O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
—Psalm 34:3
On Saturday, June 4, 2016, Rev. Frater Bradley R. Vanden Branden, O. Praem., will be ordained to the priesthood. The Mass of Ordination will be celebrated by Most Rev. David L. Ricken, DD, JCL, Bishop of Green Bay, at 10 a.m. in the church of St. Norbert Abbey.
On Monday, June 6, 2016, the Solemnity of St. Norbert, Rt. Rev. Gary J. Neville, O. Praem., abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, will preside at Mass at 4 p.m. in the church of St. Norbert Abbey. This sacred celebration also honors the 50th priesthood ordination anniversary of Rev. Salvatore H. Cuccia, O. Praem.
On Sunday, June 12, 2016, the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Rev. Vanden Branden will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, De Pere.
View the Mass of Thanksgiving homily of Fr. Vanden Branden »
In the News
Celebrations for Norbertine priests at St. Norbert Abbey
June 2, 2016
The Green Bay Press-Gazette
June 4, 2016 — Mass of Priesthood Ordination of Fr. Bradley Vanden Branden, O. Praem.
from St. Norbert Abbey on Vimeo
June 6, 2016 — Solemnity of St. Norbert
Archbishop and Founder of the Canons Regular of Prémontré
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ordination of Fr. Salvatore Cuccia, O. Praem.
Rev. Frater Bradley Robert Vanden Branden, O. Praem.
Ordination to the Priesthood
… as I knelt before the bishop, the only thing I was aware of … was my heartbeat.—Fr. Bradley Vanden Branden, O. Praem.
Deacon Vanden Branden, 29, is the son of Thomas and Joan (Van Schyndel) Vanden Branden of De Pere, where his home parish is Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Deacon Vanden Branden was vested in the white Norbertine habit in August 2010, professed Simple Vows in August 2012, and professed Solemn Vows in August 2015, when he also was ordained to the diaconate. He will be ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 2016.
In 2009 Deacon Vanden Branden graduated from St. Norbert College, De Pere, with a degree in music education. In May 2016 he graduated from Catholic Theological Union (CTU), Chicago, receiving a master’s degree in divinity. He is currently on track to receive an M.A. in theology (liturgy) from CTU in May 2017.
A gifted musician and cantor, Deacon Vanden Branden most recently served as deacon at St. Ann Catholic Parish in Lansing, Illinois.
Read the full reflection by Fr. Vanden Branden »
Rev. Salvatore Henry Cuccia, O. Praem.
50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood
Only God knows when the next ‘right’ turn will come.
—Fr. Salvatore Cuccia, O. Praem.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Fr. Cuccia graduated from St. Norbert College with a B.A. in philosophy in 1963. He was ordained to the priesthood on September 1, 1966.
Following ordination, Fr. Cuccia attended Marquette University, Milwaukee, and received an M.A. in theology in 1967. While attending Marquette, he served as chaplain at Misericordia Hospital.
From 1967 until 1986 he served in various capacities at Archmere Academy and Immaculate Conception Priory in Claymont, Deleware. The following year, Fr. Cuccia was director of liturgy at the Norbertine Generalate in Rome, and in 1987 he attended the sabbatical program at Katholic University, Leuven, Belgium. From 1987 to 1991, he served in various ministries at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania. From 1991 to 2000, Fr. Cuccia served as parochial vicar of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Baltimore.
In 2000 he returned to the Midwest and became parochial vicar of St. Norbert College Parish at Old St. Joseph Church in De Pere, as well as a member of the college’s campus ministry staff. For 10 years he participated in the SNC TRIPS (Turning Responsibility into Powerful Service) program on an all-men’s service trip to Our Brothers’ Place, a shelter for homeless men in Philadelphia.
Fr. Cuccia currently is a member of St. Norbert College’s alumni board, while retaining his current ministry at St. Norbert Abbey as house superior/sub-prior.
Read the full reflection by Fr. Cuccia »