By Steve Trosley
The Catholic Telegraph

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr will ordain three men priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati May 16 at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati. The celebration begins at 11 a.m.

A fourth member of the 2015 class of Mount St. Mary’s of the West Seminary will be ordained a priest of the Toledo Diocese May 30.

Joining the ranks of ordained in the archdiocese will be Deacons Adrian Hilton, Eric Wood and Ethan Moore. Deacon Paul Schreiner of Tiffin will be ordained in the Diocese of Toledo.

Deacon Adrian Hilton is the son of Tom Hilton and Maria Gonzalez and is a graduate of Milford High School. He is a member of the Oratory of St. Phillip Neri, which has a fledgling presence in the Over-the-Rhine community.  He said his family says he first showed interest in the priesthood when he was age three. He felt the interest growing while he was in eighth grade and the influence of several priests turned him in the direction of the vocation. However, it was a good friend who challenged him to test his call, so he visited monasteries and seminaries and decided to enter the seminary.

He is especially looking forward to working closely with people after ordination.

Deacon Eric Wood is the son of the late Jack and Kathy Wood of Versailles and attended Versailles high school. He was a member of St. Denis Parish and is the youngest of four brothers. He first felt the call while in High School and entered pre-theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville. He credits the witness of a priest he knows who helped him discern his vocation over time. He expects to have a large family group at his ordination as his mother is one of  11 children. He said he is looking forward to “just being a priest.”

Deacon Ethan Moore is the son of Edward and Linda Moore of McCartyville. He is a member of Sacred Heart Parish there.  He has two sisters. He says he ran from his vocation “for awhile,” but that his experiences in seminary, including a trip to India to work with the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Blessed Mother Theresa encouraged him to continue.

Deacon Paul Schreiner is the son of Steven and Dena Schreiner of Tiffin. He and his three sisters were home schooled and were members of Blessed Sacrament Parish. He said the seeds of his vocation were planted when he served daily Mass and met a number of priests. He attended Franciscan University in Steubenville and Ave Maria University in Naples, Italy. His entry into seminary was delayed so he could pay off college loans and because he says, he “wasn’t quite ready.” He worked as a machinist for almost three years before entering the seminary here. He looks forward to celebrating Mass and working with families.

This story originally appeared in the May 2015 print edition of The Catholic Telegraph.