The Archdiocese of Seattle will have three new priests when Archbishop Paul D. Etienne ordains transitional deacons John DePalma, Chad Hill and Josh Nehnevaj during a 10 a.m. Mass on Saturday, June 25, at St. James Cathedral (Watch the livestream on Vimeo and Facebook.)

“All three have a fervent love of the Lord that radiates naturally out to others,” said Father Justin Ryan, director of vocations. “They’re well equipped to help others recognize the Lord’s activity in their lives.”

They are men of deep of prayer who are also “great listeners,” he said. “They are genuinely interested in the other person.”

“All three bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, both within and outside the Church,” Father Ryan said. “They’re uniquely equipped to hit the ground running as they head out to our parishes.”

Two men are being ordained transitional deacons ordained this spring: John Paul Tomassi was ordained May 21 and Sylvester Chanda is scheduled to be ordained at 10 a.m. June 4 at St. Benedict Church in Seattle.

To learn more about vocations to the priesthood or religious life, visit SeattleVocations.com or search SeattleVocations on Facebook and Instagram.

Meet the men who will be ordained to the priesthood June 25:

John DePalma

  • Age: 52
  • Born: Langhorne, Pennsylvania
  • Home parish: Blessed Sacrament, Seattle
  • Seminaries: Mount Angel (Oregon) and Mundelein (Illinois)

Favorite field of study: What constitutes a “human person” in the field of bioethics, which addresses the meaning of human life, sexuality, suffering, illness and death. I enjoy grappling with issues that involve technology, science, medicine and the Gospel, in order to seek the most life-giving approaches to a given challenge in the midst of ever-changing circumstances.

Favorite saint: In 2006, while I was preparing for a national championship kayak competition, one of my friends loaned me a relic to pray with. St. Sebastian proved to be an amazing intercessor, who helped me combine my faith life with physical pursuits. He was unafraid to proclaim the truth, even to the Roman emperor. His strength and fitness were put to the test when he was sentenced to death and riddled with arrows. Nonetheless, through the care of a faithful Christian widow, his wounds healed and he continued preaching the Gospel despite the threat of death. Not only does St. Sebastian inspire me when exercising or helping others heal from injury, but his example of perseverance inspires my commitment to a life of spiritual discipline that yields fruit to be shared with others.

Hiking in the Cascades with his siblings.

Hobbies: Hanging out and eating with family and friends, kayaking, surfing, running, backpacking and fitness programming.

What was your life like before you began formation for the priesthood? I practiced physical therapy for over 20 years. I also traveled the world representing the U.S. canoe and kayak marathon team. I coached and helped direct the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club in Gainesville, Georgia. At my parish there, I served as a lector, RCIA teacher, confirmation catechist and young adult leader. I combined travel to world championship events with pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje, which affirmed my Marian devotion. In 2012, I entered the West Coast Jesuit novitiate, where I learned about the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which have helped me immensely. I then returned to Seattle to teach sport and exercise science at Seattle University for three years. I enjoyed leading the Dominican Youth at Blessed Sacrament in Seattle, where I underwent Lay Dominican formation. I also volunteered as an overnight winter shelter host at St. James Cathedral, which opened my eyes to the needs of homeless people in the Seattle area.

Encouraging young kayakers in their first race.

What person or experience most influenced you to answer the call to the priesthood? In 2004, a priest from Zimbabwe named Father Vincent Sullivan arrived at St. Michael Parish in Gainesville. Not only did he have a great British accent and lots of charisma, but he regularly hosted recreational outings for our young adult group and encouraged us to begin actively discerning the possibility of marriage, holy orders or consecrated life in the Church.

What do you most look forward to about being a priest? I look forward to offering myself to God’s people in a new and different way within the life of the Church — being challenged and formed by encountering the fragility and complexities of daily life together. I look forward to teaching those who desire meaningful, authentic and spontaneous prayer. The sacrament of reconciliation strikes me as a privileged moment to lend meaning by letting others know that they are forgiven, remembered and greatly loved.

Chad Hill

  • Age: 41
  • Born: Puyallup
  • Home parish: All Saints, Puyallup
  • Seminaries: Bishop White (Spokane) and Mount Angel (Oregon)

Favorite field of study: Sacred Scripture, especially looking at the Old Testament and seeing how everything points to Jesus and his passion, death and resurrection.

Favorite saint: My favorite saint has always been St. Patrick. What amazes me about him is his story. As a young man he was captured and enslaved by the Irish. He was able to escape and then become a priest and later a bishop. He was then sent to bring the faith to the people who had enslaved him. I pray that my faith is strong enough to be able to share the faith with everyone, even those who may have hurt me in some way.

Baking cookies with his niece.

Hobbies: I enjoy reading and playing tabletop games like Settlers of Catan and 7 Wonders. I am also a large Seahawks fan. I greatly enjoy hanging out with friends. Most of all I love spoiling my nieces and nephews.

What was your life like before you began formation for the priesthood? I worked many different manual labor jobs before becoming a youth minister. I was the youth minister at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Tacoma for six years before entering seminary. Before becoming a youth minister, I was very active in my home parish.

Carrying St. James Cathedral's Great Cross for the ordination Mass of Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg.

What person or experience most influenced you to answer the call to the priesthood? Father Woody McCallister had a large influence on my vocation. His example of priesthood helped me realize that it is something I would like to do. He was also very non-subtle in his hints that he thought I was called to the priesthood. When I told him I was applying for the youth ministry position at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, his response was, “That will be great training for you when you become a priest.” He was right.

What do you most look forward to about being a priest? I look forward to being able to bring God’s light into people’s lives, especially during times when they are at their lowest. One of the most impactful experiences I’ve had as a seminarian has been my clinical pastoral education experience. During this time, I was able to be with families as their loved one was actively dying and after their loved one had passed away. As a priest, I will be allowed into these sacred moments in people’s lives.

Josh Nehnevaj

  • Age: 28
  • Born: Vancouver
  • Home parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Vancouver
  • Seminaries: Mount Angel (Oregon) and the Pontifical North American College (Rome)

Favorite field of study: Sacramental theology and liturgy, because the sacraments and the liturgy are so important to the life of the Christian. The sacraments reveal the fullness of what it means to be Christian.

On a service trip in West Virginia.

Favorite saint: St. Benedict. I’ve gotten to know several communities of Benedictine monks, even starting before I entered seminary, and I’ve appreciated their integration of a deep academic knowledge with a rich spiritual and liturgical life. Through them I’ve come to appreciate what St. Benedict’s rule and life has to offer all Catholics.

Hobbies: Reading, board games, film photography, swimming.

What was your life like before you began formation for the priesthood? Before I entered seminary I studied math, Spanish, and computer science in college. I was active in the Newman Center at my university.

At the start of the Camino de Santiago.

What person or experience most influenced you to answer the call to the priesthood? My Newman Center pastor was very influential in answering the call to the priesthood, but the most influential experience was teaching for a program called Totus Tuus. Basically, I spent the summer before my final year of college teaching catechesis lessons at various parishes in Illinois. It was a very powerful experience of prayer and of serving the Church that really drew me to consider the priesthood.

What do you most look forward to about being a priest? I am most looking forward to celebrating the sacraments for people, especially baptism and the Eucharist.

Northwest Catholic — June/July 2022