As the Church has concluded the Year of Consecrated Life, awards were recently presented to noteworthy retired religious by Bishop McManus in Worcester's St. Paul's Cathedral. Among those honored was our own Fr. Donat from Assumption College, where he is still teaching.

As an outstanding recipient of the Retired Religious Award, Fr. Donat has given his life and generously shared his gifts, talents and skills to the Assumption family and beyond for over fifty years. His contributions have been as teacher of philosophy, theology and music, composer of Mass settings and Psalmody for the Divine Office, director of a glee club and choirs having performed at home and abroad, and designer of the college chapel's windows. He is also an accomplished iconographer and lecturer on this ancient form of prayer.

Though retired, Fr. Donat continues to be a treasured and vital presence and resource to the local and extended members of the Assumption family.  Congratulations Fr. Donat!

Photo by Tanya O’Connor, Catholic Free Press