Defying decline, a U.S. diocese ordains its largest class of priests in decades

(27 Jun 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 7 June 2025
1. Various of 12 priests prostrating in front of the altar during their ordination Mass

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 8 June 2025
2. SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Mike Sampson, Diocese of Arlington:
“I certainly never expected to be a priest. I, when I was baptized, I don't think I even thought about how Father had become a priest, it wasn't really, it just wasn't on my radar.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
White Post, Virginia - 28 May 2025
3. Rain falling outside a garage at San Damiano Spiritual Life Center
4. The Reverends Tim Banach and Alfredo Tuesta work together on a garage door opener
5. Tight of The Rev. Banach
6. Tight of The Rev. Tuesta

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 8 June 2025
7. SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Mike Sampson, Diocese of Arlington:
“There was a period in my life where things weren't great. I wasn’t happy with work. My dad had just had a heart attack and then was having a heart transplant. And then I had a girlfriend, things weren't going that well with her. So it was this kind of period of feeling like a lot of inner turmoil. And a friend of mine, he's a lawyer also, he said, Mike, you need to find your faith. And for whatever reason, I took him seriously.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 7 June 2025
8. The Rev. Sampson, center, talks with seminarians before his ordination Mass at The Cathedral of St. Thomas More
9. The Rev. Tuesta, center, and his fellow priests about to be ordained
10. 12 priests before their ordination Mass at The Cathedral of St. Thomas More

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 8 June 2025
11. SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Mike Sampson, Diocese of Arlington:
“When we first processed in, I just saw all these people. The walls were lined with people and I thought oh my gosh, okay, this is a lot.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 7 June 2025
12. 12 priests walk into their ordination Mass at The Cathedral of St. Thomas More
13. Priests walking into an ordination Mass at The Cathedral of St. Thomas More
14. Seminarians singing at an ordination Mass

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 8 June 2025
15. SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Mike Sampson, Diocese of Arlington:
“You're called by name.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 7 June 2025
16. The Rev. Sampson being called during an ordination Mass

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 8 June 2025
17. SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Mike Sampson, Diocese of Arlington:
“And then someone vouches for you saying like yes we find him worthy of this. And he found us worthy, Fr. Isenberg said that to the bishop, but with the help of the seminary, right, so. And then of the people, like, there's a point where everyone claps and so it's like the idea of the acceptance of the people accepting you for this order of the Presbyterate."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arlington, Virginia - 7 June 2025
18. The Rev. Ricky Malebranche being called during an ordination Mass
19. Hundreds gathered at The Cathedral of St. Thomas More for an ordination Mass
20. Community member clapping during ordination ceremony
21. Bishop Michael Burbidge and The Rev. Malebranche during ordination
22. Bishop Burbidge placing oil on the priests hands
23. Bishop Burbidge placing oil on The Rev. Tuesta's hands
24. SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Alfredo Tuesta, Diocese of Arlington:
25. Priests being vested at ordination Mass
26. The Rev. Sampson being vested
27. The Rev. Tuesta and the 12 new priests receiving hugs from fellow priests

ASSOCIATED PRESS
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