Tonight Kenrick-Glennon Seminary celebrated their annual "Convocation," which is a fancy way of saying "graduation," in the St Joseph Chapel. Pictured above are all the men who have just been handed their masters degrees. In the bottom left Bishop Hermann congratulates the graduates, in the lower left. Included in that crowd is none other than Deacon Russ Kovash, seminarian of the Diocese of Bismarck, and soon to be ordained a priest. Tonight Russ and his classmates each received a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Theology. Here are a few snapshots from the event.

This is Father Lawrence Brennan, the academic dean and vice rector of the seminary. Fr Brennan has been a pillar of the seminary community, working to prepare men for the priesthood in this institution for 22 years. This is is last year at Kenrick, and he will be dearly missed. Next year he will be working for the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

Pictured here are Bishop Hermann, the Archdiocesan Administrator of Saint Louis, and Monsignor Wojcicki, our seminary rector, congratulating the men who received degrees. Marco DeLoera, wearing the white surplice, is also pictured here. He acted as a master of ceremonies during the event.

Here is Deacon Russ, receiving one of his graduate degrees.

And this is Russ, happily departing, degree in hand.

This is Russ and I after the ceremony. I've enjoyed studying and living here with Russ over the last few years. He has been a great example and mentor for me. When I first came to Kenrick, Russ showed me great hospitality. He will be a wonderful addition to the presbyterate in the Bismarck Diocese.

Congratulations to Russ and to all of those who are receiving degrees this season.

-Jason

Recently Corey Nelson, a Bismarck Diocese college seminarian studying at Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo, flew down to Saint Louis for his interviews here at Kenrick Seminary, where he will be attending for graduate studies beginning in the fall. While he was here in Saint Louis, us Bismarck seminarians tried to show him a bit of Saint Louis. In this picture are, from left to right, Deacon Russ Kovash, Thomas Grafsgaard, Corey Nelson, Jason Signalness, Matthew Wanner, and Kregg Hochhalter.

While touring the city with Corey, we stopped at the St Francis de Sales Oratory in South Saint Louis. It is a very beautiful parish, called the "Cathedral of South Saint Louis." The Oratory is run by the Institute of Christ the King. For more info, visit http://www.institute-christ-king.org/stlouis/.

And, of course, no tour to St Louis would be complete without a trip up the Arch.

This is Corey as we ride up to the top of the Arch in the tiny space-capsule-like elevator/amusement ride.

This is Deacon (soon to be Father) Russ Kovash checking out the view from the top.

We look forward to studying with Corey next year. He will be graduating from college soon and beginning his graduate studies with us next year.

-Jason