Nine Saint Vincent seminarians were installed to the Ministry of Acolyte and four were admitted to Candidacy by Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski, D.D., Bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, on November 21 at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica. They are from the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Covington, Erie, Paterson, Harrisburg, and Wheeling-Charleston; the archdioceses of Atlanta and Campinas, Brazil; Saint Gregory’s Abbey; Conception Abbey and Saint Vincent Archabbey.
MINISTRY OF ACOLYTE
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
Jorge Carranza of Calhoun, Geórgia is the son of Martin and Bertha Carranza of Calhoun. He is a 1998 graduate of Cosmopolitan High School, Chicago. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Saint Joseph Seminary College, Saint Benedict, Louisiana in 2010.
ARCHDIOCESE OF CAMPINAS
Marcel Gustavo Alvarenga of Valinhos, São Paulo, Brazil, is the son of Iris da Silva Alvarenga and Eliana Aparecida Bonito Alvarenga of Valinhos. He graduated from Escola Tecnica de Comercio de Valinhos, Brazil, in 2004, and received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, where he studied from 2006 to 2008. He began theology studies at the same university in 2009, until he was sent to Saint Vincent Seminary by Archbishop Bruno Gamberini to complete those studies.
DIOCESE OF COVINGTON
Ernie W. Darby, Jr. is the son of Ernie and Maryann Darby of Covington, Georgia. He is a 2003 graduate of Eastside High School in Covington. He graduated in December 2007 from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of arts degree in French.
DIOCESE OF ERIE
Thomas N. Trocchio of Cooperstown, Pennsylvania is the son of Thomas T. Trocchio and the late Monica Sue Deer. He is a 2002 graduate of Plum Senior High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and theology from Gannon University, Erie, in 2010.
DIOCESE OF PATERSON
Christopher Stephen Barkhausen of Succasunna, New Jersey, is the son of Stephen Girard and Marta Berdel Barkhausen of Succasunna. He is a 2006 graduate of Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in Catholic theology from Seton Hall University’s School of Theology in 2010.
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
Joseph J. Gregula of Mount Lebanon is the son of Joseph M. Gregula of Washington, Pa., and Suzanna J. Gregula of Mount Lebanon. He is a 1998 graduate of Washington High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia, in computer information science and business administration in 2002. He earned a master of business administration degree from Waynesburg University, Waynesburg, in 2007 and a master of arts degree in philosophy in 2010 from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh.
SAINT GREGORY’S ABBEY, SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA
Brother Simeon Spitz, O.S.B. is the son of Jerry Spitz of Canute, Oklahoma and Susan Boyer of Phoenix, Arizona. He is a 2002 graduate of Canute High School, Canute, Oklahoma. He earned bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees from Saint Gregory’s University in 2007, where he studied philosophy and political science. He also studied at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY
Brother Michael A. Antonacci, O.S.B., of Jeannette, is the son of Jerome and Sheila Antonacci. Brother Michael, a 2003 graduate of Hempfield High School, is a 2007 graduate of Saint Vincent College, where he earned bachelor of science degrees in mathematics and physics with highest honors.
Brother John Paul Heiser, O.S.B. is the son of Randy and Sherry Heiser of Bethel Park. He is a 2004 graduate of Bethel Park High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in international politics and psychology from Penn State University in 2008.
CANDIDACY FOR HOLY ORDERS
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
Feiser Elliot Muñoz is the son of Hernando Muñoz and Julieta Polanco of Carzon, Huila, Colombia. He graduated from Colegio Nacional Simon Bolivar, Garzón, Colombia, in 2003. He studied philosophy at Seminario Major Castrense de Colombia, Bogota, in 2004, and philosophy and theology at Seminario Conciliar of Bogotá from 2005 to 2008.
CONCEPTION ABBEY
Paul A. Sheller is the son of Dennis and Barbara Sheller of Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is a 2000 graduate of Stillwater High School. He studied at Oklahoma State University from 2000 to 2002, and then at Conception Seminary College from 2002 to 2005, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy.
DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
Stephen P. Kelley of York is the son of Philip and Brenda Kelley of Lebanon. He is a 1991 graduate of Cedar Crest High School, Lebanon, and earned a bachelor of science degree in music education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 1996.
DIOCESE OF WHEELING-CHARLESTON
Ryan Lee Stichweh of Morgantown, West Virginia, is the son of Dorothy and James Stichweh of Peachtree City, Georgia. He is a 1990 graduate of Princeton Community High School in Princeton, Indiana. He earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering technology from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1996. He also earned a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University.
