Print Issue: July 4, 2002
Archbishop Calls New Priests: Be "Teachers, Leaders And Examples" Of Christianity
Priest Bios
 (Front to back) Rev. Mr. Bryan Small, Rev. Mr. Terence Crone and Rev. Mr. Andrew Schoenfield prostrate themselves in the center aisle of the Cathedral of Christ the King as a form of humble prayer.
(Photos by Michael Alexander) |
By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer
ATLANTA - By temperament, one is a techie, another a movie buff and the third a bibliophile. But all three men gave their lives to Christ and the church June 15 as the newest priests of the archdiocese.
Atlanta natives Father Bryan Small and Father H. Andrew Schoenfield, and Father Terence Crone from Memphis, Tenn., were ordained at the Cathedral of Christ the King. They bring with them diverse backgrounds: Father Schoenfield, an English major in college, has a lifelong love of reading; Father Crone got an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at Georgia Tech; and Father Small considered a career in filmmaking before entering the seminary.
Archbishop John F. Donoghue came from the Dallas meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the ordination. The Mass was concelebrated by about 38 priests.
Cynthia Carter spoke of how Father Schoenfield, a convert from the Episcopal Church and a close friend since high school, influenced her to convert as they discussed theology and the foundation of the church by Christ. After becoming Catholic "he seemed to have more focus in life, he seemed happier, he discerned his vocation," Carter said.
"I think he's going to make a wonderful priest because he really cares about people. He's completely devoted to the church and serving people. I think he's a tremendous asset. I couldn't be happier for him or prouder of him . . . He's helped me through a lot of really difficult times."
In his homily the archbishop advised the three men to cling to the Gospel counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience to God and church teaching, to embrace Christ and follow him in order to overcome sin and live holy lives. He said that the priesthood is the primary ministry by which God's grace is channeled to the faithful through the sacraments of the Eucharist and reconciliation, and that Christ instituted this office at the Last Supper. The office "found perfect expression in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in His command that priests should re-enact the sacrifice until the last day."
 Father Mario D iLella, OFM, center, campus minister for the Catholic Center at Georgia Tech, helps Father Terence Crone vest in his priestly stole and chasuble as his parents, Harrel and Cathie Crone, look on. |
The archbishop spoke of St. Paul's message that Christ gave "teachers in roles of service to the faithful to build up His body."
"It is very sad, that in recent decades, many priests have abandoned this notion, this fundamental difference between them and the faithful, choosing to forget the timeless calling of God, and substituting for the very separate character of the priesthood, an understanding which blurs the distinction, and which in too many cases, has led to scandal for the Church, and disaster for the ministerial lives of those priests, and great harm to many of the faithful."
He affirmed that priests aren't superior to others. "As St. Paul says, Christ makes of His faithful, different offices, different roles, and ours is to stand up, and be seen, as teachers and leaders and examples" of Christianity, he said.
 (L-r) Father Andrew Schoenfield, Father Bryan Small and Father Terence Crone prepare to join Archbishop John F. Donoghue at the altar for the eucharistic prayer. This ordination was the first of three ordinations in the archdiocese this summer at which a total of seven men will become priests.
 Archbishop John F. Donoghue, center, is joined at the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist by newly ordained priests (l-r) Father Andrew Schoenfield, Father Bryan Small and Father Terence Crone.
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The men then affirmed their intent to serve as priests with clear conscience and prayerful spirit, and promised respect and obedience to the archbishop. The archbishop, followed by fellow priests, extended his hands in prayer over each of the men, invoking the Holy Spirit through whose power the church ordains those called to be priests. Following ordination, the new priests gathered with the archbishop at the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist. They smiled as they walked back down the aisle as the congregation clapped.
At a reception afterwards, Father Schoenfield said that before the Mass "everything just seemed kind of strange." But, "as the liturgy unfolded I was getting more and more into it. From prostrating myself to laying on of hands, everything was so peaceful and wonderful."
His parents, Bill and Patty Schoenfield, who are members of the Anglican Church, said they encouraged all their children to seek fulfillment and happiness, which for Father Schoenfield meant becoming a Catholic priest. They added that during recent revelations of clergy sexual abuse they've been praying for the church. His mother said that her son, an avid reader, taught himself to read at 3. He "has always been a very serious, deep thinker . . . He's a very intelligent young man."
Bill Schoenfield said that his son, like he and his wife, is an independent thinker. "I think he'll be reasonably outspoken. He always has been all his life . . . very honest."
 New priests Father Bryan Small, Father Andrew Schoenfield and Father Terence Crone are welcomed with "high fives," hugs and greetings from brother clergy as they leave the Cathedral at the conclusion of the June 15 ordination. |
Father Small's father, Ken, who converted to Catholicism a few years ago, was "proud beyond comprehension" to see his son become a priest. He thinks one of his son's goals is to be a great homilist like his mentors, Msgr. Richard Lopez and Msgr. Pat Bishop. "His personality is such that he's going to be a great priest. He's just outgoing, has a great sense of humor, is a very good writer, is a very good homilist-even at this stage in my opinion-very caring."
He said that his son wasn't particularly religious growing up and wanted to go to film school. But sending him to St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, where he encountered Msgr. Lopez, was a "tremendous blessing," as was his internship at Transfiguration Church in Marietta where Msgr. Bishop is pastor.
"The St. Pius experience, we owe a lot to that and a tremendous amount to Msgr. Lopez who didn't shove the priesthood down his throat by any means. He wanted him to look at the whole world and said go to any college and experience college life and if that's what you want to do, great," Small said.
He added, "Once a parent experiences the thoroughness with which the church educates its priests you respect the priesthood even more. It's been a nine-year education and within this last year, for example, every weekend he was assigned to a parish in Pittsburgh . . . He's seen a lot of parishes and that's great education."
 Archbishop John F. Donoghue, center, and Father Brian Higgins, director of vocations, left, pose with the three newest priests of the archdiocese, Father Terence Crone, Father Bryan Small and Father Andrew Schoenfield. |
Greg Davis, a Presbyterian, said that his close friend from Georgia Tech, Father Crone, was the best man at his wedding. Father Crone, he said, has educated him on Catholicism, helping to see beyond negative conceptions and better appreciate it and its symbolism. Members of the same fraternity, with a Christian emphasis, he said his friend was spiritual, and was also there for him emotionally and academically, tutoring him in engineering. "He's been a wonderful help and support, always a good listener, just a wonderful friend to have" who doesn't tend to overreact.
Father Crone's mother, Cathie, spoke of her son's sensitivity, calling him "quiet and reserved and very feeling." She confirmed that his interest in the church dates back to early grade school, where he was always "the smartest kid in the class and the most religious."
"It was always in the back of our minds that he would become a priest. Terry was an altar boy and (the parish priest) used to tell me he'd become a priest," she said. "I'm so excited for him, just so happy for him and for us too."
Father Terence Crone
 Rev. Mr. Terence Crone, left, pledges his obedience and respect to Archbishop John F. Donoghue and his successors during his June 15 Rite of Ordination to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. Holding the book is seminarian Neil Herlihy. |
Age: 34
Birth Date: March 25, 1968
Place of Birth: Memphis, Tenn.
Parents: Harrel and Cathie Crone
Siblings: One brother, four sisters
Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech; master of arts in systematic theology, May 2001, and master of divinity degree, May 2002, with high honors from St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa.
Work Experience: Computer network administrator for state of Georgia from 1993-96.
Primary Hobbies and Interests: Reading, bowling, golf
Pastoral Internships: Served 2001-02 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Uniontown, Pa.; summer 2001 at St. Joseph's Church, Dalton; December 1999-August 2000 at St. Bernadette Church, Cedartown; Clinical Pastoral Education, fall 1999, at Crawford Long Hospital, Atlanta; summer 1999, El Paso Project, a Spanish instruction program; summer 1998, St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville.
Additional Languages: Spanish
Particular Ministries of Interest: Counseling, parish ministry
First Assignment: Parochial vicar at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Woodstock, a parish of about 1,940 families.
Pastor: Father Paul Flood
Father H. Andrew Schoenfield
 Archbishop John F. Donoghue presents a chalice to Father Andrew Schoenfield and offers prayer before the newly ordained priests concelebrate the Eucharist for the first time. |
Age: 28
Birth Date: Oct. 22, 1973
Place of Birth: Atlanta
Parents: Bill and Patty Schoenfield
Siblings: Three sisters, two brothers
Religion: Raised Episcopalian.
Education: Bachelor's degree in English from Kennesaw State University, 1996; master of divinity degree, May 2002, from Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans.
Work Experience: Worked as waiter and bartender in various restaurants from 1992-96; volunteered with Habitat for Humanity during college and seminary; is an Eagle Scout.
Primary Hobbies and Interests: Photography, reading, and music, particularly jazz; plays guitar and trumpet.
Pastoral Internships: Served summer 2001 at St. Theresa's Church, Douglasville; summer 2000, Clinical Pastoral Education at Crawford Long Hospital, Atlanta; summer 1999, El Paso Project, a Spanish instruction program; summer 1998, prison visits and pastoral counseling with Georgia Justice Project; 1996-97, pastoral year at Sacred Heart Church, Atlanta.
Particular Ministries of Interest: Working with and for the poor; systematic theology, which he hopes to teach some day.
First Assignment: Parochial vicar at St. Jude the Apostle Church, Atlanta, a parish of about 1,700 families.
Pastor: Msgr. James Fennessy
Father Bryan Small
 Archbishop John F. Donoghue lays hands on ordination candidate Rev. Mr. Bryan Small. The action signifies the conferral of the Holy Spirit. |
Age: 28
Birth Date: Jan. 13, 1974
Place of Birth: Born in Miami, raised in Atlanta.
Parents: Ken Small and the late Bobbie Small
Siblings: Two brothers
Education: Graduate of St. Pius X High School, Atlanta; attended West Georgia College and State University, Carrollton, for a year; bachelor's degree in psychology, 1997, from St. Meinrad College, St. Meinrad, Ind.; master of systematic theology degree, May 2001, and master of divinity degree, May 2002, from St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa.
Work Experience: Worked for his father from 1990-94 in events' management and promotion.
Primary Hobbies and Interests: Movies and computers
Pastoral Internships: Served summer 2001, St. Marguerite d'Youville Church, Lawrenceville; summer 2000, studied Latin at St. Meinrad College, St. Meinrad, Ind.; summer 1999, El Paso Project, a Spanish instruction program; May 1997-August 1998, Transfiguration Church, Marietta; summer 1996, St. Mary's Church, Rome; summer 1995, Catholic Center.
Particular Ministries of Interest: Youth ministry and baptismal and marriage preparation.
First Assignment: Parochial vicar at All Saints Church, Dunwoody, a parish of about 3,000 families.
Pastor: Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan
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