On the Hill

Cover: Br. Peduru Fonseka, OSB, received the ministry of lector along with 22 of his classmates on February 19.

Spring 2015 • Vol. 54:2

Mader Learning Centeroffers academic support

Monastery repairsbegin in May

Five novices join the monastery

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FEATURES

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monastery News

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mader Learning Center

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fr. Brendan named rector

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Student Profile

ALUMNI

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alumni Reunion

10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alumni Board Slate

13-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alumni Eternal and News

16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Day of Service

On the Hill is published four times a year by Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Seminary and School ofTheology. The newsletter is also available online at: www.saintmeinrad.edu/onthehill

Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Jeanne SchumacherCopywriters: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Krista Hall & Tammy Schuetter

Send changes of address and comments to:The Editor, The Development Office, Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Seminary & School of Theology, 200Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577, (812) 357-6501 • Fax (812) 357-6759, news@saintmeinrad.eduwww.saintmeinrad.edu, © 2015, Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Monks’ Personals

On the HillSpring 2015 • Vol. 54:2

Br. John Mark Falkenhain presented aday-long workshop on interviewingcandidates at the National ReligiousVocations Conference Convocation inNovember. He also presented a workshopon celibacy formation for the Institute forReligious Formation at CatholicTheological Union in Chicago, IL, inNovember.

Archabbot Justin DuVall attended themeeting of the Abbot President’s Councilat St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, LA,January 8-12.

Fr. Anthony Vinson attended a meetingof the investment committee of theNational Fund for Catholic ReligiousVocations on January 29.

Archabbot Justin DuVall and Br.Martin Erspamer visited ConceptionAbbey in Conception, MO, to discuss

their renovation plans and adaptationsthey implemented during their monasteryrenovation.

Fr. John McMullen, a monk from BlueCloud Abbey, has formally completed theprocess of transferring his stability toSaint Meinrad Archabbey.

Br. André DeDecker started culinaryschool at Sullivan University inLouisville, KY.

Br. William Sprauer presented the2015 Women’s Retreat at St. Francis ofAssisi Parish in Dayton, OH, onFebruary 20-22.

Fr. Prior Kurt Stasiak gave a conferenceto the priests of Sioux City, IA, onFebruary 26. �

Snowfalls in February and March covered the Archabbey inquiet beauty. More photos of recent events are on Pages 9and 12.

If you’d like to receive briefupdates on what’s happening atSaint Meinrad, you can sign up fora free e-newsletter. Every fewweeks, you will receive anewsletter in your email’s inbox.

To sign up, go to the “Newsletters”link on the front page of thewebsite: www.saintmeinrad.edu.Or, send an email tonews@saintmeinrad.edu

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Poway, and he worked in the shippingdepartment of a moving company.

Novice Timothy Herrmann, 27, ofFindlay, OH, is a graduate of theUniversity of Dayton, earning abachelor’s degree in communicationmanagement in 2010.

He worked as an associate editor for thenational office of Beta Theta Pi fraternityfrom 2010-11 and then at Saint MeinradArchabbey as the director of alumnirelations from 2011-14. He also served asa college intern for three summers inSaint Meinrad’s “One Bread, One Cup”program.

Novice Peter Szidik, 25, of GrandRapids, MI, is a 2011 graduate of theUniversity of Dayton with a bachelor’sdegree in chemical engineering.

He worked for three years as a productionmanager in the byproducts and coalhandling divisions at United States Steelin the St. Louis, MO, area. He also servedas a college intern for two summers inSaint Meinrad’s “One Bread, One Cup”program.

In a brief ceremony at the monasteryentrance on January 19, five novices wereclothed in the Benedictine habit at SaintMeinrad Archabbey. They now devote ayear to monastic formation, includingstudy of the Rule of St. Benedict andmonastic history.

Novice Jonathan Blaize, 28, of MountCarmel, IL, is a graduate of SouthernIllinois University, with a bachelor’sdegree in English literature. He earned anassociate degree at Wabash Valley College.He also studied at Ivy Tech CommunityCollege for drafting and design.

He formerly worked as a tool and diemachinist and a design engineeringtechnician at Hansen Corporation. Heattended Saint Meinrad Seminary andSchool of Theology for one year beforeentering the monastery.

Novice Thomas Fish, 24, of Poway, CA,graduated from Sonoma State Universityin 2013 with a bachelor’s degree inanthropology.

He has been a youth ministry volunteerand an intern at St. Gabriel Parish in

join monastic community in JanuaryFive novicesMonastery News

From left are Novices Thomas Fish, Jonathan Blaize, Peter Szidik, Jinu Thomas and TimothyHerrmann.

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Novice Jinu Thomas, 24, is a native ofIndia who moved to the United States in2009. He studied engineering physics atthe University of Illinois, earning abachelor’s degree in 2014.

As novices, they take a year off fromformal studies and trades. The novitiate isa time of prayer and learning intended tohelp a novice discern his vocation as amonk. At the end of this year, a novicemay be permitted to profess temporaryvows of obedience, stability, and fidelityto the monastic way of life. �

Monastery repairsto begin in May

This spring, work will begin on aproject to make extensive repairs tothe 32-year-old monastery at SaintMeinrad Archabbey.

The project will include several majorcomponents: replacement of theheating, ventilation and airconditioning system; replacement ofthe plumbing system; renovation andadditions to the infirmary; andexpansion of the pantry.

A mechanical study of the monastery,completed in August 2012, revealedsignificant failure of the mechanicalsystems, but the monastic communitywas not in a financial position toundertake the repairs at that time.Since then, positive gains from SaintMeinrad’s financial investments havemade it possible to begin the projectthis year.

Work is expected to get under way inMay. During the anticipated 14 monthsof the project, the monks will relocateto rooms normally used by students,in St. Anselm and Benet halls.

The monastery, built in 1980-82, isthe home to about 90 Benedictinemonks. �

Seminarian Adam Royal of the Diocese ofKnoxville struggled with writing until latein high school. Now, he is in his secondyear serving as a peer tutor in the MaderLearning Center.

“I have some idea of the frustration ofknowing what you want to say, but notbeing able to communicate it to others,”says Royal. “Watching people move pastthat frustration and put their ideas to paperis a great experience.”

The Mader Learning Center wasestablished in 1986 with gift from Fr.Joseph Mader in memory of his parents.Located on the third floor of NewmanHall, it offers academic support servicesto faculty, seminarians and lay degreestudents of Saint Meinrad Seminary andSchool of Theology.

Those services include Englishinstruction, research and writing support,and help with study skills and timemanagement. The center has computersand a resource library, as well as RosettaStone software in English, Spanish andFrench.

“The Mader Center is important becausewe are a part of that intellectual formationfor the seminarians,” explains JeffJenkins, director of the Mader Learning

Center. “We offer thatsupport that studentsmight need to besuccessful in theirclasses.”

Tutoring is one of theprimary services of theMader Center. Studentscan sign up for weeklytimes with Jenkins, and

there are peer tutors who are available fivenights a week.

“My experience with the peer tutors isthat they’re sincere in their desire to helptheir fellow students,” explains Jenkins.“They are a visible part of the centerbecause they see each other in classes.

Mader Learning Centerprovides help for academic success

Adam Royal, right, helps classmateChristopher Floersh with a paper in theMader Learning Center. Royal has served asa peer tutor for two years.

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They’re embedded in the student bodyand I think that’s really valuable.”

English instruction and writing are thetwo main services Saint Meinrad studentsutilize. Royal says reading papers andhomilies is his favorite part of peertutoring.

“I am often amazed at the creativityshown. So many of them have uniqueperspectives and images that they bring totheir works,” he explains.

Jenkins says about 75 percent of thestudents who come to the Mader Centerare international.

Seminarian George Jose is studying forthe Diocese of Memphis, but he isoriginally from India. He says hestruggles with English pronunciation andgrammar. Jose meets one-on-one withJenkins, and once a week he has a Skypeappointment with an oral communicationsspecialist, Clare Haden.

He says Haden helps him identifyproblems with his speaking and gives himexercises to help overcome thoseproblems.

The Mader Learning Center offers theopportunity for personal development.Students can receive one-on-one attentionthat will make them academicallysuccessful.

“The peer tutors and I are verysupportive, very non-judgmental andopen, so you’re going to have a goodexperience when you come,” saysJenkins. “You’re going to hopefully goaway each time you come for some kindof instruction or tutoring a little bit betterthan you first started.” �

The Mader Center isimportant because we are a partof that intellectual formation forthe seminarians.

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Responding toPope Francis’call for “a moreincisivepresence” ofwomen in theChurch, SaintMeinradSeminary andSchool ofTheology andthe Sisters ofSaint Benedictof Ferdinand,

IN, are co-hosting “Women of theChurch: Strength of the Past. Hope forTomorrow. A Catholic LeadershipConference.”

The conference will be held October 7-9,2016, in Ferdinand.

The conference seeks to recognize andsupport the many ways that womenparticipate in the mission of the Church.Although the conference is more than ayear away, the planning committee ispreparing a program of keynotespeakers, breakout sessions, liturgiesand cultural events.

The conference will feature threenationally known keynote speakers:Carolyn Woo, president and CEO ofCatholic Relief Services; KathleenSprows Cummings, director of theCushwa Center for the Study of AmericanCatholicism at the University of NotreDame; and Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP,professor of theology at the University ofNotre Dame.

Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolisand Bishop Charles Thompson ofEvansville will also participate in theprogram. Topics for the breakout sessionswill include leadership formation,vocational discernment, spirituality,Catholic health care, youth ministry, theBenedictine charism, and cultivatingleaders for a multicultural Church.

The conference is designed for bothwomen and men in the Church, includingprofessional lay ecclesial ministers,theologians, active parish leaders andvolunteers, youth ministers and womenreligious.

For more details, visit the conferencewebsite, www.womenofthechurch.org. �

Fr. Brendan Moss, OSB, a monk of SaintMeinrad Archabbey, has been namedpresident-rector of Conception SeminaryCollege. The seminary, located inConception, MO, is operated by theBenedictine monks of Conception Abbey.

He will replace Fr. Samuel Russell, OSB, amonk of Conception Abbey who is retiringin July.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Fr. Brendanjoined the Saint Meinrad monastery in1992 and professed solemn vows onAugust 15, 1996. He was ordained a prieston June 3, 2001.

Most recently, he has served as the directorof enrollment and the director of LayDegree Programs at Saint MeinradSeminary and School of Theology. He isalso an assistant professor of religiouseducation.

He earned a doctor of ministry degree inpreaching from Aquinas Institute. Otherdegrees include a bachelor’s degree fromSaint Meinrad College, and a Master ofArts and a Master of Divinity from SaintMeinrad Seminary and School ofTheology. He also earned a certificate insupervision from the Seminary and Schoolof Theology.

Established in 1886, Conception SeminaryCollege is one of the largest of the 40Roman Catholic college seminaries in thenation and one of only 15 with a completefour-year academic curriculum.

Women of the Churchconference planned for 2016

Archabbot Justin DuVall, OSB, distributes ashes at Mass on February 18 to signal the beginning ofthe Lenten season. From left are Br. Luke Waugh, OSB, Br. Dominic Warnecke, OSB, and Br.Theodore Haggerty, OSB.

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Fr. Brendan to leadConception Seminary

Q. What attracted you to the priesthood?

There was a twofold attraction for me. Forthe longest time, I was away from theChurch and I lived a very self-centeredlife. After a serious illness, I began to takestock and eventually returned to theChurch. As I grew in faith, I found greatjoy in serving others. I saw this way oflife reflected in the good priests that I hadcome to know. So the idea of servingothers, and the fine example of the priestswho lived that idea, eventually opened myheart to the possibility that God might becalling me to do this.

Q. Who or what influenced you to beginstudy for the priesthood?

I remember sitting in Church after Massone day and a total stranger came up tome and said, “You’d make a good priest.”Talk about planting a seed! There were afew priests in my diocese with whom Ieventually became closely acquainted. Iwas moved by their faithfulness andinspired by their lives of service. I startedto have conversations with them aboutpriesthood. Each one had a fascinatingand unique story, and I began tounderstand that there was no such thing asa cookie-cutter priest. Though I feltprofoundly unworthy, I took a leap offaith and became a seminarian in the fallof 2009.

Q. What were you doing before you cameto the seminary?

Believe it or not, I had a 30-year career inradio broadcasting. For the last 22 years, Iwas a “wacky morning deejay” at aLouisville radio station. When I left thatjob to enter the seminary, a comedian

theater door and myself. I also lovemovies, but I prefer to watch them athome.

Q. What aspect of seminary life has beenmost rewarding?

Without a doubt, it has been the people. Iam so grateful to the faculty and theformation staff. We should all give thanksto God for the fact that these men andwomen have devoted their lives to theformation of priests and the education ofthe laity. I am equally grateful for thegreat seminarians that I have been blessedto journey with, especially those in myclass. They have been such an inspirationto me. I will carry their friendships withme for the rest of my life.

Q. What aspect of seminary life has beenmost challenging?

Academics have been my highest hurdle.I graduated from college in the mid-1980sand I have not been in a classroom sincethen. Furthermore, I earned a degree ingeneral business, which is very differentthan earning a degree in theology. I was afish out of water when I began, but littleby little I am learning to swim. Call meNemo.

Residence: Louisville, KYDiocese: Archdiocese of Louisville

DeaconPeter Bucalo

[Meet the Student]

friend told me that celebratingMass would be similar tohosting a morning radio show.He said I would still get to talk alot and play four songs an hour.

Q. Favorite saint and why?

St. Peter, of course. First of all,my parents named me after him.Secondly, I love how human heis. Saints can often seem to bealmost mythical figures. Peteralways seems so grounded in hishumanity. He makes me realize that weare all works in progress. Every time hethinks to himself, “I’ve got this,” he issomehow reminded that he does not. Hegives me hope that, no matter how much Iscrew up and start to sink in the water, theLord is there to stretch out his hand andsave me.

Q. Favorite Scripture verse and why?

Well, as I’m writing this, I amreconsidering. For years, I have lovedPsalm 42 (or 43): “Why are you cast downmy soul, why groan within me? Hope inGod, I will praise him still, my savior andmy God.” But after reflecting on St. Peter,I’m drawn to, “O you of little faith, whydid you doubt?” I hope it’s OK to havetwo favorites.

Q. Hobbies?

I used to love to build models when I wasa kid. My dad also tried to nudge metoward stamp collecting. Eventually,though, I fell in love with classical musicand opera, especially the great romantics.If Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss orGiacomo Puccini is involved, it isprobably safest not to get between the

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Events on the Hill

MayRosary pilgrimage at Monte CassinoShrine each Sunday.

May 9 Graduation for Seminary and Schoolof Theology.

May 15-17 Guest House Retreat: “A MonasticWitness to Non-violence” by Fr.Adrian Burke, OSB.

May 24Celebration of monastic andpriesthood jubilees.

May 26-28Guest House Retreat: “A Blessed Life:Living the Beatitudes” by Br. ZacharyWilberding, OSB.

May 29-31Guest House Retreat: “The Wisdom ofNazareth” by Fr. Noël Mueller, OSB.

June 8-12Guest House Retreat: “Reading theWord of God in the Liturgy” by Fr.Vincent Tobin, OSB.

June 14Einsiedeln Society Dinner.

June 19-21Guest House Retreat: “Where SinIncreased (Romans 5:20): The SevenBig Ones” by Fr. Vincent Tobin, OSB.

June 23-25Guest House Retreat: “Pray Your Wayto Happiness” by Br. Maurus Zoeller,OSB.

July 3-5Guest House Retreat: “MonasticPractices” by Br. William Sprauer,OSB.

For more information, contact Mary Jeanne Schumacher at (812) 357-6501 or visit our website www.saintmeinrad.org

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Q. Best advice you’ve heard inseminary?

Fr. Denis Robinson, our rector, once said,“Everything is formation.” I think hemeant that every experience that we havein life can somehow serve to prepare usfor discipleship if we let it. It is very goodadvice, but sometimes we have to learn toforgive ourselves so that we can see thevalue of what we have been through.

Q. Other comments?

I wish my mother and father were stillhere to be a part of my ordination. Theyboth died in 2007. My former vocationdirector suggested that they are probablymore intimately involved in my formationnow than they were when they were onearth. What a wonderful thought that is.St. Mom and St. Dad, please pray for me,and pray for us all. �

Patricia Kirchdorfer, center, talks with Fr. Denis Robinson, OSB, at the dedication of new residenceson the third floor of St. Bede Hall on March 7.

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Students make an annual pilgrimage to the Monte Cassino Shrine in thanksgiving for Our Lady’sintercession during a smallpox outbreak in 1871.

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Lively talks on timely topics. Animatedconversation with former classmates.Shared prayer in familiar spaces.

That’s what Saint Meinrad alumni canexpect when they return to the Hill for the87th annual reunion this summer. It willbe held on campus August 3-5.

The main events will be held on Mondayand Tuesday.

Monday: Golf, Benedictine Wisdom& Wellness

The traditional golf scramble will begin at10 a.m. at Christmas Lake Golf Course innearby Santa Claus. The $32 green fee ispaid at the course.

Also on Monday, Fr. Eugene Hensell,OSB, will give a day of recollection, titled“The Human Face of God: Mark’s Portraitof Jesus.” Fr. Eugene is a Saint Meinradmonk and an associate professor ofScripture at Saint Meinrad Seminary andSchool of Theology. In addition to parishwork, campus ministry and teaching, hehas served as vice rector of Saint MeinradCollege and then president-rector of boththe College and the School of Theology.

Since 1997, Fr. Eugene has been engagedin conducting biblical retreats andworkshops for priests, religious, and laitythroughout the country and in severalforeign countries.

Two members of the Saint Meinrad HealthService staff, Ann Rohleder and JillMemmer, will conduct a wellnessworkshop Monday afternoon. Theirinteractive presentation will focus onways to get and stay healthy.

That evening, the anniversary classes of1965 (50 years), 1975 (40 years), 1990(25 years), 2005 (10 years) and 2010 (5years) will be honored at a banquet.Several other classes are celebratinganniversaries: O’60 (55 years), O’70 (45years) and T’85 (30 years).

Following the banquet, a monastic musicrecital will be held in the ArchabbeyChurch. Throughout the evening, alumniare welcome to gather with theirclassmates at various locations, includingthe UnStable and Alumni Commons.

Tuesday: Drama, the Digital Age &Merging Parishes

Three more presentations are scheduledfor Tuesday, beginning with Fr. GavinBarnes’ talk on “Curtain Call: Theater atthe Seminary,” about his life and work inthe theater department at Saint Meinrad.

Benedictine monk Fr. Gavin will lookback at how theater was a vital componentof the college experience during the 1960sthrough 1990s.

As a professor at Saint Meinrad College,Fr. Gavin taught speech and drama for 42years. During that time, he also directedscores of plays, ranging from Shakespeareto Gilbert and Sullivan.

Fr. Gavin has a license in sacred theologyfrom Sant’ Anselmo in Rome and amaster’s degree in speech fromNorthwestern University.

Alumnus Fr. Eric Augenstein will offersome insights on “Discipleship in theDigital Age.” Whether you’re a dailyTweeter or don’t know the differencebetween Instagram and Pandora, living inthe digital age has an impact on ourrelationships and our daily lives.

Fr. Eric will discuss how new media andother technological advances can bothhelp and hinder our growth as disciples –and what role and responsibility theChurch can have in helping peoplenavigate a new world of communicationand media.

Ordained in 2004, Fr. Eric currently servesas vocation director for the Archdiocese ofIndianapolis.

Right before lunch, the AlumniAssociation will hold its annual meeting.

The afternoon session is on “DiocesanReorganization: Some TheologicalPerspectives,” by President-Rector Fr.Denis Robinson, OSB. The closing andmerging of Catholic parishes is becomingmore common in U.S. dioceses, and Fr.Denis will offer comments on this trend.

Fr. Denis has led the Seminary and Schoolof Theology since 2008. He is also anassistant professor of systematic theology.He earned doctorates in sacred theologyand philosophy from the CatholicUniversity of Louvain, Belgium, in 2007.

The annual Reunion Mass will becelebrated Tuesday afternoon in theArchabbey Church, with Archabbot JustinDuVall, OSB, as principal celebrant andhomilist. This year marks his 10th

anniversary as leader of the Saint Meinradmonastic community.

Archabbot Justin has a master’s degree inlibrary science from the University ofMichigan. He has served as assistantlibrarian, prior of the monastery, andassociate dean and provost-vice rector ofthe school.

A reception and banquet will be held inthe evening. Departing members of theSaint Meinrad Alumni Association Boardof Directors will be honored at that time.

Register Early for Savings

New this year is a $10-per-day savingsfor those who register early for theReunion. The deadline for earlyregistration is July 10.

There are three ways to register:• Fill out and return the registration

form included in this newsletter.• Register on the website:

alumni.saintmeinrad.edu.• Call the Saint Meinrad Alumni

Office at (800) 682-0988. �

Welcome back to The Hill!87th Annual Alumni Reunion

Reunion program touches on parish trends, new media and wellness

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Alumni Board SlateSeven alumni seek approval for their firstterm as members of the Saint MeinradAlumni Association Board of Directors.

PRE-1984Rev. Msgr. Christopher P. Vasko O’83(’79-83) serves as the judicial vicar of theDiocese of Toledo, OH. He is also thepastor of Immaculate Conception Parishand St. Patrick’s Historic Parish.

He received his doctorate of canon lawfrom The Catholic University of Americain 1996 and is a member of the CanonLaw Society of America. He was named amonsignor in 2010.

Mr. Frederick L. Chandler O’72 (’64-68) of Indianapolis, IN, is a retiredcounselor from Carmel High School. Heis a lifetime member of the AmericanCounseling Association and the IndianaCounseling Association, where he servedterms as both president and executivedirector. He is also a member of theAmerican and Indiana School CounselorAssociation and the American and IndianaMental Health Counselor Association.

He has received a special recognitionaward from the Indiana CounselingAssociation and the Saint MeinradDistinguished Alumnus Award.

Through his home parish in Indianapolis,St. Thomas Aquinas, Chandler becameinvolved with a sister parish in Belle-Rivière, Haiti, where he has participatedin missions to address schools, cleanwater and medical facilities.

He serves as the treasurer of St. ThomasAquinas Haiti Committee, co-coordinatorof the school lunch program in Belle-Rivière, co-coordinator of eucharisticministers at his parish and a stewardshipcommission representative on the parishcouncil.

1984-1998Fr. J. Randall Hubbard T’90 (’78-83;’88-90; ’97-98; ’00) is pastor of EpiphanyParish in the Archdiocese of Louisville,

KY. Previously, he was pastor of St.Stephen Martyr Parish.

He served on the board of the InternationalCatholic Deaf Association from 1999-2009 and is currently the chaplain for theLouisville Catholic Deaf Society.

From Saint Meinrad, he earned abachelor’s degree in biology, a master’sdegree in theology and his Master ofDivinity.

Deacon Greg Clodi C’86 (’82-86), ofKankakee, IL, is a produce clerk in SouthChicago Heights.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Englishfrom Saint Meinrad College in 1986.

He was ordained a deacon for the Dioceseof Joliet, IL, in 1999 and currently servesat St. Martin of Tours Parish in Kankakee,where he is chair of the WorshipCommittee and a member of the parishcouncil.

He was appointed to the Alumni Board in2015 to complete the term vacated byMsgr. James Ramer.

1999-PRESENTFr. Jerry Byrd T’12 (’06-12) is thepastoral administrator of St. Mary’s, St.Joseph and St. Ann’s parishes in NorthVernon, IN. Previously, he served asassociate pastor of St. Barnabas Parishand as chaplain for the University ofIndianapolis.

His hobbies include designing and makingliturgical vestments. He enjoys liturgicalmusic and composed the music for hisMass of Thanksgiving.

Fr. Jerry has also served as a catechist forthe Saint Meinrad “One Bread, One Cup”conferences.

Deacon Richard Cooper LD (’05-08;’14-15); PD’12 (’08-12) is theexecutive director of Harrison CountyCommunity Services in Corydon, IN. Heholds a bachelor’s degree in counseling

Rev. Msgr. ChristopherP. Vasko

Frederick L. Chandler

Fr. J. Randall Hubbard Deacon Greg Clodi

Fr. Jerry Byrd Deacon Richard Cooper

Dr. Mary Diane Valentine

Seven alumni seeking approval

Candidates for the board areelected as a slate for approval.Alumni can submit their approval or disapproval by emailto alumni@saintmeinrad.edu, by calling the Alumni Office at(800) 682-0988 or by voting on the alumni website athttp://alumni.saintmeinrad.edu.Voting ends July 25, 2015.

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and guidance and was ordained a deaconin 2012.

He is a member of the Knights ofColumbus and is a Benedictine Oblate ofSaint Meinrad.

He serves on the advisory board forHarrison County Alternative School andserves on the Board of Directors forRetired Senior Volunteer Program.

Dr. Mary Diane Valentine LD ’13 (’10-13) serves as director of administration atAll Saints Parish in St. Peters, MO.

She is a member of the Daughters of theAmerican Revolution, serves on theHeritage Committee at All Saints Parish,the direct cemetery walk program for theparish and the Stewardship EducationCouncil for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

She was elected to the city council ofBullhead City, AZ, named a Paul HarrisFellow, served as president of theChamber of Commerce in Bullhead City,and chaired the Edison Electric InstituteUtility Speakers Committee inWashington, DC. �

2015 Phonathon is successful againThe Alumni and Friends AnnualPhonathon took place during Februaryand March. The seminary student bodyparticipated on seven evenings.

“The students give up a few hours of theirtime to be in the Phonathon and we arevery grateful,” said John Huether, O’78(’71-74), associate director of annualgiving, who organizes the event. “Sincethey make calls to locations from coast tocoast, it’s a great opportunity for them tosee firsthand and appreciate how broadthe Saint Meinrad Alumni Associationextends,” he said.

It also gives students an opportunity totell alumni and friends some of the

Savethe Date!

August 23, 2015Louisville/New Albany Area

Alumni & Friends Dinner

September 10, 2015Evansville Area

Alumni & Friends Dinner

September 22, 2015Belleville, IL/St. Louis, MO Area

Alumni & Friends Dinner

October 8, 2015Jasper/Saint Meinrad AreaAlumni & Friends Dinner

November 10, 2015Indianapolis Area

Alumni & Friends Dinner

happenings on the Hill from their ownperspective and to minister to them whenneeded. “The seminarians have manygreat conversations which, in turn, helpsalumni and friends who are at a distancefeel more connected,” added Huether.

This year, students spoke withapproximately 790 alumni and friends ofSaint Meinrad and received gifts andpledges totaling $35,556. Gifts to thePhonathon make possible classroominstruction, spiritual formation, ministryopportunities, library resources, andupkeep of the buildings and grounds.Alumni can make gifts to the 2014-15Alumni Annual Giving Program until June 30. �

Top: Fr. Biju Thomas practices his pronunciation during a World Priest Program class withJeff Jenkins in January.

Bottom: Sr. Mary Joseph talks with seminarians Vic Luong and Tam Nguyen during aninternational student outing to the Carmelite Monastery in Terre Haute, IN.

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Photos, beginning at top left: Fr. Denis Robinson, OSB,(foreground) welcomes Archbishop Joseph Tobin at thebeginning of the ministry installation on February 19.

Students parade into the Alumni Commons to celebrateMardi Gras on February 17.

Novices Timothy Herrmann, from left, John Avery, PeterSzidik and Thomas Fish chat after sledding.

Fr. Jeremy King, OSB, stands in the choir stall during Masson the Solemnity of St. Meinrad.

Third Theology seminarians Chris Boutin and TylerTenbarge receive cooking tips from Fr. Julian Peters, OSB,during January Interterm classes.

Mr. Robert J. Alberta O’70 (’58-65), ofNew Kensington, PA, died on December27, 2014.

Mr. Thomas A. Barron O’52 (’43-51),of Hernando, FL, died on December 1,2014.

Mr. James P. Bobay O’51 (’45-47), ofAngola, IN, died on January 10, 2015.

Fr. Anthony Bolger O’70 (’63-66), aretired priest of the Diocese of Honolulu,HI, died on January 7, 2015.

Fr. Kevin W. Cassidy O’60 (’54-60), aretired priest of the Diocese of Madison,WI, died on February 24, 2015, in SunCity, AZ.

Mr. William F. Clark O’48 (’37-43), ofIndianapolis, IN, died on February 27,2013.

Mr. Thomas P. Creagh Jr. O’67 (’61-67;’69), of Sarasota, FL, died on February 15,2008.

Mr. Patrick D. Cronk C’83 (’81-82), ofCheboygan, MI, died in January of 2015.

Mr. Mark Donovan C’85 (’81-84), ofCortez, FL, died on January 20, 2015.

Mr. James C. Geis O’56 (’44-46), ofConnersville, IN, died on January 15,2015.

Fr. Carl J. Glahn O’52 (’40-45), a priestof the Diocese of Owensboro, KY, diedon January 16, 2015.

Mr. Michael L. Koebel O’79 (’71-73),of Bradenton, FL, died on January 11,2015.

Mr. Robert M. Kolbus O’62 (’50-51), ofGreenwood, IN, died on January 1, 2015.

Mr. Charles H. Kranz O’61 (’55-58), ofMundelein, IL, died on September 29,2014.

Mr. James H. Larner O’56 (’44-47), ofAnnapolis, MD, died on January 20,2015.

Sr. Sally Lessnau, DC, SS (’80), ofEvansville, IN, died on November 12,2014.

Fr. Jerome G. Niedermier O’52 (’46-48), a retired priest of the Diocese ofToledo, OH, died on January 6, 2015.

ALUMNI ETERNAL Fr. Angelo J. Nobile O’53 (’49-50), aretired priest of the Diocese of Knoxville,TN, died on December 24, 2014, atDeerfield Beach, FL.

Mr. James R. Peterson O’63 (’51-55),of North Richland Hills, TX, died onMarch 12, 2012.

Mr. Ronald E. Salemi O’80 (’72-76), ofChicago, IL, died on April 18, 2012.

Fr. Michael E. Schelling, O’74 (’68-74),a retired priest of the Diocese of Toledo,OH, died on December 19, 2014.

Mr. Elmer L. Schepers O’60 (’48-50),of Whitesville, KY, died on November 26,2014.

Mr. Michael J. Scott C’86 (’82-83), ofLexington, KY, died on November 26,2014.

Fr. Robert L. Traub O’39 (’35-39), aretired priest of the Diocese of FortWayne-South Bend, IN, died onDecember 13, 2014.

Sr. Sandra C. Vadun, IHM, SS (’71), of Adrian, MI, died on November 20,2007. �

ALUMNI NEWSFr. Joseph John M. Alexander O’73(’70-74), of Lafayette, LA, is the authorof The First Inaugural Address ofPresident Abraham Lincoln: A RhetoricalAnalysis in The Art of Persuasion. It waspublished in November 2014 by RedLead Books. He is a retired educator.

Deacon Rich Bagby PDP ’08 (’04-08),of Germantown, IL, was named Volunteer of the Year at Centralia (IL)Correctional Center. He has volunteeredas a prison chaplain there since he wasordained a deacon in 2008.

Fr. Mark G. Boyer O’76 (’72-76), apriest of the Diocese of Springfield-CapeGirardeau, has published several newbooks: Weekday Saints, Caroling throughAdvent and Christmas: Daily Reflectionswith Familiar Hymns and A Spirituality ofAging.

Retired Judge Andy Devine O’48 (’40-44) is chair of the advisory board for anew initiative at Lourdes University ofSylvania, OH, called the LourdesUniversity Parent Center, which willfocus on training professionals to workwith parents.

Mr. David T. Donahue O’80 (’72-76)gave a talk in Saigon in February onchanges in visa law regarding the UnitedStates and Vietnam. He is the senioradvisor of the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Deacon Steve Durkee O’75 (’63-65), ofErlanger, KY, is the clinical director ofsubstance use disorder services atChildren’s Home of Northern Kentucky.

Fr. Vincent Flusche T’90 (’83-90) is aresident chaplain in the Clinical Pastoral

Education program at Memorial HermannSouthwest Hospital in Houston, TX.

Fr. Jeffrey Gatlin T2000 (’98-00), pastorof Most Blessed Sacrament and SS.Simon and Jude parishes, blessed the new Most Blessed Sacrament SeniorApartments in Louisville, KY, onSeptember 23. The 30 apartments werecreated by refurbishing the parish’sformer school.

Mr. Christopher Gutiérrez PDP’17(’13-15), of Sebree, KY, has been namedthe director of Hispanic ministries for theDiocese of Owensboro.

Fr. Matthew Habiger, OSB, O’68 (’67-68), of Atchison, KS, gave a talk on lifeissues at St. Boniface Parish in Lafayette,IN, on November 1. A past president ofHuman Life International, he has spokenout on life issues in 55 countries.

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ALUMNI NEWS cont.Fr. Lewis Hejna O’81 (’78-81), of theDiocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau,MO, has been named rector of St. AgnesCathedral in Springfield.

Mr. Thomas Lamb O’65 (’53-57), ofIndianapolis, IN, has written a new book,Do Not Worry, Do Not Be Anxious, DoNot Be Afraid: A Self-Help Manual forPeople Who Worry a Lot and SufferAnxiety and Fear, available fromamazon.com.

Mrs. Mary Jo Holmes SS’79 (’71-80),of Ferdinand, IN, is a weekly volunteerfor the Sisters of St. Benedict at theMonastery Immaculate Conception,Ferdinand, where she cuts and styles hair.

Deacon Marc Kellams PDP’08 (’04-08),circuit court judge in Monroe County, IN,and a deacon of the Archdiocese ofIndianapolis, spoke at a dinner followingthe Red Mass for the Diocese of FortWayne-South Bend on “The Balance ofFaith and Profession.”

Sr. Mary Beth Klingel, SP, SAB (’05-06) celebrated her 50th jubilee as amember of the Sisters of Providence ofSt. Mary-of-the-Woods in 2014. She is amember of the General Council for theSisters of Providence.

Mr. Ryan F. Klobassa T’13 (’08-11; ’14-15) and Michelle L. Holter were marriedon September 12, 2014, in Sioux Falls,SD. He works for the Good SamaritanSociety, serves in the Air Force NationalGuard and manages a farming operation.

Fr. Henry Kuykendall O’65 (’53-55), ofthe Diocese of Evansville, IN, receivedthe 2014 Latino Leadership Award fromthe Hospitality and Outreach LatinoAmericans organization for hisinvolvement in Latino ministry for morethan a decade.

Sr. Larraine Lauter, OSU, LD’97 (’90-96), executive director of the nonprofitWater With Blessings, reports that theorganization received the Clarence E.Moore Award for Excellence in VoluntaryService Organization, given annually bythe Pan American Health Organization.The award includes $5,000, which WaterWith Blessings will use to sponsor 80new mothers in its program.

Dr. Thomas Marshall O’69 (’61-63), ofColumbus, IN, has retired from SouthernIndiana Orthopedics.

Fr. Macario Martinez, OSB, T’14 (’07-14), of Conception Abbey, Conception,MO, has been appointed director ofadmissions and student activities atConception Seminary College, andassistant in the Language, Culture andChurch Program.

Mr. Dave Maloney O’67 (’59-62), ofPort Charlotte, FL, has written Love andService, a meditation book for thoserecovering from alcoholism. It isavailable from amazon.com.

Fr. Joshua McCarty T’09 (’04-09), apriest of the Diocese of Owensboro, KY,had two videos aired on EWTN duringJanuary, “Shawn’s Eyes” and “No GreaterLove.” His production company, LolekProductions, has been creating films since2011.

Fr. Michael McDevitt O’71 (’67-71), ofthe Diocese of Springfield-CapeGirardeau, MO, is now director of theSpringfield Catholic School System.

Ms. Holly McGuire LD (’11-15),theology and art teacher at Trinity HighSchool in Louisville, KY, and some of her students are involved in a project thatprovides engraved headstones for thegraves of indigent people.

Mr. Pedro Mendez T’14 (’11-14), ofEvansville, IN, is the coordinator ofHispanic ministry faith formation for theOffice of Hispanic Ministry in theDiocese of Evansville.

Mr. Jerome Moeller SPH’54 (’50-54),of the Knights of Columbus Evansville(IN) Council 565, was honored as theTimothy P. Galvin K.S.G. OutstandingLayperson during the 2014 stateconvention in Indianapolis.

Mr. Linus Mundy O’73 (’61-66; ’89), ofJasper, IN, is the editor of a new book,Comfort My People: A Pastoral CarePrayerbook for Ministry to the Sick,Suffering, Dying, and Bereaved, availablefrom Abbey Press’ One Caring Place.

Fr. Jeffrey Nicolas T’93 (’86-93), apriest of the Archdiocese of Louisville,KY, partnered with a dance schoolinstructor to compete in an eventreminiscent of “Dancing with the Stars,”on June 28 to raise funds for a daily lunchprogram for those who are hungry orhomeless.

Fr. John G. Oesterle O’67 (’59-67; ’80)organized the Fall Speakers’ Series of theAssociation of Pittsburgh Priests in 2014.He is chaplain at UPMC Mercy Hospitalin Uptown, PA.

Mr. Joel Padgett LD’13 (’12-13), ofEvansville, IN, has joined the Office ofHispanic Ministry and Catholic Charitiesin the Diocese of Evansville as thecoordinator for immigration legalservices.

Mr. Daniel Perryman LD (’10-14), ofDecatur, IL, was profiled as president andCEO of HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in theBusiness Journal of Midcentral Illinois inJanuary.

Fr. Aaron Pfaff C’89 (’85-86) wasamong 10 dancers performing in the“Dancing with the Shelby County Stars”event on November 8 that raised$100,000 to benefit two local nonprofitorganizations. He is pastor of St. JosephParish in Shelbyville, IN, and sacramentalminister of St. Vincent de Paul Parish inShelby County.

Mr. Donn Raabe O’71 (’60-67) and hiswife, Carol, recently relocated toPhoenix, AZ. For the past nine years, hewas involved with L’Arche Chicago,where he served as president of the board.

Fr. Jeff Read T’12 (’08-12), associatepastor of Precious Blood Parish in Jasper,IN, and St. Mary Parish, Ireland, IN,spoke about the role of the Blessed VirginMary to the Evansville Coraggio group atits May meeting.

Mr. Andrew Reinhart T’12 (’08-10),parish manager of Toledo RosaryCathedral and a co-founder of theTheology of the Body Advocates ofNorthwest Ohio, was featured in theSeptember 5, 2014, issue of the diocesannewspaper, The Catholic Chronicle.

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Fr. O’Mara served as pastor of St. MaryParish in downtown Indianapolis from1999-2013, a parish with a large Hispanicpopulation.

He served as president of the HispanicEducation Center for three years. He alsoserved as Archbishop Daniel Buechlein’sliaison to the Archdiocese of Guadalajara,

Mexico, overseeing an exchange of priests and seminariansbetween the archdioceses. He has been an advocate forimmigration reform.

Fr. O’Mara is pastor of St. Garbriel Parish and assists withsacramental ministry at Marian University.

Fr. Taylor was honored for his work ofleading the archdiocese’s office ofmulticultural ministry from 1996 to 2013.

During his tenure, the archdiocese hosted theNational Black Congress in Indianapolis in2012 and sent Fr. Taylor to represent thearchdiocese at Encuentro 2000, an event inLos Angeles sponsored by the U.S. bishops

to the celebrate the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Church.

Fr. Taylor is pastor of Holy Angels and St. Rita parishes inIndianapolis and the current president of the National BlackCatholic Clergy Caucus.

Deacon Earl Ruppel O’66 (’55-58; ’01-05) was installed as chaplain of theVincennes (IN) Knights of ColumbusCouncil 712.

Msgr. Carl E. Scherrer O’73 (’69-73)won first place in the 41st annual Msgr.John Fournie Clergy Tennis Tournamentin Shiloh, IL. Other alumni participantswere Fr. Andrew Knopik O’83 (’75-79),third place; Msgr. James Buerster O’79(’75-79) and Fr. Leo Hayes O’61 (’55-61;’71).

Fr. Karl Schilken O’80 (’76-80) ismoderator of the curia and vicar generalfor the Diocese of Fort Worth, TX.

Sr. Barbara C. Schmitz, OSB, SS (’87),of Monastery Immaculate Conception inFerdinand, IN, is the outreach familyadvocate for Family Scholar House –South Central Indiana, a program thathelps single-parent students attain acollege degree.

Msgr. Joseph Semancik O’53 (’47-53)spoke on the life of Bishop Andrew G.Grutka at the Midwest Slovak PastoralSeminar at Calumet College of St. Josephin Whiting, IN, in September.

Mr. Ken Sicard O’78 (’70-71), ofFerdinand, IN, graduated from the firstclass of the University of Alabama atBirmingham’s Voluntary ProtectionProgram Excellence in Safety CertificateProgram.

Dr. Darren Sroufe C’90 (’86-90; ’97-01),of Boonville, IN, was named a HealthCare Hero by the Evansville Courier &Press for his work as police chaplain forthe Evansville Police Department and forspearheading the HOPE (Helping OtherPeople Everyday) team, which assiststhose coping with the aftermath of asuicide.

Mr. Robert Sutliff T’89 (’85-86; ’88) isserving as pastoral associate at twoparishes, Church of the Ascension inHalethorpe and St. Augustine in Elkridge,both in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Mrs. Ann Tully LD’03 (’96-03), ofIndianapolis, IN, is serving as thecoordinator of the tribunal for theArchdiocese of Indianapolis. Shecontinues her work as judgeinstructor/assessor.

Fr. Rickey Valleroy SS’91 (’88-91),pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Farmington,MO, was featured in the December-January issue of Catholic St. Louismagazine. The story focused on how theparish lives out its motto of “WhereHospitality and Love Meet.”

Fr. Joseph Vamos O’66 (’57-66), apriest of the Diocese of Gary, IN, hasretired from 40 years as a policechaplain, most recently for theMerrillville Police Department.

Ms. Christine Vincent LD’11 (’08-11),of Auburn, CA, has been named to thenew position of coordinator for humanityand life ministries for the Diocese of SanJose, CA.

Fr. Herb Weber O’74 (’69-74), of theDiocese of Toledo, OH, was featured in aSentinel-Tribune newspaper story abouthis 40 years of ministry and his work toestablish a new parish in Perrysburg.

Mr. Pete Werner O’69 (’57-68; ’69) washonored on August 4 for his 45 years ofservice as a teacher at St. BenedictCathedral School in Evansville, IN.

Fr. Robert L. Williams O’68 (’62-68;’71), a priest of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, received the Sagamore of theWabash Award on November 21, at anopen house celebration in Anderson, IN.

Fr. James Wilmoth O’65 (’61-65)received the Career Achievement Awardfrom Archdiocese of Indianapolis, IN, atthe Celebrating Catholic School Valuesdinner on November 5. He isadministrator of St. Roch Parish andchaplain of Roncalli High School, both inIndianapolis.

Fr. Darvin Winters C’95 (’91-95), apriest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis,IN, began a three-year assignment as afulltime chaplain for the U.S. Air Force,where he is stationed at the Grand Forks,ND, base. �

ALUMNI NEWS cont.

Alumni receive Archdiocese’s first Intercultural AwardsFr. Michael O’Mara T’88 (’81-88) and Fr. Kenneth Taylor O’77 (’69-73), were honored at the first Intercultural Awards Dinner,held in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on November 15.

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Permit #3St. Meinrad, IN

Five locations benefit from Day of Service

The second annual Saint Meinrad Day ofService was held on March 14 at fivelocations: St. Meinrad, Evansville andIndianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; andWilmington, DE. About 130 volunteerswere involved in the events.

Projects included cutting and deliveringfirewood, a project of CACD ProjectWarm on the Saint Meinrad campus;

cleaning and painting at St. Benedict’sCathedral in Evansville; painting aclassroom, assembling equipment andbuilding shelves to assist Hearts andHands of Indiana, located in Indianapolis;preparing and serving lunch at St.Vincent de Paul’s Open Hands Kitchen inLouisville; and planting flowers for aproject by St. Elizabeth’s School inWilmington.

Saint Meinrad Alumni Director ChristianMocek organized the Day of Service.“Speaking for myself, I certainly wasfilled with joy at the end of the day. I metwonderful people who loved SaintMeinrad, worked with them in service tothe people of God, and prayed with themto start and end the day.”

The volunteers included alumni, oblates,friends, students, monks and co-workers,according to Mocek. “Their impact wassignificant,” he said. “Although the workwas sometimes dirty, messy andunexpected, they served with smiles ontheir faces.”

Photos from the Day of Service are onpage 9. More photos are online at:http://saint-meinrad.smugmug.com/Alumni/Day-of-Service-2015/. �

200 Hill DriveSt. Meinrad, IN 47577

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Tom Weintraut, from left, Steve Rasmussen and Bill McGuire work together to build a shelf during theSaint Meinrad Day of Service in Indianapolis.

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For more photos of Saint Meinrad events, visit:

http://saint-meinrad.smugmug.com

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