Gregory Michael Vincent McIlhenney, 35, is proud to have been formed in the faith by his parents and his parish religious education program.
“Even though I attended public school from fourth grade until I entered the seminary,” he said, “God still found me and invited me to serve Him and the Church.”
Born in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, his home parish was Nativity B.V.M. He attended his parish school and Our Lady Help of Christians, Philadelphia.
When his family moved to Cape May, N.J., they joined St. Raymond Church, Villas, now part of St. John Neumann, N. Cape May. He completed his elementary education in the Cape May public schools and attended Cape May County Technical H.S., where he finished a three-year medical program. At that time, he aspired to be a pediatrician.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Galloway, where he met Father Jeff Burton, S.J., campus ministry chaplain.
It was Father Burton who asked him if he ever thought about the priesthood.
“This invitation changed my life forever,” he said. “Father Burton was the instrument God used to bring me to know, understand and accept the Lord’s call in my life.”
After college, he taught at his alma mater, Cape May County Technical H.S., and worked as associate director of operation in the Catholic Campus Ministry Center at Richard Stockton College.
In 2005, he took his first step toward becoming a priest for the Diocese of Camden, N.J., when he entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. After three years, he left the seminary and accepted a position in student affairs and development at Belmont Abbey College, Charlotte, N.C.
Through the prayers and example of Father Burton, Father Mark Cavagnaro and Father Stephen A. Saffron, his road led back to the priesthood.
He found himself drawn to New York City, where he had priest friends, and he reconnected with Camden’s former bishop, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
He spent a year in discernment at Pope John Paul II House of Discernment, Cypress Hills, while working in Catholic Cemeteries and attending Mass at St. Matthias, Ridgewood.
After much consideration, he petitioned to enter the seminary program for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
He earned his baccalaureate of sacred theology degree through the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, N.Y., where he also earned his master of divinity degree.
After ordination, he will complete his master’s in theology at St. Joseph Seminary.
As part of his pastoral formation, he assisted with faith formation at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Forest Hills, and was also involved in faith formation during his diaconate year at St. Sebastian, Woodside.
He also served in ministerial capacities at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly, Totowa, N.J.; Church of the Resurrection, Marmora, N.J., and Our Lady of Hope, Blackwood, N.J.
Educating children in the Catholic faith has been a blessing for Father McIlhenney, who has several nieces and nephews.
He has strong bonds with his family and enjoys close relationships with his siblings, Charles Jr. and Jennifer Lynn Sauners, and his parents, Charles Sr. and Elizabeth.
“I would not be where I am without the love and care of two amazing parents who have been an example of self-gift their entire lives,” he said.
In his priesthood, he hopes to share the love he has been blessed to receive and offer his life as “total self-gift for the service of the Diocese of Brooklyn.”
Father McIlhenney will offer his First Mass of thanksgiving at St. Sebastian Church on Sunday, June 29 at 1:15 p.m.
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