Four young priests receive advanced degrees

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Father Oscar Marquina

SALT LAKE CITY — A quartet of priests who have been ordained in the past two years have continued their studies, with two receiving advanced degrees in canon law, one receiving a Master of Arts, and the other a Master of Divinity. 

Father André Sicard and Father Oscar Marquina, who both were ordained in 2023, studied canon law. Father Anthony Shumway, who was ordained last year, wrote his thesis on John Paul II for his Master of Arts degree, and the Reverend Mr. Kenneth Parsad, who will be ordained June 13, focused on pastoral doctrine during his studies toward a Master of Divinity.

Father André Sicard

Fr. Sicard attended Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Ore. for four years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, literature and religious studies in 2019. He received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from The Catholic University of America in 2022. In May he received a Licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L.), also from The Catholic University of America.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis asked Fr. Sicard to obtain the canon law degree to help with work in the Diocesan Tribunal and to assist the diocese’s judicial vicar, Father Langes Silva.

“I was really blessed to have a great education at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America with world-renowned and great professors,” Fr. Sicard said. “This licentiate will ultimately help me to serve mostly with people who are seeking a declaration of nullity (annulment) for their marriage, which is a true ministry of accompaniment and mercy in itself. But overall, studying the Church’s law helped me cultivate a renewed sense of justice in the Church and for the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful and to have the tools to share about the Church’s law with our local church.”

Along with working in the Tribunal office, Fr. Sicard has been assigned as a parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, beginning in August.

Father Oscar Marquina

Before entering the seminary, Fr. Marquina completed a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering at Utah State University and worked as an engineer in the consulting industry for four years. For the past three years, he has been living and studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He will take his final exams this month and receive his canon law licentiate in October. 

“The licentiate in canon law is a graduate degree in the Church’s legal system – it’s similar to a civil law degree but focused on Church life, especially marriage, sacraments and Church governance,” Fr. Marquina said. “I pursued it because our bishop [Bishop Oscar A. Solis] needs well-formed canonists to serve in tribunals, advise pastors, and help ensure justice and charity in the Church’s internal life. It’s a service to the People of God.”

This education “gives me tools to serve the Church more effectively and compassionately,” he said. “It helps me understand how the Church works – legally and pastorally – but more importantly, how to accompany people with clarity and justice. I hope to serve the diocese wherever I’m needed, offering both technical knowledge and pastoral charity.”

Beginning in August Fr. Marquina will serve as parochial vicar at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Layton and as an assistant to Fr. Silva, judicial vicar, in the Tribunal office.

Father Anthony Shumway

Fr. Shumway entered Mount Angel Seminary in 2015 after receiving a quality assurance certification at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. At Mt. Angel he completed a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, a master’s degree in divinity and coursework in systematic theology. He recently defended his thesis, “Thriving through Virtue: The Priest as a Humble Leader and Workplace Manager in the Light of Christ Munis Triplets and the Anthropology of John Paul II,” completing the requirements for a Master of Arts. He is waiting to be awarded a baccalaureate of sacred theology, for which he also has completed all requirements.

Regarding the topic his thesis, “I chose John Paul II for many reasons, but ultimately, because of his example, his writings that he does where he’s focused on the dignity of the human person, and it’s really influenced me in so many different ways,” especially “in the confessional, in the workplace and in just the common meeting of the people,” he said.

Continuing education “helps us to be prepared to meet the diversity of people in the places where they’re at and the needs that may come up,” he said.

Since his ordination last June Fr. Shumway has been working as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and as chaplain at L.D.S. Hospital. Beginning in August he will serve as parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hyde Park and as chaplain of St. Jerome Newman Center in Logan.

Deacon Kenneth Parsad

Before coming to the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Deacon Parsad completed a bachelor’s degree in classical philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila. For a time, as he discerned his vocation to the priesthood, he taught theology and philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas and Paco Catholic School. 

After being accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Deacon Parsad enrolled at Mt. Angel Seminary in August 2022. Because of his previous education he was placed in the program’s third year, and recently completed a Master of Sacred Theology from the institution.

“The Master of Divinity here in the U.S. is geared towards the pastoral, so it’s going to be very helpful in my ministry as a priest here,” Deacon Parsad said. “We have this term that I learned in Mount Angel called the pastorality of doctrine. Doctrines – the teachings of the Church – are supposed to serve the people. It’s supposed to be of service to the people. So, I think that’s the highlight of the Master of Divinity; at least that’s how I think about it.”

Deacon Parsad will be ordained to the priesthood on June 13 and assigned as  pastoral vicar at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City.