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Religion

Woman realizes goal of priesthood

The Rev. Patricia Zorn was ordained into the priesthood of the Catholic Church in America at a friendly, open service.

By JEAN JOHNSON
Published February 12, 2005

SPRING HILL - The Rev. Patricia Zorn's journey to the priesthood took more than 15 years. However, she will now begin another journey: a life of service to God, to the people in her community and the world.

Already an ordained deacon, Zorn, 48, was ordained into the priesthood of the Catholic Church in America on Sunday.

The service was held at Holy Angels Church, a contemporary Catholic Church Zorn founded and where she has been conducting Sunday worship services since September. The church meets at the Spring Hill Community Association Lake House.

The stage was set immediately for a feeling of love and family as attendees were met at the door by Zorn's 11-year-old son, Troy. That warmth continued throughout the morning, which began with soft recorded music, followed by a history of Holy Angels Church and the lighting of the candles by Troy, Zorn's husband, Kurt, and his mother, Ethel Zorn.

"It was very nice to have three generations lighting the candles," Zorn said.

Although ordinations are usually very solemn events, the occasion was one of love, warmth and light humor.

Zorn said she was pleased with the outcome of the event. She was particularly delighted with the song she chose to be played during the procession of the clergy: Breath of Heaven, which was about Jesus' mother Mary's life.

"I thought it was a perfect way to get people ready for the service," she said.

The rite of ordination was officiated by Bishop Michel Joseph Pugin of the order of St. Benedictine, which is in Bartonville, Ill. Ordained a Roman Catholic deacon in 1982 and a Roman Catholic priest a year later, Pugin left Rome after 10 years and was consecrated Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Outaouais of the Catholic Apostolic Church in Canada in 1993.

Pugin has 10 parishes spread from Salem, Mass., to Miami, to Arkansas, which he visits regularly to perform ordinations, confirmations, first communions and annual pastoral visits. Zorn is the third woman for whom Pugin has conducted ordination services.

Other clergy in attendance included Eleonora Marinaro and her husband, David Gaboury of Port Richey, both priests in the Catholic Church in America; Catholic Church in America ordained priests, Margaret Ioannone of Tampa and Pamela LeClerc from Riverview.

"When Pam was ordained two years ago there was an article about her in the paper, and I got in touch with her through e-mail and she and Eleonora and I started meeting and having lunch periodically," Zorn said. She said LeClerc was part of the old Catholic church, rooted in Holland.

"It's nice when people come out to support you," Zorn said.

Ed Leitsch, 71, and his wife, Carol, are founding members of Holy Angels and both enjoyed the ordination ceremony.

"It was a wonderful day," said Carol Leitsch, 73, who is Holy Angels' treasurer. "I was elated with the way things were. It's a wonderful thing to have our (own) priest and something Patty has waited for, for a long time, and I'm so happy I was a part of it. I wouldn't have missed such a marvelous occasion for anything."

Leitsch said she finally has an opportunity to enjoy the Mass and the fellowship.

"This is the way I always expected the Catholic church to be, to accept everyone no matter what color, nationality or sex preference," she said. "I'm very happy and pleased with where I am today."

The Rev. Patricia Zorn will celebrate her first Mass as a priest at 10 a.m. Sunday.

[Last modified February 12, 2005, 00:24:15]