Eight seminarians from Saint Vincent Seminary were instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte on October 5. They are from the dioceses of Covington, Pittsburgh, Metuchen and Beijing, China, and from Saint Andrew Abbey in Cleveland and Saint Vincent Archabbey. The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and assist the priest and deacon.
ARCHDIOCESE OF BEIJING
Andrew Yan of Tai Yuan, Shanghai, China, is the son of Hui Ping Yan and Rune Fan of Shanghai. He graduated in 2004 from Quin Xu High School, Tai Yuan. He earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Tai Yuan University of Technology.
DIOCESE OF COVINGTON
Michael T. Grady of Snellville, Georgia is the son of James M. Grady of Snellville and the late Jean C. Nieporte Grady. He graduated from Crystal Lake High School, Crystal Lake, Illinois, in 1974 and obtained a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia in 1979, studying agricultural economics.
DIOCESE OF METUCHEN
Matthew J. Marinelli is the son of Michael and Linda Marinelli of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He is a 2009 graduate of Phillipsburg High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in Catholic theology from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, in 2013.
Michael K. Tabernero is the son of Peter M. and Mary Catherine Tabernero of Hillsborough, New Jersey. He is a 2011 graduate of Hillsborough High School. In 2015 he earned a bachelor of arts degree in Catholic theology from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey.
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
Michael J. Faix is the son of Jeffrey and JoAnn Faix of White Oak. He is a 2006 graduate of McKeesport Area High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from Allegheny College, Meadville, in 2010.
Jordan C. Sonnett is the son of Francis and Mary Sonnett of Beaver Falls. He is a 2009 graduate of Quigley Catholic High School, Baden. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in theology in 2013 from Saint Vincent College. He has also done graduate work at the Augustine Institute.
SAINT ANDREW ABBEY
Brother Conrad Wald, O.S.B., of Saint Andrew Abbey, Cleveland, is the son of Udo S. Wald of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and Hannelore K. Sturm-Singh of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. He is a 1982 graduate of Northside High School, Atlanta, Georgia. He earned the A.B. degree from the University of Georgia, Athens, in 1986, majoring in political science. He completed a master of arts degree in political science at the Ohio State University in 1988.
SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY
Brother George (Brian) DeFazio, O.S.B., of Pittsburgh is the son of Victor and Carol DeFazio of Pittsburgh. A 2009 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy/history from Duquesne University in 2013. He studied at Saint Paul Seminary, Pittsburgh, while a student at Duquesne and enrolled at Saint Vincent Seminary in the fall of 2015.
The set of photos from the event are at this link.
