The local Church celebrated six new priests May 31 as Archbishop John Nienstedt ordained the men at the Cathedral of St. Paul on the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Like the Virgin Mary, you are called not only to be a Christ bearer to others,” the archbishop said, “but you, like her, are to do it with great joy, rooted in your love for Jesus Christ and his love for you.”

Archbishop Nienstedt cited Pope Francis’ homily from Holy Thursday in which he spoke of the joys of priesthood, and encouraged the young priests (all of whom are younger than 30) to make a copy and reflect on the pontiff’s words often.

Father Michael Barsness described his ordination as “surreal, but very beautiful.”

“I was in awe of God’s delight in me, in his people and the priesthood,” he said.

For Father Kevin Manthey, the ordination Mass was “incredible.”

“There were so many elements that reminded me of graces the Lord has given me,” he said. “I saw each of them as confirmations of God’s providence working in my life. I was on the verge of breaking down in joy and gratitude until the litany of saints. From then on, I was very much at peace; the prayers of the saints and of God’s people gave me great comfort.”

Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Nienstedt were auxiliary bishops Lee Piché and Andrew Cozzens, Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm, Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Ore., and Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. (Father Paul Shovelain was a co-sponsored seminarian for the Archdiocese for the Military Services.) More than 100 priests from the archdiocese joined the bishops.

Father Paul Shovelain’s face exuded pure joy throughout the ordination Mass. He later reflected that, after Archbishop Nienstedt said the consecration prayer, he repeated to himself, “You’re a priest, you’re a priest!”

“He’s always wanted to be a priest,” said Jim Shovelain, Father Shovelain’s dad. “We need priests. We need good priests. It’s a beautiful gift from God, and it’s a gift to the whole Church. The Church needs him more than we ever will.”

Father Shovelain’s mom, Marie, remembered the words of her spiritual mentor, Father Paul Gitter, who told her parents are to be the 10 percent, God is supposed to be the 90 percent.

“So, God is the one who is calling them to priesthood,” she said. “We’ve done the 10 percent — we’ve raised him. All of this is for God.”

God willing, Father Shovelain’s younger brother, Dominic, will follow suit a few years from now. The morning of the ordination Mass, just a day after graduating from high school, Dominic learned he was accepted into St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, a four-year program that helps seminarians grow in their Catholic faith and vocational discernment.

Dominic served at the ordination Mass as a cross bearer and also helped his brother put on the priestly vestments.

“It’s just been awesome to help bring up the gifts and see all the priests embrace the newly ordained priests today,” Dominic said. “I think that was the most touching part of the ceremony . . . seeing the hundreds of priests from our archdiocese embrace the six new priests.”

As Father Shovelain distributed Communion, he shed tears and said his heart was moved in love.

“I knew many of the people I was giving Communion to, and I just thought of these people and the work the Lord was doing in their lives,” he said. “I was crying, and I had somebody wipe my face. I really felt like Jesus.”

Father Shovelain will serve at St. Peter in Forest Lake. His confirmation sponsor, Jason Becker, is a youth administrator at the parish.

“It will be great to minister to the youth with him now,” Father Shovelain said. “I am excited to learn from Father [Daniel] Bodin and assist him in his ministry at St. Peter’s.”

A ‘glorious day’

Ashley Dias of St. Bonaventure in Bloomington made it a point to support the new priests by attending their ordination Mass.

“It’s wonderful that there are so many young men becoming priests under the direction of the archbishop,” he said.

During the Mass, Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan, rector and vice president at the St. Paul Seminary, was alongside Father Michael Becker, rector at St. John Vianney College Seminary, Father Charles Lachowitzer, the archdiocese’s vicar general and moderator of the curia, and Father John Ubel, rector of the cathedral.

“It’s a glorious day,” Msgr. Callaghan said afterward. “We’ve got wonderful new priests, and the Church is blessed. And I’m hoping we get 12 more next year.”

Jan Mrugala, a parishioner of St. Joseph in New Hope, said there aren’t enough priests to go around. She is related to Father Joseph Kuharski and has another nephew in the seminary.

“The churches are fuller now than they’ve ever been,” she said. “So, people are looking for guidance, they’re looking for spirituality in their life.”

Mary Ann Kuharski rejoiced as she witnessed the ordination of her son, Father Joseph Kuharski.

“I’ve been praying for my son and the other five [new priests] as well, with my son, because we want to pray that the angels guard them and the Holy Spirit guide them,” she said. “We need to love the priests — love them, hug them, give them pizza, and keep praying for them all the time.”

Archbishop Nienstedt left the new priests with these words:

“Finally, dear brothers, never let a day go by in which you do not invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on you and your priestly ministry. No earthly person knew the Lord Jesus better than she did. She desires to bring you closer to him. Allow her to do so, surrendering yourself to her maternal guidance and protection.”

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