LATROBE PENNSYLVANIA — Nine Saint Vincent seminarians from six dioceses, archdioceses and abbeys were admitted to Candidacy for the priesthood on November 17 by Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman, Bishop of Erie, in the Archabbey Basilica.
They are Thang Minh Pham and Carlos Eduardo Vargos Silva of the Archdiocese of Atlanta; Christopher Michael Barnes and Michael Charles Polinek of the Diocese of Erie; Brother Gregory Dulmes, O.S.B., and Brother Jeremy Heppler, O.S.B., of Saint Benedict’s Abbey, Kansas; Brother Bonaventure Curtis, O.S.B. of Saint Vincent Archabbey; Nicholas Passero of the Diocese of Savannah and Michael Angelo Marcelli of the Diocese of Youngstown.
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
Thang Minh Pham of Oakwood, Georgia, is the son of Tuong Minh Pham and Bay Thi Le of Oakwood. He is a graduate of Centre Louis Jolillette, L’Education Pour Adults, Quebec, Canada. He attended College do Limoilou in Quebec and earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Saint John’s University, Queens, New York, in 2005.
Carlos Eduardo Vargas-Silva of Atlanta, Georgia is the son of Jaime Vargas Sanchez and Mariana Silva Hermida of Florencia, Colombia. He is a 1994 graduate of Colegio Migani and studied Humanitary International Law at the Angelicum in Rome, Italy. He earned his degree in law from Saint Thomas University in 2000.
DIOCESE OF ERIE
Christopher Michael Barnes of Rouseville is the son of Martha S. Barnes of Rouseville and Charles W. Barnes. He is a 1989 graduate of Oil City Area Senior High School and studied at Gannon University from 2004-2006. He has also studied at the Venango campus of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in biology, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he received an associate degree in specialized funeral service arts and sciences in 1999.
Michael Charles Polinek of Erie is the son of Mark Charles Polinek of Girard and Charlene Ann Polinek of Erie. He is a 1997 graduate of McDowell High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from Gannon University in 2006.
SAINT BENEDICT’S ABBEY
Brother Gregory James Dulmes, O.S.B., of Atchison, Kansas, is the son of Bonnie Dulmes of Morton, Illinois, and Jeffrey Dulmes of Mesa, Arizona. He is a 1995 graduate of Morton High School, Morton, Illinois. From 1995 to 1996, he completed coursework in religious studies at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois. He also studied chemistry at Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Illinois. In 2000, he received a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana campus. He also studied pre-theology at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas.
Brother Jeremy Heppler, O.S.B., of Atchison, Kansas, is the son of Cathy and Harry Heppler of Parsons, Kansas. He is a 1996 graduate of Kapaun Mount Carmel Catholic High School, Wichita, Kansas. In 2000, he received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas.
SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY
Brother Bonaventure Curtis, O.S.B., a native of southern California, was raised in Minneapolis, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in 1970, majoring in English and Secondary Education. He taught senior English at Coon Rapids Senior High School for two years before returning to southern California in 1972.
He entered Western State University / Thomas Jefferson College of Law, San Diego, in the Fall of 1975 and completed his studies for the Juris Doctorate degree in December of 1977. He was admitted to the State of California Bar Association the following year.
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH
Nicholas C. Passero is the son of Col. Stephen P. and Catherine E. Passero of Clifton, Va. He is a 1998 graduate of Alexander Patch American High School, Stuttgart, Germany. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, in 2002.
DIOCESE OF YOUNGSTOWN
Michael Angelo Marcelli of Dorset, Ohio, is the son of Mairlyn and Robert Marcelli of Dorset. He is a 1999 graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School, Andover, Ohio. In 2004, he received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio.