May 17, 2025 is a day eight men in the Diocese of Cleveland will never forget.
On that day, they walked into the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland as transitional deacons. But they left as ordained priests, the newest members of the diocesan presbyterate.
The ordination took place during a liturgy celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic and witnessed by thousands – including those who filled every nook and cranny of the cathedral – and many more who watched the livestream or viewed it on demand afterward.
(See photo gallery above.)
The new priests, their home parishes and first assignments are:
- Father Ryan Michael Arto, son of Gary and Jeanine Arto of Akron, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Akron. He is assigned to St. Raphael Prish, Bay Village.
- Father Christopher Lawrene Cotone, son of Norman and Donnalee Cotone of Parma Heights, St. John Bosco Parish, Parma Heights. He is assigned to St. John Vianney Parish, Mentor.
- Father Anthony Aaron Donatelli, son of Tony and Erin Donatelli of Hudson, St. Mary Parish, Hudson. He is assigned to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and Holy Trinity parishes, both in Avon.
- Father James Jonathon Hawkins, son of James and Carolyn Hawkins of Wadsworth, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Wadsworth. He is assigned to Holy Family Parish, Stow.
- Father Jeffrey LeVance Lindholm, son of Bradley and Shelley Lindholm of Westlake, St. Raphael Parish, Bay Village. He is assigned to St. Barnabas Parish, Northfield and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Macedonia.
- Father James Alexander Parisi, son of Dr. Edward and Christine Parisi of Copley, St. Hilary Parish, Fairlawn. He is assigned to St. Mary Parish, Painesville.
- Father Brian Matthew Peters, son of William and Pam Peters, Columbus, Ohio, St. Raphael Parish, Bay Village. He is assigned to St. Hilary Parish, Fairlawn.
- Father Kyle Jacob Rosser, son of Linda and John Rosser of Lorain, St. Peter Parish, Lorain. He is assigned to St. Albert the Great Parish, North Royalton.
A ninth member of their seminary class, Deacon Travis David Seagraves, son of Daniel and Cathy Seagraves of Warren, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Warren, has been called to ordination for the Diocese of Youngstown. He will be ordained at 10:30 a.m. June 7 in St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown, by Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar. Deacon Seagraves assisted at the ordination Mass.
They are among 405 men who will be ordained to the priesthood across the country this year.
It was a day filled with emotion and excitement for the new priests, four of whom began the day by running in the 5K event of the Cleveland Marathon. They had just enough time to clean up and join Bishop Edward Malesic for morning prayer before the ordination Mass.
The cathedral was filled to capacity with hundreds of priests and deacons joining the families and friends of the ordinandi, their seminarian classmates, faculty and staff, as well as other faithful from across the eight-county diocese. Also attending were two religious sisters from El Salvador, where the diocese has operated a mission for 60 years, and the head of the permanent diaconate program from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California.
Hope was the theme of Bishop Malesic’s homily, as he told everyone, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
He said he had lot of work to do since he had never ordained such a large group. But, he said it was causing him to smile. “In fact, I think all of us are smiling today. I know God is … This is a great day for you. It is a great day for me. It is a great day for the Church and our presbyterate.”
The bishop noted 2025 is the Jubilee Year of Hope, as proclaimed by the late Pope Francis. The eight men have a hope to be ordained as priests and once that is done, Bishop Malesic said they will be sent out to minister and he wants them to give hope to all. “Give us hope that Christ died for all and whoever is in Christ is a new creation. In him, God has reconciled us to himself. Be ambassadors of this good news. Be ambassadors of Jesus Christ.”
He reminded them of their visit to Rome in March 2023, for the 175th anniversary of Saint Mary Seminary and the private audience they had with Pope Francis. They were given some advice by the Holy Father, who said there are three characteristics on the journey to the priesthood: listening, above all to the Lord, walking together on a synodal journey and witness.
“The Church needs your enthusiasm, generosity and zeal in order to show everyone that God is always with us in every circumstance of life,” Bishop Malesic said.
He noted as they are configured to Christ in the priesthood, they will have a heavy responsibility which is both cross and a blessing. The bishop also reminded them that Pope Leo XIV said we must continue our resolve to return to the primacy of Christ in preaching.
“So, gentlemen, make Christ the center of your teaching. Let him shine through your humanity in every aspect of your lives. Let him come to us through your hands in the sacraments,” he said.
Also, the bishop encouraged the newly ordained to “Die to yourselves, which is a lifetime process of letting go so that the eternal life of Christ can shine on us and in us. Like John the Baptist, you must decrease so that Christ will increase. In fact, be willing to lay down your life for the sheep the Lord will give you to tend. Be shepherds after the example of Jesus.
He also reminded them to be gentle with themselves, to be patient with themselves, to take care of themselves and to forgive themselves as they make mistakes along the way.
“But no matter what, get up each morning and go forth as Christ has called you. Baptize with the waters imbued with Christ. Feed us with Christ’s body and blood. Forgive us with Christ’s love. Anoint the sick, asking for Christ’s healing. Witness Christ’s love shared between a man and a woman at their wedding. Have a zeal for souls like a Good Shepherd. Proclaim Christ in your teaching. Serve Christ in the poor and needy. And serve the Lord with gladness, like Christ, who came to serve, not to be served.”
In closing, the bishop also thanked the eight new priests for answering “yes” to God’s call that they be priests for us.
Watch the archived recording of the ordination Mass on demand here.