On Sunday, June 20th at the Holy Virgin Protection Catheral in Des Plaines, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, there was a graduation ceremony for this year's graduates of the diocesan Pastoral School.
 
This year, 3 individuals came to Chicago to undergo exams and defend their theses.  Deacon Kevin Kalish, Subdeacon Nicholas Ganson and Subdeacon Victor Klimenko received their diplomas.
 
The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America has been in existence for six years and offers correspondence courses, most of which are in digital form. All the participants must spend one summer at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, at its Summer Music Program. Graduates receive a diploma in Pastoral Theology or Catechism. They write and defend their dissertations and complete oral examinations before a grading committee, which consists of His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, President; Protopriest Andrei Papkov, Vice President; Protopriest Martin Swanson, Rector; and Priest Gregory Joyce, teacher.