A decade ago, Steven G. Cartwright achieved what few are fortunate enough to do. For years he had chased a dream, and in 2006, he enjoyed the rare experience of catching it. After an accomplished collegiate swimming career and years as an assistant coach, Cartwright was named the head coach at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. A Division I coaching job and the chance to give back to a sport that had given him so much. His dream come true, or so he thought.

“There was something missing,” said Cartwright. “I thought that there was something more that the Lord wanted me to do. If we are honest in prayer, the Lord will guide us along the way.”

Paths to the priesthood are rarely direct. Vocation stories often include incredible leaps of faith in times of uncertainty and remarkable sacrifice displayed by individuals striving to understand God’s plan. For Cartwright, a Boothbay Harbor native and graduate of John Bapst High School in Bangor, the leap came in 2010 when he resigned as head coach at Georgetown and entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania. Two years later, he transferred from the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, to the Diocese of Portland, his home diocese, and continued his priestly formation at Pope Saint John XXIII Seminary (formerly Blessed John XXIII) in Weston, Massachusetts, completing his clerical studies in May.

On the morning of June 13, in front of a large, proud and faith-filled gathering of family and friends, Cartwright was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Robert P. Deeley at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland (17 pictures below).

“God has led you here; He has created you for this moment,” the bishop told Cartwright. “Your ordination is the culmination of several years of careful discernment, some side trips when, one might say, you were swimming outside the priestly lane, much fervent prayer, hard work, and, of course, the generous outpouring of God’s grace that brings you to this day with an open heart and a security that Jesus has guided this journey.”

God calls people at different times and in different ways. During his homily, Bishop Deeley thanked Cartwright for his deliberation and prayer in responding generously to the call after a grace-filled journey that, while unconventional, helped prepare him to serve the Catholic people of Maine.

“Steven, may your ministry in the name of Jesus be a ministry of joy and mercy for each of those entrusted to your care as you serve in the example of the Good Shepherd ‘who came not be served but to serve, and who came to seek out and save what was lost,’” said the bishop. “Our gathering this morning takes place on the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As we gather in this Church devoted to Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception, we pray that Mary will always intercede for you so that with the divine assistance of her Son, you will be a priest after the Good Shepherd. To you is entrusted the care of his people. May you know always that the Lord is with you as you minister in his name.”
Following the bishop's homily, Cartwright affirmed his willingness to become a priest and pledged his obedience to the bishop and his successors, resolving to exercise the preaching of God’s word worthily and wisely; to celebrate the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, faithfully and reverently; to pray continually for the church and world, and to consecrate himself to God for the salvation of all.
In a sign of humility and dependence upon God, he then lay prostrate on the Cathedral floor, while the intercession of the saints was invoked through a sung litany. The bishop, followed by all the priests present, then laid hands on Cartwright in silent prayer. This most solemn moment of the ordination culminated in the prayer of ordination, in which Bishop Deeley petitioned God, asking Him to grant to "this, your servant, the dignity of the priesthood; renew deep within him the Spirit of holiness; may he henceforth possess this office, which comes from you, O God, and is next in rank to the office of bishop; and by the example of his manner of life, may he instill right conduct. May he be a worthy co-worker with our order, so that, by his preaching and through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the words of the Gospel may bear fruit in human hearts."
Now ordained, Father Cartwright was vested with the stole and chasuble, symbols of the priesthood, by the Reverends Louis J. Phillips and Timothy J. Nadeau, who have served as his mentors during his formation. Once vested, he received the fraternal kiss of peace from the bishop and from his brother priests. The bishop then anointed the hands of Father Cartwright with Sacred Chrism, a holy oil that signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit, asking the Lord to "guard you and preserve you that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God."
The Rite of Ordination concluded, Father Cartwright joined in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At the conclusion of Mass and in keeping with tradition, he gave his first priestly blessing to Bishop Deeley. Following the Mass, family, friends, and parishioners also received blessings from the diocese's newest priest.

“I’m numb. Pure numbness,” said Father Cartwright’s mother, Lynn. “The biggest thing going through my mind was not making eye contact with him. I knew if I made eye contact with him, he’d start crying because he would see me crying. This has been what he has wanted for so many years. It’s finally come true.”
On Saturday morning, Father Cartwright understood that his leap of faith had carried him to a deep sense of peace in following the call and will of God for his life.
“There was so much I was feeling,” he said. “So much gratitude. So much love. During the Litany of Saints, hearing all the saints’ names called out, it was surreal. I know God loves me very much, and to be able to share that love, to tell others about that burning love for them, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Next week, Father Cartwright will receive his first assignment as a priest in the Diocese of Portland. A large gallery of pictures from the celebration will be available on www.portlanddiocese.org and www.facebook.com/PortlandDiocese later today. To read Bishop Deeley’s homily, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/bishopdeeleyhomilies. For more information, contact Dave Guthro, Communications Director for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7810 or [email protected].