishop Alfred Schlert and the other priests present will lay their hands on Brown, invoking the Holy Spirit to come down upon him, and setting him apart for his life of service to the people of the Diocese of Allentown.
Brown worked during high school as an apprentice blacksmith, taking plain pieces of steel and forging them – through hard work, careful thought, and the occasional adjustment along the way – into something special.
The art of blacksmithing has parallels with life, Brown says, because if we let him, Jesus Christ will take the time and effort to help each of us become something we could not have been on our own.
He also is a published author, having written Hail Thee, God and King, a fantasy novel available at www.BonfireMedia.art.
“The theme of the book is, ‘Where are our hearts? Where do we put our faith?’,” Brown said. “The publisher told me it’s selling pretty well, but he also said my mom bought a lot of copies.”
Brown, 26, has been studying for the past eight years at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia. He is the youngest of four children of Randolph Brown and Deirdre Sweeney-Brown of Nazareth, and is a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Bath.
Brown was homeschooled for grades K-12, and it was near the end of this time that he began to re-evaluate his original plan, which had been to get degrees in history and education and to work for the historical society where he worked part-time as an apprentice blacksmith. Shortly after that, he decided to enter the seminary.
Brown has advice for anyone thinking about pursuing a vocation to the Priesthood or religious life: “Acknowledge that God may have a plan for you. Be open to the Lord.”
The faithful are invited to attend the Ordination or to watch it via livestream by clicking the box at the top of AD Today.
Photo: Rev. Mr. Alexander Brown rings a bell at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.