Saint Vincent Seminary awarded 20 degrees at its May 10 commencement, including an honorary doctorate to Very Rev. Joseph Mele, Ph.D., D.D., rector of Saint Paul Seminary, Pittsburgh and a former faculty member of Saint Vincent Seminary. Four students received dual degrees. In addition to monks and lay persons from the dioceses of Greensburg and Pittsburgh, they are from the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the dioceses of Harrisburg, Charleston, Covington, Erie and Wheeling-Charleston; Conception Abbey in Missouri and the Monastery of Christ in the Desert in New Mexico.
ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
Feiser Elliot Muñoz of the Archdiocese of Atlanta 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, Bogotá, in 2004, and philosophy and theology at Seminario Conciliar of Bogotá from 2005 to 2008. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013.
Cong Tan Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, is the son of Nghia Thi Tran of Norcross, Georgia and the late Xuan Tan Nguyen. He graduated from high school in 1990 in Phu Yen, Vietnam. He received a bachelor of arts in teaching methodology from the University of Technology in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, in 1996. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013.
CONCEPTION ABBEY
Brother Paul A. Sheller, O.S.B., of Conception Abbey, Missouri, is the son of Dennis and Barbara Sheller of Stillwater, Okla. 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. He earned the master of divinity and master of arts degrees from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013, both with highest honors. Additionally, Sheller received the Sacred Scripture Award, awarded by the Scripture faculty to the graduate who has most demonstrated excellence in the study of Sacred Scripture.
DIOCESE OF COVINGTON
Michael B. Norton of the Diocese of Covington is the son of Michael E. and Kathy S. Norton of Madisonville, Ky. He is a 2001 graduate of Ryle High School, Union, Ky. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, Ky., in 2009. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013.
Jacob E. Straub of the Diocese of Covington is the son of Clifford and Terri Straub of Alexandria, Ky. He is a 2001 graduate of Campbell County High School. He studied history at Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.; history and philosophy at Northern Kentucky University; and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from the Pontifical College Josephinum in 2009. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013, and the bachelor of sacred theology certificate, also in 2013, both with honors.
DIOCESE OF ERIE
David M. Renne of the Diocese of Erie is the son of Peter and Jennifer Renne of Punxsutawney. He is a 2005 graduate of Punxsutawney Area High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in English/philosophy from Gannon University, Erie, in 2009. He earned the master of divinity and the master of arts degrees from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013, both with honors. Additionally, Renne received two awards: the Diakonia Award and the Omer U. Kline, O.S.B., Homiletics Award.
The Diakonia award-winner is nominated by the entire Seminary community and chosen by the faculty. It honors a graduate who exhibits praiseworthy academic performance as well as service to the Seminary community through building student morale and spirit, exercising leadership within the community, and demonstrating creative outreach to others. The Rector’s Council chooses the recipient of the homiletics award, which is given to the fourth-year student who has most clearly demonstrated excellence in preaching during his fourth year of study.
DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
Stephen P. Kelley of the Diocese of Harrisburg 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. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013, and the bachelor of sacred theology certificate, also in 2013, and both with highest honors.
Matthew Robert Larlick of the Diocese of Harrisburg is the son of Elizabeth and Edward Larlick of Doylestown. He is a 1987 graduate of Central Bucks High School East, Doylestown. In 1991, he received a bachelor of science degree in economics from the Pennsylvania State University. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013.
DIOCESE OF WHEELING-CHARLESTON
Ryan Lee Stichweh of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, is the son of Dorothy and James Stichweh of Peachtree City, Ga. He is a 1990 graduate of Princeton Community High School in Princeton, Ind. He earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering technology from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., in 1996. He also earned a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013, with honors.
MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT
Brother Paulavang L. Vuong, O.S.B., of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, Abiquiu, New Mexico, is the son of Hien Xuan Vuong and Hac Thi Luu of Houston. He is a native of Da Nang, Vietnam. He graduated from Trinh Chau Phan High School, Da Nang, in 1980. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Mount Angel Seminary, Saint Benedict, Ore., in 2007 and has also studied at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013.
SAINT VINCENT ARCHABBEY
Brother Jeremiah Lange, O.S.B., is the son of George L. Lange of Murrysville and the late Margaret Meixelsberger. He is a 1974 graduate of Plum Senior High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Slippery Rock University in 1996, a master of arts/Ed.S. degree in counseling from the University of South Carolina in 2001, and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Florida in 2005. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013, with high honors. Additionally, Lange received the Honorable Judge Bernard F. Scherer Award, given by the faculty to the student who most exemplifies the qualities evident in the life of Judge Scherer. The criteria include 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.
MASTER OF ARTS
David M. George, RN-CM, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., is the son of Dean and Judy George of Elysburg, Penn. He and his wife Wendy have two sons, Nathaniel and Matthew. He received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013. He is the co-director of the Mepkin Priest Wellness Program at Mepkin Trappist Monastery, Moncks Corner, S.C.
Michael A. Kirk of Clemson, S.C., earned a master of arts degree in systematic theology. The son of Roger and Sandra Kirk of Simpsonville, S.C., he is a 2001 graduate of Southside High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio, in 2005, where he majored in philosophy and minored in classical languages, Spanish language and Hispanic studies. He previously studied at Saint Vincent Seminary.
Bridgette Ann Trunzo of Latrobe, received a master of arts degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013 with high honors. She is a 2003 graduate of Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School, Coraopolis. She received a bachelor of arts degree in religious education, Catholic theology and business management from Saint Vincent College in 2006. She also took graduate level courses in theology, spirituality and philosophy at the Angelicum, Rome, Italy, in 2006.
MASTER OF DIVINITY
Andrew Kurzawski of Pittsburgh is the son of Dennis and Mary Kurzawski of Carnegie. He is a 2003 graduate of Carlynton Junior-Senior High School. He graduated from Saint John’s University, Queens, N.Y., in May of 2007 with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy. He also studied at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2013.
