Two men were welcomed into the Roman Catholic priesthood with blessings and applause during an ordination Mass on Saturday morning at St. Peter's Cathedral.Alex J. Roche, 28, of Montoursville, and Jeffrey D. Tudgay, 28, of Hanover Twp., became priests for the Diocese of Scranton in front of hundreds of supporters, including priests they will now call peers.
Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, who led the ordination ceremony, described the challenges, obligations and hope of their new roles, most importantly the "overwhelming demand" to carry on God's work and emulate Jesus Christ "as teacher, priest and shepherd."
"Wherever you are sent, whatever the church asks you to do, recall that you are sent and appointed not simply to fulfill your own desires in life but to do the work of God," he said. "You and all of us as priests are merely Jesus' instruments."
As priests, the men will represent a connection to God in their communities, he added. They will serve a unique role among people "looking for meaning and purpose and peace."
"They will look to you for answers to their questions," Bishop Bambera said. "They will look to you to find Jesus."
In recent years, the diocese has reinvigorated and modernized its efforts to recruit men considering the priesthood, a campaign that has been rewarded by a growing number of seminarians.
As veteran priests die or retire from active ministry, the push for new vocations is understood to be crucial to the life of the church.
Bishop Bambera referred several times in his homily to the diocesan community's gratitude to the men for accepting the call to become priests.
"Your willingness to serve the people of God as priests is not merely a noble effort on your part," he said. "It is a sign of hope for the church as each of us attempts to live our baptismal promises and journey to the Lord."
The Rev. Roche began studying for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary near Philadelphia before attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome and receiving a degree in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
The Rev. Tudgay completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo, earning both a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts degree in systematic theology.