Norwich — The Diocese of Norwich will ordain four new priests in an ebullient service at the Cathedral of St. Patrick next Saturday, an answer to the diocese's prayers to cultivate priestly vocations.

This will be the largest number of priests ordained in the diocese in a single year since 2003.  

The four men, who have completed the six years of reflection and study required before being ordained as priests, will all serve in the sprawling Diocese of Norwich, which includes the Connecticut counties of Middlesex, New London, Tolland and Windham, as well as Fishers Island, N.Y.

With about 230,000 Catholics in the diocese, there are fewer than 100 priests to minister to them, forcing some parishes to "yoke," or share, clergy and responsibilities. 

The June 25 ordination "represents an encouragingly upward trend in dedicated men answering the call to the priesthood," said the diocese of the "landmark day of joyful celebration" that is expected to pack the cathedral with faithful from all over.

"Across the U.S., the vocation picture is turning very slowly to the positive," said the Rev. Gregory Galvin, director of priestly vocations for the Diocese of Norwich.

Father Galvin said 21 priests, including the latest four, have been ordained since 2003.

Thirteen years ago was the last time there were four priests in a single class, with no ordinations in the diocese some years, and one, two or three other years.

Last year no one was ordained. Two years ago, two new priests were ordained.

The four new priests, who will learn of their assignments in the diocese on ordination day, include Juan Angel Aguirre, Jeffrey Richard Ellis, Thomas Patrick Griffin and Peter Julian Langevin.

Langevin, 35, studied at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. Originally from Southbridge, Mass., he later relocated to Middletown.

Ellis, 39, is from Willimantic and attended St. Mary's Church there. Like Langevin, he prepared for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary's in Maryland.

Griffin comes from Hebron, where he has been a parishioner at Church of the Holy Family, and went to Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass. The oldest of the four new priests, he is 66.

The final candidate, Aguirre, 42, comes from Medellin, Colombia, and completed his seminary work in Baltimore at St. Mary's Seminary.

Father Galvin said the diocese has six additional men studying at seminaries and two more waiting to be accepted.

"We are turning, but it's a long process," he said, of the diocese's efforts to address its priest shortage. "The ship is moving in a positive direction, but the ship moves slowly."

A candidate for the priesthood must have an undergraduate college degree and then spend six additional years in the seminary.

Father Galvin said there are currently 95 to 100 priests in the diocese, and that "yoking" — putting several parishes under the leadership of one pastor — has allowed all the churches to remain open. 

Older priests also are serving beyond their retirement age, he said. 

The ordination service, the Mass of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, will be celebrated by the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of the diocese, and concelebrated by 60 to 90 additional priests, said Father Galvin.

The Norwich cathedral, which seats about 1,100, is expected to be standing-room only.

Father Galvin said several young men considering pursuing the priesthood, as well as several first-graders from his parish who have said they might want to be a priest someday, will be in attendance.

Father Galvin is pastor of St. Bridget of Kildare Church in Moodus. 

"The Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood will be an extraordinary service with the four elect, as is tradition at one point in the ceremony, lying prostrate on the sanctuary floor as all present plead for God's grace for the candidates. It is a very compelling and emotional event to witness," the diocese said.

Father Galvin said they lay prostrate "as a sign of them giving themselves over to the bride of Christ, the church."

Following the service, there will be a gathering in the church auditorium and each of the new priests will impart his first blessings on family members and others who request to be blessed by the new clergy. 

"At a time when the number of available priests in most dioceses has struggled to keep up with the demand for parish priests, the four candidates will be joyfully welcomed into the Diocese of Norwich family," the diocese said.

a.baldelli@theday.com