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Cardinal Frank Leo presides at the ordination Mass for the Archdiocese of Toronto in 2023.
Michael Swan
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Toronto
In just a few short days, four young men from diverse backgrounds and life experiences will be ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Toronto, standing as a testament to faith, discernment and service in today’s world.
His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto will preside at the Mass of Ordination set to take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 9 at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. Music from the world renowned, St. Michael’s Choir School, and a congregation of 1,000 guests will accompany these men on ordination day following years of prayer, study and ongoing formation.
The Archdiocese of Toronto’s “Class of 2026” includes the following men:
Rev. Mr. Matteo Bertozzi, 31, born in Brescia, Italy, is the fourth of ten children raised in a deeply Catholic family. His early faith formation through his parents and the Neocatechumenal Way shaped his life, even as he developed interests in literature and theatre and imagined a future as a teacher or playwright.
A turning point came at World Youth Day in 2013. “What helped me was the fact that God let me exercise my freedom; inviting me, but never forcing me.”
After a decisive retreat in Porto San Giorgio, Italy, he entered the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Toronto in 2014. His formation deepened his trust in God and a call to mission. “The freedom to say no,” he says, “is what at the end convinced me to say yes.”
Rev. Mr. Moonjun Alphonse Choi, 31, was born in Daejeon, South Korea, and immigrated to Canada with his family in 2002. A gifted artist, he enrolled in a competitive arts program while also offering his time and talents as an altar server at St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church in North York. Inspired at a young age by St. John Paul II, he experienced the first stirrings of a vocation.
“And at that moment, just like Moses,” he recalls, “I noticed a burning in my heart.”
He entered St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2017. In addition to his studies, he also gained valuable pastoral experience (as do all seminarians) through internships in parishes across the archdiocese, including Merciful Redeemer in Mississauga and St. Joseph the Worker in Oshawa. He looks forward to priestly ministry rooted in God’s mercy and love for His people.
Rev. Mr. Matthew Steven Tuanquin Tulio, 28, a Toronto native and son of Filipino parents, grew up attending St. John XXIII Parish in North York. An accomplished student and musician, he pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, earning a double major in Neuroscience and Environmental Biology. Although his academic future appeared well‑defined, he sensed that God was calling him elsewhere.
“Though these plans on paper looked nice and seemed good,” he reflects, “I came to realize that what I was looking for was something more.”
While discerning at the Newman Centre Catholic Mission in downtown Toronto, he experienced a deep interior clarity. “There was one day, thinking about the priesthood,” he recalls, “where the purest joy I have ever experienced entered into my heart.” He entered the seminary in 2019 and now invites others to trust God’s invitation: “You never know what can happen.”
Rev. Mr. Victor Manuel Valdés, 34, was born in Toronto to parents from Central and South America and attended St. Aidan’s Parish in Scarborough. After graduating from Brébeuf College High School, he entered the workforce and also discovered through volunteering a desire to serve others more deeply.
“I quickly discovered that having money and being able to spend it on whatever I wanted didn’t really make me happy,” he says.
God’s call came gently but persistently. “I felt something very gently nudging me to respond,” he recalls. Entering St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2016, he spent a decade in formation. “I thank God that I followed the promptings of the Spirit that day,” he adds. “I now hope, by God’s mercy and love, to serve as a priest of Jesus Christ.”
The newly ordained “Class of 2026” have been assigned to serve in parishes throughout the archdiocese, beginning their formal postings in late June.
All are welcome to attend the Mass of Ordination or join the livestream at: stmichaelscathedral.com/live.
Learn more about St. Augustine’s Seminary by visiting staugustines.on.ca and discover the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary online at: rmmstoronto.org
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Photo courtesy St. Michael’s Choir School
