Newly ordained alumnus Canon Luke Zignego (’10) was recently installed as the vicar and General Manager at St. Francis de Sales Oratory in St. Louis, Missouri. Canon Zignego, who was ordained by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, is Christendom’s 86th alumni priest in the college’s 40-year history.
Canon Zignego was raised in a Catholic family, with his vocation to the priesthood growing during his time at Christendom. After he graduated, Canon Zignego studied as a seminarian at the Institute of Christ the King’s seminary in Gricigliana, Italy, for seven years, before returning to the U.S. for his ordination this past summer.
Canon Zignego’s enormous accomplishment is the latest vocation nourished at Christendom, with another five alumni set to be ordained this coming summer, raising the number of alumni priests over 90. Deacon Nicholas Blank will become a priest in the Diocese of Arlington, making him the 17th alumni priest serving in Christendom’s home diocese. Deacon David Frank will be ordained in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, while Deacon Steven Wood will be ordained in the Diocese of Sacramento. Br. John Mark Solitario, O.P., will become a priest with the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph and John Killackey, FSSP, will be ordained a priest in the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.
Together, these alumni will join a rich history of alumni religious. Currently, there are 86 priests, 53 sisters, 7 brothers, 5 transitional deacon, 1 permanent deacon, and 24 men currently studying for the priesthood.