By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | A moment of grace and renewal for the local Church will unfold May 9 as nine seminarians are ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami at St. Mary Cathedral.

Presided by Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the ordination Mass marks the culmination of years of discernment, study, and formation — and the beginning of a lifelong mission of service to God and his people.

Ordination Mass details

The ordination Mass will take place Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Cathedral. Family members, clergy, and faithful from across South Florida are expected to attend this annual celebration of vocations.

WATCH THE ORDINATION MASS

Meet the new priests

The candidates for ordination are Adam Cahill, Henry Cardenas, Tomasz Koziel, Aristides Lima, Carlos Luzardo, Cristhian Mendieta, Saint-Clos Papouloute, Pietro Pironato, and Michele Sega.

Adam Paul Cahill

Adam Paul Cahill, 36, was born Aug. 27, 1989, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Eileen and Paul Cahill. An only child, he was raised in a family rooted in the Catholic faith, and his home parish is St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Kendall.

He graduated from New World School of the Arts and later from the University of Miami, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education and completed graduate coursework in choral conducting. He also earned a Bachelor of Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary, deepening his intellectual and spiritual formation.

He is currently attending St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, where he is completing his theological studies and vocational synthesis stage. He also serves as a deacon at St. Coleman Parish in Pompano Beach, gaining pastoral experience in preparation for priestly ordination.

Henry Jair Cárdenas Afanador

Henry Jair Cardenas Afanador, 31, was born July 30, 1994, in Cúcuta, Colombia, to Henry Cardenas Ortega and Blanca Doris Afanador Rivera. The first of three children, he grew up in a family where the Catholic faith played an important role in daily life. He completed his secondary education at Julio Pérez Ferrero High School before beginning his vocational discernment.

Responding to that call, he later moved to the United States and entered formation with the Archdiocese of Miami. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary, where he deepened both his intellectual formation and spiritual life.

He is currently continuing his theological studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach as he completes the final stage of preparation for priestly ordination, strengthened by his pastoral experiences serving parish communities.

Tomasz Koziel

Tomasz Koziel, 34, was born Aug. 4, 1991, in Kielce, Poland, to Remigiusz and Teresa Koziel. An only child, he was raised in a Catholic family that helped shape his early faith and vocation.

He completed his secondary education in Kielce before discerning a call to the priesthood and continuing his formation in the United States. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary, where he developed a strong foundation in both intellectual and spiritual formation.

He is currently attending St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, where he is completing his theological studies and preparing for priestly ordination.

Aristides Lima

Aristides Lima, 32, was born Aug. 9, 1993, in Hollywood, Florida. He has one brother, Anthony Lima, and was raised in South Florida, where his Catholic faith began to take root.

He attended Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory and later graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy. After discerning a call to the priesthood, he entered seminary formation and earned a Master of Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary.

He is currently completing his priestly formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, continuing his theological studies and preparing for ordination to serve the Church.

Carlos Luzardo

Carlos Luzardo, 31, was born Oct. 18, 1994, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, to Midelis Leal and Carlos Luis Luzardo. The oldest of three brothers, he was raised in a Catholic family that helped shape his early faith and vocational path.

He graduated from Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Machiques, Zulia, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in marketing from Universidad Rafael Belloso Chacín (URBE). After discerning a call to the priesthood, he entered formation in the Archdiocese of Miami, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary and continuing his theological studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, where he is completing a Master of Divinity.

He was ordained a transitional deacon March 29, 2025, and currently serves at St. David Parish in Davie. His home parish is Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine in Doral, from which he is the first vocation to the priesthood. He will be ordained May 9, 2026 — a date that also marks the anniversary of his father’s passing, which he sees as a sign of God’s providence.

Cristhian D. Mendieta

Cristhian D. Mendieta, 29, was born Feb. 27, 1996, in San Juan de la Concepción, Masaya, Nicaragua, to Zaida del Socorro and Juan José Mendieta. The youngest of four siblings, he was raised in a Catholic family where his faith and vocation were first nurtured.

He received his early formation at San Juan Bautista Parish in Nicaragua and, after high school, entered the Archdiocesan Major Seminary La Purísima, where he completed studies in philosophy and theology. His discernment continued amid challenging circumstances in his home country.

Due to the sociopolitical crisis and persecution of the Church in Nicaragua, he moved to the United States in 2022 and began the application process for the Archdiocese of Miami. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary as he prepares for priestly ordination.

Saint-Clos Papouloute

Saint-Clos Papouloute, 37, was born Jan. 4, 1989, in Jean-Rabel, Haiti, to Claubert Papouloute and Charitable Hérard. The eldest of five children, he was raised in a Catholic family that helped shape his early faith and sense of vocation.

He graduated from Lycée Louis Joseph Janvier in 2009 and later earned an associate degree in education from École Normale d’Instituteurs du Nord-Ouest in 2013. He entered St. John Vianney College Seminary in 2017, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and continued his formation.

He is currently attending St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, where he is completing his theological studies and preparing for priestly ordination.

Pietro Pironato

Pietro Pironato, 29, was born Jan. 20, 1997, in Ivrea, near Turin, Italy, to Franco Pironato and Francesca Minelli. The second of nine children, he was raised in a large Catholic family that helped shape his faith and vocation.

He graduated from Liceo Scientifico Pier Giorgio Gobetti in Turin and, after discerning a call to the priesthood, joined the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of the Archdiocese of Miami. He later earned a Certificate in Pre-Theology from St. John Vianney College Seminary, where he continued his formation.

He is currently attending St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, where he is completing his theological studies and preparing for priestly ordination.

Michele Sega

Michele Sega, 29, was born July 2, 1996, in Verona, Italy, to Valeriano Maria Sega and Paola Agnese Cassandrini. The first of two children, he was raised in a Catholic family that helped shape his early faith and vocation.

He graduated from ITIS Guglielmo Marconi High School and, after discerning a call to the priesthood, entered seminary formation. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary, where he continued his intellectual and spiritual preparation.

He is currently attending St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, where he is completing his theological studies and preparing for priestly ordination.

What priestly ordination means

Priestly ordination is one of the sacraments of Holy Orders in the Catholic Church. Through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration by the bishop, the men are configured to Christ and receive the authority to celebrate the sacraments, preach the Gospel, and shepherd the faithful.

A call to serve the Church

Each of the ordinandi has followed a unique path, but all share a common calling: to dedicate their lives fully to Christ and the Church. Their journeys reflect the diversity of the Archdiocese of Miami, with roots spanning the United States, Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean.

A sign of hope for the future

In a time when vocations are closely watched, the ordination of nine new priests stands as a strong sign of vitality and hope for the Church in South Florida. Their presence will strengthen parishes, ministries, and communities across the archdiocese.