AN EVENING OF SUPPORT & CELEBRATION
2024 Good Shepherd Dinner
The Pontifical College Josephinum’s 2024 Good Shepherd Dinner held on April 15 was a remarkable event of support for its mission and its seminarians. This year’s signature fundraising event brought together 230 friends and supporters and many honored guests, including numerous bishops, religious, and lay members of the Josephinum’s Board of Trustees.
The Josephinum was privileged to present its annual Good Shepherd and Pope Leo XIII Awards – the highest honors it bestows – to His Excellency, The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, and Mr. J. David Karam of Upper Arlington, Ohio, respectively.
Bishop McKnight attended the Josephinum from 1990 until his ordination for the Diocese of Wichita in 1994. After doctoral studies in Rome, he returned to the Josephinum and served for many years as a professor and administrator. Throughout his priesthood and into his episcopacy, Bishop McKnight has maintained a strong connection to the Josephinum, most recently by accepting an invitation to join the seminary’s Board.
“No one knows as much about the history and mission of the Josephinum than our Good Shepherd Award recipient,” said Very Reverend Steven Beseau, Rector/President. “He has been and continues to be a tremendous gift to the Church and, in particular, to the Josephinum, as a man of faith, integrity, prudence, and joy.”
The 2024 Pope Leo XIII recipient, Mr. J. David Karam, is Chief Executive Officer of the Sbarro restaurant chain and past president of Wendy’s International. The Josephinum welcomed Mr. Karam as a member of its Board in 2015 and has been a grateful beneficiary of his business expertise and passion for the Church.
“In the past five years, the Josephinum has seen increasing numbers of seminarians, and successfully built stability and continuity for the future,” said Father Beseau. “We have renewed our vision and our mission, and developed a new strategic plan. All of this has been profoundly influenced by David Karam.”
The Good Shepherd Dinner is the culmination of months of planning and preparation by seminary staff and many dedicated volunteers. The evening's program was beautifully emceed by Sean Taylor and Ashley McBride Taylor of Dublin, OH.
Seminarians take part in the event in many roles, from greeting guests and assisting servers, to leading prayers and offering toasts. A talented trio of seminarians performed beautiful vocal pieces throughout the evening.
Deacon Christopher Hoffmann (Jefferson City) offered a reflection on his time in formation at the Josephinum. “Over the last four years I have been encouraged and supported by formators - both official and unofficial - as well as other seminarians, to be the man God is calling me to be,” he said. “It has been a joy and honor to live in this House of Saint Joseph. After this time of ministry opportunities, classes, evaluations, trials, and lots of prayer, I am joyfully ready to be ordained by Bishop McKnight on June first.”
The success of the Good Shepherd Dinner is made possible by the many dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals who sponsor the event, as well as by the great generosity of those who attend. Proceeds support the seminary’s mission to form holy, generous, adaptable, and resilient priests for the 21st century.
“I am grateful to all of you for being here, for supporting this event, and for everything you make possible for our future priests,” said Father Beseau. “We truly cannot do what we do without you.”
If you would like to further the success of our Good Shepherd Dinner, we would be honored to receive your gift online. Please click here to give. Thank you!
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Please join us in prayerful thanksgiving for our 2024 Good Shepherd Dinner sponsors and contributors:
SAINT JOSEPH SPONSORS – $25,000
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Diocese of Jefferson City/Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight ’94
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Mr. J. David & Mrs. Lisa M. Karam
MONSIGNOR JESSING SPONSORS – $15,000
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Anonymous
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Friends of the Josephinum
HOUSE OF JOSEPH SPONSORS – $10,000
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amaEyes/ Dr. Charlotte Agnone, Dr. Jennifer Morrison, Dr. Ellen Smith
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Anonymous
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Gummer Wholesale /Mr. Richard & Mrs. Kathleen Gummer
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Sbarro, LLC
CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS – $7,500
Dioceses
Diocese of Birmingham
Most Reverend Steven J. Raica
Diocese of Columbus
Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes
Parishes
Saint Brigid of Kildare Parish
Reverend James Black ’88, Pastor
Saint Joan of Arc Parish
Reverend David Schalk ’04, Pastor
Individuals & Organizations
Anonymous
Mr. Marc & Mrs. Tonya Hawk Family/RevLocal
Mr. William Khourie, Jr. & Mrs. Lisa Khourie
Kurtz Bros. Central Ohio, LLC
Dr. Rama & Mrs. Anne Mallampalli
Meyers Wealth Management/Mr. Robert & Mrs. Suzanne Meyers
Mr. H. John Sauer, III ’79 & Mrs. Kathleen Sauer
CONTRIBUTORS
Parishes
Saint Paul the Apostle Parish
Reverend Jonathan Wilson ‘03, Pastor
Saint Margaret of Cortona Parish
Reverend Jeffrey Rimelspach ‘79, Pastor
Individuals & Organizations
Anonymous
BNY Mellon
Mr. Daniel & Mrs. Michele Cleary
Mr. Frank Courtney & Ms. Pegi Gill
Deacon Christopher & Mrs. Deborah Walsh
