A Gift Beyond Words: Supporting the Call to Priesthood

On June 8, 2024, Father Dennis Gannon was ordained to the priesthood, marking the end of a long and meaningful journey of discernment, study, and prayer. Today, he serves as Associate Pastor at Sts. Philip and James Parish in St. James, accompanying parishioners in their everyday lives of faith.

His path to the priesthood began years earlier at St. Aidan’s Parish in Williston Park. After graduating from Chaminade High School, he felt called to something more and made the decision to enter the seminary. From there, his formation took him through St. John’s University and later St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, where he spent years preparing for a life of service to the Church.

The journey to becoming a priest is not quick or easy. It is a long, multi-year process that forms a man intellectually, spiritually, and pastorally. Along with that commitment comes a very real financial cost. Tuition, housing, and daily living expenses can add up over nearly a decade of formation.

For Father Gannon, that burden was something he did not have to carry alone.

“Not having to worry about all the financial burdens during my nine years of study was a massive burden off my shoulders,” he shared. “I was able to focus on prayer and my studies. It was a gift that goes beyond words. The way it helped me and my fellow brothers is immeasurable.”

Because of the generosity of those who support the Catholic Ministries Appeal, seminarians are able to fully focus on their vocation without the constant stress of financial pressure. That kind of support makes a lasting difference. It allows them to grow in their relationship with God and prepare more fully for the responsibility of serving His people.

The impact of that support doesn’t end when a man is ordained. It continues in every Mass celebrated, every person counseled, every family comforted, and every moment of grace shared within a parish community. Supporting the formation of a priest is something that reaches far beyond one individual. It touches countless lives.

Father Gannon’s story is a reminder that no vocation is lived in isolation. Behind every priest is a community that helped make that journey possible. Through the Catholic Ministries Appeal, that quiet support becomes something powerful, helping to ensure that the Church continues to grow and serve for generations to come.

It truly is a gift that goes beyond words.