AUCKLAND Diocesan priests around the country are about to experience an influx of new brother priests the likes of which hasnt been seen in New Zealand for many years. Over the final three months of the year, four priests will be ordained two for Auckland, one for Hamilton and one for Palmerston North. Another man will be ordained to the diaconate.
Deacon Matt McAuslin is the first of the four men to be ordained to the priesthood for Hamilton diocese. His ordination Mass is scheduled for the evening of Friday, October 17, at St Peter Chanel Church in Whakatane.
Deacon Robert Steele will become Fr Robert Steele at 11.30am Mass on Saturday, November 1, at Aucklands St Patricks Cathedral.
Five weeks later, on December 6, at the same time and venue, Deacon Sam Pulanco will become New Zealands second Filipino diocesan priest, following on from the ordination of Fr Gilbert Ramos in June.
The following week, Deacon Vince Onesi will be ordained for Palmerston North diocese. His ordination Mass will be held on December 13 at St Peter Chanel Church, Hastings.
With the ordinations of these four men, plus the ordinations earlier this year of Fr Ramos, Fr Mark Field and Fr Vince Smith, the total of seven ordinations in a calendar year will be the most for more than 20 years.
Brian Lange was ordained deacon for Auckland diocese at Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, on October 3.
See future issues of NZ Catholic for stories on all four new priests
