On Saturday, May 22, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron ordained Fr. Zaid Chabaan to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Chabaan first began serving as an altar server around the age of 10 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica and, as a young man, attended two discernment weekends at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. The support of many faithful priests aided him in the discernment of his vocation.  

His Excellency offered words of praise and thanksgiving to God during his homily, reflecting that “all has been grace” in Fr. Chabaan’s journey to the priesthood. “What God accomplishes … through these very simple rites is a powerful gift of grace,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “And the meaning of what is about to happen is illustrated, made clear, exemplified through the rites that take place in the ordination liturgy.”

Following his presbyteral ordination, Fr. Chabaan expressed his gratitude to his family, friends, priests and parishioners from previous parishes, and faculty and staff at the seminary. He also echoed the words of Psalm 91:1: “I will give thanks to you Lord with all my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds.”

“I thank almighty God for His love for me and for calling me to serve as one of His priests. I am reminded of the words of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman: ‘God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.'”

(Photos courtesy of Tim Fuller Photography | Detroit Priestly Vocations)