Diocese of Orange welcomes Orange County’s first married man and first Filipino American ordained to Sacred Order of Priesthood
Deacon Greg Walgenbach is a former Anglican priest and Deacon Cole Buzon is an Orange County native. Both have deep ties to the community.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is pleased to announce that Bishop Kevin Vann will ordain two men on June 8, a historic occasion that marks the first married man and first Filipino American ordained to the Sacred Order of Priesthood.

Deacon Greg Walgenbach and Deacon Cole Buzon will be ordained at 10 a.m. at Christ Cathedral. All are welcome.

Deacon Greg, a former Anglican priest, will become the first married man in the Diocese of Orange to have ever joined the priesthood, thanks to a rarely used process known as the Pastoral Provision. Deacon Cole, a La Habra native, will be the county’s first Filipino American serving as a Diocesan priest.

The ordination, which marks the end of a years-long journey for both men, will both go on to serve various roles for Orange County’s community of 1.3 million Catholics.

“Priesthood ordinations have always been a beautiful occasion for our Diocese, although this year is notably momentous because of our first Pastoral Provision and Filipino American candidates,” said the Rev. Brandon Dang, director of the Vocations Office, which helps guide men interested in becoming priests. “There is a sense of alpha and omega as we celebrate these firsts. This is an incredible blessing for us all. Our entire Diocese can be grateful for these men who have said ‘yes’ to the Lord and ‘yes’ to this sacred and blessed vocation.”

Fr. Al Baca, episcopal vicar of ecumenism and inter-religion, noted that the Pastoral Provision is rarely used in the United States, having only been utilized for some 300 married men of various non-Catholic faiths, including those from Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian or Methodist backgrounds.

“Nearly every year our Catholic community ordains new men, and I think for priests, each time this act renews us, building up our hopes for the future,” said Fr. Al. “We are reminded of the day we promised our own lives to Jesus Christ and to building His Church. For Deacon Cole and Deacon Greg to consecrate themselves means that they will now serve on a new mission walking among God’s people. We, the priests of the Diocese, welcome them to the sacred work of saving souls.”

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Introducing: Deacon Cole Buzon

Deacon Cole Buzon, 28, was born and raised in La Habra and Brea. He attended West Coast University, earning his bachelor’s in dental hygiene and a master’s in healthcare administration. He worked as a dental hygienist for a year and a half before entering St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Calif.

Deacon Cole said despite his life’s many blessings, the world did not satisfy him. God gave him the desire for more, a life of service.

Although many would-be priests discern their calling among their family and friends, Deacon Cole decided to keep his decision private at first, so others would not cloud his judgment throughout the process. He called his conversations about the matter ones strictly between himself and Jesus. They brought him peace of mind and kept him on track.

“I called, He answered,” Deacon Cole said.

Deacon Cole is currently on assignment at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Brea, exercising his diaconal ministry. Though the Diocese of Orange has other Filipino priests and members of religious orders, Deacon Cole will be the first Filipino American ordained in the Diocese of Orange.

First Assignment: Parochial Vicar, San Francisco Solano Catholic Church (Rancho Santa Margarita)

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Introducing: Deacon Greg Walgenbach

Deacon Greg Walgenbach, 48, was born and raised in Los Angeles. He attended the University of California, Irvine, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He attained a master’s in divinity and later a doctorate in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Initially a Baptist pastor, Deacon Greg became ordained as an Anglican priest in 2009. He later converted to Catholicism. Deacon Greg, his wife and four children entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2011. They have been parishioners of St. Philip Benizi in Fullerton.

Deacon Greg made his uncommon journey toward Catholic priesthood via the Pastoral Provision, which was established by Pope St. John Paul II in 1980. It is the first time the provision is being utilized in the Diocese of Orange.

Deacon Greg began to sense a call to become Catholic when he was a Baptist pastor. Late at night with his wife by his side, he was watching the funeral of Pope John Paul II and was inspired by the pontiff’s global legacy and impact upon the world. In an Anglican diocese that valued many Catholic traditions he found himself more and more drawn to the fullness of the Catholic Faith and began to feel strong connections to Catholic traditions: the Holy Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, the rosary, the many saints throughout the ages, and being in communion with the pope. He notes also the integrity of Catholic social teaching on the dignity of the human person and preferential option for the poor.

“I have always felt the call to pastoral ministry since my youth and have sought to be faithful to Jesus wherever I am,” said Deacon Greg. “I am grateful and humbled that the Catholic Church, by God’s grace and calling, has valued my three decades of ministry. The Church has allowed me to continue being of service through Word and Sacrament. It is a joy and privilege to serve God and God’s people.”

First Assignment: Deacon Greg will continue serving as the director of the Office of Life, Justice & Peace, as well as director of the Mission Office. In addition, he will also have priestly duties at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church (Huntington Beach).

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About the Pastoral Provision

In his 1967 encyclical, “On the Celibacy of the Priest,” Pope St. Paul VI requested a study of married ministers from non-Catholic denominations. The pope questioned if those ministers, who sought full communion to the Catholic priesthood, could become Roman Catholic priests, who otherwise are unmarried and celibate. There was precedent in the pope’s thinking. Shortly after World War II, Pope Pius XII granted special permission for some married Lutheran clergy to be ordained to the Catholic priesthood.

A decision was reached by 1980, when another pontiff, Pope St. John Paul II, issued the Pastoral Provision. This allowed for already married Episcopalian clergy to become ordained Catholic priests, easing the way for this specific group of men to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Married men becoming Catholic priests remains a rare exception and one granted only in specific cases. In the United States, only an estimated 300 married men formerly of Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian or Methodist backgrounds have become Catholic priests.

The Diocese of Orange has set up an FAQ page about the Pastoral Provision that is available at www.rcbo.org/priesthood

About the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

With 1.3 million Catholics, 58 parishes, 36 schools and five Catholic centers, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is one of the largest and most diverse faith communities in the United States. The Diocese empowers Catholics across Orange County to have an active life of faith that is integrated and woven into the fabric of their daily lives through the community and sacramental life of the Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Vann, the Diocese works to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools welcoming all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. Christ Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Bishop of Orange, was dedicated in July 2019. Learn more about the Diocese of Orange at www.rcbo.org.