Twelve seminarians were recently instituted into the Ministry of Lector by Most Rev. John C. Iffert, Bishop of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky. The seminarians are from the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Covington, Ogdensburg, and Charleston, as well as Mary Mother of the Church Abbey, Richmond, Virginia, and Saint Vincent Archabbey. The lector reads the word of God in the liturgical assembly, except the Gospel, in the Mass and other sacred celebrations, recites the psalms between the readings, and can also present the intercessions.
Those instituted are Christopher Baker and Xavier Engle from the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Henry Bischoff and Bradley Whittle from the Diocese of Covington; Tyler Fitzgerald from the Diocese of Ogdensburg; Reyes Palomares Solis, Paul Sizemore, and John Michael Tracy from the Diocese of Charleston; Brother Ambrose Okema, O.S.B., from Mary Mother of the Church Abbey; Brother Bede Maxson, O.S.B., Brother José Rosa, O.S.B., and Brother Francisco Whittaker, O.S.B., from Saint Vincent Archabbey.
DIOCESE OF CHARLESTON
Reyes Palomares Solis of Greenville, South Carolina, is a 2017 graduate of Greenville Senior High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the University of Dallas. His parents are Jose Palomares and Martha Solis of Greenville.
Paul Tyler-Lee Sizemore of Belvedere, South Carolina, is a 2009 graduate of North Augusta High School, North Augusta, South Carolina. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 2014 from The Citadel, majoring in French. He earned the master of arts degree in philosophical studies in missionary discipleship from Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Florida. His parents are Joseph L. Sizemore of Belvedere, South Carolina, and Lee Anne Wright.
John Michael Tracy of Charleston, South Carolina, is a 2004 graduate of Bishop England High School in Charleston. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina, in 2008. He studied pre-theology from 2020-2022 at Saint Mary’s Seminary/University of Saint Thomas, Houston. His parents are Mark and Roseann Tracy of Charleston.
DIOCESE OF COVINGTON
Henry F. Bischoff of Edgewood, Kentucky, is the son of Matthew and Cynthia Bischoff of Edgewood. He is a 2011 graduate of Covington Latin School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies from Northern Kentucky University in 2015.
Bradley S. Whittle of Union, Kentucky, is the son of Scott and Elaine Whittle of Union. He is a 2015 graduate of Saint Henry District High School, Erlanger, Kentucky. He earned a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Cincinnati in 2020.
DIOCESE OF OGDENSBURG
Tyler Fitzgerald of Madrid, New York, is a 2018 graduate of Madrid-Waddington Central School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and humanities from the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, in 2022. His parents are Leo and Michele Fitzgerald of Madrid, New York.
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
Christopher Baker of New Castle is a 2010 graduate of Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014. His parents are Steve Baker of New Castle and Tracey Baker of Natrona Heights.
Xavier Engle of Pittsburgh is a 2016 graduate of Everest Collegiate High School, Clarkston, Michigan. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in finance from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in 2020. He also studied pre-theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. His parents are Donald Engle Jr. and Jennifer Engle of Clarkston, Michigan.
MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH ABBEY
Brother Ambrose Okema, O.S.B., of Richmond, Virginia, is a 2000 graduate of Apostle of Jesus Minor Seminary in Moroto, Uganda. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies from Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina, in 2021. His parents are Veronica Aryemo Odong of Agago, Uganda, and the late Guido Odong.
SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY
Brother Bede Maxson, O.S.B., of Saint Vincent Archabbey, is a 2016 graduate of Cornwall Central High School, New Windsor, New York. He earned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace administration and operations from Oklahoma State University in 2019. He earned a master of arts degree in Catholic philosophical studies from Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Douglaston, New York, in 2021.
Brother José Rosa, O.S.B. is the son of Alex Rosa Jr. and Margaret Rosa of Odenton, Maryland. He graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in 2016, and earned a bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Saint Vincent College in 2020, majoring in philosophy and politics.
Brother Francisco Whittaker, O.S.B., of Saint Vincent Archabbey, is the son of Daniel and Kathleen Whittaker of Grove City. He is a 2015 graduate of Mother of Divine Grace School, Ojai, California. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in biochemistry from Saint Vincent College in 2019.
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