Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Sept. 29, 2005 edition of the Inland Register)

Deacon Peter Amah recently completed a summer assignment at St. Charles Parish in Spokane, where he assisted at Masses as a deacon and preached on a regular basis. Currently, he is completing his study of theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the diaconate last April at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington and will be ordained a priest on Dec. 30, 2005 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Spokane.

Deacon Vincent Van Dao last summer assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Spokane, where he assisted as a deacon at Mass, preached, and engaged in pastoral ministry. He is currently completing his final semester of theology at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon and is scheduled to be ordained a priest on Dec. 30, 2005 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Siloé Perez Gomez is studying English as a Second Language at Gonzaga University. He resides at Bishop White Seminary and spent a portion of last summer learning English and engaging in pastoral ministry at St. Patrick Parish in Walla Walla.

Sean Harrell is a Spokane native, a graduate of Gonzaga Preparatory School, and a junior at Gonzaga University. Sean had the opportunity to accompany the youth group from St. Mary Parish, Spokane Valley, on their pilgrimage last summer to World Youth Day in Germany. He and his family are parishioners at St. Mary Parish.

Jason Hiner is one of our newest seminarians, a junior at Bishop White Seminary and Gonzaga University, pursuing a degree in philosophy. Before entering the seminary, Jason was quite active with Spokane’s L’Arche community.

Deacon Mike Ishida is completing his fourth year of theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He assisted as a deacon at St. Francis Xavier Parish this past summer – doing pastoral ministry, celebrating funerals, and preaching on a regular basis. Deacon Ishida is scheduled to be ordained a priest on July 7, 2006, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Spokane.

David Kuttner was born and raised in Spokane. After a summer assignment at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, David is continuing with his second year of theology studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Matthew Larsen is in his first year of theological studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Matthew spent this past summer in an intensive Latin course offered through Gonzaga University in Spokane. He and his parents are members of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Spokane.

Kris Leistritz is completing his senior year of study at Bishop White Seminary and Gonzaga University. He is on track to graduate in May of 2006 with a degree in philosophy. Kris is a graduate of Tri-Cities Prep in Pasco, Wash. He was born and raised. in Pasco; his family are members of St. Patrick Parish.

Ricardo Flores Mendez was born and raised in Mexico. He has completed the English as a Second Language Program at Gonzaga University and currently is a junior philosophy major at Bishop White Seminary. Ricardo regularly assists with the Spanish Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Spokane.

Matthew Nicks was born and raised in Spokane. He is in his third year of theological studies at the North American College, Rome. He spent the past summer in the Supervised Hospital Ministry Program at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Luta Nsubuga is a 2005 graduate of Washington State University and is currently in the pre-theology program at Bishop White Seminary. While at WSU, Luta was quite active with pastoral ministry at St. Thomas More Newman Center.

Kevin Oiland completed the Supervised Hospital Ministry Program at Sacred Heart Hospital this past summer, as well as an assignment at Immaculate Conception Parish in Colville, Wash. He is in his second year of theology, studying at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.

James “Jimmy” Peak spent the summer of 2005 engaged in a variety of pastoral ministry in the parishes located in Chewelah, Valley, and Springdale, Wash. He is currently studying theology as a third year seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Luis Rivera spent this past summer in a pastoral assignment at Holy Family Parish in Clarkston, Wash. He is in this second year of theology at Mount Angel Seminary, Oregon.

Miguel Gustavo Ruiz is completing his fourth year of theological studies at Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Ore., in the Portland Archdiocese. He spent the past summer in the Supervised Hospital Ministry Program at Sacred Heart Medical Center (“Around the Diocese,” IR 9/8/05) and is scheduled to be ordained a deacon on Dec. 30, 2005, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Spokane.

Kenny St. Hilaire is from Pasco, where he and his family are parishioners at St. Patrick Parish. He is beginning his third year of theological studies at the North American College in Rome. This past summer, Kenny was assigned to St. Charles Parish, where he spent a significant amount of time doing home visits with parishioners.

Gabriel Salas was born and raised in Mexico. He is now studying English as a Second Language at Gonzaga University, and resides at Bishop White Seminary. Part of last summer was spent at St. Patrick Parish, Walla Walla, learning English and engaging in pastoral ministry.

Luke Tomson is in his third year of theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Luke spent this past summer engaged in pastoral ministry at Holy Family Parish in Clark-ston, Wash.

Brian Vogel is a sophomore at Bishop White Seminary and Gonzaga Univeristy. He entered Bishop White this year after participating in the Men’s Discernment Group sponsored by Gonzaga and Bishop White.

Alex Zepeda is a native of Mexico. He is a graduate of Bishop White Seminary and Gonzaga University, now in his fourth year of theology at the American College in Louvain, Belgium. This past summer he was assigned to St. Mary Parish, Spokane Valley. Alex is scheduled to be ordained a deacon on Dec. 3, 2005, in the chapel of the American College.