St. Catharines — In a ceremony this spring a St. Catharines native who has lived his life in a wheelchair was ordained to the Catholic priesthood and will serve at a parish in the city where he was raised.
Ordination in a wheelchair
Thirty-one-year-old Fr. Trevor Plug, born in St. Catharines with spina bifida, celebrated his ordination on May 21 and is assigned to St. Alfred Catholic Church in St. Catharines. The condition, a congenital opening in the spine, has meant Plug has used a wheelchair his whole life.
Diocesan leaders say nothing in canonical law prevents a man with a physical disability from being ordained. Bishop Gerard Bergie, who has legal training in canon law, described Plug as "canonically, validly ordained" and stressed that physical perfection is not a requirement to celebrate Mass or to minister to a congregation.
"He may not be physically perfect in every way, but he can function in every way to celebrate Mass," Bishop Bergie said.
Local acceptance and expectations
Before formal acceptance by the bishop and prior to ordination, Plug said he experienced warm reception from parishioners at St. Alfred while he was completing his theological training. Church members, according to Plug, were eager for him to serve as their priest even while he was still a student.
Bishop Bergie suggested that Plug’s presence and ministry will resonate beyond liturgical duties. He said the new priest will be "a sign of hope" for people who face their own physical and spiritual struggles, and that his ordination took on added significance during the church's Year of Mercy observances.
Context in canon law
Canon law lists a number of circumstances that can bar a man from ordination — from certain psychological conditions to public apostasies and attempted marriages — but it does not specify physical disability as an impediment. Plug himself reviewed canonical texts and theological discussions about ordination and found no barrier related to being in a wheelchair.
Diocesan officials and seminary faculty, when asked, noted they could not identify an obvious precedent for someone ordained while using a wheelchair, although they stopped short of declaring Plug the first such case.
- Age: 31
- Condition: Spina bifida; wheelchair user
- Ordination date: May 21
- Parish assignment: St. Alfred Catholic Church, St. Catharines
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | St. Catharines, Ont. |
| Ministry | Parish service at St. Alfred |
| Canonical status | Ordained; bishop affirms validity |
What this means locally
For St. Catharines residents, Plug’s ordination touches on several local themes: inclusion in community institutions, the role of faith in addressing personal adversity, and how local clergy reflect the diversity of the people they serve. Parishioners who welcomed Plug as a theology student will now see him preside at sacraments and pastoral duties.
His assignment to a home parish in the city where he grew up means his ministry will be rooted in a community that has already shown support. Diocesan leaders say they expect his lived experience will enable him to connect with parishioners who have disabilities or who face other forms of hardship.
The ordination also prompts broader reflection among clergy and congregations about access and accommodation in churches, and how spiritual leadership is defined. While canon law provides the legal framework for ordination, local practice and pastoral response will shape how Plug’s ministry is received day-to-day.
As he begins his priestly duties, Plug joins the roster of clergy in the Diocese of St. Catharines and brings with him a narrative of persistence that diocesan leaders believe will speak deeply to parishioners across the city.
