This July, Saint Vincent Archabbey welcomed two new novices, who will undertake a year of prayer and discernment of life as Benedictine monks. They are Brother Lazarus (Emmanuel) Cacio Cruz, N.O.S.B., a native of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and Brother Wolfgang (Michael) Imbornoni, N.O.S.B., of Floral Park, New York.

Brother Lazarus is a 2005 graduate of Colegio San José, San Germán, Puerto Rico, He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2011 from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Pharm. D. degree in pharmacy in 2019 from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s School of Pharmacy. He completed his pharmacy residency at Allegheny Health Network’s Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie.

He previously explored life as a Benedictine monk at the Benedictine monastery of the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation in Spain, making simple profession of vows on July 25, 2009 at Real Abadia de San Julián y Santa Basilisa de Samos.

A licensed pharmacist with the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy, he is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist with the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, and a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

He is one of three children, a son of Michael Louis Cacio and Rosa Isabel Cruz. His brother, Mitchell Louis Cacio, lives in Huntsville, Alabama, and his other brother, Michael Eugene, is deceased.

Brother Wolfgang is a son of Barbara Imbornoni of Floral Park and the late William Imbornoni. His siblings are Robert Imbornoni of New York and Bridge Imbornoni of Annapolis, Maryland.

He is a 2011 graduate of Floral Park Memorial High School and graduated from the State University of New York, Oneonta, with a bachelor’s degree in economics.