With joy and thanksgiving, the Congregation of Holy Cross celebrated the Perpetual Profession of Vows of five men. Br. Joseph DeAgostino, C.S.C., Mr. Vincent Nguyen, C.S.C., Mr. M. Joseph Pedersen, C.S.C., Mr. Zachary Rathke, C.S.C., and Mr. Gilbrian Stoy, C.S.C., professed Perpetual Vows on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. Rev. William M. Lies, C.S.C., provincial superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers, presided at Mass and received their vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Mr. Vincent Nguyen, C.S.C., Mr. Joseph Pedersen, C.S.C., Mr. Zachary Rathke, C.S.C., and Mr. Gilbrian Stoy, C.S.C., were ordained to the Order of Deacon on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, in the Moreau Seminary Chapel by the Most Rev. Jorge Izaguirre, Bishop Prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Chuquibamba, Peru.
Br. Joseph DeAgostino, C.S.C., is the second of six children of Thomas and Laura DeAgostino of Lawrence, Kan. He graduated with a B.A. in Medieval Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2013, where he also earned his M.Div. in 2016. Joe entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in August 2009 as an Old Collegian. He made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 2, 2014.
During his formation, Joe served as assistant second grade catechist, St. Joseph Catholic School, South Bend, Ind. (Fall 2012-Spring 2013); intern at House of Possibilities in South Easton, Mass. (Summer 2013); primary second grade catechist, Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodland Park, Colo. (Fall 2013-Summer 2014); hospital chaplain at Penrose Hospitals, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Fall 2013-Summer 2014); primary first grade catechist, St. Pius X Catholic Church, Granger, Ind. (Fall 2014); spiritual advisor, St. Vincent DePaul Society at Holy Cross Parish, South Bend, Ind. (Fall 2014-Spring 2015); camp counselor/parish summer intern, St. John Vianney Parish, Goodyear, Ariz. (Summer 2015); assistant learning coordinator, Marian High School, Mishawaka, Ind. (Fall 2015-Spring 2016); academic resource intern, Shepard Academic Resource Center, University of Portland (Fall 2016-Spring 2017); pastoral intern, University of Portland Campus Ministry (Fall 2016-Summer 2019); pastoral resident, Fields and Schoenfeldt Hall, University of Portland (Fall 2016-Summer 2019); and pastoral assistant, St. André Bessette Catholic Church, Portland, Ore. (Fall 2017-Summer 2019).
For Br. Joe, Perpetual Profession is of great significance as this marks the end of his initial formation as a Holy Cross brother. As one of five temporarily professed brothers in the United States Province, Br. Joe is overjoyed to be offering this commitment to God and to the Church. “Reading and reflecting on the Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, I routinely find myself incredibly grateful for the blessing of each and every ‘yes’ I have made throughout life, not only in the profession of vows but in the daily commitments and ministries that I have done throughout my time in Holy Cross.”
Br. Joe is currently assigned to serve at André House of Hospitality, Phoenix, Ariz.
Mr. Vincent Nguyen, C.S.C., is the first of four children of Hoa and Kelly Nguyen of Warner Robins, Ga. He graduated with a B.A. in economics and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 2014, where he also earned his M.Div. in 2019. Vincent entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in Aug. 2010 as an Old Collegian. He made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 1, 2015.
Vincent served as a chaplain at the Center for Hospice Care, South Bend, Ind. (2015-2016); at the Shrine of Blessed Basil Moreau, Le Mans, France (Summer 2016); as a marriage enrichment leader at Christ the King Parish, South Bend, Ind. (2016-2017); at Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton, Mass. (Summer 2017); in multi-cultural ministry at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. (2017-2018); at André House in Phoenix, Ariz. (Summer 2018); and as assistant rector of Sorin College at the University of Notre Dame (2018-2019).
Vincent will serve as a deacon at Holy Cross Parish, South Bend, Ind.
Mr. Mark Joseph Pedersen, C.S.C., is the fifth of six children of Michael and Mary Pedersen of Waterloo, Iowa. Joe graduated with a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., in 2009, earned his master’s from the University in 2011, and his M.Div. in 2019. Prior to entering the Congregation of Holy Cross, he was a theology teacher at Benilde-St. Margaret School in St. Louis Park, Minn. He entered Holy Cross in Aug. 2013 as a postulant, and made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 1, 2015.
During his formation, Joe served as a hospital chaplain at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2014-2015); at the Catholic Worker House in South Bend, Ind. (2015-2016); in bible study outreach in Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. (2016-2017); as a pastoral assistant at La Luz Parish, Monterrey, Mexico (2017); as an intern in the development office at the University of Portland, Portland, Ore. (Summer 2018); and as assistant director of Old College Undergraduate Seminary on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. (2018-2019).
Joe will serve as rector at Siegfried Hall at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
Mr. Zachary Rathke, C.S.C., is the youngest of three children of Charles and Anne Rathke of College Station, Texas. He graduated with a B.A. from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, earned an MTS at Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass., and earned his M.Div. from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. in 2019. Zach entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in Aug. 2013 as a postulant, and professed First Vows on Aug. 1, 2015.
During his formation, Zach served in youth and outreach programs at La Luz Parish, Monterrey, Mexico (Summer 2014); school and ministry programs at Holy Redeemer Parish, Portland, Ore. (Winter 2015); Yancana Huasy and Fe y Alegría Schools in Lima, Peru (Summer 2016); St. Ignatius Martyr Parish, Austin, Texas (Summer 2017); Spanish language immersion program in Puebla, Mexico (Summer 2018); and El Señor de la Esperanza Parish in Lima, Peru (Fall Pastoral Semester 2018).
Zachary will serve his diaconate year at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin, Texas.
Mr. Gilbrian Stoy, C.S.C., is the youngest of three children of Thomas Stoy and Brigid Fitzgerald of Little Falls, Minn. He graduated with a B.S. in Preprofessional Studies from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., in 2013, and earned his M.Div. from the University in 2019. He entered Holy Cross in Aug. 2013 as a postulant. He made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 1, 2015.
During his formation, Gil served in sacramental preparation at St. Mark’s Parish, Niles, Mich. (2013-2014); RCIA, Sacred Heart Parish, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2014-2015); group facilitator at Rise Up Academy, South Bend, Ind. (2015-2016); course instructor at Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Ind. (2016-2017); at the Common Goods Food Cooperative, South Bend, Ind. (2017-2018); and assistant rector, Alumni Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. (2018-2019).
Gil will serve as a deacon at Christ the King Parish, South Bend, Ind.
The Aug. 31 Final Vows Mass will be broadcast live on the Notre Dame campus ministry web site.
