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Benedictine Military School is a private, Catholic, college preparatory day school for boys in grades 9-12, located in Savannah, Georgia.
Spirituality
Benedictine Monks
Fr. Frank Ziemkiewicz, O.S.B.
Fr. Frank Ziemkiewicz, O.S.B., is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and Prior of Benedictine Priory in Savannah. His previous experience includes serving as Dean of Students at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. and as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in St. Mary’s, Pa. His service term at St. Mary’s was interrupted as he had to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. Army during a tour of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He received a commission in the Army’s engineer branch in 1971 and through the ROTC was on active duty in Germany from 1972-74. His military service included having a company command for the 3rd Engineer Battalion while in Fort Stewart, Ga. from 1975-78. The Reverend Colonel’s final assignment was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. While in Savannah, he became acquainted with the Benedictine community and pursued a calling to the priesthood.
Leaving active duty in the military, he went to the Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe. Father continued his military career following his ordination as a priest, later attaining the rank of Colonel before retiring in February 2007. He has a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary. Read about Fr. Frank in Connect Savannah.
Fr. Ronald Gatman, O.S.B.
Fr. Ronald Gatman was born Jan. 27, 1943, in Laconia, Ky. He graduated from Holmes High School and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor of arts degree in education and French.
At age 24, he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to California for nine months, followed by Texas for an additional three months of schooling. He served in Scotland for a year, followed by isolated duty for nine months in Turkey. Due to budget restraints, he was released early after serving in the Navy for three years and seven months.
Upon returning to the United States, to become fluent in French, he enrolled at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and attended for two semesters. He went into the seminary studying theology in Fribourg, Switzerland, and continued his pastoral studies at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa.
In 1974, he became a novice, accepting his simple vows. In 1977, he professed his solemn vows, and on May 19, 1979, he became an ordained priest. For the next 36 years, he taught at Benedictine Military School, teaching religion, until he retired from teaching in 2007. Since his retirement, he serves more as a priest, being called upon by former Cadets’ families to make presentations, for hospital visits, to perform sacraments of baptisms, weddings, and anointing of the sick.
Fr. David Klecker, O.S.B.
Fr. David Klecker, who is from Minnesota, earned a bachelor of science degree in 1997 from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. He has done graduate work at the Angelicum in Rome, the Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, and at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, Conn.
He completed his master of divinity degree at Saint Vincent Seminary in 2016. He was ordained a deacon in the spring of 2011. At the Archabbey, his assignments have included work in the Archabbey Public Relations Office; assistant to the monastic community in computer technology and as a videographer.
Fr. David professed solemn vows on July 11, 2018, in Latrobe, Pa. He was ordained a priest Sept. 22, 2018, in Latrobe, Pa. He received his master's degree in computer science from Georgia Southern University in May 2019.
Br. Matthew Hershey, O.S.B.
Br. Matthew Hershey, a native of State College, Pa., earned a degree in special education from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2008. In addition to teaching, he has coached club soccer, and been a high school boys junior-varsity soccer coach and varsity assistant.
He became a novice of Saint Vincent Archabbey on July 1, 2013, and professed simple vows on July 10, 2014.
He began studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in the fall of 2014. His assignments have included assistant director, Archabbey guests and guest facilities; assistant, college athletics; assistant to the director of vocations, and miller, Saint Vincent Gristmill.
Fr. Barnabas O'Reilly, O.S.B.
Fr. Barnabas O'Reilly, O.S.B., is a solemnly professed monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa. He recently was ordained to the priesthood May 14, 2022. Before completing a Masters of Divinity from Saint Vincent Seminary, he completed a Masters in Catholic Philosophical Studies from Saint Vincent Seminary and a bachelor's degree in Biology from Saint Vincent College.
During his time as a monk, Fr. Barnabas has worked for many years in campus ministry at Saint Vincent College. Before entering the monastery, he worked for two years as a missionary with St. Paul's Outreach was was stationed at West Virginia University.
Fr. Barnabas is passionate about sharing the Catholic faith and helping people grow in their own sense of mission and relationship with God. He is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, as well as a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Fr. Barnabas looks forward to experiencing the good food and hospitality of the South and, above all, becoming part of the BC family!
