The rite of ordination bestows upon the new bishop, priest or deacon a special gift of the Holy Spirit, which enables him to exercise a “sacred power” for the service, upbuilding and communion of the Church.
2018 Ordinations to the Priesthood
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio ordained five men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Prospect Heights, Saturday, June 30.
The average age of the ordinands is 34 years. Two were born in Queens to immigrant parents, one set from the Dominican Republic and the other from Ecuador. The other men were born in Vietnam, Haiti and Germany.
Their stories are as diverse as their backgrounds. One is a cancer survivor, who only felt truly healed after entering the seminary. Another holds master’s degrees in computer science and business administration. Two come from agricultural families. One speaks four languages.
They count among their saintly role models St. Pope John Paul II, St. Paul, Padre Pio, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare.
Their interests include traveling and pilgrimages, reading, music, dancing and sports, especially baseball and basketball.
Father Hung Xuan Cao
Father Hung Xuan Cao, 36, was born into a peasant farming family in central Vietnam.
