Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, received the solemn vows of two Benedictines on Thursday, July 11, during Mass at the Archabbey Basilica. After spending one year as novices and three years as junior monks, a period of reflection and monastic formation, the Benedictine brothers may petition for solemn vows, which are a commitment to monastic vows for life. Making their professions were Brother Cajetan P. Homick, O.S.B., of Brackenridge and Brother Boniface P. Hicks, O.S.B., of State College.

BROTHER CAJETAN (PAUL) HOMICK, O.S.B.

Brother Cajetan (Paul) Homick, O.S.B., J.D., was born September 13, 1968 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Paul and Patricia Homick of Brackenridge.

He attended Fairmont Elementary School and is a 1987 graduate of Highlands Senior High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science, with highest honor, from Saint Vincent College in 1991 and a juris doctor degree from Duquesne Law School in 1994, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree, magna cum laude, from the Pontifical Ateneo di Sant’ Anselmo, Rome, Italy, in 2002. He is continuing to pursue graduate studies in Rome.

Prior to his arrival at Saint Vincent he served as an attorney for Fried, Kane, Walters, Zuschlag and Grochmal of Pittsburgh (1994-1998); as vice president of the Catholic Cemeteries Association, Inc., of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (1996-1998) and as vice president of the Pennsylvania Fire Services Institute, Inc., Harrisburg (1996-1998). He is presently a member of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association.

He made simple profession of vows on July 9, 1999, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 2002. He was appointed as Administrative Secretary to the Archabbot (1999-2001) and Assistant Fire Chief with the Saint Vincent Fire Department. He served as Assistant Director of the Vocation Office (1999-2000). In 2000 he was named socius of novices for the Archabbey, a position he held until 2001, when he began graduate studies in Rome.

Boniface Hicks, O.S.B.

BROTHER BONIFACE (PATRICK) HICKS, O.S.B.

Brother Boniface (Patrick) Hicks, O.S.B., of State College is the son of William and Mary Hicks of Burke, Virginia and the brother of Michael Hicks of Philadelphia.

He attended Grafton Bethel Elementary School, Silvergate Elementary School and Correia Junior High School. He is a 1993 graduate of Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Virginia. He earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science and a master of science degree in computer science from Penn State University in 1997. At Penn State he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Honor Fraternity and the Penn State Newman Club.

He made simple profession of vows on July 9, 1999. He was appointed in 1999 as a lecturer in the Computing and Information Science Department, Saint Vincent College, and he served on the College Campus Ministry Staff (1999-2000).