Bishop David Bonnar, who was installed as the sixth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown on Jan. 12, made his first visit to the Center for Pastoral Leadership on March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. He was welcomed by Bishop Edward Malesic.
CPL staff gave Bishop Bonnar a tour of the CPL, which houses Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries. The Youngstown Diocese has 13 men enrolled in the seminaries: 11 at Saint Mary and two at Borromeo. Saint Mary is the major seminary – a five-year education and priestly formation program – while Borromeo is the college seminary.
The Youngstown seminarians spent time meeting with their bishop and the faculty gave an overview of the academic and formation programs at the seminaries.
Father Pat Manning, a Youngtown priest and associate professor of historical theology and Church history at the seminary; Father John Jerek, vicar for clergy and director of seminarians for the Diocese of Youngstown; and Father Scott Kopp, vocation director for the Youngstown Diocese, accompanied the bishop.
Sister Mary McComick, general superior for the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, who serves as academic dean and professor of systematic theology at Saint Mary Seminary, also participated in the day’s events.
Later, Bishop Bonnar presided at evening prayer for the entire seminary community.