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Archdiocese welcomes three new priests

A widowed grandfather, a Native American, and a son of deacon ordained Saturday

By Robert Delaney
Of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 20, 2005

Cardinal Adam Maida (second from left) stands with newly ordained priests (from left) Frs. Maurice Henry Sands, Joseph Lang and Andrew Bloomfield in front of the rectory of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit following last Saturday's ordination ceremony and Mass.

DETROIT – The Archdiocese of Detroit's three new priests include its first-ever full-blooded Native American and its first-ever widowed grandfather permanent deacon to be ordained a priest, as well as the son of another permanent deacon.

The capacity congregation of about 900 people that filled the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit last Saturday as Cardinal Adam Maida ordained these three men to the priesthood included a busload of Native Americans who traveled from a reservation on the New York-Ontario border.

The new priests are Fr. Andrew Bloomfield, 29, Fr. Joseph Lang, 69, and Fr. (Maurice) Henry Sands, 49. Frs. Bloomfield and Sands had been transitional deacons; Fr. Lang was a widowed permanent deacon.

Cardinal Adam Maida offers the Prayer of Ordination over the three candidates of the priesthood. Henry Sands, Joseph Lang and Andrew Bloomfield kneel before the altar in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Recalling how Pope Benedict XVI described himself as "a humble servant in the Lord's vineyard," Cardinal Maida said in his homily, "Andrew, Joseph, and Henry: I pray that each of you have that same spirit of humble obedience as you come forward for ordination this morning."

Cardinal Maida also spoke of the example set by Pope John Paul II during the years of his increasing infirmity. "The way Pope John Paul II accepted physical limitations and the dying process remains an enduring lesson for us all; he embodied the teaching of St. Paul that each one of us lives and dies as the Lord's servant," he said.

"We serve at the Lord's discretion and according to His gifts and call. Quite often in our ministry, precisely when our own resources are depleted, the Spirit shines through with even greater effectiveness, thus making it clear that ministry is about manifesting God's glory and mercy, not our own. Ecclesial service after the pattern and example of our late Holy Father requires a docile heart – a willingness to set aside our own agendas and preferences in favor of a genuine sharing of gifts and needs," the cardinal continued.

At the conclusion of the Mass ordination class spokesman Fr. Sands said, "We'd like to thank the Lord for calling us to share in His holy priesthood. We consider it to be a great grace and blessing and joy to be ordained to be able to offer Christ in the holy sacrifice of the Mass in the Year of the Eucharist.

"We also consider it a special blessing to be ordained in this historical year in which our late Holy Father, of happy memory, Pope John Paul II, has been called home to by the Lord, and in the same year, we have the great gift of a new Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI," he continued.

Cardinal Adam Maida kneels as he receives the first blessing from newly ordained Frs. Henry Sands, Joseph Lang and Andrew Bloomfield at the conclusion of the Mass last Saturday in the Cathedral of he Most Blessed Sacrament.

He expressed the class's thanks to the Blessed Mother: "Our priesthood is dedicated in a very special way to her."

And Fr. Sands went on to express the gratitude he and his classmates have for family members, Cardinal Maida and the auxiliary bishops, for Sacred Heart Major Seminary's rector and faculty, fellow seminarians, and the clergy of the archdiocese.

"Finally, we ask for your continued prayers for us, that we will be faithful and holy priests, growing each day in our configurement to Christ, our High Priest, being faithful to the promises we have made today, and seeking always to do the will of the Lord, and that we will pour ourselves out in love for the Lord, and for you, the Church, the Bride of Christ," he added.

Before he received the first blessings from the new priests, Cardinal Maida prayed that they might have the gifts of the Holy Spirit as they begin their ministries, and throughout their lives. "Congratulations, God bless you, and we look forward to working with you in building up the Body of Christ in our local Church," he added.

By the laying on of hands, Cardinal Adam Maida confers the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood on candidate Andrew Bloomfield during last Saturday's ordination ceremony.

At the reception following the ceremony, family members expressed their joy and emotions. "I can't explain it in words," said Deacon Richard Bloomfield about seeing his son ordained. "I was happy to be able to participate and read the Gospel without breaking down," he added.

Deborah Bloomfield said she was "just overcome" at seeing her son ordained. "I started crying at the first note of the first hymn," she said.

She expressed confidence Fr. Bloomfield would be a good priest: "He has a love for Christ, a love for Christ's Church, a desire to serve, and he loves listening and learning and teaching."

Noting there is a 20-year difference between his son and Fr. Sands, and 20 years between Fr. Sands and Fr. Lang, Deacon Bloomfield said the three new priests "bring a wide spectrum of experiences and talents."

A younger brother, Will Bloomfield, said Fr. Bloomfield is very prayerful, and predicted he would be a great homilist. The Bloomfields are members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wyandotte.

Fr. Sands' parents are both deceased, but his brother and sister attended the ordination ceremony. "It was very exciting. I was very proud of him," said Kenneth Sands of Walpole Island, Ontario.

"Ever since we were kids, you could tell it was like he had a special gift. He's loving, caring, very outgoing – all the good qualities that will make people love him and him love them – and he has the love for the Lord that was taught us by our parents," Kenneth Sands said.

Michele Sands, of Windsor, Ontario, said she is confident her brother will make a good priest "because he cares more for other people, not for himself, because he loves God, and because he's a good guy." Fr. Sands' siblings are members of St. John the Baptist Anglican Parish on Walpole Island.

Fr. Sands also had many well-wishers in attendance from among the Native American community, who were excited about one of their own being ordained to the priesthood.

Candace Two Bulls was among 19 members of the Kateri Circle of St. Regis Mission on the Akwesasne Mo who traveled by chartered bus from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation on the New York-Ontario border.

"We were just so overjoyed for him, and proud of him because he is the first full-blooded Native American to be ordained to the priesthood," she said.

Fr. Lang's parents are also deceased, but his son and daughter – and grandchildren – were there for his ordination.

Joseph Lang Jr., a member of St. John Neumann Parish in Canton, Township, said, "I felt very proud of him and very happy for him. I'm glad he's embarked on now his third career."

Lang said he was "not that surprised" when his father told him he intended to go on for priestly ordination: "When my mom passed away, one of the things she said was that she wanted him to go on to serve as either a deacon or a priest."

And he said he had no doubt his dad would be a good priest. "He's been a very loving father, a wonderful grandfather, and he's always been very devout," Lang added.

Fr. Lang's daughter, Anne Thorne, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Grand Rapids, said her father's best qualities are "his kindness, his sincerity," and that she was sure he would make a fine priest.

And her husband, Tom Thorne added, "Plus he's had life experiences most priests haven't had."

For their first assignments, all effective July 1, Fr. Bloomfield will serve as associate pastor at St. John Neumann Parish, Canton Township; Fr. Lang will serve as associate pastor at St. Thecla and St. Claude parishes, Clinton Township; and Fr. Sands will serve as associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish, Detroit.