Father Ronald P. Gatman, O.S.B., will speak to the Oblates of Saint Benedict of Saint Vincent Archabbey on the topic of Silence at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 16. The talks take place in Brownfield 202 at Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe. Father Ronald earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of Kentucky. Following some graduate work at the University of Kentucky, Father Ronald enlisted in the United States Navy and entered bootcamp in June 1967. He was on active duty in the United States Navy from 1967 until January 1971, when he was released from active duty and went to reserve status. During his stint in the United States Navy, Father Ronald attended language school in California and communications school in Texas. He served for a year in Scotland at the Naval Base in Edzell, and following that, he served for 9 months in Sinop, Turkey from where he was released from active duty.
He attended the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He joined the Benedictine monastic community of Saint Vincent Archabbey and made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10 1974, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1977. He earned a Master of Divinity degree with high honors from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1978. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 1979.
He taught on the faculty of Benedictine Military School, Savannah, Georgia from 1979 until his retirement in 2008. He served as the subprior of the Savannah Benedictines and director of Campus Ministry at the school until 2020, and continued to assist in Campus Ministry until he retired to the Archabbey in 2023.
Following his return to Latrobe, Father Ronald contributes in a number of ways, including with celebrating Masses and hearing confessions, as needed.
Oblates and guests may attend vespers at 5 p.m. in the Basilica and stay for supper in the guest dining room. Those wishing to stay for supper should contact Father Donald Raila, director of Oblates, at least two days in advance at 724-805-2291. Following supper, Oblates will meet at 6:45 p.m. in Brownfield 202 to dscuss a book from the current reading list.
