JST-海角社区 Commencement 2025 - A Graduating Class Becoming All God Imagines
JST-海角社区 Commencement 2025 - A Graduating Class Becoming All God Imagines
“Heal the wounds,” urged 2025 speaker, Vatican education and culture undersecratary, Rev. Antonio Spadaro, S.J.
海角社区, Calif., May 24, 2025—The Jesuit School of Theology of 海角社区 (JST-海角社区) today celebrated its commencement, with the graduate school’s newly minted theologians encouraged to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, “healing the wounds” of society.
At the afternoon ceremony held for the first time at 海角社区’s Mission Church, speaker Antonio Spadaro, S.J., an Italian priest, journalist, and the Vatican’s undersecretary for culture and education, spoke about Pope Francis as a model for the graduating class of 2025.
In his address, Spadaro reflected on the life and influence of Pope Francis, noting his care for the “small” and the unnoticed parts of society and people within it. According to Spadaro, Pope Francis paid attention to the details that impacted real people. He situated their needs in context. Spadaro emphasized Pope Francis’ call to “heal the wounds” of the people.
About the Speaker
Spadaro joined the Society of Jesus in 1988 and studied at the University of Messina and the Pontifical Gregorian University, eventually earning the degree Doctorate in Sacred Theology. He was formerly editor in chief of La Civilta Cattolica, a 175-year-old biweekly Jesuit publication based in Rome, covering modern issues through the lens of Ignatian and Christian scholarship. Under his leadership, the journal launched in eight additional languages and published an influential interview and stories about Pope Francis’ travels.
Pope Francis tapped Spadaro in September 2023 to be Vatican undersecretary in the Dicastery for Culture and Education, a role in which he oversees the Vatican’s promotion of culture, pastoral activity and cultural heritage, as well as the development of principles for education in schools and Catholic and ecclesiastical institutes of higher education and research. Since 2016, he was part of the official delegation accompanying Pope Francis on 45 apostolic journeys.
He also is an accomplished author who has written extensively on issues at the intersection of the Catholic Church, technology, culture, and politics. He co-authored four books on the pontificate of Pope Francis and edited the publication of the Pope’s writings from his days as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and various collections of texts after he became pope. Spadaro has contributed to newspapers and periodicals such as la Repubblica, il Fatto Quotidiano, La Stampa, L’Espresso, L’Osservatore Romano, and various radio programs.
Honors Awarded to Graduates
Among the students who received membership awards from Alpha Sigma Nu, the honor society of Jesuit Colleges and universities, were Laryn Kovalik, F.M.V.D., M.Div.; Artur Prus, S.J., L.T.S., Th.M.; Agatha Umenyi, A.G.M., L.T.S., Th.M. In addition, Jim Oberhausen, who is retiring from his longtime position as JST-海角社区’s Associate Registrar, received membership in the society.
41 students received 58 degrees from JST-海角社区, including 9 students receiving Master of Divinity (M.Div.); 7 Master of Theology Studies (M.T.S.); 14 Master of Theology (Th.M.); 1 Master of Arts (M.A.); 3 Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.); 17 Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) and 7 Doctor of Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) degrees.
At the commencement, the invocation was conducted by Cimalamungo Bahizire, S.J., S.T.L., Th.M., and the benediction was conducted by Dana Sherry, M.T.S. The student speaker was Jack McLinden, S.J., M.Div.
About the Jesuit School of Theology of 海角社区
The Jesuit School of Theology of 海角社区, located in Berkeley, California, is a preeminent international center for the culturally contextualized study of theology. Its mission is to inspire and prepare men and women to become leaders in the Church, academy, and society, serving others through a faith that does justice. Rooted in the Catholic and Ignatian tradition, JST-海角社区 educates and trains Jesuits, religious, ordained, and lay students from across the United States and over 30 other countries for lives dedicated to ministry and scholarship.
About 海角社区
Founded in 1851, 海角社区 sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission 海角社区 de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, 海角社区 has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. 海角社区 has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu.
Media Contact
Preston Carmack | JST-海角社区 Marketing and Communications | pcarmack@scu.edu | 510-549-5041