Bishop Hesson studied at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. staffed by the Benedictine monks. He graduated cum laude with his degree in philosophy in 1963, then entered the theology department on the same campus. In 1966 Bishop Hesson earned a Master of Divinity degree magna corn laude in systematic theology. On May 20, 1967 he was ordained to the sacred priesthood for the Order of St. Benedict by the late Ordinary of Camden, Most Reverend Celestine J. Damiano, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. For fifteen years the then Father Hesson labored in the field of education at Paul VI High School, Camden Catholic High and as dean of men and chairman of the theology department at St. Mary's Prep Seminary in Penndel, Pa. During this time he earned a Master of Arts degree in Moral Theology from La Salle College in Philadelphia.
Since November of 1982, Bishop
Hesson has served traditional independent Roman Catholic chapels and missions
in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and throughout the Northeastern United States.
On June 12, 1991 he was consecrated a bishop by the Most
Rev. Oliver Oravec who was assisted by Most. Rev. Robert Fidelis McKenna,
O.P. and Most Rev. Vida Elmer as co-consecrators.