The age range and diverse backgrounds of the five men who were ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Hartford reflect national trends.
This year alone, more than half of the 440 men being ordained in dioceses and religious communities in the United States are between the ages of 25 and 34; 11are 65 or older; nearly one third were born outside this country; and many bring an array of life experiences, including from the ranks of the permanent diaconate reestablished in 1967.
Father Joseph J. Cretella, 71, a widower, father (of Joseph, Natalie and Anthony) and grandfather, first thought of becoming a priest at the age of 11, entered the seminary after high school, left after seven years, volunteered in the Peace Corps for two years, was married for 40 years (to Ann LaFemina), and entered the seminary in 2008 after his wife died three years ago.
After a deacon friend said, "Why don’t you just become a priest?" he applied to and began two years of formation at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, he said.
As a deacon, he was assigned to Most Holy Trinity Parish in Wallingford for 22 years, St. Barnabas Parish in North Haven for 5 years and to St. Frances Cabrini Parish in North Haven.
Father Carlos Andres Echavarria Ocampo originally entered the seminary in his native Colombia. After both of his parents died over the course of four years, he decided to take a break from the seminary. While teaching in Colombia, a priest asked, "Did you think of the possibility of helping the U.S. Church?" After praying about it, he responded to the call, he said.
Father Thomas W. Hickey, a former Baptist minister, searched among five denominations for God and the authority to speak for Christ before he found his answer in the Catholic Church, which he joined in 2002. He was married for 30 years (the marriage was annulled) and is a father and grandfather. He was in charge of religious education for a Catholic parish in Florida before entering the seminary for the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Father Kos first thought about becoming a priest when he was 8. He was inspired by the example of his parish priest, and later by the late Pope John Paul II, who he saw in Krakow, he said.
Father Kos attended minor seminary in Krakow, Poland, before studying at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Mich.
Father John E. Pahl, a former banker, was baptized at St. Matthew Parish in Forestville, where he also received his first holy Communion, was confirmed and served as deacon for 28 years.
Father Pahl noted that he first thought of becoming a priest in his 20s, but family illnesses diverted him and he entered the banking industry and later, the permanent diaconate.
