Pittsburgh Diocese to welcome 2 new priests

Deacons Alec Scheuer and Daniel Roberts didn’t imagine they’d end up dedicating their lives to the Catholic church.

Though he was raised Catholic, Roberts, a 1997 graduate of North Hills Senior High School, said he started out as a “freelance actor” in Los Angeles and thought his path would lead him to the big screen.

“I was working part time as (an) acting professor and also, kind of, pursuing acting roles and doing some acting in some small theaters in LA and also independent films, and I was making inroads into commercials and TV work,” he said.

“But, even in spite of … all of that, even though I was feeling somewhat content, I also just like sensed that something was missing, that God wanted me to do something else with my life.”

Now, Roberts and Scheuer are about to become priests. Their ordination Mass is scheduled for Saturday.

Scheuer, whose father introduced him to Catholicism while growing up in Northern Virginia, described his decision to become a priest as “some kind of spiritual moment on (his) heart.”

“I kept saying to the Lord, ‘You know, Lord, I’m serving you as a youth minister, what else do you want from me?’ And he kept saying, ‘I want you to serve my church,’ ” Scheuer said. He was only 25 when he heard his calling.

He continued working as a youth minister in Washington, Pa., for two years to give himself time to decide whether the priesthood was truly for him.

When the time was right, he began his journey.

Both said a lot of preparation, and prayer, is required before the official ordination. Roberts said prospects must participate in seven years of seminary formation, ministry and a required five-day canonical retreat each month before they can enter priesthood.

“For the ordination and for our first Masses, we have to prepare for those, and we’ve been doing that,” he said.

But they haven’t gone through it alone.

Scheuer said his mother, who is not Catholic, was the most excited to hear about his priesthood.

“She was like, ‘No matter what you do in life, as long as you are happy, I’m going to support you,’ ” he said.

Roberts said when he told his parents about wanting to be a priest, they responded, “We thought so!”

Both men are spending their final week as deacons at St. Paul Seminary in Crafton, where they began their studies seven years ago.

“(It’s) really just some time to retreat from the world, have some quiet space, pray in the chapel here (and) have some fraternity,” Roberts said.

Post-ordination, the deacons plan to continue their education.

“Times change. The church might change a little bit, adapting with the times. And so, for us, you know, continuing formation will also be a key for us after ordination as well,” Roberts said.

Both deacons are excited to see where they will serve, as they won’t find out until the day of the ceremony, a practice, they said, is uncommon.

“Bishop Zubik (the recently retired bishop of Pittsburgh) will — he likes to keep that under wraps,” Roberts said.

Scheuer added, “Most dioceses I know will (announce) maybe two weeks in advance, maybe a week. But I think you’re right, Dan, that usually the bishop likes to make it, kind of, almost like a celebratory thing.”

Family, friends and supporters are welcome to join the celebration in person or view the livestream on YouTube. The ordination Mass will start at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.