Diocese of Buffalo to ordain new priest

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — One of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo’s major challenges is a significant shortage of priests, but the ranks will increase by one priest this weekend.

With fewer priests seeking the priesthood, Saturday will be a cause for celebration in Buffalo’s Catholic community. A deacon from Columbia is ready to take vows and be ordained.

7 News senior reporter Eileen Buckley had the chance to meet him before his big day.

WKBW

“Hosanna in the highest,” the faithful responded in song.

A day before Deacon Juan Sebastian Aristizabal was ordained, he attended a noon mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

WKBW

The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo ordained him as a transitional deacon in 2023 and he is known as Deacon Sebastian. But now the 42-year-old Colombian will take his vows Saturday to become Buffalo’s only Latino priest.

“If I must be a priest, it is for the people, for the sacraments,” replied Deacon Sébastien.

WKBW

“Why did you come here to Buffalo? What brought you here in the first place?” Buckley asked, “That’s because my brother has lived here for 15 years,” Deacon Sebastian replied.

“When did you receive this call?” asked Buckley. “I think when I was very young. I was an eight-year-old child,” replied Deacon Sebastian.

Photo provided by Deacon Juan Sebastián Aristizábal.

Deacon Sebastian tells me he comes from a very devoted Catholic family. His father is a retired coffee farmer. His mother is a lawyer.

WKBW

“Why do you also want to be a priest, beyond the call of God? asked Buckley. “To support the service of others, of my family at all times. My mother is president of Saint Vincent de Paul in Colombia. It’s all the time – service – my grandmother too, so many people in my family,” replied Deacon Sebastian.

Initially, the deacon began his religious studies in Colombia and became a Franciscan friar. He served for nine years and that’s when he decided he finally wanted to become a priest.

WKBW

“What do you say to people who have been tainted by the priest abuse scandal, and who just feel like they’ve left the church. How to bring them back? asked Buckley. “Believe me, I have no idea. It’s very difficult, yes, because people don’t believe in priests at the moment. This is the reason we will only have one priest each year in the Buffalo Catholic Church. I remember four or five years ago there were a lot of seminarians from Buffalo,” Deacon Sebastian remarked.

At Saturday’s ordination, Deacon Sebastian will lie face down and prostrate before the altar, committing himself to God and the priesthood.

WKBW

“I’m crying. It’s a difficult moment. You’re there, prostrate. You close your eyes while listening to people because it’s the litany of the saints,” reflected Deacon Sébastien. “Is this when you feel God in your heart?” asked Buckley. “I feel God in my heart many times, all the time, but this day, this moment is special,” Deacon Sebastian described.

The ordination mass will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. at Saint-Joseph Cathedral.