The 2026 schedule of talks has been released for the Oblates of Saint Benedict of Saint Vincent Archabbey by Father Donald Raila, O.S.B., director of the Oblate program. Oblates of Saint Benedict are Christian men and women who choose to associate themselves with a religious community of Benedictine monks in order to strengthen their baptismal commitment and enrich their Christian way of life. Oblates do not take vows or live in a monastery. They continue to live in the world while they strive eagerly to live out the values of the Gospel.
The Oblates meet the third Sunday of each month at Saint Vincent, with the talks taking place at 3 p.m. in Room 202 of the Brownfield Center at Saint Vincent Seminary. The talks generally are on some aspect of Benedictine spirituality, with various monks of the Archabbey generally as the presenters. This year, Bishop Larry J. Kulick of the Diocese of Greensburg will also give a presentation. For additional information email svaoblates@stvincent.edu.
Upcoming Talks
Brother Roman Pallone, O.S.B., will speak on “The Eucharist in Benedictine Spirituality at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 18. He professed simple vows as a monk of Saint Vincent in 2022, and solemn vows in 2025. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University, a Master of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University and is a student at Saint Vincent Seminary. His assignments at the Archabbey include serving as an assistant to the prior and building manager in the monastery, assistant to the director of vocations, sacristan and assistant master of ceremonies. He also assists with the Benedictine Outdoor Leadership program at Saint Vincent College.
Brother Nicholas Koss, O.S.B., will present on “The History of the Benedictines in China,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 15. He is a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, but has spent much of his life and monastic career in Asia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College and studied Chinese at Chabanel Language Institute in Taiwan, then studied for the Master of Arts and Ph.D. in comparative literature from Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1981 he began teaching in the English department at Fu Jen University, and also served as dean and director of the Graduate Institute of Comparative Literature. After reaching the mandatory age for retirement from full-time teaching in Taiwan, he was invited to teach full-time at Peking University in the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture, a position he held until 2019. He then returned to Taipei and taches part-time at Fu Jen. Since 2021, he has been teaching courses related to China in the spring semester at Saint Vincent College.
Father Killian Loch, O.S.B., will talk about “On Holiness in Benedictine Spirituality” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Father Killian is pastor of Saint Vincent Basilica Parish, and former prior of the Archabbey and director of Campus Ministry at Saint Vincent College. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Scranton, a Master of Divinity degree from Saint John Seminary, Massachusetts, and a Master of Education degree in administration from Boston College. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Scranton in 1979 and served in many roles there, including pastoral assignments, regional vicar and vicar for priests for the diocese and principal of a diocesan high school. After discerning a call to religious life, he professed first vows at Saint Vincent in 2011, and solemn vows in 2014. He has been active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and is on the national board of Pentecost Today.
Brother Hugh Lester, O.S.B., will address “Obedience in Benedictine Spirituality” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Brother Hugh has been a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey for more than 30 years. He made simple profession of monastic vows in 1995 and solemn profession of vows in 1998. He served for many years as director of the Archabbey Retreat Program, while also serving as assistant to the prior and financial consultant for Saint Vincent Seminary. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University and a Master of Science from Appalachian State University in accounting. He earned the Master of Arts degree from Saint Vincent Seminary. Before entering the monastery, he served in the U.S. Army.
Father Francis Jin, O.S.B., will speak about “Prayer and Work” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17. He is a native of China, where he earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University. He came to Saint Vincent in 2015 and professed first vows in 2016 and solemn vows in 2019. He was ordained to the presbyterate by Bishop Larry J. Kulick in 2022. Presently serving as vocation director of the Archabbey, he also is a human formation advisor and teacher of moral theology at Saint Vincent Seminary. He has a Master of Arts degree in Catholic philosophical studies and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary, the Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree, given in conjunction with Sant’ Anselmo, and the Licentiate in Moral Theology from Boston College.
Father Edward Mazich, O.S.B., will present on “Poverty and Simplicity of Life in Benedictine Spirituality” at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 14. He is rector of Saint Vincent Seminary, where he also teaches Sacred Scripture and serves as director of liturgy. A priest for 25 years, he has a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Penn State University, a Master of Arts degree in theology from Saint Vincent Seminary, a Licensitate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, a Licentiate in Fundamental Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, and a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Oxford. Father Edward serves as an associate editor of The Bible Today, has written and published at the popular and academic levels, and is active in retreat ministry.
There will be a presentation on Benedictine vows on Saturday, July 11, with the presenter and time to be determined. This address generally takes place in the prior to the solemn vows Mass.
Father Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., will give the talk on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m., with a topic to be determined. Father Kurt is a native of St. Marys, Pennsylvania, and has spent much of his academic career in Rome. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College, a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary, a diploma in Latin Letters from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; a license in Patristic Theology and Sciences from the Patristic Institute at the Augustinianum, Rome; studied at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Rome and earned a doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1994 from Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, Rome. In addition to his work in Rome, he spent a period of time at Saint Vincent Seminary, where he taught, served as academic dean, director of spiritual life and rector.
Father Philip M. Kanfush, O.S.B., will discuss “Forgiveness in Benedictine Spirituality” at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 16. He is procurator of Saint Vincent Archabbey and is professor in the Education Department at Saint Vincent College, where he teaches many courses in special education. He is the founder of the Bearcat B.E.S.T. program at Saint Vincent College, and has also served in parish apostolates. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Vincent College, a Master of Arts and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary, the Master of Education degree in special education from the University of Pittsburgh and the Doctor of Education degree in special education from West Virginia University. He also has a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and Nutrition from California University of Pennsylvania. He is a doctoral-level board-certified behavior analyst, and has Pennsylvania teaching certificates in many disciplines. He made first vows as a Benedictine monk in 1994 and was ordained to the presbyterate in 2000.
Brother José Rosa, O.S.B., will present “Stability in Benedictine Spirituality” at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 20. Brother José was ordained to the diaconate on August 30, 2025 by Bishop Larry J. Kulick and has been assigned at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and politics from Saint Vincent College and is a student at Saint Vincent Seminary. He made solemn vows on July 11, 2025 and serves as an assistant to the director of Campus Ministry, member of the Archabbey Schola and is involved in numerous retreats.
Bishop Larry J. Kulick, J.C.L., will talk to the Oblates on “Oblate Day” Sunday, September 27, on a topic to be announced. Bishop Kulick was appointed the Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg by Pope Francis on December 18, 2020. He was ordained to the episcopacy on February 11, 2021. Prior to his appointment as bishop, he was diocesan administrator when his predecessor was installed as the 12th Bishop of Cleveland. A native of Leechburg, he is the first native son and priest of the diocese to be appointed Bishop. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary, a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America, and serves on many boards, including the Saint Vincent Seminary Board of Regents, Saint Vincent College Board of Directors and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.
Father Isaac Haywiser, O.S.B., will discuss “Discipline in Benedictine Spirituality” at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18. Father Isaac has a variety of assignments at Saint Vincent Archabbey, College and Seminary. He professed first vows as a Benedictine monk in 2010 and was ordained a priest in 2015. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Saint Vincent College, a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary, a Master of Science in marketing from Drexel University and a Master of Science degree in church management from Villanova University. He is presently lecturer in business administration at Saint Vincent College, director of strategic initiatives for formation and human formation advisor at Saint Vincent Seminary, health benefits manager and plans administrator for the Archabbey.
Father Job Foote, O.S.B., will give a series of talks on a topic to be determined for the Oblate Day of Recollection on Saturday, October 24. Father Job is presently serving as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart and Ascension Parishes, Jeannette, in the Diocese of Greensburg. He professed first vows as a Benedictine monk in 1984 and was ordained a priest in 1989. He has served a number of parishes in the dioceses of Richmond, Pittsburgh, Altoona-Johnstown and Harrisburg, and has also been a chaplain at Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in El Salvador. He has also been a lieutenant in the U.S.Naval Reserves. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Penn State University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary.
Father Thomas Acklin, O.S.B., will speak on “Conversatio Morum” at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 15. Father Tom is known as an author, teacher, spiritual director, counselor, retreat master and psychoanalyst. He is the author of The Unchanging Heart of the Priesthood, and The Passion of the Lamb and co-author with Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., of Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love, and Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love. A former rector of Saint Vincent Seminary who is presently professor of theology, he has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Duquesne University, a Master of Divinity from Saint Vincent Seminary, a Licentiate in Sacred theology, a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the University of Louvain, Belgium.
Father Patrick Cronauer, O.S.B., will speak on “The Spirituality of Advent/Christmas in the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict” at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 20. Father Patrick is professor of Sacred Scripture and Biblical Languages at Saint Vincent Seminary, where he has taught for 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption College, the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Weston School of Theology, the S.S.L., from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome; and the S.S.D., from École Biblique et Archéologique Francaise, Jerusalem. He has also done graduate studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and lived and worked in a small Benedictine community in Israel in the early 1970s. He has organized and led the biennial third and fourth-year seminarian pilgrimage to the Holy Land for a number of years.
For additional information as the talks near, please visit the website www.svaoblates.org.
