On Sunday, April 24, 2022, Saint Vincent Seminary hosted members of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association for a luncheon and a western Pennsylvania district meeting, as well as for the dedication of the plaques memorializing the establishment by the FCSLA of the Seminary’s Distance Learning Center. Sponsored by the FCSLA, the Distance Learning Center was planned well before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and was completed in time for the spring 2021 semester. However, due to pandemic restrictions, the official dedication of the Center was held just recently when the Seminary welcomed many FCSLA representatives and members, numbering nearly 100 guests. Cynthia Maleski, Esq., national president, represented the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association of the United States of America. Maleski, third from left, is pictured with Saint Vincent Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., Dorothy Urbanowicz and Larry Golofski.

Representing the leadership and branches of the Pittsburgh Okres and Saint Vincent Seminary were, front, from left, Dorothy Urbanowicz, National President Cynthia Maleski, Esq., Judy Fedor; back, from left, Seminary Chancellor Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B.; Flora J. Funtal, Linda Killeen; Jerry LaFrankie, Larry Golofski, James Dubina, Thomas Figura, Martin Hanyak, Virginia Holmes, Seminary Rector Father Edward Mazich, O.S.B., and Dr. Andrzej Groch.

The FCSLA Distance Learning Center includes two cameras capable of rotating and covering the entire room for full interaction with faculty members, and in-person and online students. There are microphones for every desk, each with enough range to pick up questions from two people seated at each desk. Two large screens at the front of the classroom can project a speaker or instruction who calls in for the faculty meeting. A third large monitor on a wheeled cart, connected to a 100-foot fiber optic cable, can be moved around the classroom for more interaction with the students, depending on the needs of the instructor.