June 18, 2010
New appointments announced at St. Meinrad
Several appointments at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology were recently announced by the president-rector, Benedictine Father Denis Robinson.
Benedictine Father Tobias Colgan will join the staff as director of the “Together in One Place” celibacy formation program. He will also work with the English as a Second Lang-uage program and oversee the Spanish liturgy practicum. Father Tobias will serve on the school’s formation staff. He recently completed a long tenure as the prior (second in leadership) of the monastic community at St. Meinrad.
Benedictine Father Kurt Stasiak will move from his position as director of spiritual formation and return to the monastery to take up the responsibilities of prior. He will continue to serve the School as an associate spiritual director and as professor of sacramental and liturgical theology.
Father Joseph Moriarty will assume the responsibilities of director of spiritual formation. He previously served as associate director of spiritual formation.
Robert Alvis has been named academic dean, in addition to his responsibilities as associate professor of Church history.
Tom Walters will leave the position of academic dean and continue his work as professor of catechetics at St. Meinrad.
Marcia Schaefer will move from her position as associate director of lay degree programs to the newly created position of director of assessment. She will continue her work as coordinator of the Ecclesial Lay Ministry Program and work in the development of new continuing education programs.
Keith Lemna will join the faculty as visiting assistant professor of systematic theology. He
is an alumnus of the seminary and school of theology. Dr. Lemna has taught at The Catholic University of America, Bel-mont Abbey College and St. Joseph College.
James Helmer will join the faculty as assistant professor of moral theology. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and is scheduled to earn his PhD from the University of Notre Dame in July 2010.
Jeff Jenkins will join the staff as director of St. Meinrad’s Mader Learning Center. He is an alumnus of St. Meinrad’s lay degree program. For the past year, he has been associate director of Catholic youth ministry for the New Albany, Ind., deanery.
Colette Kennett will join the staff as director of “One Bread, One Cup,” St. Meinrad’s liturgical leadership program for youth and their adult leaders. She begins her new responsibilities in November after retiring from 30 years as director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Belleville, Ill.
St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology offers initial and ongoing formation for priests, permanent deacons and lay ministers. The School is operated by the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey.