By Matthew Gambino • Posted May 30, 2013

More than 30 lay people and religious sisters received degrees or certificates at graduation ceremonies May 25 of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Graduate School of Theology and Program of Catholic Studies.

Degrees conferred upon the graduates included master’s degrees in theology, diplomas in catechetics (teaching the faith), certificates for those in ministry to Black Catholics and certificates from the Church Ministry Institute, a program that joins theological study with Catholic faith sharing and formation for service in the Church.

As a division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, the school formerly known as the Religious Studies Division offers theological education for lay men and women, priests, deacons and religious. According to its website, the school “conducts evening, summer, and online courses, on both the graduate and undergraduate levels, in Catholic theology and in various institute programs.”

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Archbishop Charles J. Chaput presided at the ceremony joined by seminary rector Bishop Timothy C. Senior, vice rector Father Joseph W. Bongard and Graduate School of Theology Director Jared Haselbarth.

Bill Donaghy, a lay evangelist and professor at Immaculata University and Malvern Preparatory School, delivered the address to the graduates, who were as follows:

Master of Arts Degree: Mary Madeline Fisher, Michael J. Gormley, Kathleen Marie Greene, Mary Anne J. Monroe, Suzanne Mulrain, Diana theresa Murter, Jose Luis Quintana, Sister Karen Sue McConnell, F.M.I.H.M.; Sister Mary Mediatrix Bexten, F.S.G.M.; and Kathleen Marie Rasley.

Roman Catechetical Diploma and Ministry to Black Catholics Certificate: Antoinette DelCampo-O’Brien, Peggy Ann Haley, Elizabeth Atkins and Marie Jackson.

Church Ministry Institute Certificate: Earlene V. Adams, Alfredo Cruz Agustin, Nancy M. Brown, Imelda Cruz, Roberto E. Felix, Ana D. Garcia, Claudio Carlos Marcelo Grieco, Elaine Marie Agnes Greene, Norma P. Guzman, Doris Harris, Nellda L. Harris, Marcelino Hernandez, Judith Hundley, D. Benjamin Hyde, Kevin Jaibur, Sandra Johnson, Claudia Martinez, Lilliam I. Pomales, Emma Beatriz Nunez, Elias Moises Cedillo Ramos, Azucena Rodriguez, Lynn Sanders and Deborah Wright.