Official Website of the
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Five men to be ordained priests May 27
Published: May 19, 2017
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain five men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Little Rock on Saturday, May 27. They are: Deacons William Burmester of Conway, Stephen Hart of Little Rock, Ramses Mendieta, originally from Nicaragua, Martin Siebold of North Little Rock and Luke Womack of Hot Springs. The 10 a.m. ordination Mass will be held at Christ the King Church in Little Rock with a reception to follow in the Family Life Center. The night before, on Friday, May 26, a holy hour to pray for these men and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life will be held at 6 p.m. at Christ the King. All are invited to attend these events. If unable to attend, watch the ordination live. Learn more about the men to be ordained below.
William Burmester, 29, will celebrate his first Mass (bilingual) Sunday, May 28 at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Conway with a reception to follow. He will begin his first assignment on June 13 as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
Burmester is the son of Richard and Theresa Burmester of McKinney, Texas. He recently completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. To learn more, read or watch his vocation story or read about him in Arkansas Catholic. If you wish to contact him to congratulate him or assure him of your prayers, please e-mail him.
Stephen Hart, 28, will celebrate his first Mass Sunday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Church in Little Rock with a reception to follow. He will begin his first assignment on June 13 as associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock.
Hart recently completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. He is the son of Robert and Evelyn Hart of Little Rock, their second son to be ordained to the priesthood. He joins brother, Father Andrew Hart, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville.
To learn more, read or watch his vocation story or read about him in Arkansas Catholic. If you wish to contact him to congratulate him or assure him of your prayers, please e-mail him.
Ramses Mendieta, 27, will celebrate his first Mass (bilingual) Sunday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock with a reception to follow. He will begin his first assignment on June 13 as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
Mendieta is the son of Roger de la Cruz Mendieta and Sandra Lacayo of Managua, Nicaragua. He recently completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. To learn more, read or watch his vocation story or read about him in Arkansas Catholic. If you wish to contact him to congratulate him or assure him of your prayers, please e-mail him.
Martin Siebold, 28, will celebrate his first Mass Sunday, May 28 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marche) with a reception to follow. He will begin his first assignment on June 13 as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
Siebold is the son of Larry and Lisa Siebold of North Little Rock. He recently completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. To learn more, read or watch his vocation story or read about him in Arkansas Catholic. If you wish to contact him to congratulate him or assure him of your prayers, please e-mail him.
Luke Womack, 32, will celebrate his first Mass Sunday, May 28 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Hot Springs with a reception to follow. He will begin his first assignment on June 13 as associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock.
Womack is the son of Larry and Madelyn Womack of Hot Springs. He recently completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. To learn more, read or watch his vocation story or read about him in Arkansas Catholic. If you wish to contact him to congratulate him or assure him of your prayers, please e-mail him.
In addition to the priestly ordinations of five seminarians, five others were ordained to the transitional diaconate in preparation for ordination to the priesthood next year. Currently, 30 men are discerning a vocation to the priesthood for the Diocese of Little Rock. If you or someone you know is considering a vocation to the priesthood, contact Msgr. Scott Friend, vocations director, at (501) 664-0340. For more information, contact the Vocations and Seminarians Office.
