Following the Mass at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester, the newly ordained priest then went to a reception in the parish’s social hall, where many of the approximately 400 people who attended the ordination ceremony stood in line to receive his blessing.
Fr. Slaton’s mother, Linda, was the first in line, followed by other family members and many of the friends he had made during his transitional deacon assignment at St. Andrew.
Linda Slaton said it was “wonderful” seeing her son being ordained to the priesthood. “He has worked very hard to get here, and I’m immensely proud of him,” she said.
“He’s given his heart and soul to the Lord, and he has been given this amazing gift by the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands,” she continued.
She expressed confidence her son would make a good priest, “because he’s a good listener, he’s very approachable and understanding, and sees things from every point of view.”
When her son first told her of his intention to pursue ordination to the priesthood, Linda Slaton said told him, “R.J., whatever you want to do that will make you happy, it’s fine with me,” but inwardly she thought it was just a passing phase and unlikely to happen.
“But he showed us,” she added.
Larry Slaton, the new priest’s father, said the ordination ceremony was “definitely a memorable occasion — I’m so proud of him.”
In his homily, Archbishop Vigneron addressed the candidate for ordination, saying the work the Holy Spirit was doing in him that day was preparing him to be an “agent of communion” — joining in the work inspired by Christ of building up the communion of human beings with God the Father.
“He is making you a sharer in the work that all of us do — priests and bishops — for the sake of communion. You are not being consecrated a priest to be a lone agent; because we serve communion, we work in common,” the archbishop said.
“So, today, I authorize you to be a priest; indeed, I consecrate you to be a priest. But I would prefer to say I share the priesthood with you — Jesus shares the priesthood with you.” Archbishop Vigneron said.
Also present for the ceremony were Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss and Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of Steubenville, Ohio, until recently rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary and then briefly pastor of St. Andrew. Both bishops, along with many priests of the Archdiocese of Detroit, followed Archbishop Vigneron in laying their hands on the new priest’s head during the ordination ceremony.
Fr. Slaton, 35, was baptized at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (Grotto) Parish in Detroit, but mostly grew up at St. Gertrude Parish in St. Clair Shores — now Our Lady of Hope Parish since its 2009 merger with St. Germaine Parish.
The young Robert Slaton attended St. Joan of Arc Elementary School and Lakeshore High School, both in St. Clair Shores, and went on to take courses at the Recording Institute of Detroit.
After several post-high school entry-level jobs, he worked as a recording engineer, and also as a short-order cook and restaurant manager.
He began attending Sacred Heart Major Seminary to learn more about his faith, but then entered the priestly formation program as a seminarian. Deacon Slaton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the seminary.
His first assignment will be as associate pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Temperance.
