Bishop Lucia to Ordain Four Men to the Priesthood this Saturday

Press Release
June 4, 2021        
Bishop Lucia to Ordain Four Men to the Priesthood this Saturday

Syracuse, NY — Most Reverend Douglas J. Lucia, Bishop of Syracuse, will be the main celebrant at the Mass of Ordination at 10am in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Downtown Syracuse.  Four men will be ordained to the Priesthood.  They are: Dan Caughey, Brendan Foley, John Leo Odour and Dennis Walker.  Biographical information and first pastoral appointments are listed below.

Dan Caughey is the son of Bob and Audrey Caughey and has two siblings. He was born in Cortland and baptized at St. Mary’s Church in Cortland. Dan’s sacraments of First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation were received at St. Mary’s. In 1985, he graduated from Binghamton University where he earned a B.S. degree in Geology. Dan went on to earn a M.S. degree in Education at SUNY Oswego and became a science teacher for 31 years. During this time, Dan was married to his wife, Mary, for 25 years. In the Fall of 2017, he entered Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA and graduated in 2021. Bishop Lucia has appointed him Parochial Vicar to St. Anthony Parish in Cortland N.Y. and St. Margaret’s Church in Homer, N.Y., St. Lawrence in DeRuyter, N.Y. and St. Patrick’s Oratory in Truxton, effective July 1. 

Brendan Foley is the son of Daniel and Patricia Foley and has one brother. He was born in Binghamton and baptized at St. James Church in Johnson City, NY.  Brendan’s sacraments of First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation were also received at St. James Church. Brendan graduated from Seton Catholic Central High School in 2010 and later graduated from Scranton University in 2014. He went on to serve in a Catholic postgraduate volunteer service program. The FrancisCorps program was run by Franciscans in Syracuse, NY. During his time with the FrancisCorps, Brendan worked in a Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement in Syracuse. In August of 2015, he entered St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD from which he graduated in 2021.  Bishop Lucia has appointed him Parochial Vicar at Holy Cross Parish in DeWitt, effective July 1. 

John Leo Oduor is the son of Mr. Moses Oduor  & Colleta Apiyo and has four siblings. He was born in Kisumu, Kenya and baptized in Ukwala Parish, Siaya Kenya. John Leo’s sacraments of First Communion and First Penance were received at Aluor Parish, Siaya Kenya. He was confirmed at Aluor Parish in the Archdiocese of Kisumu, Siaya Kenya. John Leo attended Ramba High School in Kenya. In 2005, he entered Seminary in Nairobi-OSA and in 2015 joined the Dominican Missionaries in Missouri. John Leo finished his education in 2021 at Christ the King Seminary in Buffalo, NY, after being enrolled for three years. Bishop Lucia has appointed him Parochial Vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Oswego, effective July 1.  

Dennis Walker is the son of  R. Mark Walker and M. Denise Walker and has one sister. Dennis was born in Syracuse, NY and baptized at St. Matthew's Church in East Syracuse, NY.  Dennis’s sacraments of First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation were received at St. James Church in Syracuse.   Dennis graduated from Le Moyne College in 2011 with a B.S. in Accounting as well as an M.B.A. He began seminary in August 2015 at St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD and graduated in 2021. In 2018 - 2019,  Dennis spent his pastoral year at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Utica, NY and Our Lady of the Rosary in New Hartford, NY.  He previously worked as an auditor for Onondaga County and New York State, and also worked for his family's fire protection business: M. Walker Sprinkler Co.  Bishop Lucia has appointed him Parochial Vicar of St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Syracuse, and St. Margaret Church in Mattydale, effective July 1.

Due to capacity limits, the Ordination Mass is by invitation only and will be livestreamed on  https://www.youtube.com/user/syrdio.  Media is invited to cover the Ordination.  Please contact Danielle E. Cummings, Chancellor/Director of Communications at 315.470.1476 by Friday afternoon if you are interested in covering.