Bishop to ordain Preston to priesthood May 22

The Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, apostolic administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, will ordain the Rev. Mr. Michael Anthony Preston to the priesthood at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 22, at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Wilmington.

Preston was ordained to the transitional diaconate last August.

A native of Port Deposit, in Cecil County, Md., Preston was born in 1992. He is the son of Cathleen Bradley and William Preston Jr. He attended Good Shepherd Catholic School and Perryville High School, both in Perryville, Md. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in Catholic theology while at the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.; and a bachelor of sacred theology and master of divinity degrees from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore.

During his seminary studies, Preston worked in pastoral ministry at St. John the Beloved, St. Mary Magdalen and St. Elizabeth parishes in Wilmington, as well as St. Mary of the Assumption in Hockessin and St. Margaret of Scotland in Glasgow.

“One of my greatest joys as Bishop of Wilmington, has been to ordain men to the diaconate and priesthood,” said Malooly. “I am looking forward to ordaining Michael to the priesthood, and ask the good people of our diocese to pray that the holy spirit will guide Michael as he begins his priestly ministry, and that more men will heed God’s call to a priestly vocation.”

“I am very excited about serving the people of God in the Diocese of Wilmington,” said Preston. “I am thankful for all the support I have had over the years.”

Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, attendance at the May 22 Mass of Ordination is by invitation only. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Diocese of Wilmington’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm.