Priesthood a second career choice for four

The group was made up of a landscaper, an information technology consultant, a business planner and a legislative aide.

On Saturday, the four men began second careers.

Bishop Donald Wuerl ordained Sean Francis, Thomas Kunz, Kevin Poecking and Daniel Straughn yesterday at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland. The four will assume their first assignments July 5 in parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

"You will never be alone again. You are a visible presence of the church everywhere you go. You will never be simply by yourself," Wuerl said.

The four men had been successful in their lay careers but saw the priesthood as a vocation that would fulfill their lives, said the Rev. James Wehner, rector of St. Paul Seminary in Crafton and director of priestly formation for the diocese.

"To walk away from success to come into the seminary, to make a commitment to celibacy and obedience -- I find that to be inspiring," Wehner said.

One of Kunz's first actions after his ordination was to bless his parents, Jack and Connie Kunz, outside the cathedral.

"It was awesome, incredible," said Kunz, 31, of Point Breeze, a former information technology consultant. "The joy I felt from this whole experience is overwhelming."

All four new priests began their studies six years ago. Shortly after starting, Poecking, a former business planner and operations research analyst, sold his home and most of his possessions.

"It was very difficult, but it was easy to leave," said Poecking, 36, of Beaver, Beaver County.

Francis, 33, of McCandless, had been a landscaper, and he plans to continue that work as a hobby.

"I enjoy doing that. It's relaxing. It's nice to plant things and see them come up," he said.

Straughn, 34, of Carnegie, had commuted to Harrisburg each week for five years when he was an analyst and administrative assistant to leadership in the state House of Representatives. He said deciding to become a priest took "a lot of prayer."

"It's a powerful experience to be called and confirmed a priest of Jesus Christ," he said.

Since 2000, the diocese has ordained 22 priests. It is anticipating ordaining two next year, Wehner said.

The country may find itself importing priests if more men do not pursue the priesthood, said Albert Giordano, a historian for Serra International, an organization promoting the priesthood and holding its annual convention this weekend Downtown.

Giordano, a native of Monaca, Beaver County, now living in Carmel, Calif., said society's emphasis on money and success is only one reason for a decline in the number of priests. Smaller families also are a cause.

"When a couple had seven children, one could be a nun or a priest. But when they have only one child or two, they want grandchildren," he said.

But as with the four priests ordained yesterday, Giordano said more men are giving up careers to become priests.

"They find out money and rank is not the answer," he said.

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