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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Five men to be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Detroit on Saturday

The Michigan Catholic
Published May 29, 2009

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Five men will be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Detroit during a 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit. They are (from left) Deacon Raymond Edward Arwady, Deacon Michael James Wilkes, Deacon Charles White IV, Deacon Philip Tolentino Ching and Deacon David John Cybulski.

Deacon Raymond Edward Arwady
Age: 36
Parents: Lester and Judy Arwady, SS. Cyril & Methodius (Slovak) Parish, Sterling Heights

Deacon Arwady

Education: Amerman Elementary School, Northville; Smith Middle School , Troy; Troy High, Troy; Oakland University, Rochester - Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science, Engineering Management; Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit - Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Divinity; Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum) - Bachelor of Sacred Theology.

Parish(es) where you grew up and current home parish: I completed my Sacraments of Initiation as a child at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Northville, and then moved to Troy, where I was confirmed at St. Thomas More. I, unfortunately, like many in my generation, after receiving full membership into the Church, failed to practice the faith with any seriousness or regularity after confirmation. Approximately five years later, I returned to the regular practice of the faith due to a thirst for truth and knowledge about life. At that time I was in my first or second year of college. There was a priest who assisted at Sacred Heart Parish in Auburn Hills and I found his preaching enlightening. That priest is now Bishop Earl Boyea of the Diocese of Lansing. Having moved again, I became a member of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Sterling Heights at the end of 1998.

Masses of Thanksgiving (both where and when):

• SS. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak) Chuch, Sterling Heights, Sunday, May 31, 10 a.m.;
• Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Farmington, Sunday, June 21, 11:15 a.m.;
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Temperance, Sunday, June 28, 11 a.m.

Secular career before entering seminary (if any):
For about six years, I worked as an engineer for General Motors Corp., from May 1996 through August 2002, prior to entering Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

Briefly describe your route to the priesthood (when you first began to think you might have a vocation, who - or what - were pivotal influences on you as you discerned your vocation):
I was 28 years old when I heard the call to priesthood. I never spoke to anyone about the call except to my brother, who was also discerning a call at the same time. Although my pastor, Fr. Benjamin Kosnac at SS. Cyril and Methodius, had no idea that I was considering the priesthood, he encouraged me to become an altar boy, which helped me to warm up to the idea of becoming a priest. I initially rejected the call and thought it silly and beyond me. I had never desired to become a priest before, and I figured that I was not holy enough, and that my path in life was already permanent. "After all," I thought, "people don't abruptly leave $60,000 dollar per year careers to become priests. That's just crazy!" Call me crazy. Once I became convinced through prayer that God loves me more than I love myself, desires my happiness more than I desire my own happiness, and that God knows better than me how to make me happy, then I could take that initial leap of faith. After that, I couldn't go back.

Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
Once I arrived at the seminary, I doubted that I belonged there many times per day. I was struggling in academic work that included philosophy, music and Latin. To me all three of those were like studying ancient languages, not just one of them! I often looked up at that crucifix in my dormitory room and asked Jesus, "Are you sure you got the right guy for this job?" It took me about three months to begin to feel comfortable at the seminary. My doubts were only resolved through prayer. I fled to Jesus in the tabernacle every time I had a problem, a doubt or a complaint. He was always waiting for me and it seemed to me that He was a pretty good listener. My recent realization that Jesus was really present as a person in the Eucharist was my anchor in times of crisis and doubt. That much still remains the same.

What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
I believe the two greatest challenges facing the Church in the United States are catechesis and evangelization. If we were to add a third, I'd suggest the attack on the human family. It seems to me that we Catholics do not know much about our own faith, nor do we seem to be zealous or have a readiness to share our faith with others. I see parishes clustering and merging, schools closing, and vocations dwindling. Such are signs of a Church in decline. Pornography, abortion and contraception underlie divorce, separation and disharmony within families. We need to reprioritize our lives and put God first. We need to return to the basics of family prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and the daily use of our Bible if we expect to grow as a Church. All of this, however, ought not to affect our hope because our hope lies in Jesus Christ alone.

What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
My hope for the priestly ministry is simple: to bring as many souls as possible to Christ and to Heaven, and to never grow weary in serving God and neighbor.

What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
I believe that the ministry of healing and reconciliation will be most rewarding for me. St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, used to hear confessions for hours and people would come to him from miles around to confess their sins to him. Reconciling the sinner to God is something beautiful, and to be an instrument of that reconciliation is beyond words.

Deacon Philip Tolentino Ching
Age: 26
Parents: Felipe and Mila Ching, Royal Oak, National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak.

Deacon Ching

Education: Shrine Grade School, Shrine Academy, Shrine High School, all in Royal Oak; Sacred Heart Major Seminary - Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology.

Parish(es) where you grew up and current home parish: Baptized at SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit) Church in Detroit. Since 1985, my home parish has been the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak.

Masses of Thanksgiving (both where and when):

• National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Sunday, May 31, 10:45 a.m. May 31;
• St. Mary Church, Wayne, Saturday, June 6, 4 p.m.;
• Our Lady of Loretto Church, Redford Township, Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m.;
• Immaculate Conception Church, Anchorville, Sunday, June 14, noon;
• Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak) Church, Sterling Heights, Sunday, June 21, 9:30 a.m.

Briefly describe your route to the priesthood (when you first began to think you might have a vocation, who - or what - were pivotal influences on you as you discerned your vocation?):
I was aware of the call to the priesthood when I was in second grade. My teacher, Sr. Ann Margaret, asked us in class what we wanted to be when we grew up. I had jotted down "priest" as quickly as all the rest jotted down their responses. The fire to pursue it seriously was enkindled during the summer between my sophomore and junior years in high school at a youth conference in Steubenville, Ohio. Through a series of providential signs, God pointed me steadily to the seminary for my education and formation. One of the largest influences I had in my discernment to the priesthood was Fr. Joseph Horn (now pastor of Holy Family Parish in Memphis). However, what really reined me in occurred at an intense Ignatian silent retreat. It was then that I was given the certainty I needed to believe God had truly called me forth to the priesthood.

Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
Oh sure I had my doubts. When I really had my doubts, I turned to God in prayer, and I spoke with my pastor, my spiritual directors, and a few of my friends.

What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
Some of the greatest challenges involve a lack of true love for God and the Church, a lack of proper catechesis among the faithful, and the lack of a solid Christian male identity. The greatest hope lies undoubtedly in the Eucharist who strengthens each of us to carry out the Father's will with supernatural vigor and zeal and who can transform us into saints if we allow Him.

What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
I hope to be the priest God calls me to be. I desire much to be ever faithful and ever zealous for the Catholic faith. I hope to follow Christ with all my heart, all my strength... essentially my very being to promote the Kingdom of God.

What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
Celebrating Holy Mass and leading souls to God.

Deacon David John Cybulski
Age: 36
Parents: Edward and the late Joann Cybulski, Shelby Township, St. Clement of Rome Parish, Romeo

Deacon Cybulski

Education: St. Lawrence, Utica; De La Salle Collegiate High School, Warren; University of Michigan -B.S.E. Electrical Engineering, M.S.E. Computer Science and Engineering; Sacred Heart Major Seminary - bachelor's degree in philosophy, master's degree in divinity, bachelor's degree in sacred theology.

Parish(es) where you grew up and current home parish:
Growing up my parish was St. Kieran in Shelby Township. My home parish is St. Isidore in Macomb Township.

Masses of Thanksgiving (both where and when):

• St. Isidore Church, Macomb, Sunday, May 31, 11:30 a.m.;
• St. Damian Church, Westland, Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m.;
• Immaculate Conception Church, Lapeer, Sunday, June 14, 9:30 a.m.;
• SS. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak) Church, Sterling Heights, Wednesday, June 17, 9 a.m.;
• SS. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak) Church, Sterling Heights, Saturday, June 20, 4 p.m.

Secular career before entering seminary (if any):
I worked for five and a half years at Intel Corporation in Chandler, Ariz. During that time I was an architecture validation engineer for the Itanium and Itanium 2 processors.

Briefly describe your route to the priesthood (when you first began to think you might have a vocation, who - or what - were pivotal influences on you as you discerned your vocation?):
When I was 7 years old I used to tell members of my family that I wanted to be a priest. I did not understand what it meant to be called by God to such a vocation, and as I approached college I chose to pursue something I thought was practical, like engineering. The desire to become a priest never left me. When I moved to Arizona I signed up for an hour of adoration each week in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Shortly after, I joined a group called College Youth for Catholic Truth. These young adults who were fervent in their faith encouraged me to grow more deeply in mine. Seeing two of my friends pursue vocations motivated me to seek out the vocation director. Originally, I applied for the Diocese of Phoenix; however, with time it became clear God was calling me to be a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
It was difficult at first. I went into seminary thinking I was going to discern this was not my calling. I figured I would give God a year or two and put this all behind me. There were several instances when I became convinced that it was time to leave, but at each of those points in prayer God reassured me that I was on the right path, and I felt I had the grace to continue. By the time I reached theology I became convinced that I was called to the priesthood. From that point a certain peace permeated the rest of my time at seminary.

What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
St. Peter exhorts us "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope" (1 Peter 3:15). We should see the kingdom of God breaking into this world; however, many Catholics can hardly be distinguished from the secular culture, nor can they express what it is they believe. In catechizing youth I have found far too many of them to be disinterested in their faith because they come from homes where their parents do not regularly attend Mass. That the treasury of graces that we have in the sacraments goes neglected can be disheartening. Our hope though is always in Jesus Christ who has already won victory through his cross. He is constantly drawing his people to himself; therefore, there is never reason to be discouraged.

What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
My hope is simply to remain always close to our Lord and rely on him for everything. "He must increase; I must decrease" (John 3:30).

What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
When my mother was nearing death I heard clearly while praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament to make sure she received Holy Communion. The next day someone from the parish brought Communion; later that night my mom died. Since then I have had a deep desire to be God's instrument especially through the sacraments of reconciliation, anointing of the sick, and viaticum.

Deacon Charles White IV
Age: 30
Parents: Nancy Glover, Troy, Member of Memorial Baptist Church, Sterling Heights; Charles White III, Roseville, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit

Deacon White

Education: Ottawa Elementary School, Clinton Township; Davis Jr. High, Sterling Heights; Stevenson High School, Sterling Heights; Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit.

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Master of Divinity, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology through Sacred Heart Major Seminary, conferred by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum).

Parish(es) where you grew up and current home parish:
I grew up attending Memorial Baptist Church, Sterling Heights. I am currently a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit.

Masses of Thanksgiving (both where and when):

• First Solemn High Mass: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Church, Detroit, Sunday, May 31, 9:30 a.m.;
• St. Sebastian Church, Dearborn Heights, Sunday, June 7, 12:30 p.m.
• Our Lady on the River Church, St. Catherine, Algonac, Saturday, June 20, 4 p.m.;
• Holy Cross Church, Marine City, Sunday, June 21, 9:30 a.m.;
• St. Louise de Marillac Church, Warren, Sunday, June 28, noon.

Secular career before entering seminary (if any):
I served in the United States Air Force. I then worked briefly as a contractor for the local auto industry and then for a few years as a security guard before entering the seminary.

Briefly describe your route to the priesthood (when you first began to think you might have a vocation, who - or what - were pivotal influences on you as you discerned your vocation?):
I am a convert to the Catholic Church. I was drawn to the Church by the fact that it was founded by Jesus Christ upon the rock of Peter and the apostles. While on my journey through the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults, I fell more and more in love with the Lord and I desired to learn more about the Catholic faith. I was hungry for the Truth. The more I learned, the more I wanted to share all that I learned with others. I felt a desire to help others grow closer to the Lord and learn more about the faith. At first, the idea of the priesthood was only one possibility among other things that I thought that I wanted to do with my life. Over time, I began to feel that God may be calling me to the priesthood. Through much prayer and spiritual direction, I eventually discerned that I should enter the seminary.

Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
During my time in the seminary, I never doubted that I was right where God wanted me. I was certain that He had led me to the seminary to give me time to discern if He was indeed calling me to serve the archdiocese as a priest. I had doubts, at times, about whether I would actually go all the way through the program, but I knew that I was in the right place to prayerfully discern my vocation.

At one point, during my second year in the seminary, I thought that God may not be calling me to be a priest. The spiritual director of the house at the time helped me to work through my uncertainty and encouraged me to persevere. During the following years of my seminary formation I became more and more convinced that the Lord was, in fact, calling me to serve Him as a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
I think the greatest challenge facing the Church today is the culture in which we live. John Paul II, in his Encyclical "Evangelium Vitae," called the culture prevalent in the modern world a "culture of death." We live in a culture that is highly skeptical that it is possible to know truth. This has led to widespread rejection of God, Who Is Truth. If one rejects God, one loses sight of the very purpose of our existence as human beings. Each and every individual was made to know and love God.

Despite the fact that we live in a culture which is hostile towards our Catholic Faith, we can still have great hope. We have hope because Christ has conquered sin and death. A former rector of the seminary used to often remind us that Christ has already won the victory, we have only to run out the clock with style.

What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
I hope to be a faithful priest of Jesus Christ. I hope to faithfully serve God and serve His people. I hope that I will always be a faithful instrument in the hand of the Lord, that He may use me to lead many people into a closer relationship with Himself. As St. John the Baptist said, I must decrease that the Lord may increase. May I always be a bridge and never an obstacle to the grace that the Lord desires to pour out upon His people.

What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
I am looking forward to helping others grow closer to God through the celebration of the Sacraments, particularly through offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and through hearing confessions. I am also looking forward to helping others grow in their understanding and appreciation of the Catholic Faith. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in my own faith and sharing all that I have learned with others.

Deacon Michael James Wilkes
Age: 26
Parents: Frank and Judy Wilkes, Allen Park, St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park

Deacon Wilkes

Education: St. Frances Cabrini Elementary, Cabrini High School, Sacred Heart Major Seminary - Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology.

Parish(es) where you grew up and current home parish: St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park,

Masses of Thanksgiving (both where and when):

• St. Frances Cabrini Church, Allen Park, Sunday, May 31, 10 a.m.;
• St. Joseph Church, Lake Orion, Sunday, June 7, 10:45 a.m.;
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Temperance, June 14, 11 a.m.

Briefly describe your route to the priesthood (when you first began to think you might have a vocation, who - or what - were pivotal influences on you as you discerned your vocation?):
From an early age, I thought about being a priest. "Playing priest" was another childhood interest - along with astronaut, teacher, and detective. While in middle school, I took up an interest in meteorology and science. At the same time, I started to pray more often with the Scriptures and made myself available at my home parish to altar serve at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Through prayer, I began to recognize that the Lord was leading me to seriously consider the vocation to the priesthood. After attending a seminary discernment weekend at the end of my sophomore year in high school, I intended then to enter the seminary after high school. The fall following my high school graduation in 2001, I entered Sacred Heart to begin my eight-year program of priestly formation.

Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
Although I never had any serious doubts or fears about my vocation, my eight years in the seminary were a time of balancing study, spirituality, and pastoral work. Each year presented new challenges and goals, and I can see now how each year was an opportunity for me to grow in the awareness that yes - God is calling me to the priesthood.

What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
One of the greatest challenges facing the Church - but one in which there is also the greatest hope - is in the formation of Catholic families. The family is the first community wherein the faith is sown and nurtured. If we seek to proclaim the goods news of Jesus Christ and of His Church to all parts of the world, it must begin in the family home. It is the challenge of the Church minister's to assist Catholic families in recognizing the power of Christian witness and evangelization. In recognizing its identity as witness and evangelizer, the Catholic family will be able to bring joy into the world by simply living out what the Lord has called it to be - a community of faith, hope, and love.

What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
I hope to simply be a priest after the model of Christ, our High Priest. To be faithful to the Father's will, obedient to the pope and bishops, in one accord with brother priests, and at all times - loving my brothers and sisters whom I have been called to serve.

What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
A priest is a man for all people. It will be most rewarding to look back upon any given day in my life as a priest, and reflect upon all the people who came to the Lord that day through my ministry in service to the Lord and His Church. It is my prayer that in whatever service or action I perform in the person of Christ, those to whom I minister will be drawn into the all-embracing love of God.

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