Rev. Nicholas Sseggobe Kiruma | Rev. Aaron Michka CSC | Rev. William Ashbaugh
Rev. Paul Tarabay OMM | Rev. Satheesh Caniton Alphonse SdC
Rev. Joseph Rinaldo SdC | Rev. Richard Zang CSC
The Medal of St. Dominic is a national award given to a man or woman whose life shows tireless effort in the service of God via his/her chosen profession or volunteerism, in the spirit of St. Dominic and in the mission of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. In the Year of Mercy, The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist would like to recognize the outstanding service of these priests to the Spiritus Sanctus Academies and to honor them for their contribution to the mission of Catholic education.
Fr. Nicholas Sseggobe Kiruma, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, serves as chaplain at Spiritus Sanctus Academy in Plymouth while pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University. His zeal for the salvation of souls and his fervent love for the Holy Eucharist enriches the lives of the staff and students.
Fr. Aaron Michka is a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. He is pursuing a doctorate in anthropology, with a focus on Egypt, at the University of Michigan. He celebrates the sacraments with the staff and students of Spiritus Sanctus Academy Ann Arbor.
Fr. Bill Ashbaugh serves SSA Ann Arbor and is pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Ann
Arbor. Fr Bill will frequently celebrate Mass at SSA Ann Arbor on a weekly basis and in years past
dedicated many hours to SSA Plymouth celebrating Mass.
Fr. Paul Tarabay Fr. Paul Tarabay regularly offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Spiritus Sanctus Academy in Ann Arbor and at the Ave Maria Foundation Chapel. He is a priest of the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fr. Satheesh Caniton Alphonse is a member of the Servants of Charity and serves at the St. Louis
Center in Chelsea. He celebrates the sacraments with the SSA Ann Arbor community. He has taught
the children to be always joyful because Jesus is with us.
Fr. Joseph Rinaldo is superior of the Servants of Charity in Chelsea. He engages the children with his lively question and answer homilies at SSA Ann Arbor.
Fr. Richard Zang serves as the Motherhouse chaplain, faithfully celebrating daily Mass with the Sisters and hearing their confessions.
These priests provide an indispensable service to the Spiritus Sanctus Academy community. The witness of their lives, so profoundly dedicated to the Lord, inspires the students and staff. Their participation in the students’ formation opens students’ minds and hearts to the call of Christ to discipleship and forms in them an enduring Catholic identity. Often, the first stirrings in the hearts of boys for a vocation to the priesthood comes through the influence and example of these admirable servants of Christ.
We have been blessed at the Spiritus Sanctus Academies with many priests who dedicate their time to the children and the families at the schools. They enable our schools to pulsate with the life of Christ, present in the Most Holy Eucharist. They bring peace to students and power to overcome sin through the grace of Reconciliation.
We honor them to give the recognition due to them daily for the gift that they are to us all.
