Archbishop Leonard P. Blair to Ordain Five Men to the Holy Priesthood

Hartford, Conn. (May 13, 2016) – On Saturday, May 21, 2016, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair will ordain five men to the Holy Priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford.  
 
The candidates for priesthood are: Reverend Mr. Héctor Rangel Guerrero of Charalá, Santender, Colombia; Reverend Mr. Matthew Gary Gworek of Southington, CT; Reverend Mr. Patrick Michael Kane of New Britain, CT; Reverend Mr. Philip Thomas O’Neil of Windham, CT; and Reverend Mr. Philip Roy Schulze of New York, NY.
 
The candidates have completed at least five years of formation and studies in Theology and Philosophy, in addition to undergraduate studies in a different field. Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Hartford Reverend Jeffrey A. Gubbiotti has accompanied the men on this last year of formation and serves as a liaison between the seminary formation teams and Archbishop Blair, who ultimately decided to call the men to the priesthood.
 
“These men are God’s answer to our daily prayer for laborers to be sent into His harvest. We rejoice at their generous response to God’s call, and we pray for them, and for all priests, that they will be faithful and true in fulfilling their ministry with no thought but to serve,” said Archbishop Blair.
 
“These men have worked hard over many years to discern their vocation to the priesthood and prepare themselves to live that call out for the rest of their lives.  My hope for them is that they will persevere in their passionate pursuit of God’s will and grow in their love for the Lord and His people with each passing year of ministerial service to the people of the Archdiocese of Hartford,” said Father Gubbiotti.
 
At the Ordination Mass, Archbishop Blair will announce the parishes where the new priests will begin their priestly ministry.
Priest Background Information
Reverend Mr. Héctor Rangel Guerrero – (age 34) Guerrero studied with the Salesian of Saint John Bosco in Colombia where he spent 9 years in his priestly formation. He attended Colegio Integrado Pedro Santos (high school), and majored in Philosophy from the “Universidad Minuto de Dios” of Bogota. He received a Bachelor Degree in Ecclesiology and a Master Degree in Theology from the Jesuit Pontifical University in Bogota, Colombia. He attended Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and studied English as a second language at the University of Hartford. He studied at Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Maryland in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood.
He was ordained as a Transitional Deacon on February 6, 2016 at St. Thomas Parish in Southington. He has served at the Assumption Parish in Ansonia, Corpus Christi in Wethersfield and presently he is at Saint Thomas Parish, Southington, Connecticut as a transitional deacon.
Reverend Mr. Matthew Gary Gworek – (age 29) Gworek studied at Theological College, Washington, D.C. In preparation for the priesthood, he has served at various parishes across the Archdiocese including: St. Mary, Branford; St. Casimir and Immaculate Conception, Terryville; Sacred Heart, New Britain; and St. Thomas in Southington. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Music and Science from the University of Connecticut.
Gworek says that he is looking forward to giving back to his parishioners. He wants people to recognize the blessings that God has placed in their lives.
Reverend Mr. Patrick Michael Kane – (age 30) Kane studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, PA and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, FL. In preparation for the priesthood, he has served at various parishes across the Archdiocese including: St. Margaret, Madison; St. Jerome and St. Maurice in New Britain; St. Bernard, Enfield; St. Dominic, Southington; St. Margaret, Waterbury; St. Bernadette, New Haven; and St. Joseph, Bristol.
Kane earned a Bachelor Degree in Music from Central Connecticut State University. Kane is looking forward to preaching, administering the Sacrament of Baptism, and serving the people of God.
Reverend Mr. Philip O’Neill – (age 25) O’Neill studied at Mount St. Mary’s University, MD. In preparation for the priesthood, he has served at various parishes across the Archdiocese including: St. Mary Magdalen, Oakville; and St. Bridget, Cheshire. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Philosophy from Christendom College and is pursuing a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
O’Neill says he cannot wait to begin serving the Church as a minister of God. Nothing will make him happier than being able to live and embrace his faith as a priest.
Reverend Mr. Philip Roy Schulze – (age 61) A former head in corporate real estate, Schulze’s path to the priesthood started later in life. He studied at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, MA. In preparation for the priesthood, he has served at various parishes across the Archdiocese including: Holy Angels, Meriden; the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford; St. Anthony, Litchfield; St. Anne, Hartford; St. Patrick, Farmington; St. Rose, East Hartford; and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury.
Schulze attended Bronx High School of Science in NY; the University of Notre Dame, IN and the University of Wisconsin.
To learn more about the new priests, read their online interviews at: archdioceseofhartford.org/Special Announcements. To learn more about the discernment process and Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford, please visit www.hartfordpriest.com.