Reverend Mr. Brendan R. Zehner To Be Ordained To The Priesthood By Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez

The Ordination Mass will be streamed live at https://www.scs.edu/, Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez/ and https://www.facebook.com/StCharlesSem/

The Reverend Mr. Brendan R. Zehner, 31, son of Mark R. and Peggy M. Zehner, will be ordained to the Priesthood by Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Saturday, May 18, 2024
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Deacon Zehner is a member of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish in Glenside (Montgomery County). He entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary after studying history at The College of William and Mary in Virginia. He is a graduate of Ancillae-Assumpta Academy, located in Wyncote (Montgomery County) and Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School, located in Philadelphia. Brendan has one older brother.

Father Zehner will celebrate his First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on
Sunday, May 19, 2023
3:00 p.m.
Saint Luke the Evangelist
2316 Fairhill Avenue
Glenside, PA 19038

Reverend Patrick J. Brady, Vice Rector and Director of Admissions for Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook) will concelebrate the Mass and preach the homily.

Additional concelebrants include Reverend Monsignor John Marine, Pastor of Saint Bede the Venerable Parish (Holland), Reverend Monsignor Gerard C. Mesure, Director of Pastoral and Apostolic Formation and Dean of Men, Pre-Theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook); and Reverend Monsignor John M. Savinski, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (Morton); Reverend Anthony J. Albanese, Parochial Vicar of Saint Laurence Parish (Upper Darby); Reverend John F. Babowitch, Pastor of Our Lady of Calvary Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Joseph D. Brandt; Pastor of Saint Luke the Evangelist (Glenside); Reverend William B. Dooner, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Grace (Penndel); Reverend Sean P. English, Parochial Administrator of Saint Rose of Lima Parish (North Wales); Reverend Bernard C. Farley, Retired Priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Reverend Manuel J. Flores, Parochial Administrator of Saint Patrick Parish (Norristown); Reverend Alexander R. Gibbs, priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia studying at Casa Santa Maria, Pontifical North American College (Rome); Reverend Thomas M. Higgins, Pastor of Holy Innocents Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Robert A. lanelli, Pastor of Saint Katharine Drexel (Chester); Reverend George W. Bur, S.J., Special Assistant to the President of Saint Joseph University; Reverend Michael J. Kelly, Director of Spiritual Formation for the Spiritual Year and Pre-Theology at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook); Reverend William S. Kirk, Parochial Vicar of  Our Lady of Calvary Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Christopher C. Moriconi, a Priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Doctoral Studies Student in Sacred Scripture at The Catholic University of America(Washington, DC); Reverend; Reverend Zachary W. Navit, Chaplain of Saint Mary Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare; Reverend Ryan Nguyen, Parochial Vicar of Saint Bede the Venerable Parish (Holland); Reverend John C.  Okpara, Parochial Vicar of Saint Monica Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Michael S. Olivere, Pastor of Saint Timothy Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Herbert J. Sperger, Senior Priest of Saint Patrick Parish (Norristown); Reverend Jeffrey M. Stecz, Pastor of Saint Anselm Parish (Philadelphia); and Reverend John F. Wackerman, Parochial Vicar of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish (Glenside).

CatholicPhilly, the official digital news agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, recently published a profile on Deacon Zehner. To read his profile, “History Major Discerned Call to Priesthood While Working at Wawa” please click here.

There are three men from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the Ordination Class of 2024. Following the conclusion of Mass with the Rite of Ordination, they will be assigned to an Archdiocesan parish where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Archbishop to assist the pastor of a parish in his duties to tend to the pastoral and temporal needs of those entrusted to his care.

Thanks to the generous support of the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, the Mass will be streamed live via the Archdiocesan Vimeo Channel (https://vimeo.com/event/2470138); Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez/); Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s website (https://www.scs.edu/); and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StCharlesSem/); beginning at 10:00 a.m.

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Editor’s Note: If you would like to receive a photograph of Deacon Zehner, please contact the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747 or email [email protected].

Background on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary

Founded in 1832, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has been forming men for priestly service in the Catholic Church for more than 191 years. With a current enrollment of 143 seminarians, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is one of the largest seminaries in the country. In this very historic year, the seminary is preparing to relocate to Lower Gwynedd Township. Its new campus includes the construction of several new chapels, a college seminary dorm building, and a student life center which will consist of a refectory, classrooms, library, and administrative offices. Its inauguration is scheduled for August 2024. For more information on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, call 610-667-3394 or visit www.scs.edu, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram or YouTube.

About the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia 

The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP) is an independent, nonprofit community foundation committed to growing philanthropy according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Grounded in the principles of faith and service, CFGP meets the diverse needs of donors and Catholic institutions through charitable fund management and development consulting. Our services ensure an investment in the future of our faith. To learn more about CFGP, please visit https://thecfgp.org/.  

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Contact:
Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)