May 20, 2024 at 1:09 p.m.

ORDINATION CELEBRATION

Five priests, one deacon ordained at the Cathedral

Newly-ordained priests and deacon pose with Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, third from left, and Father Father Brian Kelly, Vicar for Vocations, following the combined Ordination of Priests and Deacons on Saturday May 20, 2023, at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Albany, N.Y. From left are Father Joseph Tuan Van Pham, Father Paul McDonald, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, Deacon Eric Ramirez, Father Anthony Chibueze Onu, Father Adam Feisthamel, Father Thomas Fallati and Father Brian Kelly. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist (Courtesy photo of Cindy Schultz)

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The Diocese of Albany and Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger celebrated the combined Priesthood and Diaconate Ordination on May 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. Five men - Fathers Thomas Fallati, Adam Feisthamel, Paul McDonald, Anthony Onu and Joseph Tuan Pham - were ordained to the priesthood, and Deacon Eric Ramirez was ordained to the permanent diaconate. Priests lay their hands upon the candidates for the Ordination of Priests

“Your love is the reason that these men are here today … and I thank you for it,” said Bishop Scharfenberger during his homily, speaking to the assembled faithful. “I thank you for your presence, I thank you for your sacrifice, I thank you for your patience, I thank you for your faith and most of all your love. They know as we all know that it is through you, leading them by your example, your support, by your encouragement that they have found the courage to say yes, I accept this call.”

The candidates for the combined Ordination of Priests and Deacons lay in supplication

Bishop Scharfenberger ended his homily saying to the six men, “My dear brothers as you go before the all high God at this altar today, receive this gift with great humility, let it change you. But let it also inspire you now not to hold on to this gift yourself but to share it with the world, not just to keep the faith but to spread it.”Newly ordained priest Adam Feisthamel, right, poses for a selfie with Deacon Anthony Tran of Honolulu

On May 20, Bishop Scharfenberger announced their new assignments: Father Fallati has been named parochial vicar at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Schenectady; Father Feisthamel has been named parochial vicar at St. Matthew’s Church in Voorheesville, St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar, St. Lucy’s Church in Altamont, and Christ the King in Westmere; Father McDonald has been named parochial vicar at St. Clement’s Church in Saratoga, St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich and Notre Dame Visitation in Schuylerville; Father Onu has been named parochial vicar at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Rotterdam; St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Schenectady, St. Gabriel’s Church in Schenectady and St. Margaret of Cortona Mission Church in Rotterdam Junction; Father Joseph Tuan Pham has been named parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Latham; and Deacon Eric Ramirez has been named the permanent deacon at St. John the Evangelist Church and St. Anthony’s Church, both in Schenectady. All new assignments are effective June 1.Father Daniel Vallejo (.l ) celebrates with newly ordained priest Paul McDonald.