St. Mary's parishioner, Michael Pierz, was ordained today, October 4th, 2012, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, along with over forty classmates from the North American College in Rome. They were ordained in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican by Archbishop John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark. Deacon Michael will continue his studies in Rome until the time of his ordination to the priesthood next June at St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield. Please keep Deacon Michael and all of his classmates in your prayers as they move through these final months of preparation for priestly ministry.