Another diverse group of men will join the ranks of archdiocesan priests when Cardinal George ordains 12 men to the priesthood on May 18. The group—ranging in age from 26 to 57—include two each from Illinois and Indiana, three from Mexico, and one each from Colombia, Costa Rica, Kenya, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Cardinal George will be principal celebrant and homilist at the 10 a.m. Mass at Holy Name Cathedral. Concelebrants will include the auxiliary bishops, along with Father John F. Canary, rector/president of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, and Father August Belauskas, vice rector.

After the Mass, the dozen will give their first blessings to friends and family in front of the cathedral on State Street. Their first Masses are scheduled for the following weekend, May 18-19.

During their final week of classes at Mundelein Seminary and Sacred Heart School of Theology, the future priests shared with The Catholic New World some thoughts on their vocation, their future ministry and their feelings about being ordained in the current climate.

(Biographies of the 12 new priests)