Three men began their novitiate with investiture ceremonies at Saint Vincent Archabbey on July 10. The novitiate is a year of prayer and study designed to assist them in discerning their vocation as Benedictine monks. Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., received as postulants Br. Dominic J. Shipsky of Poland, Ohio; Br. Gregory D. Montagna of Cardale, Pennsylvania and Rev. Joseph C. Linck of Pittsburgh.

Brother Dominic Shipsky, N.O.S.B.

Brother Dominic J. Shipsky was born July 26, 1965. He is the son of Ruth Jane Shipsky of Poland, Ohio and the late John C. Shipsky. He is one of seven children, including Jack, Paul and Bob Shipsky of Poland; Marilyn Jones of Jax, Florida; Bill Shipsky of Struthers, Ohio and Sue Shipsky of Atlanta, Georgia.

A 1984 graduate of Poland High School, he attended Poland Union Grade School.

BROTHER Gregory Montagna, N.O.S.B.

Br. Gregory D. Montagna is the son of Dr. David and Mrs. Grace Montagna of Cardale, Pennsylvania.

He is a 1987 graduate of Brownsville Area High School. In 1991 he earned a bachelor of arts degree in politics and philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. He attended Saint Vincent Seminary from 1993 to 1995. He earned a master of divinity degree with high honor from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2000.

Rev. Joseph C. Linck, N.O.S.B.

Rev. Joseph C. Linck was born December 9, 1964 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Charles W. Linck and Mary L. (Babkowski) Linck of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.

He attended Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parochial School in Ephrata, and is a 1982 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1986 from Thomas More College, Merrimack, New Hampshire; a master of arts degree in theology in 1988 from the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas; a master of divinity degree in 1994 from Saint Vincent Seminary; and a doctorate in church history in 1995 from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

He was ordained a deacon January 15, 1994 by Bishop Donald Wuerl at St. Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Wuerl on September 17, 1994 at Sacred Heart Church, Shadyside. From 1995 to 1999 he has been a lecturer in Church History at Saint Vincent Seminary. He also worked in campus ministry as a member of The Pittsburgh Oratory, the community in which he was ordained and to which he belonged from 1990 to 2000.

He is a member of the Catholic Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and the American Catholic Historical Association.