Fathers Timothy Fariss, John Welch ordained to priesthood at St. Michael in Hermitage, Pa.
By David Mayernik Jr., Editor
In his message on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations in 2022, Pope Francis speaks of Michelangelo’s insistence that “every block of stone contains a statue within it.”
During the ordination ceremony of Deacons Timothy Fariss and John Welch to the priesthood, Father Kevin Marks quoted the Holy Father’s words and how God’s love has affected these two men: “God’s loving gaze always meets us, touches us, sets us free and transforms us, making us into new persons.”
Father Timothy Fariss and Father John Welch, were ordained priests of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh by Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla April 7 at St. Michael in Hermitage, Pa.
Celebrants included Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla, Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich, Father Kevin Marks, Father Richard Lambert, Father Will Rupp and Father Brian Norrell. Deacon Tyler Wisniewski assisted following ordinations.
Attending were Father Michael Kunitz, Father Robert Oravetz, Father Jim Spontak, Deacon Kyprian Wojciechowski, Deacon Nathaniel Tapsak, Deacon Michael Yewcic, Father Mykhaylo Farynets, Father Jim Fraser, Father Miron Kerul’-Kmec Jr. and Father Miron Kerul-’Kmec Sr., Subdeacon Luke Iyengar and seminarians.
Father Timothy and Father John’s home parishes are Assumption of the Mother of God in Weirton, W. Va. and SS. Peter and Paul in Warren, Ohio, respectively.
Since Nov. 2023, 11 new deacons have been ordained and three additional new priests will be ordained this year in addition to Father Timothy and Father John.
Deacon Kyprian Wojciechowski was ordained April 28 in Bradenville, Pa. and Deacons Tyler Wisniewski and Nathaniel Tapsak will be ordained in June.
“Vocations are good. Vocations are strong,” Father Kevin, pastor of St. Michael in Hermitage and St. Michael in Campbell, Ohio, said. He is also Vocations Director for the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
“In John Welch and Timothy Fariss, God sees a reflection of His Son…and as God gazes at John and Tim today, he sees two men with shepherds’ hearts who even in their weakness, humanness, and sinfulness can teach and lead and sanctify the people of God, Father Kevin said.
Archbishop William thanked the families of Father Timothy and Father John for providing new priests to the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
They conducted their first blessing during a reception at St. Michael’s Social Center following their ordinations.
Father Kevin recited Pope Francis’ words highlighting the many stories of vocations outlined in the Bible: “In the young woman of Nazareth he saw the Mother of God. In Simon the fisherman he saw Peter, the rock on which he would build his Church. In the publican Levi he recognized the apostle and evangelist Matthew, and in Saul, a harsh persecutor of Christians, he saw Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles.”
“Every day we behold the gift of vocations and its many expressions: Marriage, religious life, single life and also sacred Holy Orders,” Father Kevin said.
He said God uses many people in discernment process for candidates, including vocations directors, priests, faithful and many others.
“The candidate prays a lot; the Church, for Her part, does the same,” he said.
“It is a long journey but this mysterious process is as beautiful as an Easter lilly.”
Father Kevin said the new family of Father Timothy and Father John — the Presbyterate of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh — is the “greatest fraternity in the whole world” and they are pieces of “tile” that form the beautiful mosaic known as the Church.
“We are now your family.”
