The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrated the ordination of two new priests on Saturday May 17, 2025. The men were ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Robert G. Casey celebrated the Mass. Within the course of the ordination rite, the archbishop invoked the authority given by Christ to the apostles to make new priests. The Mass was streamed on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati YouTube channel.

The two new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. Since 2015, 52 men have been ordained the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The two new priests served as transitional deacons for the last year. Their ministry has included baptizing, assisting at marriages, and preaching at Mass. The men graduated on May 10 of this year from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology, after at least seven years of formation for the priesthood. Parish assignments for the new priests will be announced at the ordination.

We celebrate 

Reverend Kevin LeMelle who has been assigned as Parochial Vicar of NE 1 Family of Parishes which includes St. Mary of the Woods, Russells Point, St. Patrick, Bellefontaine, and St. Mary, Urbana. Father LeMelle will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 18 at St. Bernard, 910 Lagonda Ave., Springfield at 2:30 p.m.

Reverend Adam Lewis who has been assigned Parochial Vicar of SE 2 Family of Parishes which includes Holy Trinity, West Union, St. Benignus, Greenfield, St. Mary, Hillsboro, and St. Mary Queen of Heaven, Peebles.Father Adam Lewis will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 18 at St. Columbkille, 73 N. Mulberry St., Wilmington at 11:00 a.m.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with nearly 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 199 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 108 Catholic primary and secondary schools.