Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, welcomed nine new students in its ordination program for the 2023-2024 school year. They are from the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina; the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Scranton in Pennsylvania; the dioceses of Beijing and Zhaoxian, China and from Mosteiro de São Benton, Brazil.
DIOCESE OF CHARLESTON
Philippe Dubourdieu is from Montevideo, Uruguay and is studying for the Diocese of Charleston. He graduated in 2016 from Van Vleck High School in Van Vleck, Texas. He completed two years of undergraduate studies at Saint Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, then finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Dallas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and letters in 2020. He has done additional graduate studies in theology at the University of Dallas in Houston. His parents are Alexis Dubourdieu and Maria Valeria Dubourdieu of Bay City, Texas.
John Erwin of Montgomery, Alabama, is studying for the Diocese of Charleston. He graduated from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Auburn University in 2003 and did additional graduate studies in engineering at the University of South Carolina. He completed a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2016. His pre-theology studies were done at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, where he received an Associate degree.
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
Mark Littlefield of Pittsburgh is studying for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. A 2015 graduate of North Allegheny High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019. His parents are Daniel D. Littlefield and Janine S. Littlefield of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tung Thanh Nguyen is studying for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He is a 2012 graduate of Phan Dinh Phung High School, Ha Tinh, Vietnam. He earned a degree in civil engineering from Vinh University in Vinh, Vietnam in 2010 and has done additional graduate studies in pre-theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. His parents are Huan Thanh Nguyen and Mai Thi Vo of Ha Tinh, Vietnam.
DIOCESE OF SCRANTON
Jeremy M. Barket of Dupont, Pennsylvania, is studying for the Diocese of Scranton. He is a 2007 graduate of Pittston Area Senior High School. He studied broadcast communications at Luzerne County Community College, earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in 2010. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marywood University, Scranton, in 2012, majoring in advertising and public relations. He completed pre-theology studies at Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in 2023. His parents are Stanley A. Barket and Vivian V. Barket of Dupont.
Daniel O’Brien of Apalachin, New York, is studying for the Diocese of Scranton. He is a 2019 graduate of Vestal High School, Vestal, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in aviation management from Marywood University, Scranton. His parents are James D. O’Brien and Kathryn L. O’Brien of Apalachin, New York.
DIOCESE OF BEIJING, CHINA
Xiaojian (Joseph) Wang is studying for the Archdiocese of Beijing. He is a 2015 graduate of QingXu High School, Shanxi, China. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Jilin University in Jilin, China, in 2019. He has accomplished studies in pre-theology at the Saint Michael Seminary in Beijing. His parents are Xuping Wang and Caifen Han of Shanxi, China.
DIOCESE OF ZHAOXIAN, CHINA
Xiaoguang (Joseph) Zhang of the Diocese of Zhaoxian, China, was born in a small village of Hebei Province, called Xipudi. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hebei University of Economics and Business in 2014. Right after graduating from University, he entered Hebei Major Catholic Seminary, and there he completed a two-year philosophy course and got a bachelor’s degree of philosophy at the end of 2016. From 2017 to 2021, he was with the Jesuits, and finished the Jesuit’s novice formation. In August 2021, After leaving the Society of Jesus, he returned to Diocese of Zhaoxian. From December 2021 to December 2022, he served as a Catholic news editor in Radio Veritas Asia.
MOSTEIRO DE SAO BENTO, BRAZIL
Brother Emmanuel (Anderson) Da Costa, O.S.B. is from João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. He is a 2004 graduate of Hipócrates Rede de Ensino, Paraíba. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophical studies in 2022 from Centro Universitario Ingá in Paraná. His parents are Luíz Nicolau da Costa and Josefa Dantas da Costa of Paraíba.
