Congratulations from the entire De La Salle Collegiate Family to Alumnus Charley Bemiss, ‘15, ordained as a Deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit on April 11, 2026. . 

Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron conducted the ceremony at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, where Deacon Bemiss has been training for the priesthood. 

The ordination to the priesthood will take place in spring 2027. 

Deacon Bemiss preached his first homilies at the morning Masses on Sunday, April 12, at his home parish, St. Isaac Jogues (SIJ), in St. Clair Shores. He attended the parish grade school there, and his parents have been SIJ parishioners for over 50 years. 

As he began his college studies at Wayne State University, Deacon Bemiss thought he would become a pharmacist, but ended up finishing, after five years, with a Bachelor’s degree in Slavic studies with a concentration in the Polish Language. 

At the same time, he began “discerning everything I could, except the priesthood.” 

After his second trip to Peru, helping to lead a FOCUS mission, he said, “I came to recognize and respond to God’s call to discern the diocesan priesthood.” 

Deacon Bemiss will be assisting at St. Andrew's in Rochester, beginning May 10. His first homiles at the parish will be May 17 at the 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Masses.