The Missionaries of the Precious Blood joyfully announce that James Smith, C.PP.S., was ordained to the priesthood and Matthew Keller, C.PP.S., to the diaconate during a liturgy on July 8 at St. Henry Church in St. Henry, Ohio.
Fr. Smith, of Pekin, Ind., has been assigned to the St. Henry Cluster as parochial vicar. Deacon Keller, of Maria Stein, Ohio, will be in ministry in Dayton’s Region Seven parishes, St. Joseph, Holy Trinity and Emmanuel.
The two were ordained by Bishop Joseph Charron, C.PP.S. During his homily, Bishop Charron told the two men, “the Lord has chosen you. None of us are worthy of that call, but because God loves us so much, he calls us. . . . You have been called to servant-ministry. As Jesus said, ‘I come among you as one who serves,’ and he showed that by the powerful act of washing the disciples’ feet.”
The Church will make good use of the gifts that the newly ordained men have to offer, he added. “My prayer for both of you is that you learn to recognize the many gifts that God gives you, and that you look and see the gifts that are already there in the people you serve. They too are gifted. And when you bring all those gifts together, you’ll find you are doubly blessed with God’s grace and love.”
The ordination Mass was followed by a social hosted by the St. Henry parish cluster.
James Smith, C.PP.S., was ordained to the priesthood and Matthew Keller, C.PP.S., to the diaconate during a liturgy on July 8 at St. Henry Church in St. Henry, Ohio.