Bishop's Latin School
Alumni Association
2014 John Cardinal Wright Vocations Mass 


The Twelfth Annual John Cardinal Wright Vocations Mass was held on August 24th, 2014 at 4:00pm.  The Vocations Mass and the Awards Dinner was held at St. Paul's Seminary, 2900 Noblestown Rd. Crafton, PA 15205.
The Principal Celebrant was Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, class of 1967,
and the Concelebrant was Pittsburgh's Bishop David A. Zubik, (Honorary Class of 1967). 




We would like to thank the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the seminarians and faculty and the rector of St. Paul Seminary, for allowing us to use their facility for our celebration.
To see photos of past Vocation Masses and Awards Dinners,
go to the BLS Alumni Association on FLICKR.COM,  http://www.flickr.com/groups/714051@N20/

and on FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/groups/110666926113/
Preparing for Mass...

2014 John Cardinal Wright Vocations Mass 



Bishop Zubik and Cardinal DiNardo met at St. Paul Seminary a few years ago.

The 12th Annual Vocations Mass was held in the Bishop John McDowell Auditorium at the seminary. Cardinal DiNardo was the celebrant. Bishop David Zubik and retired Aux. Bishop William Winter concelebrated, and they were joined by BLS alumni and other priests of the diocese.
2014 John Cardinal Wright Awards Dinner


A buffet dinner was served at the Cardinals Great Hall at St Paul Seminary.
Over 130 attended, including Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Zubik, Bishop Winter, and the seminarians and faculty of St Paul Seminary.
2014 John Cardinal Wright Awards Winners


Deacon Leonard Thomas, BLS'69, Mr. Michael A. Wallisch, BLS'71, and Mr. Gary Slifkey.
Deacon Leonard Thomas, BLS’1969.  A native of McKeesport, PA, Deacon Leonard Thomas has spent a lifetime counseling troubled youth in the Allegheny County Juvenile Court system. He is married and with his wife, Georgia, have two grown sons. A longtime hobby has been working as a disc jockey and record collector and has been on the radio at WXVX and WZUM and had the honor of playing alongside some of the legendary Pittsburgh disc jockeys. Following his ordination in June of 2013, Deacon Leonard M. Thomas has been assigned for diaconal ministry at St. Mary's Parish in Cecil, PA.

Mr. Michael A. Wallisch, BLS’1971.  One of six children, Mike attended St. Albert the Great. At BLS, he was VP of Student Council, Sr. Class President, and received School Spirit Award. Mike earned his Eagle Scout and was awarded the Ad Altare Dei by Bishop Wright. Mike attended University of Pittsburgh with a double major, Mass Communications and Political Science. In 1977, Mike received his Juris Doctorate Degree from St. Mary's University, in Texas. Mike's career began at various law offices in Pittsburgh. In 1986, he started in own practice and continues today. Mike is licensed to practice in the Supreme Court of TX, Supreme Court of PA, U.S. Tax Court, and The Supreme Court of the U.S. In 1985, Mike married Patricia Sullivan. Mike and Patty have two children, Thomas and Amy.


Mr. Gary Slifkey  Gary Slifkey is a longtime campus minister to both Penn State-Beaver & Robert Morris University.
Mr. Slifkey is being recognized for his significant contributions in the fulfillment of the mission of the Church through working with youth and young adults. Gary Slifkey led one of many "Love Walks For the Poor". This is just one of his many ventures where he has helped to involve young people of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Gary was nominated by several key members of the alumni and his nomination was  approved because of his outstanding work with the young people of our Diocese. Gary's  mission is ministering to the students on the local university campuses. It's important that we recognize and thank dedicated, hard-workers like Gary, who are doing such an incredible job. Although not a Latin School graduate, but he most certainly exemplifies every principle that we stand for.

The "boys" from the Class of 1974. (l to r) Lou Guastaferro, Tony Konop, Matt Stokan, Len Petrancosta, Paul Stowitzky, Dave Durkin.
The seminarians introduce themselves and speak about their vocation.
2014 John Cardinal Wright Life-Time Achievment Award
Rev. W. David Schorr, BLS Class of 1965



Rev. W. David Schorr,  a Priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, passed Monday, October 27, 2014, in UPMC McKeesport.

He was born on November 10, 1947, in McKeesport, son of the late Walter C. and Florence (Galata) Schorr.
He attended elementary School at St. Joseph's in Duquesne and High School at Bishop's Latin School.
He received his BA from Duquesne University in 1969 and his MA from St. Francis Seminary in Loretto, PA in 1973.

He was ordained on May 5, 1973, by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard at Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA.
He was the Parochial Vicar at the Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Pittsburgh from 1973-1978, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Pittsburgh from 1978-1980, and Holy Innocents Parish, Pittsburgh from 1980-1984. From 1984-1989 he served as Parish Administrator at St. Helen Parish in Roosevelt, Utah. He was Pastor at Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Pittsburgh from 1989-2008, and was currently serving as Pastor at St. Rita Parish in Whitaker and Resurrection Parish in West Mifflin.
He also served as the Youth Affairs Representative at the North Side Deanery from 1976-1980. He was a recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bishop's Latin School and the Cardinal Wright Award.

He was the brother of Patricia L. Schorr of White Oak, Theodore (Donna) Schorr of Vandalia, Ohio, Jeanne Estep of White Oak and Martin G. (Terri Jo) Schorr of White Oak. He is also survived by his adopted son, Joseph Fox and his family of Idaho. 

The Funeral Mass was be celebrated by Bishop David A. Zubik on Friday, October 31, 2014, at Resurrection Church at 4 p.m. Burial followed in the Priest Plot at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Mifflin.