On May 30, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez ordained Enrique Sada-Coeto and Callan Sweeney to the transitional diaconate. God willing, both men will be ordained priests next year (2021).
My name is Enrique Sada-Coeto. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and I ended up in Austin because that’s where I went to college.
I first began thinking about the priesthood when I made my First Communion - I was about 6. However, since I really wanted to get married, I ignored the call for a long time until I finally entered seminary upon graduating from the University of Texas in 2014.
If there’s anything I’ve learned through my discernment, it’s that there’s is nothing more fulfilling and exhilarating than following the Lord’s will. We all have our plans… but His plans are always better. I can’t wait to serve God’s people as a priest.
My name is Callan Sweeney. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Steven and Jean Sweeney. My parents being business people, we moved around frequently for their work.
We had the opportunity to live in both Sydney, Australia, and Taipei, Taiwan, for several years. I attended high school in Austin, and graduated in 2007. The next school year I enrolled as a freshman in the Marine Engineering program at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.
Through the academy, I sailed as an engineer for a year on several merchant ships and visited several countries by sea, including Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Djibouti, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K., the Netherlands and Germany. I graduated in 2011 with a U.S. Coast Guard License and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Aviation Branch of the U.S. Army. Inspired by the military chaplains both at the academy and the Army, and after much prayer and discernment, I left the active duty service in 2014 in order to enter seminary with the hopes to serve as a future priest.
I currently am a seminarian at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston studying for the Diocese of Austin, co-sponsored by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and a U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain Candidate.