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On Friday, December 14th, the Feast of John of the Cross, Stephan Tuu Thanh Le, O.Carm., was ordained to the priesthood at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middletown, New York. The Most Reverend Dominic Lagonegro, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, was the ordaining bishop. About 150 people were present for the ceremony. What made the occasion most special for Stephan was that his mother, Le Thi Dung, was able to obtain a visa to attend the ceremony —on her third try!
Stephan Tuu Le was born in Xuan Loc, Vietnam, on October 10, 1974. He professed first vows as a Carmelite on June 11, 2001. He recently received his Masters of Divinity degree from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC.
In his homily, Bishop Lagonegro reminded Stephan that God created him for a specific purpose. God also called him to be a priest and to serve the people of God faithfully. He challenged him to act, to respond to the needs of those to whom he will minister. He emphasized the particular role of priests in administering the sacraments and proclaiming the word of God to all.
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Father Stephan during the vesting ceremony by Very Reverend Michael Kissane, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of Saint Elias Province.
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Bishop Lagonegro reminded Stephan that he would represent the Lord in a manner that enfleshes Christ in our lives by the sacraments they will celebrate, most especially the Eucharist, by their preaching and his teaching and by the example of their lives. In a particular way, priests are ordained to lead God’s people in the offering of praise and the proclamation of the gospel.
The Saint Albert’s mixed choir sang two Vietnamese hymns. The choir also sang “Song and the Silence” during the anointing of hands, as Bishop Dominick Lagonegro performed the ancient rite.
In his remarks after communion, the Very Reverend Michael Kissane, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Saint Elias Province, mentioned that this occasion was a great day for the Church and for the Order. He thanked the many people who worked with our students in their years of formation. He also thanked in a special way Stephan’s mother for the gift of her son.
“We offer our deepest congratulations to Stephan. Please continue to pray for our Formation Program and all our students as they continue their journey in Carmel,” Father Michael said.
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Bishop Lagonegro, along with Father Stephan and his mother, Le Thi Dung
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