Christian Brother Frank Byrne proclaims the Second Reading from Hebrews 5:1-10 during the Mass of Ordination June 2. Brother Frank was present to witness the ordination of three CBA alumni – Father Christopher Dayton, Father Michael DeSaye and Father Nicholas Dolan. Craig Pittelli photo From left, Brother Nicholas Dolan and Rev. Messrs. Christopher Dayton and Michael DeSaye return to their alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, to assist in the 2018 Baccalaureate Mass celebrated May 23 by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. Also pictured is Christian Brother Frank Byrne, CBA president. Joe Moore photo
CBA provided nurturing environment for three newly ordained alumni By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor
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oments after the June 2 Mass of Ordination in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, had concluded, Christian Brother Frank Byrne, president of Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and Christian Brother Ralph Montedoro happily reflected on the blessing of having three CBA graduates receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. “It’s great for the school to know that three of our [former] students were ordained today,” said Brother Frank, noting that he knew Father Nicholas Dolan when he was a student at CBA, but Father Christopher Dayton and Father Michael De Saye had already graduated by the time he arrived to the school nine years ago. “It’s special for our school,” Brother Frank said. “It speaks well of Catholic education in general that the school helped plant the seed in the young men along with their families to nurture and grow into ordination today.”
Brother Ralph, the school’s executive vice president, said it was a privilege to be present for the ordination and that he was honored
“[God] touched their lives and called them, and they said ‘yes’ to the call.” knowing that the CBA community had played a part in the men’s priestly journeys. “They were typical CBA young boys who we helped to nurture,” he said. “Who would have known they would have gone on to pursue the seminary? [God] touched their lives and called them, and they said ‘yes’ to the call,” he said. Father DeSaye also remarked on how his CBA education helped inspire his vocation, saying, “They laid a good foundation in Catholic morals and Catholic culture, which I
think is fundamental to anyone who is going to discern a priestly vocation.” A wide smile came crossed Brother Frank’s face as he reflected on the number of graduates from the all-male school who went on to become priests. With the ordinations of Father Dayton, Father DeSaye and Father Dolan, “we now have nine,” said Brother Frank, who then proceeded to name other priest alumni, especially those who are currently serving in the Trenton Diocese – Father Robert Holtz, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton; Father Joseph Farrell, pastor of Assumption Parish, New Egypt and St. Andrew Parish, Jobstown; Father Jarlath Quinn, parochial vicar of St. James Parish, Pennington, St. George Parish, Titusville, and St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell; and Father Kenneth Ekdahl, pastor of Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport. “We keep praying for vocations to continue to the priesthood and religious life,” including vocations to the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the community which staffs CBA,” he said.
Former CBA teacher, current priest calls ordination ‘awe-inspiring’
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ather Garry Koch knows firsthand how Lincroft’s Christian Brothers Academy can foster vocations. The pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, not only taught theology at the school for many years before he entered the seminary – an experience he says that helped to foster his own priestly vocation – he also instructed Father Dayton, Father DeSaye and Father Dolan during their respective CBA careers. “Through serious academic investigation into Catholic theology, an active campus ministry program, community service and the availability of daily Mass, CBA maintains a deep commitment to the life of faith,” said Father Koch, who was ordained a priest in 2013. “There is no doubt that the school is a faithful and serious environment for the fostering of faith in young men.”
Father Koch noted that he spent a great deal of time talking about faith and the priesthood with Father DeSaye while he attended CBA, and then as a college student when Father DeSaye was considering a vocation as a Benedictine monk. By the time Father DeSaye decided to transition from religious life to the diocesan priesthood, Father Koch had been ordained a priest and assigned to St. Benedict Parish. “Michael had See Teacher • S17
S16 • Ordinations • The Monitor • June 14, 2018
Father Michael DeSaye incenses the altar during the first Mass he celebrated as a newly ordained priest June 3 in St. Benedict Church, Holmdel. At left is Father Garry Koch, pastor of St. Benedict, who taught three of the Diocese’s newly ordained priests during his teaching tenure at Christian Brothers Academy. John Batkowski photo