Graduation 2023

Friday, May 12, 2023 5:00PM

Saint Joseph Abbey Church

Commencement Speaker

Father Michael Chukwu

Michael Chukwu is a priest of the Diocese of Okigwe, Nigeria. This is his first year on the formation and academic faculty of Saint Joseph Seminary College. Fr. Michael hails from Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria. He began his seminary formation at St. Peter’s Seminary Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria where he did his junior and senior secondary school education between 1993 and 1999. He then moved to St. Charles Borromeo Spiritual Year Seminary, Ehime Mbano, Imo State for the propaedeutic formation program. Fr. Michael did his Philosophical and Theological/Religious studies at Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri, Imo State Nigeria from 2001 to 2009 earning bachelor’s degrees in both disciplines with honors. After his priestly ordination in 2011, Fr. Michael served his local diocese for three years assisting in two parishes, teaching primary, secondary and graduate students, and managing a primary school. He was sent to Rome by his local ordinary for further studies in philosophy on a scholarship program from Germany 2014. Fr. Michael completed his studies in Rome in 2021 earning a Licentiate and a PhD from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Class of 1964 Father Paul Miranne Service Award

The annual Fr. Paul Miranne Service Award in honor of the Alumni Class of 1964 is to honor a graduate who embodies the sentiments of the ancient dictum Esse Quam Videri: to be rather than seem to be. 

The award, which consists of a monetary prize of $1,000, is presented to a graduate who, during his years at Saint Joseph Seminary College, has performed quiet service, without publicity or fanfare. 

This year’s award recipient will be announced during graduation and updated here once awarded.

Previous Fr. Paul Miranne Service Award Winners are:

  • 2022 Angel Crespo, Diocese of El Paso

  • 2021 Carlos Jamie, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

  • 2019 David Ergivi Ramirez, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

  • 2018 William Cade LeBlanc, Diocese of Lafayette

  • 2017 Charles Andrew Silvas, Diocese of Corpus Christi

  • 2016 Matthew Thomas Dunn, Diocese of Baton Rouge