Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper - News and Features

News & Features

Four men to be ordained to priesthood on June 27
archived from: 2009-06-25
by: Chuck Moody, Associate Editor

Bishop David Zubik will ordain four men to the priesthood at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.

The men to be ordained are Deacons Daniel Langa, John Naugle, Nicholas Vaskov and Michael Zavage.

“The Church of Pittsburgh rejoices in the ordination of these four men as priests of Jesus Christ, because the church’s mission is continued in their ministry,” said Father Dennis Yurochko, rector of St. Paul Seminary in Crafton. “Through the hands of these new priests Christ’s saving grace will continue to be distributed, especially in the celebration of the sacraments.”

The ordination Mass is to be televised live on the Christian Associates of Southwestern Pennsylvania channel, Channel 95, on the Comcast cable system in the city of Pittsburgh, and it is open to the public.

Deacon Daniel Langa, 26, is a member of St. Paul Parish in Butler and is the son of David and Julia Ann Langa. He has one sister, Jennifer.

He attended Moraine Elementary School in Prospect, Slippery Rock Middle School and graduated from Slippery Rock High School.

In fall 2001, Langa was accepted into the priestly formation program and began studies at St. Paul Seminary and Duquesne University. He graduated from Duquesne in May 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and entered St. Vincent Seminary in fall 2005.

He received pastoral experience at St. Benedict the Moor in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Township.

Deacon John Naugle, 28, is a member of Holy Innocents Parish in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood and the son of Rose Volgen.

Naugle attended St. Agnes School in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood and graduated from Central Catholic High School.

He graduated from St. Vincent College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics. In fall 2003, he was accepted into the priestly formation program and entered pre-theology at St. Paul Seminary and Duquesne University. Naugle graduated in May 2005 with a master’s in philosophy and entered Theological College, the national seminary of the Catholic University of America, in fall 2005.

He received pastoral experience at St. Camillus in Neshannock Township and St. Gregory in Zelienople.

Deacon Nicholas Vaskov, 26, is a member of St. Bernadette Parish in Monroeville and the son of Constance and Eugene Vaskov. He has one sister, Victoria.

He attended St. James School in Wilkinsburg and Central Catholic High School, graduating in 2001.

After attending Duquesne University for one year, Vaskov was accepted into the priestly formation program in fall 2002. After graduating from Duquesne University in May 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, he completed theological studies at the North American College in Rome.

He received pastoral experience at St. Irenaeus in Oakmont.

Deacon Michael Zavage, 26, is a member of St. Hugh Parish in Carmichaels and the son of Michael and Joan Zavage. He has three sisters: Erin, Kimberly and Sara.

He attended Nemacolin Elementary, Carmichaels Elementary and Carmichaels High School, then attended Waynesburg College for one year before transferring to Duquesne University.

In fall 2002, Zavage was accepted into the priestly formation program and began studies at St. Paul Seminary and Duquesne University. He graduated from Duquesne in May 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and entered St. Vincent Seminary in fall 2005.

He received pastoral experience at St. Gregory in Zelienople and St. Anne in Castle Shannon.

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