Midwest Capuchin Franciscans Ordain Three New Roman Catholic Priests
MILWAUKEE - The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph announces the ordination of three friars to the Roman Catholic priesthood. Friars Truong Dinh, OFM Cap., Nathan Linton, OFM Cap. and Francisco Javier Rodriguez, OFM Cap. were ordained by the Most Reverend Jeffrey Haines, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee, in a Rite of Ordination celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Friar Truong Dinh ministers at St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin where he serves as spiritual director and prefect for the sophomore class. He also ministers at the nearby Our Lady of the Holy Land Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. "Without God, without God's love, without prayer, without the attitude of helping out others, I don't think I would be a Capuchin," said Fr. Dinh. "So with that in mind, that model of live your life one day at a time and continue to pray to God for His guidance has always been at the bottom of my heart."
Friar Nathan Linton, with roots in the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, also ministers at St. Lawrence Seminary High School. Br. Nathan's call to religious life and the priesthood came as his father followed a vocation to the permanent diaconate in Br. Nathan's teenage years. "My parents set a great example of service to our community and to the Church," said Linton. "I am incredibly grateful for the life that God has called me to and I look forward to serving God and his people as a priest of Jesus Christ." Friar Francisco Javier Rodriguez, a native of Manatí, on the north coast of Puerto Rico, is currently ministering as a deacon at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the same church where he professed his vows as a Capuchin. St. Francis of Assisi is a diverse faith community that includes a sizeable number of parishioners from Puerto Rico and elsewhere in Latin America. “There are no words that can describe the love and gratitude that I feel for God and for the people who have accompanied me on this journey," said Rodriguez. "It is the people who are the presence of God and His love in my life, being the lanterns that shine brightly on my path. As I enter ministry, I trust that God blesses me with the love, strength, and patience to serve and minister the people of God.” Since its founding in Italy in 1525 and establishment in the Midwest in 1857, the friars of the Capuchin Franciscan men's religious order have been known for contemplative prayer and serving marginalized communities. Today's ordination of these new priests continues that commitment. The Capuchin Franciscan order's mission to serve others, especially those in need, continues to be a guiding force for these new priests in their journey of faith. The ordination ceremony was a joyous occasion for the Capuchin Franciscan community and a testament to the continued dedication of the order to serving others
About the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph
The mission of the friars of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph is one of transforming the world through reverence. Established at Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin in 1857, the Midwest Capuchins are part of an international community of friars following the rule of St. Francis of Assisi. The brothers of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, headquartered in Detroit, serve in various ministries, including social service, schools, chaplaincy, a retreat house and parishes in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Montana.
