May 22, 2024 (Louisville, KY) – On Saturday, June 1, 2024, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre will ordain Deacons Matthew Heath. Millay, Kenneth Brian Nauert, Jr., Michael Louis Schultz, Van Dung Tran, and Yen Van Tran to the diocesan priesthood for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville. The ordination will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Church (3705 Stone Lakes Drive, Louisville).
Deacon Matthew Heath Millay, 28, is a native of Guston, Ky. He is the second of four sons of Harold and Kimberly Millay, who live on the family farm in Guston. Deacon Millay has earned the following degrees: a bachelor’s degree in biology from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky, a master’s degree in Catholic philosophical studies, and a Master of Divinity, both from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind. Deacon Millay will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Church in Brandenburg, Ky. After ordination, he will serve as Associate Pastor of Holy Spirit Church and St. Leonard Church, both in Louisville.
Deacon Kenneth Brian Nauert, Jr., 28 is a native of Louisville, Ky. The oldest of four children, he is the son of Kenny and Dee Dee Nauert who live in Shively. Deacon Nauert earned a bachelor’s degree with a triple major in religious studies, history, and Asian religions and cultures and a master’s degree in religious studies from Western Kentucky University. He also earned a master’s degree from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Catholic philosophical studies and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Deacon Nauert will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m. at St. Lawrence Church in Louisville. After ordination, Deacon Nauert will pursue a degree in canon law at the Catholic University of America’s School of Law.
Deacon Michael Louis Schultz, 26, is a native of Sibiu, Romania. The oldest of two children, he was adopted by his parents, Greg and Kathleen Schultz, in 1999. Deacon Schultz earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary in Indianapolis, Ind., and he has earned a Master of Divinity and bachelor’s degree in sacred theology and a licentiate in liturgical theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. Deacon Schultz will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, June 1, 4:15 p.m. at St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville. After ordination, he will serve as associate pastor of St. Albert the Great Church in Louisville, Ky.
Deacon Van Dung Tran, 35, is a native of the Loc Ha district in the Ha Tinh province of Vietnam. The second oldest of six children, he is the son of Su Van Tran and Nguyet Thi Tran. Deacon Tran earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the Institute of Technology in Vietnam, and he has earned a Master of Divinity degree from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology in Cincinnati, Ohio. Deacon Van Tran will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving at his home parish in Vietnam on June 20. After ordination, he will serve as associate pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Louisville.
Deacon Yen Van Tran, 35, is a native of Vinh, Vietnam. The third of five siblings, he is the son of Luu and Loi Tran, Four of his five sisters and brothers are in religious life. Deacon Tran earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Phu Xuan University in Vietnam and just completed a Master of Divinity and bachelor’s degree in sacred theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. He will celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving at his home parish in Vietnam on June 19. After ordination, he will serve as associate pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church in Louisville.
These five men will serve as diocesan priests for the Archdiocese of Louisville. A bishop ordains diocesan priests, also called secular priests, for a particular geographical area called a diocese or archdiocese. Diocesan priests usually serve in parishes, though they also may serve in schools, hospitals, prisons, or diocesan offices, depending upon local needs. Diocesan priests ordained for the Archdiocese serve in the 24 counties in Central Kentucky that make up the Archdiocese of Louisville.
For information, call: Cecelia Price at 502/585-3291 (office) or 502/417-7187 (cell).
