Graduation 2025

Friday, May 9, 2025 | 5:00PM
Saint Joseph Abbey Church

Commencement Speaker

Father Jeffrey A. Montz, S.T.L.

Fr. Jeffrey A. Montz, S.T.L. is a native of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He grew up in Chalmette, where he was involved from a young age in his home parish, Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The faithful witness of his parents helped to lead him to develop a personal relationship with God and to foster within him a sense of vocation to the priesthood. He attended Archbishop Hannan High School while the school was still in St. Bernard Parish. Upon graduation in 2000 he entered into seminary formation at Saint Joseph Seminary College, a time he cherishes to this day.

After graduating from Saint Joseph Seminary College in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Fr. Jeffrey continued his seminary formation at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he received a Master's of Divinity degree in 2008. That same year Fr. Jeffrey was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Because his family had been dispersed by Hurricane Katrina, he celebrated his first Mass of thanksgiving at Saint Joseph Abbey, which continues to be a place of refuge for him. Following ordination Fr. Jeffrey served the Archdiocese as parochial vicar of three different parishes over the span of five years (St. Charles Borromeo, St. Francis of Assisi, and Divine Mercy). In 2013 he was asked by Archbishop Aymond to continue his studies in Rome to pursue a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (The Angelicum). His tessina was written on the theology of the priesthood according to the life and teaching of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.

Having completed his licentiate in the summer of 2015, Fr. Jeffrey joined the full-time faculty of Notre Dame Seminary, where he currently serves as the spiritual director of the seminary and head of the department of spiritual theology. He has also been serving for several years as the chaplain of Dominican High School, which is near the campus of the seminary.

In 2023 Fr. Jeffrey was diagnosed with brain cancer. This experience has given him a deeper appreciation for the theology of redemptive suffering. In particular, he draws encouragement and understanding from St. John Paul II, who wrote on this theme and provided a lived witness that he seeks to follow. He especially hopes to offer encouragement and insight to those enduring the Cross whatever form it may take.

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 the commencement ceremony.

Previous Fr. Paul Miranne Service Award Winners are:

• 2024 Hilario Martinez, Diocese of Dallas

• 2023 Haden Colemen, Diocese of Lafayette

• 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