Benedictine priest ordained at St. Mary’s

Before entering the monastery of St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo in 2003, Father Sheridan managed several restaurants in the Antelope Valley and raised two children with his former wife, Ginny Jamison, who attended the ordination ceremony. The divorced, civilly-married couple received a “certificate of nullity” from the church allowing Sheridan to receive the sacrament of ordination.

Father Sheridan began his theological studies at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon, but finished his last two years at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. He is currently managing the abbey’s ceramics shop and assisting with the monastery’s new ink and toner online business.

“Father Sheridan is level-headed and, with community life, he is able to bring perspective and balance. His humor and approachability will be a pastoral asset to the abbey,” said Abbot Toilolo.

“I feel blessed by God to be beginning a new phase of my life at an age when most people are considering retirement,” said Father Sheridan. “I think this shows that God is never finished with us. He has a plan for each one of us; all we have to do is be open to God’s grace and trust in Him.”