Recent News: May 17, 2007
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Commencement 2007 Years of study, reflection and prayer were recognized on Thursday evening, May 17, at the annual commencement of St. John’s Seminary. Eight people received their Master of Arts degree, nine the Master of Divinity, and one student received the Master of Pastoral Ministry degree. In addition, certificates of completion were awarded to the twelve seminarians who completed the Pre-Theology program. |
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Recipients of the Master of Arts Degree in front of the Seminary. |
Nine of those honored will be ordained priests for the Dioceses of Los Angeles, Orange, Samoa-Pago Pago and San Diego. Two other priests ordained in recent years completed their M.A. subsequent to ordination. Six students in the lay ministry program received diplomas.
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Members of the faculty gather on the steps before commencement.
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The commencement address, entitled “Interpreting the Mystery,” was delivered by Monsignor Helmut A. Hefner, outgoing Rector/President. He reflected on ministry as leading people more deeply into the mystery of our faith and challenged the graduates to remain focused on the ancient axiom, salus animarum, suprema lex (the supreme law is the spiritual welfare of people). Deacon Marco Durazo delivered the student address. Deacon Durazo, whose previous career was that of an architect, used various sites on campus such as classrooms and library, recreational facilities, and the chapels to reflect on the significance of the four pillars of seminary formation (human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral). One of the hymns included in the ceremony was a lively African piece led by our seminarians from Uganda. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates, their family and friends, and other members of the seminary continued the festivities with refreshments.