In this Issue:
• Msgr. Rohlfs to Make Transition
• Mount Class of 2015 Travels
• Fr. Jeffrey Samaha, S’78, receives
Health Care Ministry Award
• Diocesan Spotlight:
Fort Wayne-South Bend
• Seminary Receives Visit from ATS
Accreditation Team
• Dean’s Circle of Excellence
The
DuBois
Summer 2015, Volume XIX, No. 3
www.msmary.edu/seminary
16300 Old Emmitsburg Road
Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727
A Newsletter for Seminary Alumni & Friends
Deacon Night, Msgr. Steven P. Rohlfs, S’77, received
Rector Emeritus status, with the Most Reverend William
Lori, S’77, and University President Simon P. Newman.
Rector to Make Transition
Recently, the Seminary has been involved in a two-year preparation for the visit of
the ATS Accreditation Team. As you know, this team is asked to accredit our degree
programs for a period of up to 10 years. I am happy and proud to announce they
recommended the 10 year maximum extension of our reaccreditation.
(l. to r.) Dr. Thomas Winkler,
Rose Mass Chairman;
Elizabeth B. Meers, John
Carroll Society President; Fr.
Jeffrey F. Samaha, S’78; His
Eminance Donald Cardinal
Wuerl; and Msgr. Peter J.
Vaghi, John Carroll Society
Chaplain.
However, their visit was also an opportunity for me to engage in much reflection on
the last 10 years of my leadership of the Seminary. I have been earnestly praying and
discerning about the future of the Seminary and my role in it. Am I up to the tasks and
challenges of the next 10 years? I am 65 this month. Do I have the energy? I took my
questions to our Lord in prayer. I heard the Lord’s voice in a quiet but real way saying
“Steven, it’s time to begin to move on. Do it sooner rather than later.”
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington,
celebrated the 24th annual Rose Mass for medical,
dental, nursing and allied health care workers at the
Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, MD.
Serving as Rector of this Seminary has been the greatest assignment I will ever be given
by the Church. I hope that I have provided an atmosphere in which our seminarians
were able to discern the will of God in their life. I hope I was able to provide an
atmosphere in which they could pray well, study well, and love each other in Christian
fellowship.
The Rose Mass, organized by the John Carroll Society,
invokes God’s blessings on the medical, dental, nursing
and allied health care workers, and the many health
care institutions in the Archdiocese of Washington.
In addition, the Mass provides an opportunity to
acknowledge the work of the volunteers of the Catholic
Charities Health Care Network. Following the Mass was
a luncheon where the John Carroll Society honored
Fr. Jeffrey F. Samaha, S’78, with the Msgr. Harry A.
Echle Award for Outstanding Service in Health Care
Ministry.
I told my bishop that I would like to return to my home diocese of Peoria, IL. I would
like to return to doing what I think the Lord called me to do in the “joy of my youth.”
I want to be a simple parish priest.
My term as Rector will end July 26, 2015.
I ask for your prayers not only for myself, but for the Archbishop and the search
committee as they begin the process of finding a new Shepherd and father of the
Seminary. The Holy Spirit will guide them, and Our Lady, who has cast her protective
mantle over the Seminary for more than 200 years will continue to be our “Spes
Nostra.” She will provide for a new Rector who will build on my strengths, learn from
my many weaknesses and lead the Seminary into its third century of forming priests after
the merciful Heart of the Good Shepherd.
Share your awards, news and changes in assignment
with The DuBois Seminary Newsletter by emailing
Mary Anne Shields at [email protected]
“It’s Not Too Late! Give by June 30, 2015.”
-Fr. Robert Finlan, Diocese of Allentown, Chair of the Seminary Annul Fund
Until then, I will keep calm and carry on. I pray that you will do the same.
Please feel free to keep in touch with me. My new contact information will be:
St. Joseph Church
303 S. 7th St.
Consider a gift
Pekin, IL 61554
in honor of
Cell: 309-657-2380
Msgr. Rohlfelos!pe!
env
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
See the enclosed
May God bless you all!
Msgr. Steven Rohlfs, P.A.,S.T.D.
Rev. Jeffrey F. Samaha, S’78, awarded the
Msgr. Harry A. Echle Award for Outstanding Service
in Health Care Ministry
Ten months ago, we set two goals for the 2014-15 Seminary Annual
Fund—$300,000 and 30% alumni participation. While these
challenges are ambitious, we believe them to be certainly realistic.
I’m happy to report that both goals are within sight! As of May 14,
2015, $184,485 has been generated for the Seminary Annual Fund
and 18% of our Mountaineer priests have contributed to the effort.
To reach our two goals, we need $115,515 and 180 alumni donors …
and you can make a difference!
As Chairman of the Seminary Annual Fund, I ask that you join me and our fellow
alumni by making a gift to the Mount. Your gift, no matter the amount, is important
and will enable the Mount to continue a tradition of excellence in priestly formation,
the hallmark of a Mount St. Mary’s Seminary education. I know the faculty and
seminarians will appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness. A gift envelope is
included for your convenience.
Newsletter Staff
Editor:
• Howard Jankowski, First Theology, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Staff Writers:
• Deacon Kevin J. Dansereau, Fourth Theology, Diocese of Arlington
• Joshua Quintana, First Theology, Diocese of Colorado Springs
Photographer:
• Jay Horning, First Theology, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Fr. Champagne,
Religious Superior of
the Community of Jesus
Crucified; Spiritual
Director, Diocese of
Lafayette, LA; Retreat
Master, CJC Our Lady of
Sorrows Retreat Center in
St. Martinville, LA.
Seminary Priests’ Retreat
June 15-19, 2015
Retreat Master: Fr. Champagne 
Seminary Alumni Reunion
Upcoming
Seminary Events
Diocesan Spotlight: Fort Wayne-South Bend
October 6-7, 2015
Seminary Family Weekend
October 23-25, 2015
Keep up-to-date with happenings at the Seminary
facebook.com/MountStMarysSeminary
Howard Jankowski, First Theology,
Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
• 15 Seminarians from the Diocese of Fort
Wayne–South Bend are studying at the
Mount. The diocese resumed sending
seminarians to the Mount five years ago with
the installation of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades,
who served as rector of the Mount from
1997–2004.
• Fort Wayne–South Bend seminarians gather
every Tuesday evening at the Mount to pray
together, eat dinner, and share announcements
and their experiences of the week.
• Seminarians from the diocese come from a
diversity of backgrounds in areas such as the military, education,
youth ministry, civil engineering, and music.
• Every summer, Fort Wayne–South Bend seminarians grow in
fraternity during their annual Lake Week retreat at the diocese’s
Noll Hall on Lake Wawasee. Throughout the week, the seminarians
pray the Hours and have Mass together, celebrate Family Day with
their parents and siblings and the Serran picnic with their bishop
and the local Serra club, and enjoy some much needed rest and
relaxation.
• Seminarians from the diocese are involved in a variety of
activities at the Mount. Bob Garrow, S’16, serves as basketball
chaplain, Craig Borchard, S’16, leads the contemporary choir at
Wednesday Masses, Jay Horning, S’18, and Deacon Jonathan
Norton, S’15, are involved in the military chaplain program,
and Eric Burgener, S’17, is renowned at the seminary for his
stirring renditions of hymns on his violin.
msmary.edu/Seminary/Blog
SEMINARY RECEIVES VISIT FROM ATS ACCREDITATION TEAM
Patrick McCain, First Pre-Theology, Diocese of St. Augustine
Below, top: Fort Wayne–
South Bend seminarians
out to dinner with their
vocation director; bottom:
Fort Wayne–South Bend
seminarians after the Vianney
Cup soccer game.
This year, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary has been
undergoing an accreditation process that happens every
10 years. The seminary, as a member of the Association
of Theological Schools (ATS), received a week-long
visit in March from an accreditation team comprising
representatives from other seminaries belonging to ATS.
The team this year was chaired by Fr. Gregory Heille
from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.
In order to complete the re-accreditation process, the
seminary prepared an in-depth self-study and produced
a written report detailing how the seminary meets the
standard of ATS. The ATS team gathered evidence to
determine that the self-study is accurate and thorough.
During their visit, the accreditation team met with the
seminary rector, university president, various groups of
faculty and staff, and seminarians in leadership positions
including class presidents, academic representatives,
and technology committee members. Seminarian Kevin
Fields, S’18 (Archdiocese of Washington) described
the accreditation process as “a privilege to be able to
acknowledge our seminary’s success and to realize our
potential as a graduate program.”
Although the complete report of the evaluation is not
immediately available, the seminary was informed that it
passed the accreditation.
Alumni Hall of Fame/Circle of Excellence
The Circle of Excellence recognizes distinguished
Mount alumni—particularly those who have
achieved significant accomplishments in their
professional field or in service to the community.
MOUNT CLASS OF 2015 TRAVELS TO ROME AND ASSISI PREPARATION FOR ORDINATIONS
Deacon Kevin J. Dansereau, Fourth Theology, Diocese of Arlington
Thanks to the generosity of many Mount benefactors, Msgr. Rolhfs led the Class of
2015 to Rome and Assisi for a 17-day pilgrimage. The journey began with 10 days in
Rome where Mount alumnus Fr. Matthew Rolling, S’10 (Lincoln), who is studying in
Rome, welcomed the group and helped them navigate the streets of the city.
For many of the seminarians, this was their first opportunity to visit Rome. Among the
highlights were celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Peter at St. Peter’s Basilica, and
vespers and adoration with Pope Francis on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Deacons Shanaka Mendis and Gerald Ferreira, S’15 (Colombo, Sri Lanka), also had
the opportunity to meet and serve with Pope Francis the following day during the
Mass at St. Peter’s. Although Pope Francis only had a few moments to speak with the
deacons, they were both touched by his humility and simplicity as he prepared for an
apostolic visit to their native Sri Lanka in the coming weeks.
The second part of the trip included a week in Assisi where the group was blessed to
have Fr. Tony Dittmer of the Diocese of Peoria lead the canonical retreat. Fr. Dittmer
stressed the need to develop a priestly plan of life in order to live out a fruitful ministry
that strives to bring everyone they meet to know and love Christ. During the retreat,
the Class of 2015 spent many hours in prayer at the tombs of St. Francis and St.
Clare. They also made a trip to LaVerna to visit the site where St. Francis received
his stigmata. Deacon Rob Maro, S’15 (Washington), noted that one of the greatest
blessings for him on the pilgrimage was having the opportunity to pray at the tombs of
so many Catholic saints and asking for their intercession to follow in their footsteps in
preparation for the priesthood.
We firmly believe that the experience of visiting the many sacred sites in the Holy
Land and following in the footsteps of Christ’s public ministry will provide our men
with a solid foundation for their priesthood. To support the Deacon Pilgrimage
online visit msmary.edu/SeminaryAnnualFund.
Photo caption: l. to r.; J.
Daniel Mindling O.F.M.
Cap., S.T.D, Seminary
Academic Dean; Rev.
Msgr. Joseph L. Luca,
S’70; Fr. Brian Nolan,
S’01, University Chaplain
and Director of Campus
Ministry; and Thomas H.
Powell, University President
(at time of ceremony).
IN MEMORIAM
Fr. Thomas Eugene
Boyle, C’52, S’56
Diocese of
Phoenix, AZ
Fr. Andrew Stauter,
S’57
Diocese of
Mobile, AL
This years Seminary alumni recipient was Rev.
Msgr. Joseph L. Luca, S’70. Luca studied at the
University of Maryland and at Resurrection College
in Kitchener, Ontario, before heading to the Mount. He
was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore
and is pastor of St. Louis Church in Clarksville, MD.
Msgr. Luca was named a Prelate of Honor, with the title
of Monsignor in 1995, and is a member of the Papal
Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary invites nominations for
the 2016 Dean’s Circle of Excellence Alumni Hall
of Fame. Nominations may be made by alumni,
Mount employees, or other interested members of the
community. Nominations may be mailed or sent via
electronic submission at www.msmary.edu/DeansCircle.
For more information, please contact Robert
J. Brennan, C’85, Vice President for University
Advancement, at 301-447-7432, or via email at
[email protected]
SAVE-THE-DATE: SEMINARY ALUMNI REUNION, OCTOBER 6-7
TUESDAY,
OCTOBER
6
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary is proud to announce that Msgr. Philip A.
Lowery, S’76, Diocese of Trenton, will receive the 40th John Cardinal
McCloskey Award. This award is presented by the National Alumni
Association to a Mountaineer priest for distinguished and dedicated service to
the mission of the Church. The presentation of the award will be held during
the Seminary Alumni Reunion dinner on October 6, 2015.