Six priests ordained at Boston cathedral

O'Malley told the men there will be challenges, but urged them to take their responsibility to serve their Lord to a higher level.

"There are many struggles in the priest's life, difficulties that come from life itself, difficulties that arise from our own broken humanity,'' he said. But "the priest's life swims in grace. He is friends to all that is holy."

Hundreds filled the cathedral for the two-hour ordination ceremony. A choir sang a song in Vietnamese, and an entire section of the church was reserved for scores of people from the deaf community who came to see the Rev. Shawn P. Carey ordained as the nation's 11th deaf priest.

"This is a miracle,'' Carey said through a sign language expert. "It's been a long journey for me as a deaf seminarian and a deaf man. And becoming a priest -- I never thought it would come this fast."

One by one, the priests were called by name, and each affirmed his commitment to serve. At the end of the ceremony, the men filed, heads bowed and hands clasped in prayer, before the cardinal, who placed both of his hands on their heads in silent prayer. Clergymen attending the ordination repeated the gesture, laying their hands on the heads of the new priests.

The Rev. Sean M. Maher, a new priest, said he will heed the cardinal's message about the call to preach.

"It's a wonderful day when you know you are being brought into something bigger than yourself,'' he said. "It's going to take me a lifetime to delve into how wonderful it is and how joyful it is.''

The other seminarians ordained yesterday were the Rev. Israel J. Rodriguez; the Rev. Frank D. Camp; the Rev. David W. Gunter; and the Rev. Huy H. Nguyen.