Lee R. Yoakam, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 19 by Most Rev. Anthony G. Bosco, Bishop of Greensburg in the Archabbey Basilica.

Fr. Lee is a son of Ted G. Yoakam and Doloros (Ahrens) Yoakam of Arma, Kansas. He is a 1973 graduate of Grant High School, Portland, Oregon. He received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology in 1979 from Old Dominion University and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Old Dominion in 1986. He holds a master of science degree in administration from Central Michigan University (1993). He earned a master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2000.

He made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 1981 and solemn profession of vows on July 10, 1999. He was ordained to the diaconate April 10, 2000 by Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah in the Archabbey Basilica. He served his diaconate internship at Saint Peter Parish, North Side, Pittsburgh, in 2000-2001.

At Saint Vincent he has served as an adjunct nurse at Saint Vincent College and Seminary, and is also acting director and staff for the Monastic infirmary . He was a dorm moderator at Saint Vincent College through 2000.

In 1984 he joined the Navy Reserves for two and a half years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1994 and holds the rank of Major, active in the Chaplains Corps of the Army Reserves.

He is one of six children, including Terry G. Yoakam of Leavenworth, Kansas; Paul C. Yoakam, Chesapeake, Virginia; Gail M. Mattivi, Pittsburg, Kansas; Ted G. Yoakam, Virginia Beach, Va., and the late Julie A. Metzger.