2026 Priestly Ordinations | Alumni News
“As we ponder the birth of our Priesthood…each of us recalls that most evocative moment when, on the day of our priestly Ordination, we prostrated ourselves on the sanctuary floor. This gesture of deep humility and obedient openness was splendidly designed to ready our soul for the sacramental imposition of hands, through which the Holy Spirit entered us to accomplish his work.” – St. John Paul II (Holy Thursday Letter, 1998)
On this Priesthood Sunday (September 27), we give thanks and pray especially for the 14 alumni of The Rome Experience who were ordained to the priesthood in 2026:
Rev. Casey Cooney ‘23
Diocese of Madison
Rev. Shawn Daniel ’22
Archdiocese of Portland
Rev. Arturo Escobedo ’24
Diocese of Brownsville
Rev. James Grossheim ’23
Diocese of Nashville
Rev. Johnny Hernandez ’24
Diocese of Laredo
Rev. David Herrera ’24
Diocese of Nashville
Rev. Daniel Jasek ’22
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Rev. Stephen Kirby ‘22
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Rev. Jeremy Maness ’25
Diocese of Dallas
Rev. Barry Meinholz ’23
Diocese of Madison
Rev. Daniel Rivas ’23
Archdiocese of Denver
Rev. Jessiah Rojas ’22
Archdiocese of Washington
Rev. Connor Schmidt ’22
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Rev. Nicholas Weiss ’25
Diocese of Dallas
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
On The Rome Experience, seminarians deepen their habits of mental prayer, construct a spiritual plan of life, and delve into the lives of the saints and the history of the Church in Rome.
Through The Rome Experience Scholarship Fund, we aim to make this program possible for seminarians from any diocese in the United States who desire this formation experience as they prepare for priestly ministry.
MAKE A GIFT…Photo: Rev. Daniel Rivas ’23; Archdiocese of Denver Priestly Ordination, 2026