Meet the Men Who Just Became Catholic Priests in Virginia

July 4, 2025

The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, recently ordained twelve new priests at a time when the U.S. Catholic Church faces a severe priest shortage. The article profiles four of these newly-ordained priests, exploring their diverse backgrounds and journeys to priesthood. Each man describes his unique path to ordination, including overcoming personal doubts, transitioning from established careers, and reconciling family expectations with their calling.

Who is affected

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Virginia
The twelve newly ordained priests, including Rev. Ricky Malebranche, Rev. Mike Sampson, Rev. Alfredo Tuesta, and Rev. Tim Banach
The Black Catholic community, which Rev. Malebranche represents as part of a small group of Black American priests
The families of the priests, including Protestant relatives of Rev. Sampson
The U.S. Catholic Church community facing a priest shortage
Parishioners in the Diocese of Arlington who will be served by these new priests

What action is being taken

The Diocese of Arlington is ordaining twelve new priests, its second-largest class ever
Rev. Malebranche is entering ministry with awareness of representing the Black Catholic community
Rev. Sampson is preparing to serve at a parish near his former workplace before beginning a five-year stint as a military chaplain with the U.S. Navy in three years
Rev. Tuesta is entering priesthood after earning a doctorate in mechanical engineering
The new priests are committing to lives of celibacy, obedience, and devotion

Why it matters

The ordination helps address the "severe shortage of priests" in the U.S. Catholic Church
Rev. Malebranche's ordination is significant as Black Catholics make up 5% of the U.S. church but less than 1% of U.S. priests
The diverse backgrounds of these priests (former counselor, lawyer, engineer, and consultant) bring varied perspectives to ministry
The ordination represents personal sacrifices by the men, who gave up careers, relationships, and traditional family paths
Their stories demonstrate different paths to religious vocation, including conversions and delayed responses to calling

What's next

Rev. Sampson will begin a five-year stint as a military chaplain with the U.S. Navy in three years
Rev. Sampson will first serve at a parish close to where he once worked
No explicit next steps stated in the article for the other priests

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint