Archdiocese of Cincinnati ordains 7 new priests

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati ordained seven new priests on Saturday, church officials said. 

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr celebrated the Mass and laid his hands on each of the men as part of the ordination rite, according to information released by officials.

This year's ordination falls in line with a growing trend over the last decade, with seven men also ordained in 2009 and 2016 respectively, officials said, adding The largest recent class was in 2019 when nine men were ordained into the priesthood.

Officials said that the seven new priests each served as transitional deacons for the last year, with their ministry including baptizing, assisting at marriages and preaching at Mass. 

All of the men graduated on May 12 from Mount St. Mary's Seminary and School of Theology after at least seven years of formation, the released information states. 

Parish assignments for the new priests include: 

• Father Elijah Puthoff, parochial Vicar at St. Joseph and St. Raphael, Springfield; St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, Springfield; St. Bernard, Springfield; St. Charles, South Charleston.
• Father Louis Jacquemin, parochial vicar at St. Henry, St. Henry; St. Aloysius, Carthegena; St. Bernard, Burketsville; St. Francis, Cranberry Prairie; St. Wendelin, St. Wendelin. 
• Father Edward Hoffman, parochial vicar at St. Julie Billiart, Hamilton; St. Joseph, Hamilton; St. Peter in Chains, Hamilton. 
• Father Scott Morgan, parochial vicar at St. William, Price Hill and St. Teresa of Avila, Price Hill. 
• Father Anthony Marcelli, parochial vicar at St. Margaret-Saint John, Fairfax; St. Cecilia, Oakley; St. Anthony, Madisonville.
• Father Aaron Hess, parochial vicar at Holy Angels, Sidney and chaplain and faculty at Lehman High School. 
• Father Michael Kapolka, parochial vicar at the Fort Recovery Cluster: Mary, Help of Christians, Fort Recovery, St. Joseph, St. Joseph, St. Paul, Sharpsburg, St. Peter, St. Peter.