Remember Br. John? He is the Trappist monk who served here as deacon. He is now a priest. His ordination was on October 25, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA.

Quietly he will serve as priest among his brother monks. But his prayers will extend to the whole world, and his newly blessed hands will call down God’s blessings for each of us.

Bishop McManus of Worcester ordained Fr. John in the abbey chapel. About 28 priests were present, among them our pastor, Fr. Cannon, and our friend Fr. Steele.

A priest’s sacred vocation is to act in the person of Christ. Fr. John chose John 13:1-17 for the gospel reading: If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (Jn 13:14-15)

Bishop McManus knelt down to receive the priestly blessing of Fr. John, whom he had ordained only minutes before.