Fr. Thomas S. Junis, SDB, Ordained a Priest

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB

(Chicago, Ill. – July 1) – Fr. Thomas Scott Junis, SDB, was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday morning, June 27, at St. John Bosco Church in Chicago. The ordaining bishop was Chicago Auxiliary José Maria Garcia-Maldonado.

Bishop Garcia-Maldonado became an auxiliary only 16 months ago, and happily told the congregation at the end of the ordination liturgy that Fr. Tom was the first priest he’s ordained. That got a round of applause. The bishop was personal in his presiding and preaching, and he was personable, lingering with the parishioners, family, and friends of Fr. Tom long after the liturgy.

It’s likely that the province would have asked Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, to preside, but he was in Rome for the consistory convened by Pope Leo.

More than 30 priests concelebrated the Mass. The nave of the church was full, and more parishioners celebrated from the rear balcony. Salesians and friends came not only from almost all over the Salesian New Rochelle Province but also from Mexico and even Calcutta, India.

The liturgy was bilingual, and the music was very lively, the entire congregation joining in. Fr. Ky Nguyen served very capably as master of ceremonies.

Father Tom’s Vocation Story

Fr. Tom is the youngest son of Mitch and Margie Junis. He was born in Bloomington, Ill., in 1992. He has two older brothers, James and Charles. Already discerning his vocation as a student at Illinois State University in Bloomington, he was influenced by two Newman Center chaplains in Champaign, Ill., the late Fr. Greg Ketcham, a Salesian Cooperator, and Fr. Bill Bucciferro, SDB. He took St. John Bosco as a patron for his educational efforts and went to Turin in 2015 on a Don Bosco bicentennial pilgrimage.

After earning a degree in early childhood education from ISU, Tom entered the Salesians at Orange, N.J., as a candidate on January 1, 2016. He made his novitiate at the Salesian house in Richmond, Calif., in 2017-2018 and professed on August 16, 2018, at the Marian Shrine in Haverstraw, N.Y.

Following two years of postnovitiate, Bro. Tom did practical training in 2020-2022 at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La., teaching theology to sophomores and juniors, serving as chaplain to the basketball and baseball teams, and developing friendly relationships with many students outside the classroom.

In 2022, Bro. Tom began theological studies at the Salesian theologate in Tlaquepaque, Mexico. He learned Spanish there and became proficient.

After his third year, the province decided (after long discernment) to have our theology students attend the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago; consequently, Bro. Tom joined the Salesian community in Chicago and completed his theological studies there. In that one year, he had a discernible impact on the Salesian parish of St. John Bosco-St. James the Apostle.

Deacon Tom chose as the readings for his ordination Mass Jeremiah 1:4-9; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2,5-7; and John 21:15-17.

The ordination liturgy included the usual rituals: the call of the candidate forward; his presentation to the bishop by Fr. Dominic Tran, the provincial; the bishop’s acceptance and the congregation’s approval through loud applause; then the homily.

Bishop Garcia-Maldonado’s Homily (Summary)

God will touch Tom to be not only a prophet, like Jeremiah, but also a priest of God. Prophets aren’t always welcomed. There are many challenges in society, in families, and in the Church. We’re grateful that Tom has said yes to Jesus Christ.

Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved him, and each time Peter said yes. Jeremiah said yes. The Virgin Mary said yes. St. John Bosco said yes. Now Tom says yes, in front of all of us. His yes is permanent, like the yes his parents said in marriage, like the yes of all the married people here.

“Yes” isn’t easy because there are so many challenges. We renew our yes every day in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In Dilexit nos Pope Francis reminded us that Jesus loved us first. Remembering that is, for all of us, a source of renewal and compassion. The Sacred Heart will help us to be renewed and transformed, and society too, just as God helped Jeremiah and stood with him even in his trials. Peter was transformed by the love of God when he met Jesus after the resurrection, and he became a missionary disciple of Jesus.

Addressing Deacon Tom directly, the bishop continued: You will be transformed in this Mass by the sacrament of Holy Orders. You will be empowered to act in persona Christi. But you will also experience your humanity and all its challenges.

The Sacred Heart will sustain and renew you in all that.

Every day before you celebrate Mass, hear confessions, or teach in a classroom, remember that Jesus loves you, and say yes to him every day. Hear his voice in your heart. People will hear his voice and receive his love through you. Love your fellow priests and Salesian brothers. Obey your superiors with a humble spirit.

Having said all that in English, Bishop Garcia-Maldonado repeated a good deal of it in Spanish.

The Rite Continued

After the homily, Deacon Tom came forward and, in response to ritual questions, committed himself to faithful priestly service and prayer. Then he prostrated himself on the floor in front of the sanctuary while the entire congregation chanted the Litany of the Saints, which concluded with a short prayer.

Bishop Garcia-Maldonado imposed hands on Deacon Tom, and then all the priests present did likewise. With the bishop’s prayer of consecration, Deacon Tom became Father Tom. The bishop anointed his hands with Sacred Chrism, and Fr. Pat Angelucci helped Fr. Tom put on his priestly vestments. The gifts of bread and wine were brought up by Fr. Tom’s family, and these were presented to him as the bishop exhorted him to conform his life to the cross of Christ. The rite concluded with the kiss of peace exchanged by the bishop and the priests with Fr. Tom, who then embraced his parents (to congregational applause).

Fr. Tom then celebrated his first Eucharistic sacrifice alongside the bishop and the other concelebrants.

The ordination Mass lasted a little over two hours. The parishioners had prepared a grand outdoor reception on the church and youth center grounds, offering food, drink, mariachi music, and an abundance of fellowship.

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