The 2026 Good Shepherd Dinner at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus on April 20 was an unforgettable success, providing essential support for the seminary’s mission to form future priests. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati currently has eight men in formation at the Josephinum.

Events of the evening included the conferral of the Good Shepherd Award and Pope Leo XIII Award—the two highest honors bestowed annually by the seminary.

Named for the pontiff who granted the Josephinum pontifical status in 1892, the Pope Leo XIII Award recognizes an individual for exemplary support of the Church, the priesthood, vocations, and the mission of the Josephinum.

The 2026 Pope Leo XIII Award was presented to Mr. William R. Burleigh, a distinguished media executive best known for his long tenure as a leader of The E.W. Scripps Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Burleigh is a Knight in Obedience of the Order of Malta, a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Dominican Lay Fraternity. From 2009-2018, he served on the Josephinum’s Board of Trustees.

“Mr. Burleigh’s professional accomplishments are matched only by his fidelity to the Church and his love for the priesthood,” said Then-Father Steven P. Beseau, Josephinum Rector/President. “His steadfast support, commitment to vocations, and wise counsel have been extraordinary gifts to the Josephinum and will continue to strengthen the seminary’s mission for future generations of seminarians.”

Most Rev. Earl K. Fernandes, Bishop of Columbus and Vice-Chancellor of the Josephinum, gave a testimonial to Good Shepherd Award recipient Rev. Msgr. Frank P. Lane of the Diocese of Columbus.

Ordained in 1967, Monsignor Lane has devoted nearly six decades to priestly ministry. A historian and educator, he has taught at many high schools and colleges is a long-time host on Catholic radio. He served as pastor of several parishes and contributed significantly to diocesan leadership.

The Good Shepherd Award honors a member of the clergy whose life and ministry exemplify the qualities of the Good Shepherd, particularly in fostering vocations and supporting the mission of the Josephinum. Monsignor Lane’s joined the Josephinum faculty in 1992 and served for 17 years, guiding seminarians in their vocational discernment. He has also led retreats for priests and seminarians nationwide and served as a spiritual director in Cincinnati.

“Monsignor Lane is a humble, unassuming man of many remarkable gifts,” said Father Beseau. “As a pastor, scholar, professor, spiritual director, and chaplain, his nearly 60 years of priesthood embody what the Good Shepherd Award is meant to honor—a life laid down in love for others.”

Bishop Fernandes also announced Msgr. Lane as a recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross, a decoration conferred by the Holy See for distinguished service to the Church. The decoration was bestowed on Msgr. Lane by His Eminence, Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and Chancellor of the Josephinum.

Cardinal Pierre will conclude his tenure as Nuncio upon his retirement on May 8. Most Reverend Shawn McKnight, Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas, Josephinum Board Chair and alumnus, read a formal resolution on behalf of the trustees, recognizing Cardinal Pierre for his 10 years of service as Josephinum Chancellor. “Thank you for your devoted service to our holy fathers and to the Church here in the United States,” he said. The resolution referred to Cardinal Pierre’s “steadfast, wise counsel and support” and acknowledged him as “Providing a visible sign of communion with the Holy See, and a steadfast, pastoral interest in the formation of priests for the Church in the United States.”

In his own remarks, Cardinal Pierre called his years as Josephinum Chancellor “a big grace,” and a “wonderful experience.” He also made the announcement that Father Beseau has been name by Pope Leo XIV as a Chaplain to His Holiness, recognizing the rector’s strong leadership and vision for the seminary in forming priests for the Church of today and for the future.

The evening of support for the Pontifical College Josephinum concluded with a blessing from Cardinal Pierre and a communal singing of the Salve Regina.

About the Josephinum: The Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, is a pontifical seminary independent of any one diocese or religious community, immediately subject to the Holy See through the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States who serves as its Chancellor. It currently forms seminarians from 18 archdioceses, dioceses, and religious orders throughout the United States and beyond.