On Saturday, June 13 at 10:00 a.m., four men will be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore. The Mass of Ordination will take place at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.
The following men are to be ordained:
Ernest Cibelli, 27, Columbia, MD—Ernest attended Mount St. Joseph High School before graduating from Mount St. Mary’s University with a degree in Chemistry in 2003. Ernest studied for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary for one year before being assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he is currently studying for his second theological degree, a License of Sacred Theology. After a summer of serving at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Oakland, MD, Ernest will return for a fifth year of studies at the North American College.
Marc Lanoue, 43, North Adams, MA—The ninth of nine children, Marc is a 1988 graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, MA, where he received a BA in Religion and a minor in Computer Science. Throughout his post-graduate studies, Marc held many positions in the computer field and produced a weekly half-hour public access Catholic TV program. Marc earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate in Biblical Studies from Catholic University. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary, Roland Park. Marc’s first priestly assignment will be at Sacred Heart Church in Glyndon.
Hector Mateus-Ariza, 37, Bogota, Colombia—Born and raised in South America, Hector worked in his native Bogota as a professional chef for 10 years and eventually for the president of Colombia and his cabinet. During a 2001 trip to Honduras, where he performed missionary work, Hector found his calling to the priesthood. He was invited by a priest-friend to come to the United States and has studied for the priesthood the past seven years at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. Hector’s first priestly assignment will be at St. John Parish in Westminster.
Gonzalo Cadavid-Rivera, 37, Medellin, Colombia—After earning degrees in Civil Law and Administrative Law in his native Colombia, Gonzalo moved to the United States in 2004 to become the first Latino seminarian for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, studying at Mount St. Mary’s. Gonzalo will begin his priestly ministry at St. Joseph’s Church in Cockeysville.
There are currently 426 priests in active ministry serving more than 500,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the first Catholic diocese in the United States. Another 102 priests are retired, though many continue to celebrate public Masses and perform other sacramental duties.
Media Notes:
The Mass of Ordination is rich in Catholic tradition and very visual: the new candidate for priesthood is presented to the bishop who asks about their intentions and worthiness to be ordained. The ceremony continues with the candidate prostrating himself while the congregation chants the Litany of Saints. Immediately following, the bishop through the ancient sign of ordination confers priesthood by laying hands on the candidate. Each priest present also lays his hands on the candidate. The new priest is then vested in a stole and a chasuble (symbols of the priestly office) followed by the bishop presenting the bread and a chalice filled with wine, which is offered and consecrated at this Ordination Mass, the new priest’s first Mass.
It is requested that members of the media covering the event dress in appropriate attire. Photographers will be given access via the side aisles of the Cathedral. So as not to obstruct the view of those in attendance, photographers will not be allowed in the center aisle, sanctuary (altar area), or the area in front of the altar.
Media parking is permitted on the side and lower lots (south) of the Cathedral. Media vehicles are not permitted to park on the driveway directly in front of the Cathedral.