SAGINAW - Three men from the Diocese of Saginaw dedicated their lives in the service of the Church on May 31. Bishop Walter Hurley, apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Saginaw, ordained Father Stephen Blaxton, Father Matthew Federico and Father Marc Hopps to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw.
During the ordination Mass, the three vowed to "discharge the office of priesthood with humility and love, hold fast to the mystery of faith, proclaim this faith in word and deed, embrace the celibate state and pray for the Church and the whole world." The rite also included a promise of obedience to the bishop and his successors.
Bishop Hurley laid hands on each of the men during the Prayer of Ordination, during which time they receive the strength of the Holy Spirit. The newly ordained then receive their priestly vestments, a stole and chasuble; their hands are anointed with sacred chrism oil, symbolizing their distinctive participation in Christ's priesthood; and Bishop Hurley places bread and wine into their hands, pointing to their duty of celebrating the Eucharist and following Christ crucified.
Father Marc Hopps, 28, is the son of Gary and Maribeth Hopps. His siblings are Zak, Alyssa and Mykaela. A Bay City native, he grew up in All Saints Parish and attended All Saints Central High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Catholic Studies in 2013 from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. He earned his Master of Divinity from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit in 2018. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate on Nov. 30, 2018, and served at Holy Family Parish, Sandusky, during his pastoral year and St. Dominic Parish, Saginaw, as a deacon.
Father Marc will celebrate the following Masses of Thanksgiving:
June 1 at 5 p.m. All Saints Parish, St. James Church, 710 Columbus Ave., Bay City
June 9 at 8:30 St. Dominic Parish, Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 4735 West Michigan Ave., Saginaw
June 9 at 10:30 a.m. St. Dominic Parish, St. Stephen Church, 2711 Mackinaw St., Saginaw
June 16 at 8:30 a.m. Holy Family Parish, St. Joseph Church, 59 North Moore St., Sandusky
June 30 at 10:30 a.m. Resurrection of the Lord Church, 423 West Cedar St., Standish
Father Stephen Blaxton, 33, is the son of Jerry and Gayle Blaxton. His siblings are Philip, Ruth Ann and Timothy. A Shepherd native, he grew up in St. Vincent de Paul Parish. He graduated from Shepherd High School before attending Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Human Services in 2008. He received his Bachelor of Philosophy in 2014, Master of Divinity in 2018 from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and his Sacred Theology Baccalaureate from the Angelicum in Rome in 2018. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 11, 2017, and served at Holy Family Parish, Sandusky, as a deacon during his pastoral year.
Father Stephen will celebrate the following Masses of Thanksgiving:
June 2 at 8:30 a.m. Holy Family Parish, St. Joseph Church, 59 North Moore St., Sandusky
June 2 at 10:30 a.m. Holy Family Parish, St. Elizabeth Church, 6785 West Marlette St., Marlette
June 9 at 9:30 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 168 East Wright Ave., Shepherd
June 16 at 10 a.m. Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, 2445 North Charles St., Saginaw
June 23 at 10:30 a.m. Resurrection of the Lord, 423 West Cedar St., Standish
Father Matthew Federico, 36, is the son of Larry and Marilyn Federico and the brother of Ryan. A Saginaw native, he grew up in St. Dominic Parish. He graduated from Nouvel Catholic Central High School and attended Saginaw Valley State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Professional Accountancy in 2005. He received a Master of Divinity in 2019 from University of the St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 18, 2018, and served at Blessed Sacrament, Midland and Our Lady of the Woods, Orland Park, Ill. as a deacon.
Father Matthew will celebrate the following Masses of Thanksgiving:
June 1 at 4 p.m. St. Dominic Parish, St. Stephen Church, 2711 Mackinaw St., Saginaw
June 8 at 4:30 p.m. St. Agnes Parish, 300 Johnson St., Freeland
June 15 at 5 p.m. Blessed Sacrament Parish, 3109 Swede Ave., Midland