2012 Commencement Celebration May 11
St. Bernard’s 31st Commencement to be held
Friday, May 11th at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rochester, NY
- 21 candidates from the dioceses of Rochester and Albany receive their degrees
- Rev. James P. Lang, V.E., Episcopal Vicar for Parishes, Diocese of Syracuse will address candidates
- Honorary Degree conferred by Bishop Matthew H. Clark to Bishop Howard Hubbard, Diocese of Albany
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry will hold its 2012 commencement ceremonies at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday, May 11th 4:30 p.m. Commencement speaker will be Reverend James P. Lang, V.E., Episcopal Vicar for Parishes, Diocese of Syracuse. Rev. Lang has served as campus minister at both Syracuse University and SUNY Oswego. He holds an M.Div from St. Mary’s Seminary and University Baltimore, and was the guiding agent in organizing a St. Bernard’s satellite program to Syracuse which opened in 2011.
Degrees will be granted to 21 candidates from St. Bernard’s Rochester and Albany programs, who have completed their study for the Master of Divinity (2), Master of Arts (Theological Studies) (2), Master of Arts, Pastoral Studies (16), Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Studies (3). In addition, 9 individuals will be recognized for the completion of certificates in Youth Ministry, Business Administration, Catechetical Leadership and El Instituto De Pastoral Hispano.
In addition, The Most Reverend Matthew H. Clark, Bishop of Rochester, and St. Bernard’s Chancellor, will confer an honorary degree to the Most Reverend Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop of Albany, in recognition of his faithful leadership and support.
This year’s graduating class is made up of both ordained and lay leaders currently serving in a variety of ministries throughout the community, including:
Nathan Drahms: Currently a campus minister at the University of Rochester, married in 2010, he and his wife welcomed their first child in March of this year. (Candidate MA(TS))
Meghan Robinson: Youth minister and organist at Our Lady Queen of Peace and St. Thomas More parishes in Brighton, NY.; serves as a liaison for Interfaith and Ecumenical Dialogue in the Diocese of Rochester, and is part of the leadership team for “The March: Bearing Witness to Hope,” an initiative of Nazareth/Hobart William Smith Colleges that educates college students about the Holocaust and intolerance. (candidate MA (TS))
Patricia Amador: Active parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Albany and an on-line computer instructor. (candidate MAPS Albany)
Walter Ayres: Ordained deacon in the diocese of Albany; Parish Life Director for Sacred Heart parish I Albany; an active member of the Diocesan Justice Commission, and past Executive Director of the New York State Ethics Commission. (candidate MAPS Albany)
Daniel Callan: Will be ordained a deacon in the DOR; has a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering; served in the US Air Force for over 15 years as Executive Officer of the Flight Test Navigation program; participates regularly in the foster-parent program. (candidate MAPS)
Matthew Dudek: Will be ordained a permanent deacon in June; Retired from Gannett Co. Inc., where he served in various editorial positions, most recently as assistant managing editor for administration. (Candidate MAPS)
Michael Huber: Will be ordained a permanent deacon in June; currently V.P. of Behavioral Health, Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY, formerly Executive Director of the Rochester Psychiatric Center. (Candidate MAPS)
Catherine Kamp: Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Penfield, NY. committed to developing a mission-driven model of parishioner-led ministry. (Candidate M.Div.)
#
Deepening Faith Through Knowledge
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry is a Roman Catholic graduate and professional school
educating men and women to serve the church and the community through lay and ordained ministries.
For more information visit our web site at: http:///www.stbernards.edu
Or call (585) 271-3657 (Rochester & Syracuse) (518) 453-6760 (Albany)
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, 120 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry - 2012 Graduates
Master of Arts (Theological Studies – All Course Track)
Nathan Richard Drahms
Meghan J. Robinson
Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies
Patricia Sweeney Amador*
Walter C. Ayres (In absentia)*
Deacon Daniel James Callan
Matthew John Dudek
Carlos Alberto Garcia
Cylon Ardell George*
James L. Gulley
Coleen L. Heckner*
Deacon Paul Francis Kisselback*
Edward Joseph Knauf
John Thurman Pattison
Thomas Joseph Ruda
Elmer P. Smith
David Francis Snyder
Heidi R. Tyler
Michael P. Zuber*
Master of Divinity
Catherine B. Kamp
Eleanor Norton Prior*
Harold William Vadney III*
Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Studies
Monica Coppola
Deacon Thomas Nash *
Deacon Charles Zigmund Wojton, Sr.*
Monica Coppola
Deacon Thomas Nash *
Deacon Charles Zigmund Wojton, Sr.*
Certificates
Carolann Darling (In absentia), Youth Ministry
Donna Marie Jacobi, Catechetical Leadership
Maureen A. Piehler (In absentia), Youth Ministry
Marlo Catherine Santini, Business Manager
Kimberly Sbarra, Catechetical Leadership
Elizabeth M. Munoz Johnston, Catechetical Leadership
Karen De Los Angeles Barillas Fitoria, Instituto
Lorena Mendoza-Conforme, Instituto
Ivette Williams Rodrigues, Instituto
*Albany