The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, has only been around since the 197os, but recently ordained 12 men to the priesthood — the second-biggest ordination class in the history of the diocese.
On June 7, Fr. Timothy Banach, Fr. Emmanuel Carreno Garcia, Fr. Joesph Connor, Fr. Jordan Evans, Fr. John Fimmuchime, Fr. Raymond Goins, Fr. Andrew Lewandowski, Fr. Richard Malebranche, Fr. John Meyerhofer, Fr. Christian Njodzela, Fr. Michael Sampson, and Fr. Alfredo Tuesta were ordained to the priesthood in a Mass at St. Thomas More Cathedral, located in Arlington.
The diocese's last ordination class with this many priests was nearly three decades ago, said the Associated Press, although larger-than-average ordinations are the recent norm for Arlington, which is located in Northern Virginia.
The Diocese of Arlington was established in 1974. It is led by Bishop Michael Burbidge.
While 2024 saw only two men ordained to the priesthood, 2023 and 2022 each had eight new priests; 2021, four; and 2020, five.
There's also little sign of the vocation boom slowing down.
God willing, the summer of 2026 will see the seven men ordained in April as transitional deacons become priests for the Diocese of Arlington.
