Answering God's Call

New ministers of the Church will answer the call to serve God's people as three of the friars from the Province of St. Joseph are ordained to the priesthood

With gratitude to God for all the good works to come from them, we rejoiced in the ordination to the priesthood of three young Capuchin Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Joseph. Friars Truong Tien Dinh, OFM Cap., Nathan Linton, OFM Cap. and Francisco Javier Rodriguez, OFM Cap. received the sacrament of holy orders in a rite of ordination presided by the Most Reverend Jeffrey Haines, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee. The ordination took place on the Feast of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 2023, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Milwaukee. In his remarks during the liturgy, Bishop Haines noted the significance of Ordinations taking place on the Feast. “John the Baptist, his role was to point to Christ to prepare the way for us to become one with Him,” said Bishop Haines during the liturgy. “That’s a great description of ministry, isn’t it?”

Br. Francisco Javier Rodriguez

The date held even greater significance for Friar Javier, as it was the patronal feast of his birthplace, the island of Puerto Rico. And the location of ordinations at St. Francis of Assisi also has significance as it is where Javier first discerned his vocation in his days as a parishioner there. It is where he has been ministering as Transitional Deacon just prior to his ordination. Now he will join Friar Mike Bertram, OFM Cap. on the pastoral team as Associate Pastor. “There are no words that can describe the love and gratitude that I feel for God and for the people who have accompanied me on this journey," said Rodriguez. "It is the people who are the presence of God and His love in my life, being the lanterns that shine brightly on my path. As I enter ministry, I trust that God blesses me with the love, strength, and patience to serve and minister the people of God.”

Br. Truong Tien Dinh

Friar Truong Tien Dinh, OFM Cap. has been ministering at St. Lawrence Seminary High School in Mt Calvary, Wisconsin as a spiritual director and prefect for the sophomore class. In addition, he has been ministering at Our Lady of the Holy Land Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as a Transitional Deacon. Several members of the Dinh family and other well-wishers came from Vietnam for Ordinations, including Truong’s childhood pastor. "Without God, without God's love, without prayer, without the attitude of helping out others, I don't think I would be a Capuchin," said Dinh. "So with that in mind, that model of ‘live your life one day at a time and continue to pray to God for His guidance’ has always been at the bottom of my heart."

Br. Nathan Linton

Friar Nathan Linton, OFM Cap. also ministers at St. Lawrence Seminary as Campus Minister and prefect for the senior class, where he is charged with spiritual care for the students and teaching Confirmation classes among other responsibilities. Br. Nathan was inspired in his vocation in no small part by his father’s vocation to the permanent diaconate. "My parents set a great example of service to our community and to the Church," said Linton. "I am incredibly grateful for the life that God has called me to and I look forward to serving God and his people as a priest of Jesus Christ."

Going Forth in Mission

Ordinations are always a special occasion for not just our brothers who are entering into their new vocations, but to the friars' families and truly the Province as a whole. The need for priests within the Catholic church has never been greater and whether it's Milwaukee, St. Labre, or Mt. Calvary, that need rings true throughout our Capuchin ministries as well. We hold our brothers close in prayer as they are sent forth by God to serve in their respected ministerial positions.