‘Once in a generation transition’ occurs at Saint John’s School of Theology

Saint John’s School of Theology is going through a once in a generation transition, according to the dean of school, Shawn Colberg — one where faculty with long and distinguished careers are retiring and new scholars, in the early arc of their career, are bringing in new energy.
“As a school, we have asked ‘how do we bring in the best scholars who have a deep love for the Church and a deep love for ministry?” Colberg said. “We try to hire for mission, and here there is a deep sense of our shared mission — a Benedictine commitment to prayer and service.”
Colberg attributes their recruitment ability to its partnership with Saint John’s Abbey, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University’s commitment to its Catholic identity and its location within the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
Many students of the SOT participate in internships throughout the diocese and faculty and staff of the SOT are also engaged through diocesan projects, as parents in diocesan schools, as members of their parish councils, as well as various diocesan and parish committees.
Along with additional faculty comes the appointment of a new rector, Father William Orbih, succeeding Benedictine Father Michael Patella, who served as rector for the last 17 years.
“We have been grateful for Father Michael’s service. He has helped us understand how to train priests,” Colberg said. “Fr. Orbih is poised to bring the seminary into the next generation of priestly leadership.”

Meet the recent additions to the Saint John’s School of Theology:

Micah Kiel
Associate Professor of Theology

“Saint John’s University changed my life, and to get to be part of that now is just amazing,” Kiel said. “The concept of the School of Theology is based around community. It is really beautiful.”

Kiel taught at Saint Ambrose University for the past 17 years with teaching experience in areas spanning from introductory undergraduate theology courses, courses for theology majors and minors, and graduate courses covering the spectrum of New Testament subjects. He has a deep record of service and support to the larger church, including scores of presentations and days of reflection for dioceses and parishes.
Kiel, a 1998 graduate of Saint John’s University, received his master of divinity degree and doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary and has published numerous articles and four books.

 

 

 

 

Katharine Harmon
Project Director for the Obsculta Preaching Initiative

“I want to serve the Church. I want to do something to help build up the body of Christ in this world that will allow it to be in unity with — Roman [Catholics] ourselves and with all those around us, too,” Harmon said. “I think Saint John’s is uniquely poised with so many resources and its desire to serve the Church and the people of God.”

Harmon is a Roman Catholic pastoral liturgist and historian who began her vocation as a church musician. She received her bachelor’s in church music and in English from Valparaiso University and her master of theological studies degree and doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in liturgical studies.
Harmon served as a pastoral musician for more than 25 years and her current research focuses on American Catholic liturgical renewal in the twentieth century. She has contributed over a dozen articles and chapters to the fields of both liturgical studies and American Catholicism, as well as pastoral resources. She is the author of multiple publications and co-edits the blog, Pray Tell: Worship, Wit and Wisdom.

 

 

 

 

Fr. William Orbih
Rector
“At Notre Dame, I was in a special area called world religion/world church. On one hand, it’s intercultural theology or intercultural ecclesiology and on the other hand it’s comparative religion.” Father Orbih said. “My present research is at that intersection — the Church, but also inter-religious relationships and dialog.”

Father Orbih’s appointment at Saint John’s School of Theology is both ecclesiastical and academic. He was appointed by Abbot Douglas Mullin in his capacity as rector.
Fr. Orbih holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in philosophy and one in sacred theology, and an master of theological studies degree from Saint John’s School of Theology. He also holds a post-graduate diploma in conflict, peace, and strategic studies and defended his doctoral dissertation, “Resistance in African Literature: Towards a Decolonial Theology of Hope,” last summer at the University of Notre Dame, thereby completing his doctorate with a specialization in World Religion and World Church.

 

 

 

Deepan Rajaratnam
Director of Ministerial Formation

“The School of Theology is a special place in that there are lay students and ordained students — priests and deacons — and a diversity of students — international and domestic, and all students serve in ministry and study theology. That’s what really drew me, as I’ve had one foot in theology and the other foot in ministry,” Rajaratnam said.

Rajaratnam is an award-winning theologian and ministry professional with a breadth of ecclesial experience. He received his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee, a master of theological studies degree from Boston College and is currently a doctoral candidate for studies in Christian theology at Saint Louis University where he previously taught.
Rajaratnam has previously served as a parish youth minister, accompanied undergraduates as a graduate campus minister and supported parishes and diocesan staff as a diocesan director and formator.
Much of Rajaratnam’s recent writing focuses on Pope Francis’ synodal vision for the Church and he will continue his theological research as he teaches and forms the next generation of lay and ordained ministers for the Catholic Church.

 

 

 

Matt Sherman
Associate Professor of Theology

“My family has been connected to Benedictine thought and prayer most of our lives, and we would come here in summers to do research and spend time in community,” Sherman said. “We’ve always had an interest in the School of Theology, so we’re grateful for our opportunity to be here.”

Sherman earned his bachelor’s degree from Brown University with a focus in biomedical ethics, a master of theological studies degree concentrating in Christianity and culture from Harvard Divinity School, and a doctorate focusing in theological ethics from Boston College. Before coming to Saint John’s, he served as an associate professor of theology at Marian University. He also has teaching experience in the diaconal formation program for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Diocese of Lafayette.
Sherman has taught both graduate and undergraduate students and possesses professional experience as a college campus minister and parish pastoral associate.
While at Marian, Sherman helped to coordinate and lead one of the largest undergraduate programs in pastoral theology and ministry and he has a strong research agenda in areas of social ethics, the liturgical theology of Virgil Michel and the theology of family life.

 

 

 

For full biographies, visit https://www.csbsju.edu/sot/sem-faculty/