Mount Angel Seminary Celebrates 2026 Commencement
By: Dr. Amanda Staggenborg
“Joy is a grace from God and, fundamentally, a choice,” reminded The Most Reverend Frank Schuster, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle, as he addressed this year’s graduating class of Mount Angel Seminary. “Defiant joy is an attitude, rooted in faith, that tethers us in our ups and downs, rooted in the idea that being a fundamentally joyful person isn’t about how dark it is or by the news channel or by any other current event in our lives. It is about refusing to define our joy on what is happening outside in the world around us. Our joy comes from within, born of faith.” As the graduates continue their vocations, he encouraged them to remain open to learning from the communities they are called to serve. On Saturday, May 9, twenty-five graduates joyfully celebrated both the completion of one chapter and the start of another in the journey of their sacred service.
Very Reverend Jeff Eirvin, president-rector of Mount Angel Seminary, delivered the invocation and presided over the commencement exercises. With the support of faculty, family members, friends, fellow seminarians, and the monastic community, graduates received degrees and a certificate across multiple academic disciplines from bachelor’s to doctorate, including philosophy, theology and ministry.
Father Eirvin also presented the Lumen Gentium Award to Thomas G. Greene with gratitude for eleven years of service as a Seminary board member and eight years of leadership as Seminary board chair. Right Reverend Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, abbot and chancellor, concluded the exercises with a special blessing, stating, “Mount Angel is always a place for you. You know the rhythms…the rhythms of prayer and the rhythm of our way of life. Mount Angel Seminary is a wonderful place to come back to because you find same rhythms of life, always still here.”
The seminarians who received their Bachelor of Arts degrees were Caleb Peltzer, Diocese of Fresno; and Ralph Antonio Tronci, Diocese of Sacramento.
The following seminarians received a Certificate of Philosophy: Robert James Maximilian Currall, Archdiocese of Seattle; and Shane Michael David Duffy, Diocese of Orange.
The Master of Arts (Philosophy) recipients included Mauricio Duran, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; Gino Esposito, Archdiocese of Las Vegas; Daniel Kemper, Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau; Jacob Tomas Means, Diocese of Reno; Br. Damien-Joseph Rappuhn, OSB, Saint Martin’s Abbey; Ernesto José Juárez Urquilla, Archdiocese of Las Vegas; and Michael Weight, Diocese of Salt Lake City.
The following transitional deacons earned their Master of Divinity: Rev. Mr. Shawn Raymond Daniel, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; Rev. Mr. José Luis Gómez Díaz, Diocese of Salt Lake City; Rev. Mr. John Paul Langsfeld, Archdiocese of Santa Fe; Rev. Mr. José Francisco Orozco Cárdenas, Diocese of Fresno; Br. Damien-Joseph Rappuhn, OSB, Saint Martin’s Abbey; and Rev. Mr. Jaime Zuazo, Diocese of Salt Lake City.
The Master of Arts (Theology) recipient was Sean Kawashima Akroyd.
The Doctor of Ministry recipients included Rev. Alex De Paulis, Diocese of San Diego; and Lynda Lee Sander Olsen.
The following graduates received their Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology through the Pontifical Atheneum of Sant’Anselmo: Rev. Anselm Flores, OSB, Mount Angel Abbey; Rev. Maximiliano Muñoz, Archdiocese of Seattle; Brody Stewart; Rev. Michael Shrum, OSB, Mount Angel Abbey; and Rev. Anthony Shumway, Diocese of Salt Lake City.
To view photos from the 137th Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises, visit Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary’s Flickr album.