Graduation Day for Tagaste Monastery Students

Seton Hall graduates join Community members following commencement ceremony.

Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary saw one of the largest numbers of graduates from Tagaste Monastery in recent years at the commencement exercises, May 12, 2003. Graduating with Bachelor of Arts degrees were Fras. Juan Montes (Philosophy) and Francisco Sandoval (Education). Those graduating with Master of Arts degrees in Theology were Dns. Fredric Abiera and Luis Ramírez. Finally, those graduating with Master of Divinity degrees were Dns. Eliseo Gonzalez, Michael Kenny, Michael Rafferty, and Matthew Alejo.

Commencement ceremonies took place at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and lasted from 11:00 AM until 1:30 PM. Approximately 1,500 students graduated in the Class of 2003. Special degrees were awarded posthumously to the three students who died tragically in the dorm fire at Seton Hall in the year 2000. Family members, who were deeply moved by this tribute to their children, accepted these degrees.

The commencement speaker for the occasion was William Baker, Ph.D., president and CEO of Thirteen/WNET New York, a major multimedia producer serving the New York metropolitan area and the nation. It is the largest producer of cultural and arts programming in the country. Doctor Baker was awarded the degree of Doctor of Human Letters honoris causa.

Presiding over the commencement ceremony was Seton Hall University president, Msgr. Robert Sheeran. Archbishop John Myers assisted Msgr. Sherran in the conferral of degrees.

After returning to Tagaste, the community celebrated with a lunch held in the Guild Hall. Present for the festivities were Mr. and Mrs. Eliseo Gonzalez, parents of Dn. Eliseo. Later in the evening members of the Recollect community in West Orange joined the local community to help celebrate this festive occasion.

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