June 12, 2008

Diocese Celebrates Ordination of Newest Priest

By Pam Flynn

Managing Editor

The Diocese of Memphis celebrated the ordination of its newest priest on June 7 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Father Dennis Schenkel was ordained Saturday to serve God, the Catholic Church and the people of the diocese.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Cathedral to witness Schenkel's vows as he completed the final step on his journey to the priesthood and was ordained by Bishop J. Terry Steib. 33 priests concelebrated with Bishop Steib during the ordination Mass.

"The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Dennis Schenkel," said Bishop Steib, "to anoint him so that he will not only continue his service as a deacon _ that is, a minister of the Word, a minister of the Altar, and a minister of Charity, but he will also celebrate the Eucharist — that life-giving banquet of our Christian existence. His will be the task of presiding over the great thanksgiving of God's people in Christ."

Dennis Schenkel was born March 22, 1966 in St. Charles, Missouri, but moved to Memphis shortly after his birth. He is the son of Lorna and Jack Schenkel. He has two younger brothers, David and Douglas.

Schenkel attended St. Michael elementary school, and graduated from Memphis Catholic High School.

He graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in English and taught in area Catholic and public schools.

He worked as a Network Design Analyst for a regional computer systems integration company before entering Saint Meinrad Seminary in 2003.

"In 2003, I entered seminary, and since then I have had the chance to study, to pray, to learn, to grow, said Schenkel. "It has honestly been the best thing I have ever done."

"Brother Dennis, while exercising your part of the Office of Christ, in union with the ordinary, strive to bring the faithful together into one family, said Bishop Steib.

"See each one as a brother and sister, as a son and a daughter of the Almighty, as a child of God, standing in the need of prayer, so that you may lead each one to God the Father through Christ the Son in the Holy Spirit. Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served, but to serve, and who came to seek out and save what was lost," added Bishop Steib.

Schenkel celebrated his first Mass on June 8 at St. Louis Church. He has been assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Louis Church effective June 25.