​Society of Mary celebrates two ordinations

Society of Mary celebrates two ordinations

The Marianist Province of the United States celebrated the ordinations of Father Michael Chiuri, SM, and Father Brandon Paluch, SM, during a Mass at Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in St. Louis on Aug. 22.

Bishop Kevin W. Vann of the Diocese of Orange, Calif., presided at the Mass and gave the homily. Father Oscar Vasquez, SM, provincial of the Marianist Province of the United States, and Father Timothy Kenney, SM, served as the principal concelebrants.

Due to precautions taken in light of the coronavirus pandemic, physical attendance of the celebration was limited to 75 family members, friends and members of the Marianist community donning masks and socially distanced. However, the ordination was livestreamed so that more than a thousand Marianist family members and friends from throughout the world were able to virtually witness the celebration.

Father Chiuri, 47, was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in 1997. He has master’s degree in business administration from California State University and just completed his degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. Father Chiuri professed first vows in 2012 and perpetual vows in 2016. Prior to his seminary studies, he taught theology and served in Campus Ministry at Mother Seton Academy in Eldersburg, Md. In addition, he assisted in the lector/acolyte ministry at St. Joseph’s Catholic Community in Eldersburg. Father Chiuri is assigned to begin parish ministry at Our Lady of the Pillar in St. Louis along with sacramental ministry at Marianist-sponsored ministries in St. Louis.

Father Paluch, 37, was born in Green Bay, Wisc., and raised in suburban Chicago. He has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and history from University of Dayton and a master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He just completed his theological studies degree with the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Father Paluch professed first vows in 2012 and perpetual vows in 2016. Prior to his seminary studies, he served as the coordinator of community outreach at University of Dayton Center for Social Concern. He is now assigned to begin parish ministry at Holy Rosary Parish in San Antonio, along with sacramental ministry at Marianist sponsored ministries in San Antonio.

For more information, visit marianist.com/ordination.