JCA graduate Matthew Gummess ’04
The Order of Carmelites, Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, which co-sponsors Joliet Catholic Academy is proud to announce the ordination of Matthew Gummess, O.Carm. Matthew is an alum of JCA, Class of 2004. He and his family have been long-time Joliet residents and members of St. Patrick’s Parish in Joliet. He will be ordained at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Chicago on Saturday January 20, 2018 and will celebrate his first mass at St. Patrick’s Parish in Joliet on Sunday, January 21 at 10 a.m. JCA and the Order of Carmelites would like to invite all families in the JCA community to attend in support of Matthew.
Matthew was the valedictorian of the 2004 graduating class at JCA, as well as the valedictorian of his grade school graduating class at St. Patrick’s in Joliet in 2000.
Matthew holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and philosophy from Yale University, where he earned the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. The Fulbright Scholar Program is administered on behalf of the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The core Fulbright Scholar Program attracts some 800 U.S. faculty and professionals each year to 140 countries to lecture, teach and conduct research. Matthew did his teaching and study in Talca, Chile.
JCA Campus Minister Fr. Jeffery Smialek, O. Carm said, “JCA is beyond proud that one of our graduates is making this commitment in his life. It is a testimony to the vibrant spiritual life of JCA and the influence of the Carmelites and Franciscans. It is an honor when a school has a graduate make a commitment to a sponsoring religious community. We wish Fr. Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., all the best in his future ministry.”
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