W H A T | Priesthood Ordination Mass
W H E N | Saturday, May 16, 2025, 11 A.M.
W H E R E | Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains: 325 W. 8th St., Cincinnati OH
Release Date: May 13, 2026
Nine men being ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will joyfully celebrate the ordination of nine new priests on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The men will be ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Robert G. Casey will celebrate the Mass. Within the course of the ordination rite, the archbishop will lay his hands on the men, invoking the authority given by Christ to the apostles to make new priests.
The nine new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. This year’s class ties the largest group of ordinands in 53 years; classes of nine men were also ordained in 2019 and 1975. Including this year’s ordinands, 65 men have been ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati since 2016!
The nine new priests have served as transitional deacons for the last year. Their ministry has included baptizing, assisting at marriages, and preaching at Mass. The men graduated on May 9 of this year from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology, after at least seven years of formation for the priesthood.
Men to be ordained:
Deacon Nicholas Emmerling
Deacon Curtis Gross
Deacon Kraig Gruss
Deacon David Homoelle
Deacon Daniel Jasek
Deacon Benjamin Klare
Deacon Doug Moore
Deacon Benjamin Packer
Deacon Jacob Schmeising
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 455,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 42,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 187 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
