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Diocese of Arlington Ordains Second-Largest Class of 12 Priests to Address National Shortage

One of the ordinands will begin parish work before embarking on a five-year assignment as a U.S. Navy chaplain.

Twelve newly ordained priests walk past pews of family, friends and community members, after their ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, Va., on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
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)
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)
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)

Overview

  • The Diocese of Arlington ordained 12 men in its second-largest class ever to help address a severe priest shortage in the U.S. Catholic Church.
  • Declining clergy numbers have left many parishes short-staffed nationwide, underscoring the significance of the diocese’s latest ordination.
  • The Rev. Ricky Malebranche, son of Haitian immigrants, abandoned a career as a high school counselor to become one of the few Black American priests in the U.S.
  • The Rev. Mike Sampson, a former Protestant lawyer, will serve locally before starting a five-year commission as a U.S. Navy chaplain in 2028.
  • The cohort also features Alfredo Tuesta, who immigrated from Peru at age 10 and earned a mechanical engineering doctorate, and Tim Banach, an engineer who traded consulting for the seminary.