Santa Ana native ordained as a priest by Cardinal Tobin

Newark, N.J. – Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, ordained four men to the priesthood during the Rite of Ordination on May 27 in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

As their loved ones looked on with smiles on their faces and tears of joy in their eyes, the four priests-to-be — Robert Burkot, JuHyun Andrew Lee, Bernardo Garcia (a native of Santa Ana), and Frenel A. Phanord— were called forward one by one as Cardinal Tobin prayed over them and ordained them as priests.

After they were given their stoles and chasubles and had their hands anointed with sacred chrism oil by Cardinal Tobin, the five distributed Communion to the faithful for the first time as priests. Then, once the ordination concluded, they offered their first blessings to many of those gathered.

Following the ordination, the new priests immediately began serving their assigned parishes, where they will shepherd the faithful while celebrating Mass and the sacraments as parochial vicars. Father Burkot is at St. Paul of the Cross Church in Jersey City, Father Garcia is at Sts. Bernard of Clairvaux and Stanislaus Kostka in Plainfield, Father Lee is at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange, and Father Phanord is at St. Mary Church in Plainfield.

Catholic men interested in exploring life in the priesthood are encouraged to contact the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of Priestly Vocations, which fosters a culture of vocations through prayer, recruitment, and accompaniment. To learn more, visit www.newarkpriest.com.

About the Archdiocese of Newark

The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. The Archdiocese has 212 parishes, 73 Catholic schools, and many missions and ministries. Hundreds of Masses are celebrated in more than a dozen languages each week. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, leads the Archdiocese with four auxiliary bishops. Together, they serve the northern New Jersey community through faith, education, and social services. For more information, visit www.rcan.org.