Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown will ordain four seminarians as transitional deacons for the Diocese of Youngstown at 10:30 a.m. today with an ordination liturgy at St. Columba Cathedral. It also will be streamed online at www.doy.org/live.

Following ordination, each of the four men –Brook Benedict, Robert England, John Rovnak and Frederick “Fritz” Schlueter — will be assigned to serve at a diocesan parish while they finish their final year of formation in anticipation of expected ordination to the priesthood. Their assignments will be announced at the ordination Mass.

In the fall, Rovnak and Schlueter will return to St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland, and England will return to St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa., to complete their priestly studies. Benedict received his Master of Divinity, as well as an M.A. in theology, from St. Mary Seminary in May;

l Benedict, son of Gary “Mousey” and Linda Benedict, grew up at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ashtabula, now part of Our Lady of Peace Parish. In addition to St. Mary Seminary, he is a graduate of SS. John and Paul High School (now St. John School), and the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He also is a liturgical musician and studied organ at Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music;

l England, son of Robert and Sandra England, is a native of Clarksburg, W.Va., but moved with his family to Poland, and grew up at Struthers’ St. Nicholas Parish (now Christ Our Savior Parish). He is a graduate of Poland public schools, including Poland Seminary High School, took classes at Youngstown State University and worked in the water treatment industry for about 20 years. In addition to his current studies at St. Vincent Seminary in Pennsylvania, his preparation for ministry has included bachelor’s degree studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, as well as Cardinal Stritch University, both in Wisconsin;

l Rovnak, son of Tom and Janice Rovnak, is a parishioner of Youngstown’s Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and was raised at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church in Youngstown. He attended St. Matthias School, Lowellville High School and graduated with a business degree from Youngstown State University. He worked for several companies before his studies at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland. He also completed studies in clinical pastoral education at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Pittsburgh.

l Schlueter, son of Frederick and Lori Schlueter, grew up at Salem St. Paul Parish. He attended St. Paul School and West Branch High School and began college at the University of Dallas before transferring to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. Rovnak will return to St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland this fall.

On June 18, the diocese also will celebrate the ordination of Deacon Connor Hetzel to the priesthood at St. Columba Cathedral.

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