Bishop Malooly to ordain Deacon Lance Martin to priesthood May 28

The Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, will ordain the Rev. Lance S. Martin to the priesthood at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 28, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, Sixth and West streets in Wilmington. Martin was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate by Malooly in June 2015.

Born in 1970 to Edward Martin of Spring, Texas, and Joyce Martin of Harrisburg, Pa., Martin served in the United States Air Force from 1994 until 2003 as a ground radio technician and Italian translator. He then served in the California Air National Guard from 2003 until 2009 as a chaplain assistant. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has earned advanced degrees in philosophy and theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore.

As a part of his seminary studies, Martin was assigned to the following Diocese of Wilmington parishes: Holy Spirit in New Castle; St. Benedict’s in Ridgely, Md.; St. John the Beloved and St. Ann in Wilmington; and Saints Peter and Paul in Easton, Md.

“I am very impressed by Lance’s joy and enthusiasm,” Malooly said. “I believe that he will make a find addition to the presbyterate and will untiringly serve the faithful of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore for many years. I ask the good people of our diocese to pray that the Holy Spirit will guide more men to listen to God’s call to a priestly vocation.” Malooly will assign Martin to parish ministry in the diocese soon after his ordination.

For more information about the Diocese of Wilmington’s efforts to increase vocations awareness and to work with people who may have priestly or religious vocations, go to www.cdow.org/vocations or contact Norman Carroll at 302-573-3113 or vocations@cdow.org.

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 57 parishes, 18 missions and 30 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. There are over 244,000 Catholics in the diocese. For more information, go to www.cdow.org.