Special to The Message
Four new members were added to the St. Meinrad Alumni Association Board of Directors. The Alumni Board works to nurture a lasting relationship between alumni and St. Meinrad; inform alumni about the ongoing mission and work of St. Meinrad Archabbey, Seminary and School of Theology; listen responsively and represent alumni concerns; recommend and evaluate alumni events, programs and initiatives; and foster, enhance and support St. Meinrad in carrying out its institutional mission.
New to the board are Deacon Mike Seibert of Dubois; Deacon Jerry Bessler of Avon; Deacon David Orberson of New Albany and Diana Frances Walter of Georgetown, Kentucky.
New Board Members
Deacon Mike Seibert was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Evansville in 2005 after completing St. Meinrad’s permanent deacon formation program. He has served at St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in Celestine for 18 years and currently leads Fishers of Men in the east deanery of the Diocese of Evansville, which promotes missionary discipleship in the Jasper area.
Deacon Seibert’s primary apostolate since 1995 has been Cursillo. He enjoys giving missions and retreats, and he walked the Camino de Santiago in 2023. He graduated from the Encounter School of Ministry in 2022 and is currently enrolled in Catholic Mindset Coaching through Metanoia Catholic, while also working with Evangelical Catholic to offer their Reach More training.
Deacon Seibert is retired from a career in IT with Alcoa. He currently serves the Diocese of Evansville in Special Discipleship/Evangelization Ministry, assisting the north Dubois County pastors. He and his wife, Mary, reside in Dubois.
Deacon Jerry Bessler is a graduate of the St. Meinrad Permanent Deacon Formation Program, class of 2022, and serves as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He has served at St. Roch Catholic Church in Indianapolis since his ordination. Deacon Bessler is also an oblate of St. Meinrad, taking his final oblation in February 2007.
He has been with the Avon Fire Department since 2000, currently holding the rank of battalion chief and serving as a chaplain and peer support member. He also volunteers and serves on the Board of Directors for Happy Hollow Children’s Camp.
Deacon Bessler worked at St. Vincent Hospital as a respiratory therapist from 1990 to 2000 before joining the Avon Fire Department.
Deacon Bessler and his wife, Astra, live in Avon and have two adult sons.
Dr. David Orberson is the vice president of risk management for Churchill Downs Incorporated and has been in the insurance and risk management industry for over 30 years.
Dr. Orberson is the author of two books about the life and thought of Thomas Merton and is a former board member of the International Thomas Merton Society. He has been an adjunct instructor at Bellarmine University since 2007, teaching a variety of theology classes.
Dr. Orberson and his wife, Beth, live in New Albany, are proud parents and grandparents and are members of St. Anthony Parish in southern Indiana.
Diane Frances Walter is a Benedictine oblate of St. Meinrad Archabbey. Walter currently serves as content editor for St. Meinrad’s “Oblate Voice” publication, coordinating articles to encourage, educate and enlighten St. Meinrad’s oblates nationwide. A veteran Catholic educator, she has served in theology classrooms, as well as in curriculum development, accreditation and faculty retreat planning and presentation. In her parishes, she has served as youth minister, music director and on executive committees for building and fundraising initiatives.
She and her husband live on a small farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, and are members of historic St. Paul Catholic Church in Lexington.
New Board Leadership
The Alumni Board also elected the president and vice president of the board at its April 6 meeting. Dr. Todd B. Gungoll of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will serve as president of the board. Andrea Byrne of New Albany will serve as vice president, both for two-year terms.