2014 Graduation

On Thursday, May 15th, Archbishop William Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Chancellor of the University, presided over Commencement Exercises at St. Mary’s Seminary & University. After a welcome by Rev. Thomas R. Hurst, S.S., S.T.L., Ph.D., President-Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University and an invocation by Rev. James McKearney, S.T.D., representing the Provincial of the Society of St. Sulpice, forty-two students received theological degrees from St. Mary’s three faculties.

The Ecclesiastical Theological Faculty, acting under the authority of the Apostolic See, and the Praeses Rev. Thomas J. Burke, O.SS.T. S.T.D., conferred eleven Baccalaureates in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and two Licentiates in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.).

The Faculty of the School of Theology, acting under the authority of the State of Maryland, and the Academic Dean, Fr. Burke, conferred four Bachelors of Arts, four Masters of Arts (Theology), and eleven Masters of Divinity.

The Faculty of the Ecumenical Institute of Theology, acting under the authority of the State of Maryland, and the Dean, Rev. Brent Laytham, Ph.D, conferred fifteen Masters of Arts (Theology), four Masters of Arts (Church Ministries), and three Certificates of Advanced Studies (Theology).

St. Mary’s Seminary & University also conferred two Doctorates of Divinity, honoris causa, upon Most Reverend Donald W. Trautman, S.T.D., S.S.L. for his work over a quarter of a century as bishop and twenty years as the Bishop of the Dicoese of Erie, and upon Rabbi Joel Zaiman, for his leadership in fostering community, particularly work his work with the establishment of the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore. Dr. Christopher Leighton, the Executive Director and Scholar of the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies delivered the Commencement Address. Dr. Leighton spoke eloquently of the need for all who minister to “come down from the mountain” as Elijah did and he concluded with these words, “And my prayer is that you, the graduates of this distinguished institution, will also find an imam, or a guru, or a philosophical sage, if not a rabbi, who will help you navigate a path down the steep cliffs, reminding you of your true calling, and equipping you to discern God’s presence where you may least expect.”