2014 Priestly Ordination
Photo Credit: Gwen Bartlett
Just last Saturday, June 7, 2014, a wonderful young man, Craig DeYoung, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Austin. His love for God, his servants heart and his joy for life is evident from the moment you meet Craig and is splashed across his face when you see his big smile.
Personally, I’ve been blessed to know and call (now Father) Craig a friend for over two years. I met Fr. Craig when he was in his Pastoral Year at St. William and was attending DCYC (Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference) with the high school teens of St. William. Craig graciously offered to serve and help however he could as a seminarian with the liturgies at DCYC.
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Craig, here’s the brief biography from the program at his ordination:
Craig Marley DeYoung, 30, was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Dorothy Starr and David DeYoung. He was baptized at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, Mich. He has a sister and a brother form his parent’s marriage and three brothers from his father’s second marriage. Craig lived in Michigan and Ohio before moving to Texas with his parents in the first grade. He moved to Georgetown in the fourth grade.
In 2002, Craig entered Texas A&M University where he obtained a degree in Industrial Distribution. An agnostic when he began college, Craig found himself attending a Bible study. A Catholic friend, Jason Jesko, soon invited him to attend the Catholic Church and then encouraged him to attend an Aggie Awakening, which is where Christ became real for Craig. He began attending Mass on a regular basis, and he studied the Catholic faith with great zeal. At the 2004 Easter Vigil, Craig entered into full communion with the Catholic Church at St. Mary’s Catholic Center. After graduating from college, Craig entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, studying to be a priest for the Diocese of Austin. He then attended St. Mary’s Seminary for the remainder of his seminary formation. Craig completed his Pastoral Year at St. William in Round Rock and his deacon year at St. Anthony Parish in Bryan. He considers his home parish to be St. Helen Parish in Georgetown.
To read more on his journey from agnostic to Catholic, read his posts at CatholicSistas:
From Agnostic Theist to Seminarian: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V. Fr. Craig has been assigned as an associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville.
To learn more about vocations and discernment to become a priest, brother or sister in the Diocese of Austin, please visit the Diocese of Austin Vocations website at www.austinvocations.com.
