Priests of Orange County

Priests of Orange County
2 Ordinations for 6/8/24

2 Stories that are a first in OC

2 Stories that are making history.

1 is the first Filipino American to be ordained in the Diocese of Orange

1 is the first married priest in the Diocese of Orange through the Pastoral Provision

Deacon Cole Buzon and Deacon Greg Walgenbach are set to be ordained as priests in the Diocese of Orange on June 8 at Christ Cathedral. This marks significant milestones for the diocese, as Deacon Buzon will be the first Filipino American priest in the diocese, while Deacon Walgenbach will become the first married priest in the Diocese of Orange through the Pastoral Provision.

Deacon Buzon, who grew up in Brea and La Habra, found his calling to priesthood amidst personal struggles. His journey, which began with a sincere prayer following a dream about his devout grandmother, led him to immerse himself in ministry at his home parish, St. Angela Merici in Brea. A dinner conversation with a priest inspired him to enter the seminary, where he has spent seven years preparing for priesthood.

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Deacon Walgenbach is currently serving as the director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace and the Mission office for the Diocese. He was raised Baptist, became an Anglican priest, and later converted to Catholicism. His journey towards priesthood has been supported by the Pastoral Provision, allowing him to balance his roles as a father and husband with his vocation as a priest.

Both deacons express eagerness and humility as they prepare to serve the people of God in their new roles. Their stories highlight the diverse paths individuals take towards priesthood and the unique contributions they bring to the Church.

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Refer below to find out more information about priests and married priests within a FAQ setup at RCBO.org

Also, refer to Greg Hardesty article from OCCatholic dot com for more details about the event and these two men. It is the source for above content.