Commencement 2026

Two degrees and sixteen certificates were awarded at the 180th annual commencement of Saint Vincent College and Seminary, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, held on Friday, May 8, in the Archabbey Basilica.

Certificates were awarded in the fields of Catechetics, Catholic Theology and Spiritual Direction, while Letters of Completion were awarded in Catechetics and Spiritual Direction.

His Eminence Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., gave the commencement address and received an honorary doctorate. Cardinal O’Malley is Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Boston, and retired President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

MASTER OF ARTS IN MINISTRY

INDIANA

DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE

Rev. Luke A. Hassler of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana, earned the Master of Arts in Ministry degree from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026, cum laude, and completed Certificates in Catholic Theology as well as Spiritual Direction. Father Hassler is a 2011 graduate of Mater Dei High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Marian University, Indianapolis and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana. He is the pastor of Corpus Christ Parish in Evansville, as well as the Director of Spiritual Formation for the Diocesan Propaedeutic Program and the Diocesan House of Discernment. He also serves as an adjunct spiritual director for Saint Meinrad Seminary.


PENNSYLANIA

DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG

Daniele Arcara, Ph.D., is a parishioner at Saint Paul Parish in Greensburg and professor of mathematics at Saint Vincent College. He earned the Master of Arts in Ministry degree from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026, summa cum laude, and completed certificates in Catholic Theology (2026) and Spiritual Direction (2025). He is a graduate of I.T.C. Caio Plinio Secondo in Como, Italy, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the Universitá di Torni and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Georgia. He is married to Angela Arcara and they are the parents of eight children.
 

CERTIFICATE IN CATECHETICS

Steven Michael Kopasko earned the Certificate in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Patrick J. Malley earned the Certificate in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Joseph Michael Pencak Jr. earned the Certificate in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Amelia Steele earned the Certificate in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

 

CERTIFICATE IN CATHOLIC THEOLOGY

Daniele Arcara, Ph.D., parishioner at Saint Paul Parish in Greensburg. See Master of Arts in Ministry for full biography.

Rev. Mr. John Campbell, a deacon in the Archdiocese of Atlanta earned the Certificate in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rev. Luke A. Hassler of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana. See Master of Arts in Ministry for full biography.
 

CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Nicole Marie Breit earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rev. Mr. Robert Falke, a deacon serving in the Diocese of Kansas City, Missouri, earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. He earned the BSBA degree from Rockhurst College and is a member of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Blue Springs, Missouri. He is married to Sherry Falke.

Rev. John Ferguson, S’24, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, earned Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. He previously received the Master of Divinity degree, cum laude, in 2024, and at that time received the Omer U. Kline Excellence in Preaching Award, given to the seminarian who clearly demonstrates excellence in preaching, as determined by the Rector’s Council. He graduated from Saint Joseph High School, Natrona Heights, in 2015, and studied psychology at Butler County Community College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in 2019. He is the son of J. Raymond and Kimberly Ferguson of Butler. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 2024 and is presently serving as parochial vicar at Saint Isidore the Farmer Parish.

Rev. Luke A. Hassler of the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana. See Master of Arts in Ministry for full biography.

Sr. Danielle Victoria Lussier of the Daughters of St. Paul in the Diocese of Lansing, earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rev. Mr. Gary Molitor, a deacon serving in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Michelle Murray earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Denise Marie Nuxoll earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rev. Mr. Joe Vandervort, deacon in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as well as coordinator of the Altum Institute in the Archdiocese, earned the Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary.

 

LETTER OF COMPLETION IN CATECHETICS

Carol Borland of Immaculate Conception Parish in Irwin, in the Diocese of Greensburg earned a Letter of Completion in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in reading, both from California University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the adjunct faculty in the Education Department at Saint Vincent College. She also volunteers as coordinator of Christian Initiation at Immaculate Conception.

Karen McDade earned the Letter of Completion in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Adelle Slebodnik earned the Letter of Completion in Catechetics from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

 

LETTER OF COMPLETION IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Lynn Burton earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Amber Cybulski earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Carole DiClaudio of Oakmont earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. She is amember of Saint Paul Cathedral Parish in Pittsburgh and graduated from Uniontown Area Senior High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from Seton Hill University and does volunteer work in several local parishes. She is married to Richard DiClaudio. The DiClaudios have a son Alex, daughter and son-in-law Christen and Guy Russo, and two granddaughters Lorelai and Una.

Matthew Earle earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Daniel Fisher earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Brigitte Fortin earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Bailey Frey earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Mary Hickin earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rev. Mr. William Kolarik is a deacon serving in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Miriam Marston earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Douglas Maser earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Erika Richard earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rebecca Rodeheffer earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Megan Seamann earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Sharon Serratore earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Debra Stoll earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Shawn Sulak is a member of Saint Philip Catholic Church, Franklin, Tennessee, in the Diocese of Nashville. She earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. A registered nurse for 28 years, she is presently working as a spiritual director at Fiat Integrated Health, A Catholic Integrated Healthcare Clinic in Franklin. She is married to Bill Sulak and they have two children, a son, Will, and a daughter, Lainey.

Rev. Mr. Craig Thomas is a deacon serving in the Diocese of Nashville. He earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2026.

Sandra Trimble of Penn Run, a member of Saint Thomas More University Parish in Indiana in the Diocese of Greensburg, earned a Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. She is a graduate of Clearfield Area High School and attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh as well as Indiana University of Pennsylvania, from which she earned the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. She is married to Daniel Trimble and the couple has two married sons and two grandchildren.

Rev. Mr. Lee Trudeau is a deacon serving in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. He earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Caresse Wagner earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026.

Rev. Christopher Zelonis, a priest of the Diocese of Allentown, earned the Letter of Completion in Spiritual Direction from Saint Vincent College and Seminary in 2026. After graduating from Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary High School in Pottsville in 1994, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1998, a Master of Divinity degree in 2002, and a Master of Arts degree in Sacred Scription in 2003 from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. Ordained a priest in 2003, Father Zelonis served as a high school chaplain and teacher, a hospital chaplain, and an assistant pastor. He currently serves as pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Lehighton.