ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — At a time when the U.S. Catholic Church is grappling with a severe shortage of priests, the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained 12 new priests — its second-largest class ever — in a joyful Mass at its cathedral.
Ahead of the ceremony, The Associated Press spent time with the men, who explained what drove them to choose a life of celibacy, obedience and devotion.
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The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta smiles after greeting congregants at the end of a Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va., on Sunday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche speaks to congregants during a Mass at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Va., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
Priests and bishops bless the 12 newly ordained priests during Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Twelve deacons prostrate in front of the altar at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More during their ordination Mass in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Priests attend the ordination of 12 priests at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Priests greet a young usher while entering the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More for the ordination of 12 priests in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
From left, the Rev. Alfredo Tuesta, the Rev. Christian Njodzela, the Rev. Ricky Malebranche, the Rev. Raymond Goins, the Rev. Jordan Evans, and the Rev. Emmanuel Carreno Garcia, attend rehearsal for their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta opens the door to the sacristy after a Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va., on Sunday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Tim Banach gives an evening meditation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Mike Sampson blesses the Hilgert family during a reception after his first Mass, given at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Mike Sampson gives his first Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Tim Banach dresses before giving an evening meditation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Donald J. Planty, Jr., left, assists the Rev. Tim Banach with a microphone before Banach's first Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche, center, hugs his parents, Margaret and Jacques Malebranche, after being ordained a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Revs. Andrew Lewandowski, left, and Mike Sampson, center, stand among fellow priests after their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta gives his first blessing as a newly ordained priest to Bishop Michael Burbidge, who leads the Diocese of Arlington, at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Deacons Emmanuel Carreno Garcia, left, Tim Banach, center, and Joseph Connor, right, stand as all 12 names soon to join the priesthood are called during an ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Mike Sampson dresses for an evening meditation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
From left, the Rev. Joesph Connor, the Rev. Tim Banach, the Rev. John Meyerhofer, and the Rev. Mike Sampson, attend rehearsal for their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche, second from left, makes the sign of the cross as he leads prayers before a family meal at his home in Gainesville, Va., on Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche poses for a portrait after baptizing a child at St. Louis Catholic Church in Gainesville, Va., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta pauses after changing his vestments following a Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va., on Sunday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche holds the hand of 9-month-old Andres Roman Marquez after baptizing him at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Va., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison.
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta smiles after greeting congregants at the end of a Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va., on Sunday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche speaks to congregants during a Mass at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Va., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
Priests and bishops bless the 12 newly ordained priests during Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Twelve deacons prostrate in front of the altar at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More during their ordination Mass in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Priests attend the ordination of 12 priests at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Priests greet a young usher while entering the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More for the ordination of 12 priests in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
From left, the Rev. Alfredo Tuesta, the Rev. Christian Njodzela, the Rev. Ricky Malebranche, the Rev. Raymond Goins, the Rev. Jordan Evans, and the Rev. Emmanuel Carreno Garcia, attend rehearsal for their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta opens the door to the sacristy after a Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va., on Sunday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Tim Banach gives an evening meditation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Mike Sampson blesses the Hilgert family during a reception after his first Mass, given at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Mike Sampson gives his first Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Tim Banach dresses before giving an evening meditation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Donald J. Planty, Jr., left, assists the Rev. Tim Banach with a microphone before Banach's first Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche, center, hugs his parents, Margaret and Jacques Malebranche, after being ordained a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Revs. Andrew Lewandowski, left, and Mike Sampson, center, stand among fellow priests after their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta gives his first blessing as a newly ordained priest to Bishop Michael Burbidge, who leads the Diocese of Arlington, at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Deacons Emmanuel Carreno Garcia, left, Tim Banach, center, and Joseph Connor, right, stand as all 12 names soon to join the priesthood are called during an ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Mike Sampson dresses for an evening meditation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
From left, the Rev. Joesph Connor, the Rev. Tim Banach, the Rev. John Meyerhofer, and the Rev. Mike Sampson, attend rehearsal for their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche, second from left, makes the sign of the cross as he leads prayers before a family meal at his home in Gainesville, Va., on Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche poses for a portrait after baptizing a child at St. Louis Catholic Church in Gainesville, Va., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta pauses after changing his vestments following a Mass at St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va., on Sunday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
The Rev. Ricky Malebranche holds the hand of 9-month-old Andres Roman Marquez after baptizing him at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Va., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
