Campus MinistryFr. 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.