Newly ordained Fathers Steven Lang, Alexander Hall and Sebastian Spencer used superlatives as they described their emotions at their May 30 ordination Mass in the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
“Overwhelmed. Trying to soak it in,” said Father Hall, 31. “Joy and gratitude,” said Father Spencer, 28. “The number one word is joy. I’m so excited for this (priesthood),” said Father Lang, 26.
Joined by Fathers Charles DeReuil II, 25, Dominic Miller and Peter Romens, both 29, to make an ordination class of six, the men were ordained as the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis celebrates its 175th anniversary. Archbishop Bernard Hebda noted that fact in his homily.
“It’s been a moment for reflecting on our history and dreaming about our future,” the archbishop said. “I feel particularly blessed in this Jubilee Year to be celebrating the ordination of these six men, all men who have been formed, nourished and called locally. I feel that they are the Lord’s great anniversary gift for this archdiocese.”
When the first bishop of St. Paul, Bishop Joseph Crétin, arrived in Minnesota after his episcopal ordination in his native France, he found only three priests in his territory, which included Minnesota and eastern parts of North Dakota and South Dakota, Archbishop Hebda said. The first two men he recruited were in St. Paul and became leaders in the Church — Bishops John Ireland and Thomas O’Gorman, the archbishop said.
“In the decades since that day, the Lord has continued to provide this local Church with excellent priests,” including the six men being ordained, the archbishop said.
“I found myself marveling that the Lord would have placed a holy desire for priesthood in the hearts of a bridge builder, a college basketball player, an aspiring doctor and a linguist; or that he would have sparked an even deeper love for him as they came to study the ancient Church Fathers in dusty Latin tomes or gave tours of the holy sites of Rome and Jerusalem,” the archbishop said.
“The Holy Spirit blows where he wills, and as Pope Francis often said, we have a God of surprises,” Archbishop Hebda said. “The magnificent humanity and authenticity of these men is so important in a world enamored with and challenged by artificial intelligence. How farsighted that God would have called these men with their unique gifts to begin their ministry precisely at this time and in this place and to translate for God’s flock the inspiring vision articulated by Pope Leo (XIV) in his recent encyclical (“Magnifica Humanitas,” Latin for “Magnificent Humanity,” released May 25).”
“As Pope Leo noted, we’re at a crossroads and have to choose between building a new Babel that leads to destruction or constructing a new Jerusalem — a God-centered community that recognizes the dignity of each human life,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Hebda also noted the six men now share an ordination anniversary with one of his favorite saints, St. John Henry Newman, who was ordained a priest in Rome on May 30, 1847, and was recently declared a doctor of the Church. Quoting the great saint, Archbishop Hebda said, “‘Christ’s priests have no priesthood but his. They are merely his shadows and organs. They are his outward signs, and what they do, he does. When they baptize, he is baptizing. When they bless, he is blessing. He is in all acts of his Church, and one of his acts is not more truly his act than another, for all are his. Thus, we are in all times of the Gospel brought close to his cross.’”
“I suspect that it is for that reason that this Cathedral is packed this morning,” the archbishop said, referring to the 3,000 people filling every pew. “Our excitement at recognizing the work that Christ will soon be accomplishing through the six men about to be ordained his priests as they selflessly bring us close to his cross.”
Joining the archbishop at the altar were Auxiliary Bishops Kevin Kenney and Michael Izen, Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates, Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun, pastor of St. Maron of the Maronite Catholic Church in Minneapolis and many priests of the archdiocese. Deacons participated in the Mass and were present in the congregation, as were men and women in consecrated life and the lay faithful.
“Now I’ve got my own Peter”
Sonya Romens, mother of Father Romens, said she had a difficult pregnancy with her son. “You don’t always know why you’re suffering, and when he was ordained a (transitional) deacon, (God) suddenly showed me why. Suffering to bring him (into the world) brought us here.”
“The fruits of suffering were what I was thinking about, and so it’s the anniversary of St. John Newman today,” she said. “I have a favorite prayer that talks about how God knows each of our missions in life … . And you think that … laying on of hands (goes) all the way back to (St.) Peter. Now, I’ve got my own Peter.”
August Kelly, a cousin of Father DeReuil, came from Hudson, Wisconsin, to see his cousin ordained. Amazed by the ordination Mass, he said he has a new answer when asked what his cousins do. “I get to tell them he’s a priest now.”
Sharon Doran, an aunt of Father Lang, traveled from Omaha, Nebraska, for his ordination. She had also attended his ordination as a transitional deacon in Rome. “He’s had this calling since he was age 10,” she said. “To see God’s plan in action can only be an act of the Holy Spirit.”
Joanie Lang, Father Lang’s mother, said the day was “overwhelming, amazing; all praise and glory to God.” Carrying up the gifts to the altar brought her close to her son and a feeling of the “Blessed Virgin (together with us) on this journey.”
While bestowing his first priestly blessings in the Cathedral, Father Lang quickly hugged, greeted and blessed a large contingent of young adults from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, who studied in Rome while he was there studying for the priesthood, and part of his work there was ministering to students from that university. Kaitlyn Martinez, 21, was among those in Rome under Father Lang’s tutelage in the spring of 2025. She traveled from Bismarck to pray for him at his ordination.
“He was so committed, so intentional in the way he served us,” Martinez said.
Father Spencer’s mother, Judi Spencer, said she felt relief for her son as his discernment culminated with a commitment to the priesthood. Once her prayers focused on whatever vocation the Lord wanted for her son; now they will be focused on his ministry and his desire to be a good and holy priest, she said.
One of Father Spencer’s brothers, Blaise, 18, said it was a special day. “It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “I’m proud of him.”
“The marble I will give my life on”
A busload of people and others driving to St. Paul on their own came from St. John Neumann in Eagan to support Father Hall, who ministered there while in formation for the priesthood.
Michele McMullen, 62, came with her husband, Gary, 66. She said that in addition to his work at the parish, Father Hall was her spiritual director for the past year.
“He has really helped me grow in my faith,” she said. “By listening, by inspiring, by teaching.”
Family members of Father Hall, including his father, Michael, and youngest sister, Ava, 22, said it is a joy to have a priest in the family. “I’m very happy for him. It’s a blessing,” Michael Hall said.
Father Hall said lying prostrate with the other five men on the floor of the Cathedral during the Litany of Supplication was a powerful moment for him.
“I kissed the marble,” Father Hall said. “This is the marble I will give my life on.”
Josh McGovern of The Catholic Spirit contributed to this report
