Nineteen graduates became alumni of America’s only pontifical seminary as the Pontifical College Josephinum celebrated its 125th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 11.

The graduating class included seminarians from the Dioceses of Birmingham, Columbus, Gaylord, Jefferson City, Steubenville, and Wheeling-Charleston, and the Fathers of Mercy religious order. From the Diocese of Birmingham, Justin F. Brouillette received a Bachelor of Philosophy, as did Patrick L. Letterle and Billy J. Moin. Seminarian Francisco D. Rodriguez Martin received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. 

The day of celebration began with Baccalaureate Mass in the seminary’s Saint Turibius Chapel, celebrated by Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Pontifical College Josephinum. Concelebrating were Father Steven P. Beseau, rector and president; the Community of Formators; and many visiting clergy.

Bishop Fernandes’ homily commended the accomplishments of the graduates and emphasized the importance of an openness to continue learning. He encouraged them to be “open to learning more from the priests who will serve as your mentors, from the lay faithful, from deacons, and from many others who will collaborate with you in the advancement of the Kingdom and in making the Gospel known,” he said. The bishop also acknowledged the challenges of being in formation. Seminary life, he said, “is a test of our love and how far we are willing to be stretched in order to be the person, the disciple, the priest that God calls us to be and that Christ needs us to be for the lay faithful.”

Following Mass, more than 200 guests joined seminary priests, faculty, staff, and seminarians in the Msgr. Leonard Fick Auditorium for Commencement Exercises. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts degrees were conferred upon the seminarians by Father Beseau.

The Pontifical College Josephinum’s 2024 Commencement Exercises marks the close of the seminary’s 124th year of forming priests for the Church. Graduates of the School of Theology will return to their respective dioceses to be ordained as priests; they will join more than 1,000 ordained alumni who currently serve the universal Church in nearly every U.S. state and in 18 countries around the world.

“The future of the Church passes by way of the seminary,” said Father Beseau. “In these graduates, you can see that the future of the Church is very bright, and we should have great hope.”