The Catholic Church has given us universities, hospitals, orphanages, incredible advancements in art and science, appreciation of moral concepts and human dignity, unprecedented care for the marginalized, preservation of knowledge, and so much more! It’s almost impossible to imagine the world without these things, yet we know it was a much different place prior to the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus and the establishment of His Church.

Amid difficult times, scandals, controversies, confusion, and distractions, it is important to remember and celebrate the beauty of Catholicism and triumphs of Church history. The term “Breaking Ground” evokes the idea of innovation, doing something new, or going further than ever before, and no one has “broken ground” more than the Catholic Church. That’s a bold statement, I know, but I am convinced it’s true—all glory to God.

This is not to say that the Church’s history is flawless—far from it. After all, the Lord left her in the hands of human beings, who don’t always follow the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. But still, the Church is Christ’s Mystical Body, not simply a human organization. While the visible, historical, and human elements of the Catholic Church are real, they are not the source of her divine life. The holiness and power that make it Christ’s Church come from God alone.

And so, when the people of God are true to their mission and obedient to God, powerful and monumental shifts take place for the betterment of humankind. Even historically astute nonbelievers and critics acknowledge the objective positive impact the Church has had on formal education, healthcare, art, organized charity, human rights, ethics, intellectual life, etc. From our perspective, though, these are “happy accidents” resulting from individuals living out the Gospel.

This should inspire us to double down on our efforts to be authentic Catholics and not shy from our traditions nor from our proclaiming the Word of God. Only when we follow God’s will, trust in the Holy Spirit, and embrace the teachings that have been protected and handed down to us will we be able to effectively bring others to Christ and subsequently make the world a better place.

Spring is a time of new life: the trees have leaves, the grass is green, flowers are blooming, and the air is fresh. It’s the time of year when we celebrate graduations—the end of school but also new beginnings—and students are excited to start summer vacation. This May in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, we also celebrate the ordination of nine men to the holy priesthood—a joyous occasion indeed!

In the following pages, you’ll get to meet the new priests and read about different ways the faithful are breaking new ground here in the archdiocese. These stories are inspiring, but only a sample of the amazing things local Catholics are accomplishing.

May is a time we set aside to honor Mary, whose faithful “Yes” to God’s plan was the ultimate groundbreaking event in human history. She brought new life into the world with the birth of Jesus and, as our Blessed Mother, continues to lead us to her Son. Through His life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Jesus restored a fallen world dominated by sin and death, blazing a path to make eternal life with the Father possible for all.

When we unite ourselves to Christ and trust in the graces that flow through the sacraments, we continue to break new ground and participate in God’s ongoing work of redemption in the world. Perhaps we will even help usher in a new springtime of faith!