Here are some great photos, above and below, of the Saturday's ordination to the sacred priesthood of seven young men from across the Diocese of Lansing at Saint Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing. Together they form the diocese’s largest priestly ordination class in 47 years. Deo gratias.
The seven men ordained were: Father Jonathon Bokuniewicz of Saint Augustine parish in Howell; Father Brett Ivey of Saint Mary parish in Williamston; Father Jack Jobst; Father Daniel LaCroix, Father Christian Salata, all of Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor; Father Randy Koenigsknecht and Father Joshua Luttig, both of Most Holy Trinity parish in Fowler.
During his homily, Bishop Boyea’s message to the ordinands was direct and challenging: Grow in holiness by remaining in friendship with Jesus, such that you can pour yourselves out, and hold nothing back, in the service of Christ’s beloved bride, His Holy Church.
“This friendship, says the Lord, will only be real when we love one another, when we love the very people we are called to serve,” said Bishop Boyea, June 14, “a love which means we are willing to lay down our lives, or the interruptions in our nights, or the constant demands on our time, or the missing of that last episode of our favorite TV show, or the stretching of our alms-giving as the tenth person seeks our help.”
“Holiness will lead us to lay down our lives in these and many other day-to-day demands which nibble at us without surcease.”
All seven priests were educated at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. They will now serve as parochial vicars in parishes across the Diocese of Lansing. You can read where at the foot of this article. Please do keep them in your prayers in the weeks and months to come.
“Today, my sons, you will be conformed by God’s grace, to his beloved Son, the truly holy one,” said Bishop Boyea in his concluding remarks during him homily.
“May that holiness be effective both in your own lives and in the lives for whom you pour out your own life. Love, both the love which God has as he configures you to his Son and the love you bestow generously upon the people whom God places in your care, this love is who you are to become. Yes, pour yourselves out and hold nothing back.”
• Credit: Photographs by Valerie Hendrickson, Amanda Pitts, and Grace Hendrickson
• Clergy assignments, effective July 1, 2025:
Father Jonathon Bokuniewicz to Parochial Vicar of St. Gerard, Lansing
Father Brett Ivey to Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph, Howell
Father Jack Jobst to Parochial Vicar of St. John the Baptist, Ypsilanti
Father Randy Koenigsknecht to Parochial Vicar of St. John the Evangelist, Jackson
Father Daniel LaCroix to Parochial Vicar of St. John Vianney, Flint
Father Joshua Luttig to Parochial Vicar of St. Andrew, Saline
Father Christian Salata to Parochial Vicar of St. Robert, Flushing, and Good Shepherd, Montrose.
Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them!
