Reverend Mr. Michael J. Gokie to be Ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez
The Ordination Mass will be streamed live at https://vimeo.com/event/2470138, www.scs.edu,
www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez/ and www.facebook.com/StCharlesSem/.
The Reverend Mr. Michael J. Gokie, son of Jeffrey and Catherine Gokie, will be ordained to the Priesthood by Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Deacon Gokie is a member of Saint Agatha-Saint James Parish in Philadelphia. He was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Columbus, Nebraska. He was raised Catholic and attended the University of Nebraska where his faith deepened through participation in the university’s Newman Center. He joined the Sodality of Christian Life after college when he served in Peru for four years before coming to Philadelphia to serve at the Newman Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. He studied at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained a Deacon for the Archdiocese.
Father Gokie will celebrate his First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Saint Agatha-Saint James Church
111 S. 38th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Reverend Carlos F. Keen, Parochial Vicar of Saint Agatha-Saint James Parish, will concelebrate the Mass and preach the homily.
Eight men comprise the Ordination Class of 2026 for the Church of Philadelphia. Following the conclusion of Mass with the Rite of Ordination, most will be assigned to an archdiocesan parish where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Archbishop to assist the pastor of a parish in his duties to tend to the pastoral and temporal needs of those entrusted to his care.
Thanks to the generous support of the Catholic Charities Appeal, the Mass will be streamed live via the Archdiocesan Vimeo Channel (https://vimeo.com/event/2470138); Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez/); Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s website (https://www.scs.edu/); and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StCharlesSem/); beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Please contact Daniel Kearns with any technical concerns regarding the live stream coverage at 215-888-0305 (cell).
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Editor’s Note: If you would like to receive a photograph of Deacon Gokie, please contact the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747 or email commof@archphila.org.
A press audio/video mult-box clean feed will be provided with multiple HD-SDI video (BNC) and mic/line (XLR) connections. Crews will need a live truck or recording device. Broadcast media outlets will have parking availability in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center parking lot. The parking lot entrance is located on 17th Street.
Program Feed https://vimeo.com/event/2470138
Broadcast Clean Feed https://vimeo.com/event/5616412
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Background on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Founded in 1832, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary serves the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and numerous arch/dioceses across the country, forming men for the Roman Catholic priesthood and diaconate through rigorous academic, human, spiritual, and pastoral preparation as well as providing numerous educational offerings for leaders of the Church.
About the Catholic Charities Appeal
The Catholic Charities Appeal (CCA) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the Archdiocese’s largest annual fundraising effort, supporting one in five people each year across the five-county metropolitan region.
In 2026, CCA continues its Giving Hope to All mission by extending Christ’s love through more than 100 ministries and programs that provide food, shelter, education, and care to those most in need. These efforts support Social Services; Special Education; Mission Parishes; Retired and Infirmed Priests; Cultural Ministries; and Life, Family, and Laity programs.
Catholic Church of Philadelphia
ArchPhilly
ArchPhilly
Contact: Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)