Two men ordained to priesthood

Candidate Marcin Pluciennik kneels before the Archbishop, and with his hands between those of the Archbishop, promises respect and obedience to Archbishop Mansell and his successors.

HARTFORD (05-09-2009) - Archbishop Henry J. Mansell ordained two new priests for the archdiocese in a Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Saturday, May 9, 2009. Robert Anthony Morgewicz II and Marcin Piotr Pluciennik were presented to the Archbishop by Reverend Michael Dolan, Director of Priestly Vocations. In his homily, Archbishop Mansell emphasized the extraordinary vocation of a priest as one who loves, and cited examples of priests in the archdiocese and in the world who lived their vocations to be Christ to their people in self-giving love. Acknowledging the Polish heritage of the candidates, Archbishop Mansell spoke of the significance for the entire Church of the faith of the Polish people who, under years of oppression and struggle, never lost the soul of their faith. The Archbishop announced that he has assigned newly ordained Father Morgewicz as Parochial Vicar of St. Brigid Parish, West Hartford, and that, after completing study in Poland this summer, newly ordained Father Pluciennik, will be Parochial Vicar of St. Bridget Parish, Manchester.

In the most solemn gesture of the ordination rite, Archbishop Mansell silently lays his hands on the heads of Robert Anthony Morgewicz II (above photo) and Marcin Piotr Pluciennik (right photo) at the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Monsignor John J. McCarthy (left) lays his hands on Father Morgewicz as Monsignor Daniel J. Plocharczyk lays his hands on Father Pluciennik as part of the rite of ordination.