New Students in 2015

Saint Vincent Seminary welcomed 20 new students in 2015. They are from seven dioceses and six monasteries, including the dioceses of Altoona-Johnstown; Beijing, China; Covington, Kentucky; Erie; Metuchen, New Jersey; Pittsburgh and Steubenville, Ohio; Conception Abbey, Missouri; Saint Andrew Abbey, Cleveland; Saint Joseph Monastery, Lucerne Valley, California; Saint Peters Abbey, Muenster, Saskatchewan, Canada; Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe and São Bento Monastery in São Paulo, Brazil. Click here to see headshots of the new students.

DIOCESE OF ALTOONA-JOHNSTOWN

Mark E. Groeger of Ridgway is the son of Geraldine Gilmore of Ridgway and the late Theodore J. Groeger. He is a 1976 graduate of Ridgway Area High School.

DIOCESE OF BEIJING

Paul Wu of Datong, Shanghai, China, is the son of Hua Kui Wu and Gui Lian Li of Datong. He graduated from No. 5 High School of Datong in 2009. He studied philosophy at Beijing Catholic Philosophical and Theological College.
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

Benton M. Clift of Melbourne, Kentucky is the son of the late Benton E. Clift and Audrey E. Clift. He is a 1977 graduate of Silver Grove High School, Silver Grove Kentucky, and studied electro-mechanical technology and environmental engineering technology at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, from which he holds an associates in applied sciences degree. He was ordained a deacon on April 13, 2013 for the Diocese of Covington by Most Rev. Roger J. Foys. He started at the seminary in January.
Alex P. Deters is the son of William and Jacqueline Deters of Florence, Kentucky. He graduated from Saint Henry District High School, Erlanger, in 2006. He studied history at Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 2015.
Stephen E. Gallagher of Newport, Kentucky, is a son Mary G. Gallagher of Naples, Florida and the late John J. Gallagher, Jr. He has a sister, Kathleen, and a brother, Michael. He is a 1992 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from DeSales University. He has done graduate studies in theology at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, prior to coming to Saint Vincent Seminary.
David Alexander Godbey of Hebron, Kentucky, is the son of David S. Godbey of Union, Kentucky and Kimberly M. Hamrick of Hebron. He is a 2012 graduate of Conner High School in Hebron, and has also studied anthropology and German at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky. He started at the seminary in January.
Michael Thomas 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.
He is from the Diocese of Covington.
Joseph C. Rielage of Florence, Kentucky, is the son of the late Thomas J. and Carol J. Rielage. He graduated in 1988 from Elder High School, Cincinnati. He studied at Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, Kentucky from 1988 to 1990, then transferred to the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1993.

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

Jack Demnyan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is a 2003 graduate of Canon McMillan High School. He studied at Duquesne University from 2003 to 2005 and from 2009 to 2011. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009. He also studied at Saint Paul Seminary, Pittsburgh (2003-2004, 2009-2011), and has been a student at Saint Mary Seminary and University since 2011. He has enrolled at Saint Vincent Seminary as a continuing education student.
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 JOSEPH MONASTERY

Peter Khanh (Minh Ngoc) Pham, O. Cist. of Saint Joseph Monastery, Lucerne Valley, California, is the son of Huong Ngoc Pham and Huong Thi Nguyen of Nghe An, Vietnam. He graduated in 1999 from Minh Khai High School, Ha Tinh, Vietnam. He studied philosophy at The Holy Family Cistercian Philosophical Institute.

SAINT PETER’S ABBEY

Brother Dominic Leo, O.S.B., a native of India, is from Saint Peter’s Abbey, Saskatchewan, Canada. He graduated in 1988 from Saint Aloysius High
School in Bangalore, then received a bachelor of commerce degree in 1991 from Saint Joseph’s College of Commerce in the same city, majoring in taxation.
He is the son of M. Leo Joseph and Mary Rita Leo of Banaglore, India. He started at the seminary in January.

SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY

Brother George (Brian) DeFazio, O.S.B. of Pittsburgh entered the novitiate of Saint Vincent Archabbey on July 1, 2014 and professed simple vows on July 10, 2015. He is the son of Rev. Mr. Victor and Carol DeFazio of Pittsburgh. He has one brother, Jonathan. 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. DeFazio has participated in Boy Scouts of America, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
Brother David Klecker of Saint Vincent Archabbey is the son of Robert Klecker of Eagon, Minnesota and Barbara Weiss of Hopkins, Minnesota. He graduated from Saint Paul Academy, Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1993. He received a bachelor of science degree in 1997 from Purdue University, West Layfayette, Indiana. He has done graduate work at the Angelicum in Rome, the Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri, and at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut. He is finishing his master of divinity degree at Saint Vincent Seminary. He was ordained a deacon in the spring of 2011.

MASTER OF DIVINITY

Thomas A. Clifton of Greensburg has entered the master of divinity/non-ordination program. The son of Ruth Elaine Clifton of Millington, Tennessee and the late Robert Wells Clifton, Jr., he is a 1984 graduate of Millington Central High School, Tennessee. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies/pastoral ministry from Seton Hill University in 2015.

 

Categories