Father Lamanna, SJ, ordained a priest in the Society of Jesus

Father Michael Lamanna, SJ, a Jesuit in the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus was ordained to the priesthood June 12 at the Fordham University Church in the Bronx.

Father Lamanna was born in Albany and claims upstate New York as home. He attended Syracuse University and did two years of volunteer work before entering the society in 2011. He cherishes memories of working with women religious in Syracuse and Buffalo before and after joining the society.

As a novice, Father Lamanna did his long experiment at Nativity Miguel Middle School in Buffalo with Father Ed Durkin, SJ. Working with Father Durkin was extremely formative, and it solidified Father Lamanna’s conviction that Jesuits bring something special to the world. After vows in 2013, Father Lamanna was missioned to Loyola University Chicago for philosophy studies. He went to Yap, Micronesia in 2016 for his regency, where he taught math, history and religion, along with volleyball, gardening and choir at Yap Catholic High School.

Working with migrants and refugees has been a formative part of Father Lamanna’s life. He worked in Refugee Resettlement in Syracuse before he entered the society, and he has had opportunities to live and work near the southwestern border as a Jesuit, including a summer working with the Kino Border Initiative. He most recently served as a deacon at St. Ignatius Parish in Chestnut Hill, Mass., a welcome pastoral outlet in a time when interpersonal ministry is scarce. He completed a Master of Divinity and Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Father Lamanna will do a pastoral year at Sacred Heart Parish in Richmond, Va.