The Sixth Annual John Cardinal Wright Vocations Mass was held on August 24th, 2008 at 4:00pm. The Vocations Mass was held at St Mary of the Mount Church on Mount Washington. After the Mass, The John Cardinal Wright Awards Dinner was held at The Monterey Bay Fish Grotto.

Dr. Pat Joyce, '67, presents the award to Mr Robert Irr. Bishop Wright appointed Mr. Irr the Direcor of the Office of Finance for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He established the first professional fiscal management systems for the Diocese, the Parishes, and the Schools. Bob spent 20 years serving the Diocese proudly, with integrity and for little compensation. It was a labor of love and Christian Stewardship to him. Mr. Irr was on the Board of Directors of Duquesne University from 1968 until 1989, a member of the Serra Club from 1971 to 1995 and a member of the National Bishops Advisory Council.

Fr. Lou Vallone, '65, presents the award to Fr. Albert J. Semler. Fr. Semler's first assignment was Parochial Vicar at St Mary of the Mount on Mt. Washington. From 1967 to 1971, Fr. Semler was Assistant Director of Vocations, and from 1972 to 1980 was Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Pgh. Through the years, Fr. Semler has been Pastor and/or Administrator for various parishes in the Pittsburgh Diocese. He was Director of the Missions Office from 1975 to 1977, and Director of Clergy Personnel from 1996 to 1997. Fr Semler has also been Moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women from 1983 to 1993, member of The Clergy Personnel Board from 2002 to 2004, and presently is a Consultor in the College of Consultors, and an appointed Member of Catholic Charities. Fr. Semler is presently Parochial Vicar at St. John of God Parish in McKees Rocks, PA.

Mr. Mark Cotter, '72, presents the award to Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J. Fr. Joe Koterski is a member of the Society of Jesus. He is also Associate Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Fordham University, where he specializes in the history of Medieval Philosophy and Natural Law Ethics. Father Koterski graduated the Bishop's Latin School in 1972, and later received an H.A.B. in Classics from Xavier University and earned his Doctorate in Philosophy from St. Louis University. Ordained as a priest in 1992, he earned his Masters of Divinity and License of Sacred Theology from the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Father Koterski is the editor-in-chief of the International Philosophical Quarterly and co-editor of the Fordham University Press Series in Moral Philosophy and Theology. In addition, Fr. Joe is the president of the board of directors for the Apostleship of Prayer.