King’s College Campus Minister Ordained to the Priesthood in the Congregation of Holy Cross

Rev. Ricky Bevington, C.S.C., 33, was ordained a Catholic priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross on April 26, 2025 in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., where he also celebrated his first Mass the following day.

Father Bevington was ordained by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend along with three other Holy Cross priests. He was presented for ordination by students from King’s College, who were among the staff, alumni, and members of the College’s Holy Cross community in attendance.

Father Bevington has served as assistant director of campus ministry at King’s College since August 2024. He previously ministered at the University of Notre Dame, St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles, Mich.; Sacred Heart Parish in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Elkhart General Hospital, in Elkhart, Ind.

Father Bevington was born in Delmont, Pa. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Master of Divinity from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Education in Higher Education from Harvard University. Prior to entering formation for priesthood with the Congregation of Holy Cross, Father Bevington served in various roles at Stonehill College in North Easton, Mass.

Ordination to the priesthood follows a period of discernment, formation, prayer, and study that Father Bevington has engaged in over the course of seven years. As part of that journey, he professed his perpetual vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 24, 2024 and was ordained a deacon the following day.

Father Bevington will return to Wilkes-Barre to celebrate his first Masses at King’s College in the Chapel of Christ the King on May 4, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. These masses are open to the public. He will continue to minister at King’s College for the 2025-26 academic year.

“I learned that a big part of ministering in the name of Jesus and in the name of the Church is simply staying with people when you might otherwise be inclined to run away,” said Father Bevington. “Being present in the face of pain, suffering, poverty, and mental illness—this is what Jesus did, and my credibility as a representative of the Church requires that I stay, too. And smile. And love.”

“At King’s College, I have come to learn that my priesthood will be about two things—Jesus and the people Jesus calls me to minister to,” he continued. “And every day when I go into the office, I ask Jesus what we are going to do today. And Jesus never fails to provide a surprising day full of ministry to keep me occupied!”

“We’re blessed to have Holy Cross religious from different generations serving our community in so many ways,” said Father Brogan C. Ryan, C.S.C., director of campus ministry. “Brother Jimmy Henke, C.S.C. joined us as a finally professed Holy Cross Brother three years ago. This year, Father Ricky adds to this legacy and his ordination to the priesthood will be a great gift to King's College and the Church.”

In her presentation of Father Bevington for ordination, Caitlin Gius ’27, a King’s student from Connecticut said, “We are grateful for Father Ricky’s spiritual guidance at King's. He strives to ensure that everyone knows they are both capable of being loved by and are deeply and infinitely loved by a perfect Father. Father Ricky embraces the mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross and he demonstrates how fulfilling living a Catholic life can be.”