On June 20, 2026, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy ordained five new priests for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The five men — Father Brendan Basil Parlett, Father Federico José Mariano, Father Pedro Antonio López Berrios, Father David Ezequiel Narváez Vargas and Father Jessiah S. Rojas — came from Maryland and three Latin American countries, each answering God's call to priesthood by a different path. Summarizing their journeys, Cardinal McElroy said, “Five separate pathways, one destination.”
The men about to be ordained as new priests for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, including from left, Deacon Jessiah S Rojas, Deacon David Ezequiel Narváez Vargas, Deacon Pedro Antonio López Berrios, Deacon Federico José Mariano, and Deacon Brendan Basil Parlett join the opening procession at the Mass for the Ordination of Priests on June 20, 2026 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At the Mass for the Ordination of Priests on June 20, 2026 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, family members of the newly ordained priests of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington bring offertory gifts to the sanctuary, where they presented them to Cardinal Robert W. McElroy. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)
After the Mass of Priesthood Ordination on June 20, 2026 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Archdiocese of Washington’s five new priests went to chapels in the basilica to offer first blessings to people. In the photo above, Father Jessiah Rojas blesses his parents, Roxanne and Nick Rojas. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
After his ordination to the priesthood on June 20, 2026 at the National Shrine, Father David Ezequiel Narváez Vargas offers a first blessing to his parents, his mother Faviola Vargas and his father Ezequiel Narváez. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
After his ordination to the priesthood on June 20, 2026 at the National Shrine, Father Federico Mariano offers a first blessing to some of his family members. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
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