Seven Friars of the Province of St. Joseph Ordained to the Priesthood
July 7, 2025
On June 5th, 2025, the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher O.P., Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, ordained seven Dominican friars of the Province of St. Joseph to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The new priests are Fr. Louis Bethea, O.P.; Fr. Gregory Santy, O.P.; Fr. Bertrand Hebert, O.P.; Fr. Basil Burroughs, O.P.; Fr. Titus Sanchez, O.P.; Fr. Nicodemus Thomas, O.P.; and Fr. Linus Martz, O.P.
During the Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, DC, Archbishop Fisher spoke to the transformational nature of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. “From today things will change for these seven men,” he said. In view of the seven ordinandi and the symbolic value of the number seven in Christian thought, he elaborated seven changes they would experience ranging from “ontological change effected sacramentally” to how “we will call them Father.” “Seven is a very Catholic number, not just for clergy but for sacraments, virtues, hills of Rome – and deadly sins!” he joked.
Archbishop Fisher also thanked “those who influenced and supported our seven new priests on their vocational journeys,” asking also for those in attendance to “pray for more like these.” During his closing remarks, he gave heartfelt advice to a wider audience:
To the young men of America I say: people are crying out for words of life and sacraments of grace to transfigure their hearts and lives; you might be the very one, by God’s grace, to offer them this as a Dominican Priest. Come discern with them, be immersed in their charism and life, and be assured of a first-rate formation. May our new priests inspire you to give yourself over to God’s plan for you.
The Dominican Province of St. Joseph looks forward to welcoming these seven men into our local communities. Please continue to pray for our new priests as they begin their ministries!
To watch a recap of the 2025 priestly ordination, please click here.
