Zachariah Chichester will be ordained to the priesthood for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany by Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger at a Mass and Rite of Ordination at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany on Saturday, June 16, at 11 a.m.
A native of Columbia County, Mr. Chichester studied for the priesthood at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, Ill. He also holds degrees from Magdalen College in New Hampshire and the University of Dallas. A former member of the U.S. National Guard, he discerned his call to the priesthood in the years following his military career. “Having arrived at a crossroads of life, I felt the need to examine more closely what God might be calling me to,” he says. He spent two years discerning that call, but it wasn’t until he entered into a weeklong, silent retreat that he clearly knew that the Lord was asking him to become a priest.
As he reflected on his approaching ordination, Mr. Chichester added, “Ordination marks a new beginning, a new life in Christ. I am truly thankful for all my family and friends who have supported me over these years of preparation, especially for their prayers and encouragement.”
Contact:
Mary DeTurris Poust
518.453.6618