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Five Enter Novitiate

Five men have entered the novitiate at Saint Vincent Archabbey, where they will spend a year of discernment before professing first vows as Benedictine monks. All Pennsylvania residents, they hail from Upland, Kersey, Bethel Park, Connellsville and Elizabeth Township.

Pio Adamonis, N.O.S.B.

Brother Pio (Peter Paul) Adamonis, III, is the son of Peter P. and Catherine Adamonis of Upland. He has two sisters, Debbie of Boothwyn and Lisa Kei of San Diego, and one brother, Michael of Upland.

He is a 1986 graduate of Saint James High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Penn State University in 1990. He is assisting in the infirmary chapel as sacristan, in addition to his studies.

Albert Gahr, N.O.S.B.

Brother Albert (Scott) Gahr is the son of Raymond and Diana Gahr of Kersey. He is the brother of Wendy Gahr Noll, Grafton, WV; Stacy Gahr McKee, St. Marys; Andrew Gahr, St. Marys and Shelly Gahr Straub of Richmond, Virginia.

He is a 1991 graduate of Elk County Christian High School, St. Marys. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology in 1995 from Saint Vincent College and a doctorate in genetics and developmental biology from West Virginia University in 2002.

John Paul Heiser, N.O.S.B.

Brother John Paul (Ryan) Heiser is the son of Randy and Sherry Heiser of Bethel Park. He has three brothers, all of Bethel Park, Jeffery, Steven and Brennan.

He is a 2004 graduate of Bethel Park High School and earned a bachelor of arts degrees in international politics and psychology from Penn State University in 2008. While at Penn State he served in various leadership roles, including as president of the Newman Catholic Student Association. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma.

Isidore Minerd, N.O.S.B.

Brother Isidore Kenneth (Matthew) Minerd is the son of Timothy and Laura Lee Szepesi of Connellsville. He has a sister, Gina Marie Szepesi of Connellsville. He is a 2002 graduate of Connellsville Area High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in computing and information science from Saint Vincent College in May 2006 and a bachelor of arts in Catholic theology from Saint Vincent in December 2006.

Jean-Luc Zadroga, N.O.S.B.

Father Jean-Luc (Clinton Paul) Zadroga is the son of Pamela (Faulk) Bassett of Elizabeth Township and the late Paul A. Zadroga. He has a brother, Zachary of Irwin, and two sisters, Sarah Zadroga Cole of Irwin and Alexis Zadroga Yaroscak of Belle Vernon.

He is a 1992 graduate of Elizabeth Forward High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1997 from Duquesne University, and a master of divinity degree and a master of arts degree in theology from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2001. He was ordained a deacon in 2000 and a priest in May 2001 in the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Bishop Donald Wuerl.

From 2001-2002 he served as parochial vicar of Saint Margaret of Scotland, Green Tree. He served as secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop Wuerl from 2002-2003, then as parochial vicar of Saint Sebastian Parish, Ross Township from 2003-2005. In December of 2005 he was named parochial vicar of Saint James Parish, Sewickley, where he served until July 2008, when he entered the novitiate at Saint Vincent. Additionally, he served as chaplain for North Catholic High School from 2004-2008.