Prospective Catholic U.S. Navy Chaplain Ordained Transitional Deacon in Arlington, VA

Diaconal ordination of the Rev. Mr. Sean Koehr marks next-to-last step before priestly ordination

Bishop Michael Burbidge ordained Sean Koehr a transitional deacon on June 2, 2018, in Arlington, VA. Deacon Koehr, who is on track to be ordained a priest next year, hopes to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy. Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Arlington.

ARLINGTON, VA – The Reverend Mr. Sean Koehr, a candidate for Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, June 2, in Arlington, VA. Deacon Koehr, 28, is in priestly formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA, where he recently earned a Master of Divinity degree. He hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) after three years of pastoral service in his home Diocese of Arlington.

Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington ordained him at St. Thomas More Cathedral through the laying of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit. The AMS Vocations Director, Father Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O., concelebrated the 11:00 a.m. ordination Mass.

The Rev. Mr. Koehr said he was inspired to pursue a vocation by the example of Catholic priests. “Witnessing the joyful and zealous service of priests awakened in me a desire for the priesthood,” he said. “I feel abundantly blessed to be called and ordained to preach the Gospel.”

The new deacon is a 2008 graduate of Seton School in Manassas, VA. He graduated in 2012 from Notre Dame University, where he took part in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and majored in philosophy.

Among those in attendance at the ordination Mass were the Rev. Mr. Koehr’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Koehr, his grandparents, and 11 siblings.

The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest in June of 2019.

Young men interested in discerning a priestly vocation, and the vocation within a vocation to serve those who serve in the U.S. military, can find more information at www.milarch.org/vocations, or may contact the Vocations Director, Father Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O., by email at vocations@milarch.org.

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