9 priests ordained at ceremony in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A new group of priests are joining the archdiocese of Milwaukee on Saturday, May 18. They were ordained at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist this morning. 

Archbishop Jerome Listecki hosted the ceremony, in one of the largest ordination classes in the county. It is also the Milwaukee archdiocese's largest class since 1992. 

“We are ordaining 9 to the priesthood," said Listecki. “Their service and dedication is anyone who is a leader would embrace.”

For more than ten years, Kevin Durand has dreamed about priesthood.

“I was thinking about what I had to give up rather than what God was going to give me," said Druand.

Saturday morning, he was ordained and tells us it's a transformative moment. 

"There's an expression that says, 'everything changes but nothing changes at the same time.' So, we put on the priesthood, which is way bigger than ourselves and God bestows that upon those he's called and praise him for that. But also, at the same time I'm still me," said Durand. 

Durand tells us he's heading to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip, after that he'll take up a role at Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac. 

While seminaries across the country continue to have low enrollment, in Milwaukee, seminaries are at full capacity. 

“It’s really a good problem to have because what we’re talking about is basically witnessing and serving at the church for decades to come," said Listecki. “With the great blessing comes the responsibilities to maintain them.”