The Pontifical College Josephinum’s 123rd commencement exercises on Saturday, May 7, included graduates from the Diocese of Columbus.
Other dioceses or archdioceses with seminarian graduates included Birmingham, Alabama; Lugazi, Uganda; Ogdensburg, New York; Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the religious order of the Fathers of Mercy.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees were conferred upon the seminarians by Father Steven P. Beseau, the Josephinum’s rector/president.
The Josephinum, in affiliation with the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, offers a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology degree that was awarded to two graduating transitional deacons.
Thirteen permanent deacons and lay persons from the Dioceses of Columbus, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and St. Augustine Florida, were announced as recipients of a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from The Josephinum Diaconate Institute (JDI).
Founded in 2007, the JDI offers educational programs through distance learning – in both English and Spanish – to diaconal aspirants and candidates, permanent deacons and their spouses, and lay ministers serving or preparing to serve the people of God through ministry in the Church.
College of Liberal Arts graduate Tyler Fitzgerald of the Diocese of Ogdensburg delivered commencement remarks on behalf of the Class of 2022.
“Today we celebrate the hard work we have undertaken here at the Josephinum, immersing ourselves in the grand academic tradition of this seminary,” he said, “but we walk this stage today not for the sole pursuit of a degree, award, or honor — but of the priesthood. Being in formation to the priesthood not only means study and research, but is a time of zeal and falling in love with God and the Truth we learn in the classroom.”
Fitzgerald also received the Pinter Scholar Award. The Monsignor Pinter Honor Society was established in 1975 to recognize seminarians for high academic achievement. Named in honor of Rev. Msgr. Nicholas Pinter, Ph.D., professor of classical languages from 1902 to 1957, the award distinguishes the College seminarian who has excelled in academic formation in preparation for service to the Church.
In closing remarks, Father Beseau spoke about the great gifts of being part of a seminary community. “All four dimensions of formation – human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral – are important in forming the intellect and the heart,” he said. “Here, combining love of the intellectual life with love of God, the Church, and of the seminarians creates something very special. It is a blessing for us to be here today to celebrate these men as they go forward from the Josephinum.”
Commencement marked a defining moment in the vocational journey of the seminarians who received degrees. A majority of College and Pre-Theology graduates will continue their priestly discernment in graduate theological study.
School of Theology graduates return to their dioceses for priestly ordination. The Ordination Class of 2022 will join nearly 1,200 ordained alumni who serve the Church in nearly every U.S. state and in 18 countries around the world.