Fourteen graduates became alumni of America’s only pontifical seminary as the Pontifical College Josephinum celebrated its 126th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 10. 

The graduating class included a seminarian from the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, Deacon Max Gallegos. 

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

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, Certificates of Completion in Philosophical and Theological Studies, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts degrees were conferred upon the seminarians by Father Beseau. The Josephinum, in affiliation with the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy, granted a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology pontifical degree (STB) to four of the graduating transitional deacons. 

The final honor bestowed at Commencement was the Pinter Scholar Award. Established in 1975 in memory of Msgr. Nicholas Pinter (Josephinum professor, 1902-1957), the award recognizes the College of Liberal Arts seminarian who has excelled in academic formation in preparation for service to the Church. Announced as this year’s award recipient was seminarian Justin Fagge of the Diocese of Columbus, who completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy summa cum laude. 

Fagge offered an address on behalf of the Class of 2025, expressing gratitude for their time at the Josephinum and all it had given them, especially their strong sense of brotherhood and the “incredible faculty and great formators who are living examples of the plurality of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.” Regardless of what path each man takes going forward, he said, “we will all be grateful for the work of the Pontifical College Josephinum in creating holy, generous, adaptable, and resilient priests for the 21st century.”

Father Beseau acknowledged that days like Commencement are seen and celebrated as the beginning of something new. “For the formators and faculty who have been with these men for many years, there also is a tinge of sadness because they have been a great part of our community. Yet, it is a wonderful gift that we are here to commence these men to the next phase of their lives. That sadness is overcome with the joy, hope, and love that mark this day.”

The Pontifical College Josephinum’s 2025 Commencement Exercises marks the close of the seminary’s year of forming priests for the Church. Graduating deacons of the School of Theology will return to their respective dioceses or orders 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. 

Deacon Gallegos will be ordained a priest of the Diocese of Birmingham on May 31 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul. All are welcome.