Archbishop to ordain ten priests
Archdiocese of Portland
Archbishop John G. Vlazny will ordain ten priests on Saturday, June 9, at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass of ordination will begin at 11:00 am. This is the largest ordination class since 2009 when seven men were ordained priests at one time. Those being ordained are: Deacons Justus O. Alaeto, Arturo Romero-Bautista, Jeffrey M. Eirvin, Jose M. Campos Garcia, James D. Graham, J. Moises Kumul Mac, Matthew A. Libra, Joseph H. Nguyen, Benjamin A. Tapia Ortiz, and Rodel de Mesa.
Reverend Mr. Justus Odira Alaeto was born in 1976 in Orlu, Nigeria. He is one of four children of Daniel U. and Cecilia E. Alaeto. Justus attended elementary school in Ideato, Imo State, Nigeria and graduated high school in 1994 from St. Mary’s Seminary Umuowa in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. He attended the National Missionary Seminary of St. Paul in Abuja, Nigeria, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 2003. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary in Ibadan, Nigeria and the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC. After studying at Mount Angel Seminary, Mr. Alaeto transferred to Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, WI where he completed a Master of Divinity degree in May 2012. He was ordained a deacon on November 19, 2011.
Justus’ ministry training has included assignments at St. Anthony Parish in Tigard, clinical pastoral education at the Veteran Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, a pastoral year at All Saints Parish in Portland, and a summer placement at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Salem.
Reverend Mr. Arturo Romero-Bautista was born in the small town of Álamo in the state of Veracruz in Mexico in 1979. He is the son of Jose A. Romero Cruz and Clara Bautista Reyes. Arturo is the oldest of five children. He attended elementary and middle school in Álamo, and then attended high school at the minor seminary Santa María de Guadalupe graduating in 1997. He attended the archdiocesan seminary Rafael Guizar Valencia in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. Arturo began his studies in theology at Rafael Guizar Valencia archdiocesan seminary and later transferred to Mount Angel Seminary. He graduated with a Master in Divinity degree in May, 2012.
Arturo’s has worked teaching music in a middle school in Álamo, Veracruz, teaching philosophy and humanities at Benito Juárez high school in Álamo. His ministry training assignments have included work in parishes in Veracruz, Xalapa, and Álamo all in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. He has also had assignments at Resurrection Parish in Tualatin and St. Anthony Parish in Forest Grove. Arturo was ordained a deacon by Archbishop John G. Vlazny on May 21, 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Reverend Mr. Jeffrey Michael Eirvin was born in St. Louis, MO in 1978. He is one of three sons of Earnest Jeff Eirvin III and JoAnn Eirvin. Jeff attended elementary school in Valley Park, MO, and graduated from John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, Manchester, MO in 1996. He attended Missouri State University and then Oregon Stated University earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design in 2001. Jeff worked as a graphic designer from 2001 – 2005. In 2005 Jeff entered Mount Angel Seminary and earned a Certificate in Philosophy in 2007. He attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and earned a Sacred Theology Bachelor degree in 2010. He is currently studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome working toward a Sacred Theology Licentiate degree. Jeff was ordained a deacon at St. Peter Basilica in Rome by Bishop Bernard Hebda of the Diocese of Gaylord, MI on October 7, 2010. St. Juan Diego Parish in Portland is his home parish.
Jeff’s ministry training has included summer placements at St. Alexander Parish in Cornelius and Holy Trinity Parish in Beaverton. He has assisted with youth ministry at Queen of Peace Parish in Salem, religious education at St. Patrick Parish in Canby, a mission experience in Kowak Tanzania, Africa, hospital ministry at Salvator Mundi Hospital in Rome, campus ministry at St. Mary’s University, Rome Campus, attended Spanish language school in Mexico, a pastoral intern year at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Portland, clinical pastoral education at St. Louis University Hospital and an assignment at Santa Susana Parish in Rome.
Reverend Mr. Jose Manuel Campos Garcia was born in 1972 in El Calabozo Ario de Rosales in the Michoacán State, Mexico. He is the son of Jose Campos Oropeza (deceased) and Rosalinda Garcia Chavez. Jose entered the seminary in 2003, attending the Spanish Seminary of Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico. He graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 2007. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Mount Angel Seminary in 2012. Reverend Mr. Campos Garcia was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Vlazny on May 21, 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Portland.
Jose’s ministry training has included a pastoral year internship at St. Alexander Parish in Cornelius, and he has served as a deacon at St. Cecilia Parish in Beaverton.
Reverend Mr. James David Graham was born in Boise, ID in 1948. He is one of three sons of David E. and Faye Graham, both deceased. James attended elementary and high school in Oregon City, graduating from Oregon City High School in 1966.
James served in the United States Navy from 1968 until 1971. He then worked for Ford Motor Company from 1976 until 1981. He attended Vanguard University (formerly Southern California College) earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion-Pastoral Ministry in 1983. He then studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA from 1983 until 1985. He returned to the Ford Motor Company from 1985 until 1991. James worked for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Adult and Family Services from 1993 until 2007. His home parish is Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Oswego.
Mr. Graham entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1995 after completing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process at St. Joseph Parish in Roseburg. James entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, WI the fall of 2007. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at Sacred Heart Seminary in 2012.
His ministry training assignments have included placements at Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Lake Oswego, St. John the Apostle Parish in Oregon City, Gesu Parish in Milwaukee, WI, and clinical pastoral education at St. Camillus Assisted Living/Skilled Nursing in Wauwatosa, WI. James was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Vlazny in May 2011, and he has served as a deacon at St. Stephen Parish in Portland and at Holy Apostles Parish in New Berlin, WI.
Reverend Mr. J. Moises Kumul Mac was born in the Yucatan Peninsula in 1979. He is the son of Alfonso Kumul Vivas and Alicia Mac. Moises is one of five children. Moises attended elementary school in Cozumel Island, in the Quintana Roo State, Mexico. He attended secondary school at the Colegio St. Ignatius of Loyola in Playa Del Carmen, graduating in 1999. Moises attended Universidad Intercontinental Sur earning a Licentiate degree in Spanish Classical Literature and Philosophy in 2004. He next attended the Franciscan University Cristobal Colon in Veracruz Puerto City, Veracruz State, Mexico earning an Administrative Licentiate degree in Educational Psychology in 2006. Moises completed a Master of Arts degree in Theology and a Master of Divinity degree at Mount Angel Seminary in 2012. He was ordained a deacon by Archbishop John G. Vlazny at the Mount Angel Abbey Church on October 26, 2011.
Reverend Mr. Mac’s ministry training has included assignments at St. Juan Diego Parish in Portland, St. Luke Hospital in Boise, ID, Providence Health Care Center in Mount Angel, a pastoral year at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Boise, ID, an assignment at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Caldwell, ID, and a pastoral year at St. Alexander Parish in Cornelius.
Reverend Mr. Matthew Aaron Libra was born in 1980 in Klamath Falls, OR. He is one of four children of Steven M. Libra and Sylvia J. Frey-Puttbrese. Matt attended elementary school and high school in Lebanon, OR, graduating from East Linn Christian Academy in 1998. St. Edward Parish in Lebanon is his home parish.
He worked in youth ministry at parishes in Lebanon and Salem and for Reach Youth Ministry of Yakima, WA. He entered Mount Angel Seminary in 2004, and completed work for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 2007. He next studied in Rome at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) earning a Sacred Theology Bachelor degree in 2010. He is currently studying at the Pontifical Institute of John Paul II for Studies on Marriage and Family in Vatican City State.
Matthew’s ministry training assignments, in addition to the youth ministry work, have included time at Marian Estates in Sublimity, Sacred Heart Parish in Gervais, at St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Portland, Hospital San Carlo in Rome, work with the Missionaries of Charity in Rome, NSA Naples Navy Base in Naples, Italy, and a pastoral year and as a deacon at St. Paul Parish in Eugene, OR. Matthew was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Vlazny at St. Edward Parish in Lebanon on September 11, 2010.
Reverend Mr. Joseph Hung Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam in 1973. He is one of three children of Liem and Bau Nguyen. He attended elementary and high school in Saigon. He attended Portland Community College completing the prerequisite program for computer engineering in 1997. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering at Portland State University in 1999. He then worked at Portland State University until 2005, when he entered Mount Angel Seminary. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 2012 from Mount Angel. Our Lady of Lavang in Portland is his home parish.
Joseph’s ministry training assignments have included summer assignments at All Saints Parish and at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Portland, St. Anthony Parish in Forest Grove and at Sacred Heart Parish in Newport. Other assignments have included work at The Grotto in Portland, St. John the Baptist Parish in Milwaukie, clinical pastoral education at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA, and a pastoral internship year at St. Stephen Parish in Portland. He was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Vlazny May 21, 2011. His assignment as a deacon has been at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Oswego.
Reverend Mr. Benjamin Alejandro Tapia Ortiz was born in 1982 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He is the son of Benjamin Tapia Leyra and Isabel Ortiz Torres. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Tijuana graduating in 2000. Benjamin studied at the Instituto Superior de Estudios Ecleciasticos earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 2004. He has attended St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Spirituality in 2011 and a Master of Divinity degree in Theology in 2012.
Benjamin’s ministry training has included working with a youth group in Mexico City, ministry with the poor in Bogota, Columbia, working with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at Queen of Peace Parish in Salem, OR, working as a Jesuit Volunteer in Madrid, Spain, at St. Patrick Parish in Carlsbad, CA, clinical pastoral education at Sharp Mercy Hospital in San Diego, youth ministry at St. James Parish in Solana Beach, CA., parish ministry St. John Eudes Parish in Chatsworth, CA. Benjamin was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Vlazny at Mount Angel Abbey Church on October 26, 2011. He has served as a deacon at St. Anne Parish in Gresham, OR.
Reverend Mr. Rodel de Mesa was born in Bato, Catanduanes, Philippines in March of 1984. He is on of five children of Roger and Elena de Mesa. Rodel attended elementary school in Gigmoto, state of Catanduanes in the Philippines. His secondary education was at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Panal, Tobaco City, Philippines where he graduated in 2001. He next attended Mater Salutis College Seminary in Sipi, Daraga, Albay, Philippines earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Philosophy in 2006. Rodel completed a Master of Arts degree and a Master of Divinity degree at Mount Angel Seminary in May, 2012.
Rodel’s ministry training assignments have included a pastoral internship at The Madeleine Parish in Portland, clinical pastoral education at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. He was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Vlazny on May 21, 2011 at St. Mary Cathedral in Portland, and has serviced as a deacon at Resurrection Parish in Tualatin.
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