50th Ordination
Father George J. Cerniglia
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Entrance: 1957
First profession: 1958
Final profession: 1962
Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, University of Dayton, 1961
Bachelor’s in sacred theology, University of Fribourg, 1968
Master’s in divinity, Saint Louis University, 1969
Master’s in religious education, Loyola University, 1973
Doctorate in ministry, University of St. Michael’s College, 1994
Service in the archdiocese: Assistant for Religious Life, Marianist Province of the United States, 2007-2010
Associate pastor, Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, 2018-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher in Covington, Ky., Mineola, N.Y. and Baltimore, Md.
Director of novices/ aspirants/temporary professed, Marianist Provincial House, Baltimore, Maryland, 1974-86
Seminary rector and adjunct professor, Marianist Seminary and University of St. Michaels’ College, 1986-93
Assistant provincial, Province of New York, 1993-2001
General assistant for religious life, Curia Generalizia Marianisti, Rome, 2001-06
Associate rector, rector, chaplain at Chaminade University, Honolulu, 2010-18
About Father George J. Cerniglia: “The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, God’s mercies are not spent they are renewed each morning, so great is God’s faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3: 22-23) Without a doubt, these words of Scripture are foremost in my sentiments as I mark 50 years of ordination and 61 years of Marianist religious life. In the journey of these 50 years of priestly ministry, I have been blessed so immensely. During this jubilee year — and, really, every day — I am so pointedly aware that indeed, God’s favors are never exhausted and that they are renewed morning after morning!
Father David Joseph Fleming
Birthplace: Topeka, Kan.
Entrance: 1955
First profession: 1956
Final profession: 1960
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, St. Mary’s University, 1959
Master’s in English, University of Chicago, 1963
Doctorate in English, University of Chicago, 1965
Bachelor’s of sacred theology, University of Fribourg, 1967
Licentiate in sacred theology, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Chaminade College Prep, 1959-62
Assistant for religious life, Provincialate, 1976-79
Provincial, Provincialate, 1979-87
Service outside the archdiocese: Chaplain at Marianist scholasticate and professor at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, 1969-76
Novice master, Kathmandu, Nepal, and Ranchi, India, 1988-93
Scholasticate director and district superior, Bangalore, India, 1993-96
Superior general, Rome 1996-2006
Chaplain and scholasticate director, Deepahalli, Bangalore, India, 2006-12
Instructor at University of Dayton and assistant coordinator of Association of Marianist Universities, Dayton, Ohio, 2012-13
Novice master, Ranchi, India, 2013-15
Marianist writer, researcher and workshop facilitator, Rome, 2015-19
Staff member, North American Center for Marianist Studies, Dayton, Ohio, 2019-present
About Father David Joseph Fleming: Somehow, (surely by a wonderful education and maybe by grace), I have felt attracted to cultural diversity. I have enjoyed meeting and working closely with people of varied ages, backgrounds and experiences, and I sometimes have felt challenged, but always enriched by them. I have tried to remain a learner and to expand horizons all through life, and to share experiences widely with those I meet. I also have felt called to build bridges across time between today’s world and the rich heritages we have in our spiritual roots, very particularly in our Christian and Marianist ones. Now, I feel close spiritual and religious bonds with many different people. This is a great fulfilling grace, and I hope to keep cultivating it until the end. I feel wonderfully thankful and blessed by so many different people who share the journey.
Father JosÉ Ramirez
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas
Entrance: 1955
First profession: 1956
Final profession: 1962
Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, St. Mary’s University, 1959
Master’s in Latin, Saint Louis University, 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Chaminade College Prep, 1964-65
Teacher and chaplain, St. Mary’s High School, 1974-80
Teacher and chaplain, St. John Vianney High School, 1980-82
Leader, Marriage Encounter, 1982-85
Chaplain, St. Anthony’s Medical Center, 1985-90
Retreat leader, Marianist Retreat and Conference Center, 1992-2017
Various ministries, Maryland Avenue Community, 2017-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph High School, Victoria, Texas, 1959-61
Teacher, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, Texas, 1961-64
Teacher and chaplain, St. Joseph High School, Victoria, Texas, 1969-70
Teacher and chaplain, Assumption High School East St. Louis, Ill., 1974-80
Parochial vicar, Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, 1990-92
About Father José Ramirez: It’s been said that “our God is a God of surprises.” My reflections on my vocation as a Marianist bring me to a similar conclusion. I am thankful for those who, through my years as a Marianist, have, in many loving, challenging ways, encouraged and supported my vocation including many of my Marianist brothers in community, the members of our MAGNIFICAT faith-and prayer-sharing group in St. Louis and special friends from my years of Worldwide Marriage Encounter ministry. They have believed in me, helped me keep growing and responding to my vocation as a priest in the Marianist family. Mary’s vocation began with a “yes” and continued with much daily faithful pondering and reflecting on where her initial “yes” was leading her. My prayer is that I can keep learning from her in my vocation as a Marianist.
Father James McKelvey Tobin
Birthplace: University City
Entrance: 1954
First profession: 1955
Final profession: 1959
Education: Bachelor’s in English, St. Mary’s University, 1958
Master’s in Latin, Saint Louis University, 1965
Licentiate in sacred theology, University of Fribourg, 1969
Master’s in liturgy, University of Notre Dame, 1976
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, McBride High School, 1960-61
Teacher and prefect, Maryhurst Novitiate, 1961-64
Teacher and chaplain, St. Mary’s High School, 1969-71
Chaplain and teacher, St. John Vianney High School, 1972-78
Chaplain, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1979-93
Pastor, Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, 1997-2012
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph School, Victoria, Texas, 1958-59
Teacher, St. Joseph Grade School, El Paso, Texas, 1960
Chaplain, Vincent Gray House, East St. Louis, Ill., 1971-72
Chaplain, Marianist Novitiate, Dayton, Ohio, 1978-79
About Father James McKelvey Tobin: In September 1945, my parents sent me to Chaminade in St. Louis for fourth grade. Through those nine years, Father James P. Canning, SM, encouraged me to think and pray about becoming a Society of Mary priest. Although at graduation I had been accepted at University of Notre Dame, last minute, I decided to try the “road less travelled” and head to Marynook Novitiate in Galesville, Wis. Somehow, I knew I had a direction for my life. I felt drawn to the priesthood, especially to celebrate the Eucharist and sacramental ministry. I’m humbled and grateful to God for each of those years on the “road less travelled.” I reflect on Marianist communities that have been part of my life, the different ministries, and the love and support I received from my family, fellow brothers, friends, students and so many people over the years. What more can be said than a quote from one of the psalms: What return shall I make to the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will take up the chalice of the Lord and call upon His name!” For all that has been: Thanks! For all that will be: Yes! And it’s all grace!
70th First profession
Brother Leo Irving Slay
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1948
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1953
Service in the archdiocese: Food service ministry, Marycliff Community, Glencoe, 1952-54
Food service ministry, Maryhurst Novitiate, Kirkwood, 1954-60
Food service ministry, Marycliff Community, 1960-62
Food service ministry, Maryhurst Novitiate, Kirkwood, 1962-69
Food service ministry, Chaminade College Prep, 1969-88
Food service ministry, Cure of Ars Community, Kirkwood, 1988-2011
Director, Marianist Culinary Service, 1987-2015
Service outside the archdiocese: Cook, Marynook Novitiate, Balesville, Wis., 1949-52
About Brother Leo Irving Slay: Having come from a family that has been involved in the restaurant business since 1911, I have been actively engaged in food service in the Society of Mary since 1949. In addition to being called upon as a consultant for all types of food-service operations over the years, I also have organized and directed numerous culinary institutes and workshops. Throughout a 25-year span (1970-95) I was honored with many food service and restaurant industry awards including: St. Louis Food Service Executive of the year (1970), Missouri Restaurant Association’s Professional Operator’s Award (1972), St. Louis Restaurant Association’s Man of the Year (1974), placement in Missouri Restaurant Associations’ Food Service Hall of Fame (1992), Chef Dubois Chen award from the Chef de Cuisine Association (1992), St. Raymond’s Maronite Church’s Cedars Award (1994) and was selected director of the year of the St. Louis Restaurant Association’s board (1995). I have found that Marianist religious life is designed to help us give service to others. The prayer life of the community also helps us to serve others. For me, as a servant, religious life has been and is a great way to live.