ORLANDO  |  As Bishop John Noonan ordained Fathers John Triolo and William Burns, he reflected on the unique time in which the men begin their priesthood — in the wake of a newly elected Pope, during the season of Easter, and in the Jubilee Year of Hope. He told the men it is a unique honor.

In his homily, Bishop Noonan urged Fathers Triolo and Burns to heed the words of the late Pope Benedict XVI, to desire nothing less “than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful understanding of giving yourself as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters, in imitation of the One who vanquished hatred and death forever through love.”

Joining them in the celebration May 24, 2025, at St. James Cathedral in Orlando were clergy, religious, family and friends. On the eve of their ordination, Father Triolo’s mother, Mariam, said, “This is my baby boy. It’s just amazing to go on this journey with him. The family’s a part of it. All of our faiths have grown because of it.” She and her husband, Tom, shared how John used to practice “playing priest.”

“He would watch our wedding video, the Mass part, and imitate the priest,” Mariam said.

She recalled the two years he was away from the seminary and how he struggled with a deep desire to be certain of what God wanted for his life.

“The prayer I have for him always is that he knows what direction God wants for him and that he has the confidence in knowing that. Then that he has the confidence to go out and do what he has to do, wherever that path leads him,” she said. “I pray he can be that great shepherd that people need.”

His father, Tom, added, “We’ve been so impressed by his perseverance and all that it takes to get this far. But it’s really just the beginning.”

The couple looked forward to sharing with him in the celebration of his first Mass at their home parish of Corpus Christi in Celebration. Present at the ordination was Bishop Gregory Parkes of St. Petersburg, who was the first pastor of Corpus Christi. He invited Father Triolo to consider the priesthood.

Also present were Deacon Ron L’Huillier and his wife, Ann, longtime friends of Father William Burns. Deacon L’Huillier met Father Burns on his first day at St. Timothy in Lady Lake in 2001. Sharing offices side-by-side and the ups and downs of life including the loss of Father Burns’ mother, Lorraine, the deacon said, “It’s been a long journey. We’ve been on retreat together, traveled together. I know the struggles he’s had and his discerning, and the peace he has now in this decision brings joy to me. He’s prepared.” He laughed saying, “Bill has always been prepared for this day, ever since I’ve known him. The seminary just tweaked it for him. He’s ready.”

Sarah Burns beamed as she approached the ambo to sing the Litany of Saints as her father lay prostrate for the solemn prayer. As a cantor at St. Timothy, she sings at Easter and Christmas while her father serves during Mass.

“This is just another way for us to bond,” she said. “I am so excited. I’ve been waiting for this for so long for my dad. I think it’s always been in his plan.”

Engaged just a week prior to his Ordination, Sarah spoke of cherished memories over the past few years as she accompanied her father to Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Massachusetts. She recognized this new phase in their lives marks a shift.

“That’s really a precious time. We’re not going to have that time again,” she said.

Highlighting the significance of being ordained during the Easter season, Bishop Noonan reminded the men of Pope Benedict’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). He said, “Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by His earthly life and especially by His Death and Resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth.”

The bishop prayed God would strengthen the two priests in this way, to help them preach and teach the Gospel.

“God’s calling is an intimate and mysterious experience,” Bishop Noonan said. “God )called the prophet, Jeremiah, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you’” (Jer 1:5).

Bishop Noonan closed his homily by sharing a story about a church in Cincinnati, Ohio, that burned down, only leaving the corpus of Jesus in its ruins. The corpus had no hands or feet. Uncertain of what to do in the new sanctuary, the parish decided to put a sign below the corpus of Jesus on the new cross which simply said, “Now you must become My hands and feet.”

Bishop Noonan sent the new priests forth with the same mission quoting Is. 61:1. “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God; to comfort all who mourn.”

Father John Triolo will serve the people of God at Ascension Parish in Melbourne and Father William Burns will do the same at Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, May 30, 2025