Seminarians perform at Mount Angel benefit

Photo courtesy of Mount Angel Seminary

+ Enlarge

Seminarians Christopher Gray, piano, and Adam Calliham, flute, perform at the Fifth Annual Mount Angel Seminary Benefit Dinner, Oct. 24.

by Sandra Chiodo

Mount Angel Seminary

ST. BENEDICT, Ore. — Members of the Diocese of Salt Lake City can be proud of Mount Angel Seminary students Adam Calliham and Christopher Gray.

Calliham, a former professional flutist, accompanied by Gray, performed the "Sonata in E Major" for flute and keyboard by J.S. Bach at the Fifth Annual Mount Angel Seminary Benefit Dinner.

The Abbey Foundation of Oregon and Mount Angel Seminary hosted the annual dinner Oct. 24, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore. The theme this year was: "A Future Full of Hope." The event was a sold-out success with 750 guests, which raised over $500,000 in donations for seminarian education, according to event chair Tom Eyer.

Nearly 150 seminarians were featured in the Dinner program through testimonials, video and musical performances.

Mathew Olson, Diocese of Sacramento, and Ysrael Bien, Archdiocese of Portland, shared their calling to the priesthood and the impact of Mount Angel Seminary on their formation. Jason Nuñez of the Diocese of Honolulu produced a video about Seminary life and the challenging formation program at Mount Angel.

One of the highlights was a seminarian singing group, La Tuna. Dressed in medieval troubadour and minstrel costumes, they performed lively renditions of A mi manera and La compostelana.

"There is an amazing array of talents among our seminarians," said Fr. Paschal Cheline, OSB, interim president-rector of Mount Angel Seminary. "These are a gifted group of young men who will be excellent priests."

All seminarians performed in the choir to close the event under the direction of Sr. Teresa Gould, FH.

Results of the 2008 Dinner exceeded the previous Seminary Dinner totals by nearly $100,000. "The response to this year’s event was particularly inspiring in light of the economic challenges around us," said Steve English, president of The Abbey Foundation Board.

Bill Hunt chaired the Sponsorship Committee that secured over 100 table sponsors. He is chair of the 2009 Seminary Benefit Dinner scheduled for October 23rd.

To receive information about the 2009 Seminary Dinner, call Sandra Chiodo at Mount Angel Abbey at (503) 845-3068., or by email at Sandra.chiodo@mtangel.edu.