CLASS OF 2021
In May there will be 18 graduates representing six countries. Each week, we'll share the intriguing paths they took to get here and highlight the ones they're charting.
Fr. Kwan Yau Wong - Master of Theological Studies (Liturgy)

What brought you to Saint John's Graduate School of Theology and Seminary?
I was ordained as a priest of the diocese of Hong Kong in 2017. My respected Bishop, Michael Yeung, asked me to further my liturgical studies. This request led me to join the SOT/Sem family in the Fall of 2019.

How will you be spending your time once your coursework is complete?
I will continue reading books, explore the possibility of taking another degree, and, of course, continuing my pastoral service.

What are your future goals and plans?
My future plans, more accurately the intention of my diocese, is to return to Hong Kong in order to serve my parish as both a teacher and pastor. Hopefully I will find time in the near future to continue my studies.

How do you hope to use your degree?
The courses provided here, both liturgy related and otherwise, widened my horizons. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to study here at the SOT/Sem and I hope to use my degree to further God's good grace.
Martina Talic - Master of Arts (Ministry)

What brought you to Saint John's Graduate School of Theology and Seminary?
I took quite a few theology classes as an undergraduate student at the College of Saint Benedict, I fell in love and ended up taking it on as a minor. After I finished my Master of Philosophy, studying Spanish literature in the Caribbean, I moved back to St. Joseph and decided to start my Masters in Pastoral Ministry at the SOT/Sem. I did not have a specific vocational goal at that point but I knew I was passionate about theology.

How will you be spending your time once your coursework is complete?
After I graduate, I will travel back to my home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long summer break surrounded by family, friends, tasty food, ocean and loads of sunshine!
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What are your future goals and plans?
I am a Spanish teacher at Saint John's Prep School and I love my job. I also teach theology in Spanish at the Emmaus Institute and I love every second of it.

How do you hope to use your degree?
I am not sure what the future holds but I hope to take full advantage of the opportunities life makes available to me!
Kaitlyn Kruger - Master of Divinity

What brought you to Saint John's Graduate School of Theology and Seminary?
I learned about the SOT/Sem while I was pursuing my MBA at the University of St. Thomas. I had come to graduate school on the heels of three years of service at a Catholic boarding school outside Port au Prince, Haiti. I received a description of Dr. Bill Cahoy's work, performed on a grant from the Lilly Foundation, studying how to support healthy and sustainable communities of faith. As I read the description, I had one of those whole-body experiences and I knew I needed to learn more. The more I learned, the more graduate studies in Theology felt like my next call.

How will you be spending your time once your coursework is complete?
I am due withy my second child ten days after graduation, so I'll be taking some time to focus on my family and getting to know its newest member. I currently work as a casual chaplain at a hospital in Duluth and look forward to continuing this ministry before long.

What are your future goals and plans?
When I enrolled, I never would have guessed that chaplaincy would be part of my ministry, but it's the best job I've ever had. I look forward to continuing in this role.

How do you hope to use your degree?
My degree is already a tremendous support for my work in chaplaincy. My husband and I are committed to peacebuilding and dream of opening a retreat center with an emphasis on community and conflict resolution someday.