by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
LEAWOOD — “There is nothing that I would rather be doing — nothing more important that I could be doing — today,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
On the 50th anniversary of his own ordination to the priesthood, Archbishop Naumann ordained three men to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
It was the last major event in Archbishop Naumann’s ministry as the shepherd of northeast Kansas, as he officially retired three days later.
Momentous occasion
Deacons Will Carey, Cesar Gomez and Dan Mauro were ordained as priests on May 24 at Church of the Nativity in Leawood.
The church, chapel and overflow spaces were packed full of family, friends and supporters of the new priests.
Archbishop Shawn McKnight, who was installed as the archdiocese’s new archbishop at Nativity May 27, concelebrated the Mass with priests who traveled from near and far for the occasion.
In his homily, Archbishop Naumann said ordaining priests is the most significant thing a bishop can do.
“Because one fervent, zealous priest will touch thousands, most probably tens of thousands, of lives,” he said.
Archbishop Naumann thanked the parents of each of the new priests — Laura and Richard Carey, Bertha and Raphael Gomez, and Christy and Frank Mauro — for their marriages “and embracing the call to Christian parenthood.”
He also acknowledged the siblings, relatives and friends of the newly ordained.
“You have all played a significant role in helping them to become the men who today offer their lives to Jesus and the service of his church,” he said.
Winding journeys
Joseph D’Amato never expected to see Father Will Carey become a priest.
“It is an affirmation for me of the reality of God,” he said, “and that nothing is impossible for God.”
While studying at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park, Father Carey was in a car accident while drinking and driving, and that event changed the trajectory of his life.
He converted to the Catholic faith on April 6, 2015, after meeting D’Amato and other St. Paul’s Outreach missionaries at JCCC.
“It became apparent pretty quickly he was open and searching and he had a lot of questions,” said D’Amato. “I’m just grateful I was there to be able to walk with him.”
D’Amato said it “felt like the world stopped” when Father Carey shared with him his desire to become a priest.
“It’s been an encouragement that prayers work,” said D’Amato, “that evangelization work of SPO and many other ministries out there is important [and] is really changing and enhancing people’s lives.”
It also taught him “to never doubt what can happen if you give someone a second chance,” said D’Amato.
The odds of Father Gomez becoming a priest for the archdiocese also seemed incredibly unlikely.
He grew up in Mexico but received permanent residence in the United States, arrived in the country in 2015 and became a citizen in 2023.
“Discerning the priesthood and answering the call is intimidating in one’s native land and speaking one’s native language,” said Father Anthony Saiki, rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas, who has helped Father Gomez through the years.
Yet, Father Gomez did it all in a new country while learning English, said Father Saiki.
“He has sacrificed so much and worked so hard to be able to serve our archdiocese,” he said.
Father Dan Mauro’s journey to the priesthood was less of a surprise but equally as inspiring as his fellow priests.
He grew up attending Holy Spirit School in Overland Park and was influenced by his time at Camp Tekakwitha at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg and St. James Academy in Lenexa.
Deborah Nearmyer, codirector and cofounder of camp, and vice president of faith and mission at St. James, said walking with Father Mauro has been a privilege.
“Father Mauro as a high schooler was much like he is today: fun-loving, a seeker of truth and beauty, a person who saw others and accepted them just as they were,” said Nearmyer.
He was also a humble leader, good friend and involved in academics and athletics at St. James, she added.
“He lived his faith out loud as a teenager,” said Nearmyer, “because he knew the love of the Lord and wanted others to know, too.”
As for three men with vastly different stories ending up with the same vocation, Archbishop Naumann wasn’t surprised.
“The Holy Spirit, always very creative, devised unique ways to bring this trio to Church of the Nativity in Leawood to be ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Ready to serve
Father Mauro has multiple qualities that will serve him well in his priesthood, said Nearmyer.
“He is an intelligent, caring and faithful young man,” she said, “but I think it is his trust and love of the Lord along with his love for others that will serve him well.”
Father Saiki believes Father Gomez has every quality and skill one would want in a priest.
“Father Gomez is extraordinarily intelligent and a gifted communicator,” said Father Saiki. “He is very devout and has a great deal of piety. He is very personable.”
And it’s his wit, appreciation for life and personal witness that will resonate with those Father Carey encounters, said D’Amato.
“Having gone through his own journey, I think he will be well-equipped to help others with those similar struggles,” he said.
Archbishop Naumann expressed his gratitude to multiple people who played a part in forming each new priest, including Father Scott Wallisch, codirector of seminarians; Father Dan Morris, vocation director; Father Luke Doyle, who was the associate vocation director this past year; and Msgr. Michael Mullen, director emeritus of seminarians.
The archbishop left the new priests with words of encouragement.
“Will, Cesar and Dan, you are being ordained priests to be shepherds after the example of Jesus,” he said, “to be caring and loving fathers, to be servant leaders — foot washers for your parishioners.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you today to empower you to wash the feet of the people of God.”
The new priests will begin their first assignments on July 1.
Father Carey will be the associate pastor at Christ the King Parish and chaplain at Hayden High School, both in Topeka.
Father Gomez will be the associate pastor at Our Lady of Unity Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.
Father Mauro will be the associate pastor at Holy Trinity Parish and chaplain of St. James Academy, both in Lenexa.
To view more photos from the ordination, click here.
