Seminary Vespers and the Conferral of Academic Degrees

The conferral of Seminary academic degrees was held on Friday, May 2, 2008, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on the feast day of St. Athanasius.

The graduate degrees were awarded by President Thomas H. Powell and Msgr. Steven P. Rohlfs, rector. The Class of 2008, representing 20 dioceses, is also one of the largest in recent years and certainly the most diverse in Mount history. Seminarians came to the United States from 11 foreign counties: Canada, Mexico, Columbia, Peru, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Cameroon.  

Pre-Theology certificates were also presented to 18 seminarians from 9 dioceses and two religious orders. Msgr. Stuart Swetland, vice president for Catholic identity and mission and director of the Pre-Theology Program, was awarded a Bicentennial Medal by President Powell.

Father J. Daniel Mindling, OFM, Cap., academic dean presided at Vespers.