Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology celebrated the 2023 Commencement on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Here are some of the highlights of the evening and the conferral of the Master of Divinity degrees and Master of Arts (Theology) degrees. In addition, a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) was conferred on Most Rev. Michael Woost, commencement speaker, instructor, and auxiliary bishop, and a special recognition of Rev. Mark Latcovich who is completing his assignment as President-Rector and 30 years of seminary leadership and service. [See Diocese of Cleveland News article and photo gallery on the event. Author and photographer: Carol Kovach]
Father Latcovich, President-Rector, made the following remarks prior to reading the degree citation:
“This evening, we as a seminary community, faculty, and board, wish to confer the highest honor of an academic institution upon a distinguished faculty member…not for classes taught or examinations and research papers graded, but for the witness of daily example, and the consistent, sustained, joyful fidelity to the mission of this institution: priestly formation and advanced theological education. This degree is given to Bishop Michael G. Woost honoris causa (as we say in academia) with honor and esteem for who this person is: a colleague of integrity, excellence, scholarship, and service….for the invaluable contribution he has made not only to the seminary program, but for the gift he continues to be to the Church.
Text of the Official Citation:
The Most Reverend Michael G. Woost, STL
Father Latcovich reads the citation.
- Whereas Bishop Woost served as formation advisor and mentor for seminarians, modeling for them an integration of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation by his life and ministry, and
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- Whereas Bishop Woost offered excellence, passion, and faith-filled joy in his class lectures and seminars to instill quality liturgical formation in the hearts of seminarians, priests, and graduate students, and
Bishop Malesic presents the degree certificate.
- Whereas Bishop Woost offered excellence, passion, and faith-filled joy in his class lectures and seminars to instill quality liturgical formation in the hearts of seminarians, priests, and graduate students, and
- Whereas Bishop Woost has consistently been a competent, professional, and insightful theological scholar, and
- Whereas Bishop Woost has been a model of pastoral care, concern, and compassion for seminarians, priests, and the faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland, and
- Whereas Bishop Woost has inspired the prayer and worship of the Diocese of Cleveland in his capacity as priest, liturgist, and bishop, and
- Whereas Bishop Woost has extensively studied and prayed with the foundations of the Church’s liturgical documents and has embodied the writings and disciplines of the richest of the spiritual fathers and mothers, so much so that he has become an incarnational example and witness of the sacrificial life of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and has affectively shared the merciful Heart of the Father with the Saint Mary Seminary community, and
- Whereas Bishop Woost is a colleague distinguished by excellence, integrity, scholarship, and service
Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology is proud to confer on The Most Reverend Michael G. Woost, STL the degree Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa.”
Hooding with Doctoral Hood
Delivering the Commencement address
The Woost family