Ordinations across five dioceses this spring mark the culmination of years of formation and the beginning of a life consecrated to Christ and His Church.
Briefly
- Twelve seminarians formed at The Saint Paul Seminary will be ordained priests across five dioceses this spring and summer.
- Priestly ordination permanently configures a man to Christ, enabling him to act in His person through the sacraments.
- For Catholics, these ordinations serve as public signs of hope and renewal for the Church in the Upper Midwest and beyond.
In Catholic churches across the Upper Midwest and the East Coast, the faithful are witnessing a profound moment in the life of the Church: the ordination of men to the priesthood. For the seminarians who have spent years in formation at The Saint Paul Seminary, these Masses of Ordination mark the joyful culmination of a journey marked by prayer, discernment, study and service.
Yet for a priest, ordination is not an ending — it’s a beginning. The Catholic Churches believes a priest is a man set apart for the sacred, chosen to bring Christ to the world through the sacraments, to preach the Gospel with boldness and to shepherd the people of God with humility and love.
What is priestly ordination?
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is one of the Church’s seven sacraments, uniquely configuring the ordained to Christ Himself. Through a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the priest is permanently marked with an indelible spiritual character that enables him to act in persona Christi capitis — “in the person of Christ.”
This transformation is not merely symbolic. The priest receives divine authority to celebrate the Eucharist, forgive sin, and administer the other sacraments. He becomes a co-worker with the bishop, a shepherd of souls and a spiritual father to the people of God.
2025 priestly ordinations
Below is a schedule of ordination Masses for men formed at The Saint Paul Seminary, with profiles on each of them.
Diocese of Sioux Falls
Thursday, May 29 | 11 a.m.
Cathedral of St. Joseph, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Fr. Gerald (J.P.) Thornton
- Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Home parish: St. Lambert | Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Parents: Larry and TeresaThornton
- Siblings: Allison, Susan, Annie
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
During a recent seminary event, a priest on staff pointed out that of all the members of his class, Thornton is the most likely to become a rector of a seminary someday. After a year-long discernment outside seminary, Thornton discovered that “my vocation was not a problem to be solved, but an invitation into a life dedicated to service through love.” Known for his thoughtful spirituality and love of the Mass, Thornton brings a deep desire to guide others to the fulfillment they seek in Christ, he said.
Diocese of Winona-Rochester
Friday, May 30 | 2 p.m.
Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, Winona, Minnesota
Fr. Benjamin Peters
- Hometown: Kasson, Minnesota
- Home parish: Holy Family | Kasson, Minnesota
- Parents: Dan and Theresa Peters
- Siblings: Joseph Peters, Rebecca (Peters) Brown
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, St. Mary’s University (Winona); Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
Peters’ ordination comes after a journey that has included roles as teacher, librarian and even chocolatier. From his first call at a Steubenville youth conference to his years of formation at The Saint Paul Seminary, Peters has learned to trust in God’s persistent voice, especially in moments of doubt. Reflecting on his vocation, he said “Every time I gave [God] an excuse, He just said again and again, ‘I will always be enough for you.’”
Fr. Timothy Welch
- Hometown: Winona, Minnesota
- Home parish: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart | Winona, Minnesota
- Parents: Thad and Jen Welch
- Siblings: Gabriel, Grace, Gianna
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Immaculate/St. Mary’s University (Winona); Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
The Class of 2025’s resident history buff, Welch acquired a Mass kit that once belonged to fellow Saint Paul Seminary alumnus Msgr. James O’Neill, who served in General George S. Patton’s Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. “There’s kind of a bond, a fraternity … that priests, living and dead, we all share together,” Welch said. “It’s very touching and inspiring to see how the Lord was able to use [past priests] in their own lives. I pray that God will continue to give me the priest that he’s called me to be.”
Fr. Jordan Danielson
- Hometown: Dover, Minnesota
- Home parish: Holy Redeemer | Eyota, Minnesota
- Parents: Donald and Karen Danielson
- Sibling: Cody
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, St. Mary’s University (Winona); Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
Danielson’s home parish is in a town of about 2,000. As one of three men ordained by Bishop Robert Barron for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Danielson will be well-prepared to serve in his home diocese, which features many rural Catholic communities.
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Saturday, May 31 | 10 a.m.
Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota
Fr. Benjamin Eichten
- Hometown: Anoka, Minnesota
- Home parish: St. Mark | St. Paul, Minnesota
- Parents: Jonathan and Tracy Eichten
- Siblings: Nathaniel, Luca, Teegan
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
A native of Anoka, Minnesota, Eichten discerned his vocation after several years working in health insurance and medical software, where he remained active in his faith through St. Mark’s parish and the Catholic Advance lay movement. His time in the workforce and parish life not only deepened his trust in God but also affirmed his call to return to seminary, where the past four years have been marked by significant personal growth, a deepening prayer life, and a renewed commitment to serve the Church with joy and humility, he says.
Fr. Zachary Ochsenbauer
- Hometown: Forest Lake, Minnesota
- Home parish: St. Peter | Forest Lake, Minnesota
- Parents: Tom and Marcia (deceased) Ochsenbauer
- Siblings: Michael and Christina
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
A pilot and flight instructor’s son, Ochsenbauer first sensed his vocation during high school prayer and embraced it more fully through years of intentional formation. Reflecting on his First Communion after the loss of his mother, he shared, “I still remember the experience … with just like the conviction that Christ is here, he’s present, he’s in me. And if that’s true, then all of heaven is there as well.”
Fr. Randall Skeate
- Hometown: Anoka, Minnesota
- Home parish: St. Patrick | Oak Grove, Minnesota
- Parents: Ken and Lisa Skeate
- Siblings: Brian and Erica
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
Inspired by the compassionate witness of his childhood pastor during a family crisis, Skeate discerned a call to spiritual fatherhood through years of real-life ministry and formation. “Discovering true wholeness or peacefulness is not simply a matter of praying for it to come our way,” Skeate said. “It’s letting ourselves be loved and fully seen in our weaknesses by the Lord and by those whom we trust.”
Fr. Alexander Marquette
- Hometown: Maple Lake, Minnesota
- Home parish: St. Timothy | Maple Lake, Minnesota
- Parents: Kevin and Peggy Marquette
- Siblings: Zachary and Samuel
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
A longtime altar server inspired by former St. Timothy pastors Bishop Michael Izen and Fr. John Meyer, Marquette discerned his vocation through trials — including a disrupted semester abroad in Rome due to the COVID-19 pandemic — that led to a clear message from the Lord: “Just keep going,” Marquette said. He hopes to bring a pastoral heart shaped by a love for the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and a devotion to spiritual and psychological well-being to his future parishioners.
Diocese of St. Cloud
Saturday, June 7 | 10:30 a.m.
St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Fr. Joseph VanDenheuvel
- Hometown: Bertha, Minnesota
- Home parish: St. Joseph | Bertha, Minnesota
- Parents: Russ and Nancy VanDenheuvel
- Siblings: Sarah, Kathryn, Erica
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, St. Mary’s University (Winona); Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
VanDenheuvel’s ordination follows a six-year Army career and involvement with FOCUS on the campus of South Dakota State University. It was at a FOCUS SEEK conference that he first felt called to seminary. “One thing about the call to the priesthood – I think a lot of younger men are looking for a way to give of themselves and a way to be challenged,” VanDenheuvel said. “The priesthood is a way; it definitely is a sacrifice. There’s challenges that come with it, but there’s also great blessings.”
Fr. Nathaniel Daubner
- Hometown: Princeton, Minnesota
- Home parish: Four Pillars in Faith Area Catholic Community | St. Mary’s in Milaca, Minnesota and St. Louis Bertrand in Foreston, Minnesota
- Parents: Nathan and Jennifer Daubner
- Siblings: Seven
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
Formed by experiences ranging from hospital ministry to Spanish immersion in Mexico, Daubner said he’s been deeply moved by moments of spiritual fatherhood. His journey, inspired by the compassionate witness of his childhood pastor, reflects a deep desire to bring Christ’s presence to people in their most vulnerable moments. “Catholic priests have the privilege to encounter people through the Anointing of the Sick and through the sacrament of Penance,” Daubner said. “This is what I look forward to as a priest, namely bringing the presence of God into the trials of daily life.”
Archdiocese of Hartford
Saturday, June 21 | 11 a.m. (ET)
Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, Connecticut
Deacon Mitchell Kendrioski
- Hometown: Branford, Connecticut
- Home parish: St. John Bosco | Branford, Connecticut
- Parents: Walter and Michelle Kendrioski
- Siblings: Natasha, Brielle and Krista
- Education: Bachelor of Science in Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology, The Saint Paul Seminary
Kendrioski joins the priesthood after a successful high school and collegiate athletics career and working as an engineer designing submarines for use by the United States Navy. He’s brought those gifts to seminary formation, playing on The Saint Paul Seminary’s flag football and basketball teams and earning two Master’s degrees while studying theology, which he calls “the greatest science.”
Deacon Martin Chouinard
- Hometown: Naugatuck, Connecticut
- Home parish: St. Francis of Assisi | Naugatuck, Connecticut
- Parents: Normand and Elaine Chouinard
- Sibling: Teresa
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts; Master of Divinity, The Saint Paul Seminary
Chouinard, a former Catholic high school teacher, is one of two seminarians from the Archdiocese of Hartford ordained this summer. Chouinard describes his journey through seminary as “a lot of studying, a lot of experiences, a lot of surprises and things that I never could have imagined when I started this. But it’s a great honor.”