On Friday, September 2, the Very Reverend John Kartje, Rector and President of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, announced the winners of the 2016 Monsignor John Canary Theological Enrichment Fund grant.

Established by former Mundelein rector Monsignor John Canary, the fund provides financial assistance to seminary faculty and students to attend conferences or complete research which will serve to advance the quality of theological education at Mundelein. This year’s grant recipients are Michael Lewis and Ivan Montelongo from the Diocese of El Paso, and Michael Brungardt from the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas.

Mike and Ivan will utilize the $2,500 grant to research the history of the first churches in what is now the Diocese of El Paso, and the life of the first priests to minister there. Lewis said, “Our goal is to broaden the scholarship of our rich heritage of faith using archives in Mexico City; Durango, Mexico; and elsewhere. May the Holy Spirit enlighten our work and its connection to our call to priestly ministry!”