Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Canada, received an honorary doctor of divinity degree and gave the address at the 166th annual commencement of Saint Vincent Seminary on Friday, May 11 in the Archabbey Basilica.
Fifteen other degrees were awarded to seminary students from Mary, Mother of the Church Abbey, Richmond; Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe; Saint Bede Abbey, Peru, Illinois; the Diocese of Erie; Archdiocese of Atlanta; Diocese of Covington, Kentucky; Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan and the Diocese of Greensburg.
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
Tri John-Bosco Nguyen, a native of Saigon, Vietnam, is the son of Thao and Trong Nguyen of Rex, Georgia. He is a 1993 graduate of Hoang Hoa Tham High School in Saigon. He graduated in 2001 from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education and Catholic theology. In 2006, he received a master of arts degree in applied linguistics and in teaching English as a second language from Georgia State University. He received the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012.
DIOCESE OF COVINGTON
John Joseph Michniuk of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the son of the late Agnes Mary Michniuk of West Chester, Ohio. He is a 1979 graduate of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He received a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1994 and a masters of public administration degree in 1996 from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. He also earned a master of arts degree in liturgy and pastoral ministry from Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California in 2005. He received the bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with honors.
DIOCESE OF ERIE
Brandon M. Kleckner is the son of Neal and Cathy Kleckner of Erie. He is a 2004 graduate of Villa Maria Academy in Erie, and earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy from Gannon University, Erie, in 2008. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012. He also received the Omer U. Kline, O.S.B., Homiletics Award, chosen by the Rector’s Council, which is given to the fourth-year student who has most clearly demonstrated excellence in preaching during his fourth year of study.
DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG
William Newhouse was accepted into the permanent diaconate program of Saint Vincent Seminary in 2009. He is from Saint Paul Parish, Greensburg. He earned the master of arts degree in Ecclesial Ministry from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with highest honors.
Michael Orange of Latrobe was accepted into the permanent diaconate program at Saint Vincent Seminary in 2009. He is the son of Daniel P. Orange of Jeannette and the late Sylvia Orange. He is from Saint Vincent Basilica Parish, Latrobe. He earned the master of arts degree in Ecclesial Ministry from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with high honors.
Ray William Takacs of North Huntingdon was accepted into the permanent diaconate program at Saint Vincent Seminary in 2009. He is the son of William and Gloria Takacs of McKeesport. He is from Saint Agnes Parish, North Huntingdon. He earned the master of arts degree in Ecclesial Ministry from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with high honors.
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
Kevin Christopher Fazio is the son of Donald and Bernadette Fazio of Gibsonia. He is a 1990 graduate of Hampton High School in Allison Park. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from John Carroll University in 1994, a master of business administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002, and a master of arts degree in philosophy from Duquesne University in May, 2008. He received the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with high honors.
DIOCESE OF SAGINAW
Alberto E. Vargas of Saginaw is the son of Ivan and Maria Disne Vargas of Ituango, Colombia. He is a 2005 graduate of the Seminario Cristo Sacerdote with a major in philosophy. He has also studied at Santo Tomas de Aquino Seminary, Santa Rosa de Osos, Colombia. He received the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012.
SAINT BEDE ABBEY
Brother Gregory Jarzombek, O.S.B., of Chicago is from Saint Bede Abbey, Peru, Illinois. He mother is Catherine Jarzombek of Park Ridge, Illinois. He is a 1971 graduate of Notre Dame High School for Boys, Niles, Illinois. He earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from Marquette University in 1975 and a master of business administration degree in finance in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He received the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with honors.
MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH ABBEY
Brother John Mary Lugemwa, O.S.B., of Richmond, Virginia, is the son of Jane Fracis Nakiboneka of Masaka, Uganda and the late Charles Waliggo. He is a 1998 graduate of Central Academy Mengo, Kampala, Uganda. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in computer science and philosophy from Saint John’s University College of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota in 2007. He received the master of arts degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with honors, and the bachelor of Sacred Theology degree with honors, also in 2012. He received the Honorable Judge Bernard F. Scherer Award at commencement, given to the student who most exemplifies the qualities evident in the life of Judge Scherer: breadth of learning, the integration of knowledge, faith and life, service to others through corporal works of mercy, and a strong witness of faith, hope and charity. He was ordained a deacon on May 8, 2011 by the Most Reverend Francis Xavier DiLorenzo, Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond, at Mary Mother of the Church Abbey.
SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY
Brother Francis (George) Ehnat, O.S.B., of Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, a son of the late Marianne F. and James H. Dean. He attended Eisenhower Elementary School, Kansas, and is a 1967 graduate of Camden High School, South Carolina. He earned a bachelor of science degree in zoology in 1972 from Clemson University. He also attended Armstrong State College in Savannah, Saint Vincent College and began studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in 2007. He received the master of divinity degree from the Seminary in 2012.
He made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 1985 and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1988. He was ordained to the diaconate July 23, by Most Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, J.C.D., Ph.D., Bishop of Greensburg, in the Archabbey Basilica. He will be ordained to the priesthood May 19. From 1988 to 2007, he was assigned to Benedictine Priory in Savannah, where he was archivist (1989-2007). He was maintenance director of Benedictine Military School in Savannah (1997-2007.
Brother Nathanael Ronald Polinski, O.S.B., is the son of Mary Ann Polinski of Duquesne and the late Raymond E. Polinski. Brother Nathanael is a 1983 graduate of Serra Catholic High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1987. He received a master of business administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993. He received the master of divinity degree from the Seminary, and the bachelor of Sacred Theology degree, both in 2012 with highest honors. Brother Nathanael also received two awards during the commencement ceremony: the Sacred Scripture Award, given to the graduate who has most demonstrated excellence in the study of Sacred Scripture; and the Diakonia Award, honoring a graduate who exhibits praiseworthy academic performance and service to the Seminary community through building student morale and spirit, exercising leadership within the community, and demonstrating creative outreach to others.
Brother Nathanael made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 2006, and solemn profession on July 11, 2009. He was ordained to the diaconate July 23, by Most Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, J.C.D., Ph.D., Bishop of Greensburg, in the Archabbey Basilica. He will be ordained to the priesthood May 19.
Brother Albert (Scott) Gahr, O.S.B., is the son of Raymond and Diana Gahr of Kersey. He is a 1991 graduate of Elk County Christian High School, St. Marys. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology in 1995 from Saint Vincent College and a doctorate in genetics and developmental biology from West Virginia University in 2002, and a masters of arts in monastic studies from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012 with high honors. He entered the novitiate of Saint Vincent Archabbey in 2008, made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 2009.
