Identical twins ordained to priesthood in Green Bay Diocese

Published: 2007-07-05

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CNS) -- For the second time in its nearly 140-year history, the Diocese of Green Bay has ordained twins to the priesthood. Fathers Joel and Ben Sember, 27, were ordained June 30 by Bishop David A. Zubik at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. Father Andrew Kysely was ordained with them. To mark the occasion, Bishop Zubik used artifacts from previous bishops of Green Bay, including the crosier of Bishop Joseph Melcher, Green Bay's first bishop, who served from the founding of the diocese on Dec. 3, 1868, to his death in 1873. Although the Sembers originally were believed to be the first priest-twins in the diocese, further research showed that Green Bay Bishop Stanislaus Bona ordained Fathers David and Donald Van Stralen May 29, 1965. The two resigned from the priesthood together nearly 10 years later. The two oldest sons of James and Marion Sember of Burlington, who are identical twins, recently completed three years of training at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

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