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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Five men ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Detroit

by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published June 5, 2009

Detroit - The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament was filled to capacity last Saturday to see Archbishop Allen Vigneron ordain five new priests for the Archdiocese of Detroit and one for an African diocese.

In a ceremony rich in history and tradition, and through the laying on of hands, the archbishop conferred presbyteral orders on:

• Raymond E. Arwady, 36
• Philip T. Ching, 26
• David J. Cybulski, 36
• Charles White IV, 30
• Michael J. Wilkes, 26

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Standing with Archbishop Allen Vigneron in front of the rectory of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament following last Saturday’s ordination ceremony are the five new priests ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit (from left): Frs. Raymond Arwady, Philip Ching, Charles White IV, Michael Wilkes and David Cybulski.

In addition, for the Archdiocese of Douala, Cameroon, Archbishop Vigneron ordained Noël Jean Fogang Néguim, who also studied for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

"This is for me a day of great, great joy. It's partly a joy to me because this is my first opportunity to ordain men for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and I'm sure I share that joy along with Cardinal (Adam) Maida and Cardinal (Edmund C.) Szoka," Archbishop Vigneron said in his homily, referring to his two predecessors as archbishop who were present for the ceremony.

Turning to the candidates for ordination, he continued, "Some of you were even students at the seminary when I was rector. It's a joy for me because I love the priesthood, and I'm so glad to be able to share it with you so that priestly ministry may be spread through the life of the Church."

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Priests of the archdiocese lay their hands on the heads of each of the newly ordained priests in turn as part of the ceremony.

Calling each of the six ordinandi by name, he said, "You were made a new creation on the day you were baptized. And now through priestly ordination you will receive a new character. Your creation in Jesus will be further specified."

As spokesman for the ordination class, Fr. Arwady said at the conclusion of the ceremony, "Today, the souls of six men have been configured more closely to God, and for that we give thanks."

He expressed his classmates' thanks to God and to all those - bishops, pastors, teachers, family members and others - who helped them along the path to priestly ordination.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic During the Promise of the Elect, the future Fr. Raymond Arwady kneels before Archbishop Allen Vigneron as he makes his promise of respect and obedience.

Fr. Arwady thanked Archbishop Vigneron not only for his role in ordaining them, but also "for your fatherly example of priesthood."

His parents, Lester and Judith Arwady, saw two of their sons up in the cathedral's sanctuary last Saturday - one being ordained a priest and another serving as one of the deacons of the Mass.

Speaking of Fr. Arwady, at the reception following the ceremony, his father said, "I believe he'll be an extraordinary priest. He has a lot of compassion and a lot of understanding."

Judith Arwady said, "He listens when people talk. He has great feelings for people and he's very giving."

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Newly ordained priests are welcomed to the presbyterate by (from left) Auxiliary Bishop Moses Anderson, SSE, Cardinal Adam Maida and Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka.

And they both said they look forward to Fr. Raymond's twin brother, James - just recently ordained a transitional deacon - being ordained to the priesthood next year.

Also at the reception, Felipe Ching said he was "overwhelmed with joy" as he watched his son being ordained.

Fr. Ching's mother, Mila, said, "I am so very thankful to God, so thankful for the gifts he has given to us. I can't explain how thankful and grateful I am."

She predicted her son would make an excellent priest because he is "very trustworthy and very loving." His father echoed her thoughts, adding that his son is "friendly and very dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ."

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Newly ordained Fr. Michael Wilkes receives the chalice and paten containing the elements to be consecrated from Archbishop Allen Vigneron during the Handing Over of the Bread and Wine.

Edward Cybulski called the ordination ceremony a "fantastic experience," and predicted his son will be able to use his qualities of kindness and understanding to serve others as a priest.

"I see a holiness there - a dedication to Christ, dedication to God," he said.

Judy Wilkes recalled how her son used to play at being a priest as a young boy, and added, "Now, it's real."

She said she believes Fr. Wilkes will bring the same love and care to others as a priest that he showed toward his aged grandparents when he was a teenager. "Michael's a caring person. He's gentle and conscientious," she added.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron kneels before the altar as the newly ordained priests confer their first blessing on him.

Frank Wilkes said he wasn't at all surprised when his son told them he wanted to study for the priesthood: "I think you could see he was heading in that direction, that he had it in his heart."

For Charles White III, who became a Catholic in 1993, seeing his son ordained a priest was an emotional experience: "It was beautiful, man; I pretty much cried the whole time."

He said his son has a reverence and love for the Eucharist and "a great thirst to bring souls to the Lord."

Fr. White's mother, Nancy Glover, who is remarried and remains a Baptist, also predicted a great future for her son's priestly ministry. "He's very content and happy to serve the Lord. He has a deep faith, is very caring and loves to help people," she said.

In his homily, Archbishop Vigneron told the ordinandi, "You will be consecrated as true priests of the New Testament, to preach the Gospel, to shepherd God's people and to celebrate the sacred liturgy, especially the Lord's sacrifice. That neatly summarizes the new creation you will be, after the imposition of hands and my prayer. You will be recreated in the signs and the sacraments of Christ, head, shepherd and spouse of the Church."

Expanding on the significance of the day, the archbishop continued, "The Holy Spirit in ordaining you today enters your heart; He touches what is deepest and most intimate in you; He awakens your hearts to be hearts according to God's heart, according to the Sacred Heart, according to the priestly Heart of Jesus. And so here, in the cathedral today, is fulfilled the prophesy of Jeremiah when Jeremiah said to the children of Israel that the Lord God would give us shepherds after His own heart."

Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, he said, the new priests are "established in communion with Christ the High Priest."