Bishop Ronald A. Hicks will ordain 2 men to the priesthood on Saturday

Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet will ordain two men to the priesthood at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet.

The men are John Ronaldo Gabutan Abulag, 52, of Plainfield and Sam Conforti, 64, of Lombard.

Although the ordination Mass is by invitation only for in-person attendees, the general public may attend via livestream on the diocese’s YouTube Channel at youtu.be/FbXssavIIVk.

Gabutan Abulag, 52, was born in Talisayan, in the province of Misamis Oriental, in the Philippines.

He is the son of Rodolfo Rodrigo Sanchez Abulag and Marlita Rosales Baldo Gabutan (deceased) and he six brothers and two sisters.

He earned his Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Recoletos School of Theology at the University of Santo Tomasin Manila, Philippines,

He also earned bachelor’s degree in management from Gingoog City Junior College, Philippines.

Gabutan Abulag is a perpetually professed brother of the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate. He is also a member of the Legion of Mary.

Conforti, 64, of Lombard, was born in Chicago and is the son of Aldo and Eleanor Conforti (both deceased).

He obtained his Master of Divinity degree in 2021 from the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary.

Conforti previously earned a law degree from Loyola University Chicago; a Master of Science in international business and a master’s degee in business administration, both from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

He also earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Loyola University Chicago.

Gabutan Abulag’s first assignment at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet will begin July 1.

Conforti’s first assignment will be at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mokena, also beginning July 1.

Gabutan Abulag will celebrate his first Mass as a priest at 9:15 a.m. May 23 at St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield.

Conforti will celebrate his first Mass as a priest at noon on May 23 at Christ the King Parish in Lombard.