LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA — Twelve seminarians from five archdioceses and dioceses, and one religious community were installed in the Ministry of Acolyte on November 4 at Saint Vincent Seminary. The Most Rev. Bernard W. Schmitt, D.D., Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, presided over the installation, held at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, Latrobe.
Installed were Stephen Kresak and Steven Neff of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Fredy Angel, Chidi Osondu and Mark Van Alstine of the Diocese of Savannah; Arthur Bufogle, John Mulcahy and Christopher Turner of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston; Joseph Dougherty of the Diocese of Erie; Cyril Chae and Neil Herlihy of the Archdiocese of Atlanta; and Br. Peter Rayappan, O.S.B. of Asirvanam Monastery in India.
The acolyte is appointed to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass. He is also permitted to distribute communion as an extraordinary minister.
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGHStephen A. Kresak is the son of Andrew F. and Marie A. Kresak of McKees Rocks.He is a 1987 graduate of Sto-Rox High School and earned a degree in communications and philosophy from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in 1998.
Steven V. Neff is the son of Anthony J. and Roberta K. Neff of Chicora. He is a 1984 graduate of Butler Senior High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosphy from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in 2001.
DIOCESE OF SAVANNAHFredy A. Angel is the son of Jose A. and Eva Angel of Bogota, Colombia. He is a 1992 graduate of Tecnico Salesiano de Cundinomarca High School in Bogota. He also attended the Universidad Santo Tomas de Aquino in Bogota, majoring in philosophy and religion.
Chidi Ezennia Osondu is the son of Luke Chijioke and Sussan Uzoamaka Osondu of Nigeria. He is a 1991 graduate of St. John Cross Seminary in Nigeria. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosphy from Claretian Institute of Philosphy in 1998.
Mark Van Alstine is the son of William L. and Marie A. Van Alstine of Augusta, Georgia. He is a 1983 graduate of Alleluia Community School, Augusta. He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson University in 1987 and also attended the University of South Carolina at Aiken.
DIOCESE OF WHEELING-CHARLESTONArthur Bufogle, Jr. attended St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo, Japan, graduating in 1972. He studied biology at St. Bonaventure University, New York, from 1972 to 1974. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Walsh College, North Canton, Ohio in 1976. He received a master of arts degree in theology in 1985 from St. Michael’s College, Winooskie, Vermont; a master of science degree in soil science in 1988 from the University of Vermont, Burlington, and a doctorate in agronomy in 1996 from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
John D. Mulcahy is the son of George and Anne-Marie Mulcahy of Pittsburgh. He is a 1989 graduate of Canevin Catholic High School, Pittsburgh. He received a bachelor of science degree in business accounting from Saint Vincent College in 1996.
Christopher M. Turner is the son of David and Karen Turner of Bridgeport, West Virginia. He is a 1993 graduate of Bridgeport High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice/sociology from Fairmont State College, Fairmont, West Virginia, in 1997.
DIOCESE OF ERIEJoseph V. Dougherty III is the son of Joseph V. and Edna May Dougherty Jr. of Willow Grove. He is a 1974 graduate of Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove and obtained a degree in business from Montgomery County Community College and Temple University in 1978.
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTACyril Chae is the son of Sun-ik Chae and Cho-Young Noh of Seoul, Korea. He completed high school in 1976 in Seoul, Korea and studied for two years at Saint Vincent’s College Seminary in Quezon City, Philippines. He earned a diploma of philosophy and theology from Saint Vincent School of Theology in the Philippines.
Neil J. Herlihy is the son of Grace Herlihy of Bronx, New York and the late Thomas Herlihy. He is a 1969 graduate of Cardinal Spellman High School, Bronx. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Iona College, New Rochelle, New York, in 1973.
ASIRVANAM MONASTERYBr. Peter Rayappan, O.S.B., is the son of Nicholas and Amalorpavam of Dharmapuri, India. He is a monk of Asirvanan Benedictine Monastery. He is a 1992 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Dharmapuri. He received a P.U.C. degree from Saint Antony’s College in Krishnagiri, India. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Mysore University in 1998.
