Priest ordination June 13

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SALT LAKE CITY — Deacon Kenneth Rey Parsad will culminate his path to the priesthood on June 13 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, when Bishop Oscar A. Solis will ordain him as a priest for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

 Originally from Abra, Philippines, Deacon Parsad has actively practiced his faith since an early age. Early in his life he attended St. Joseph Minor Seminary; he then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in classical philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila. Although his mother always desired that he, the elder of her two children, become a priest, it was only after more than three years as a teacher that he determined that he did have a call to the priesthood, he said.

In response to that call, in 2019 he reached out to Father Rodelio Ignacio, a fellow Santo Tomas Central Seminary graduate who in August will become administrator at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy. Fr. Ignacio encouraged him to become a priest for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. After that, Deacon Parsad met Bishop Solis, another Santo Tomas graduate, at an alumni celebration at the seminary.

After a delay caused by the pandemic, he became a diocesan seminarian on Aug. 15, 2022.

Fr. Rodelio’s friendship and guidance was instrumental during the past few years, not only because he suggested that Deacon Parsad consider serving as a priest in this diocese but also because “alongside many good priest-friends, he has particularly been a model of calmness and goodness, which are important qualities in the priestly ministry,” the deacon said. 

Now that his ordination to the priesthood is around the corner, he feels a mix of emotions, he said. “I feel excited and nervous because there is a gravitas in the responsibility that this vocation entails. However, there is an overarching feeling of gratefulness and hopefulness because of the trust and assurance that it is ultimately God, who will sustain me in this life of service.” 

Reaching this milestone in his religious life “means everything to me,” he added. “The priestly ordination is going to define who I am and what I do for the rest of my life, and I am utterly humbled by this.”

Some of his fondest memories of his life at the seminary are of moments of service, both liturgical and pastoral, he said. “The big ones that come to mind is the formation of the largest human cross (at that time in 2011) and being involved in the papal visit of 2015.”

In addition, he enjoyed playing sports and daily walks with good friends, he said. “These are all crucially formative moments.” 

As he prepares to begin his priestly ministry, his heart is full of gratitude for the trust and prayers of the people of God, he said, and he asks that the faithful continue to pray for him. 

“I also encourage men to heed God’s call to the priesthood,” he said. “This is a meaningful and satisfying life of service in Christ. Let us help build the Body of Christ in Utah.”

In addition to the priestly ordination on June 13, the diocese is preparing for seminarians José Luis Gomez and Jaime Zuazo to be instituted as deacons in November. 

“The priesthood calling is vital to our diocese as it brings in the men that are being called to serve as priests for the people in our parishes and schools,” said Mandi Knaras, from the diocesan office of vocations. 

Priests provide “service during the Mass to consecrate the Eucharist, the blessing of [the Sacrament of] Reconciliation, the great opportunity to help couples become married, and the baptismal graces to all those who are welcomed into our Church. ... We are blessed to have our priests, yet we need more priests to keep up with the increases of people now joining and coming back to their faith in our parishes and missions,” she added.

WHAT: Presbyteral ordination of the Rev. Mr. Kenneth Parsad

WHEN: Friday, June 13 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 South Temple, SLC

In connection with the presbyteral ordination, three Holy Hours are scheduled. They are Tuesday, June 10, 5 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 9800 South 1700 East, Sandy; Wednesday, June 11, 5 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 210 S. Chapel St., Layton; and Thursday, June 12, 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, SLC.