Rev. Sean G. Carpenter Ordained to Diocesan Priesthood in Scranton, PA
Montgomery High School graduate (class of 1999), Rev. Sean G. Carpenter, age 29, and Rev. Gerald W. Shantillo, of Athens, were conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders for service as priests in the Diocese of Scranton. Bishop Joseph F. Martino served as principal celebrant and ordaining prelate. The Mass of Ordination was held on Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Peters Cathedral in Scranton. The event was broadcast live on Catholic Television (CTV) of the Diocese. Many family, friends, and local parishioners of the two men attended the beautiful ceremony. Former classmates, and dozens of priests also attended and participated in the Ordination Ceremony.
Father Sean is the son of James and Margaret Bennett Carpenter, of Montgomery. He was born in the Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport in 1980. Father Sean was educated in the Montgomery Area school system, except for grades 7, 8, and 9, when he attended Bishop Neumann Catholic Junior Senior High School in Williamsport. In 2003, he received a Bachelor’s degree in English education from Mansfield University.
Shortly thereafter, he attended St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton, to begin his formation as a Diocesan priest. While a seminarian at St. Pius for one year, he pursued theological and philosophical studies at the University of Scranton. Father Sean continued his seminary formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. As a seminarian for the Diocese of Scranton, he completed his preparatory studies and training for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo, where he received his Master of Divinity degree in 2008.
Rev. Sean G. Carpenter celebrated his first mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, at his home parish of St. Boniface in Williamsport on Sunday, June 28, at 1:30 p.m. Monsignor Stephen McGough, host pastor, Father Michael Morrone, Father Michael Olivere, and Father William Trader, who delivered the homily, all concelebrated with the newly ordained priest. It was a very moving and emotional service.
In attendance at the two celebrations and receptions which immediately followed the ceremonies, were immediate family members including; parents James and Margaret Carpenter, siblings; Brent, and fianc Carrie Bower, Jonathon, Collette, and spouse Jay McGruder, grandfather from Nevada, Albert Bennett, and grandparents from Montgomery, Carlene and Howard Carpenter, along with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Many friends, and parishioners also attended.
While Father Sean is currently enjoying a brief vacation with his family, he is looking forward to his first assignment. On July 15th, Father Sean will assume the position of Assistant Pastor at Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, Brodheadsville, PA. Located in the Poconos, this parish is the largest in the Scranton Diocese. Due to change in assignments, the new Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Father Michael Quinnan, will be starting at the same time as Father Sean.
Father Sean’s responsibilities will include; ministering to the everyday needs of the parishioners, visiting the sick, hospitals, and nursing homes, teaching and visiting the parish school, participating in church social activities, and committees, presiding at baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and celebrating mass daily, and on weekends.
Anyone wanting to contact Father Sean Carpenter should send correspondence to: Rev. Sean Carpenter, Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box 38, Brodheadsville, PA 18322