By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Following the ordination Mass at St. Mary Cathedral in Miami, the nine newly ordained priests of the Archdiocese of Miami gathered with family members, friends and the faithful during a joyful reception celebrating the beginning of their priestly ministry. During the celebration, the new priests offered their traditional “first blessings,” a cherished Catholic custom in which the faithful receive a special blessing marking the start of the priest’s ministry.
Newly-ordained Father Adam Paul Cahill offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Adam Cahill blesses friends and family following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly-ordained Father Henry Jair Cardenas Afanador offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Tomasz Koziel consoles Teresa, his mother, after he blessed her following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly-ordained Father Aristides Luis Lima offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly-ordained Father Saint-Clos Papouloute offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly-ordained Father Pietro Pironato offers a blessing to a couple the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Aristides Lima blesses Aristides and Carmen, his father and mother, after being ordained a priest by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Pietro Pironato blesses friends and family following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Cristhian Mendieta blesses Deborrah Thurston, a Carmelite, following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly-ordained Father Cristhian David Mendieta Hernandez offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Henry Cardenas blesses friends and family following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Carlos Luzardo (center) poses with seminarian Gabriel Campos and Dominican Brother Juan Gabriel Seiglie, following the priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Adam Cahill blesses friends and family following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly-ordained Father Henry Jair Cardenas Afanador offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Tomasz Koziel consoles Teresa, his mother, after he blessed her following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly-ordained Father Aristides Luis Lima offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly-ordained Father Saint-Clos Papouloute offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly-ordained Father Pietro Pironato offers a blessing to a couple the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Aristides Lima blesses Aristides and Carmen, his father and mother, after being ordained a priest by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Pietro Pironato blesses friends and family following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Cristhian Mendieta blesses Deborrah Thurston, a Carmelite, following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly-ordained Father Cristhian David Mendieta Hernandez offers a blessing following the annual ordination of priests May 9 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami. (Tom Tracy)
Newly ordained Father Henry Cardenas blesses friends and family following his priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Newly ordained Father Carlos Luzardo (center) poses with seminarian Gabriel Campos and Dominican Brother Juan Gabriel Seiglie, following the priest ordination celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski May 9, 2026 at St. Mary Cathedral, Miami. (Cristina Cabrera)
Photography: Tom Tracy/Cristina Cabrera
