×

Diocese of Marquette ordains 3 new priests

MARQUETTE – For the first time in 22 years three priests were ordained at the same time in the Diocese of Marquette during a special liturgy on Friday at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.

Deacons Brandon Oman, of Ralph; Brad Sjoquist, of Kingsford; and Tim Ferguson, of Saginaw were the first priests to be ordained by Bishop John Doerfler.

“I’m really overjoyed,” Oman said. “I was in school for eight years, and when you first begin it’s like ‘Man, it’s still eight years away, and I’ve got to go through all this,’ but really it’s just an amazing process. It’s all worth it.”

Sjoquist said he started thinking about becoming a priest in high school and then went to Central Michigan University where he became involved in many things on campus, including campus ministry.

“It just became so clear to me,” he said. “The stuff that I did for campus ministry gave me a joy in a way that nothing else did, and just kind of realizing that I can do this for the rest of my life and I just knew that I’d never have peace unless I gave it a shot.”

Ferguson said most of what happened Friday felt like it was happening to someone else.

“I’ve always wanted to be a priest ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “I went in right after high school, but after seven years I took some time off that turned into 20 years off, and what motivated me to come back is just that real desire to serve the church, to just put my life in Jesus’ hands and let him take over and guide where I go, and the signs were pointing pretty strongly to the priesthood up here.”

The three priests are each being assigned to a parish within the diocese’s reach, which covers the entire Upper Peninsula.

Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today