With laying on of hands, Frackville deacon elevated to priesthood in the Ukrainian Catholic Church

Aug. 15—FRACKVILLE — With the ceremonial laying on of hands, Deacon Paul Spotts was elevated to the priesthood Tuesday during a service in St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy in Philadelphia, ordained Spotts during a celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

"By the will of God, Deacon Paul is elevated to the priesthood," said Gudziak, wearing blue-and-white vestments and a crownlike mitra, the symbol of his office.

More than 200 worshippers filled the church to capacity during the two-hour rite, enriched by liturgical responses from the church choir.

Spotts' wife, Donna, their six children and several grandchildren sat in the front rows of the church during the solemn ritual.

Priests are allowed to marry in the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

"We are proud of our father," said John Spotts, 29, while cradling his 9-month-old daughter, Brinley. "He has devoted his life to the church."

Spotts was ordained as a deacon by Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, on Oct. 17, 2009. He serves St. Michael's in Frackville and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Maizeville.

Spotts, 61, works in informational technology at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. The family lives in Frackville.

Spotts' priestly ordination was on the Feast of the Assumption — known as the Dormition of the Mother of God in the Ukrainian rite, which celebrates the elevation of Mary into heaven.

St. Michael's chimes rang out at 2 p.m. as an entourage of about 25 priests, deacons and altar servers escorted Spotts into the church.

The Rev. Petro Zvarych, pastor at St. Michael's, met Metropolitan Gudziak at the church entrance.

"We ask you to give the blessing, the laying on of hands, to Deacon Paul and to ordain him as a priest," Zvarych said.

Two children, Emma Fetterolf and Sophia Stepanchick, presented the Metropolitan with a bouquet of flowers.

Explaining during the homily that the priesthood is a calling, Gudziak drew laughter when he borrowed an expression from "The Price Is Right," saying: "We are calling one of our own. Paul, come on down, it's time."

Turning serious and reminding Spotts that the church is calling him because of God's love, Gudziak advised, "Receive God's love always, and share it with the people of God's church."

Escorted by Monsignor Mark Fesniak, pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Minersville, Spotts knelt before Gudziak during the ordination ritual.

Rising, he took off the deacon's garment and put on the priestly robe, stole and cape. Gudziak presented him with a missal and a pair of chalices.

Following his ordination, Spotts' first words were to his family.

Beneath gold-tinted icons, he addressed his loved ones from the altar.

"You each have had a part in this," he said. "You have been with me on this journey, too."

The congregation erupted in applause.

Afterward, family, friends and clergy gathered in celebration at Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville.

"We're honored," Maria Spotts said of her father's ordination. "It's a blessing for him and our family."

Maria, 30, an elementary school teacher, said the church being at the center of the Spotts' family life has had a lot to do with her father's vocation.

"The church is like another family," she said. "You can feel the community, the caring we have for each other."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007