Vincentian and Grad Student Hopes to Use His Education to Elevate Those in His Native Country

Rev. Haile Suba Weldegiorgis, C.M., is not your typical business student. Nor is he your typical priest.

But the 36-year-old native of Ethiopia is, in fact, both—an international student attending graduate school at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University and an ordained member of the Congregation of the Mission, the religious order that founded St. John’s in 1870.     

While many priests consider a graduate degree in time-honored disciplines such as philosophy or theology, Fr. Weldegiorgis is pursuing one in global management and leadership. Through such a degree, Fr. Weldegiorgis believes he can elevate those in his native country whose lives are often compromised by a lack of infrastructure.

“St. Vincent de Paul—founder of the Vincentians—he had a dream of helping the people,” Fr. Weldegiorgis said. “Not only in the divine world, but very practically helping people with their daily bread.”

“Things like infrastructure and leadership can help the development of a people,” Fr. Weldegiorgis added. “These are ways we can connect with people. In this connection, we can see an exchange of cultures, of development, and of different attitudes. That is a way of serving the people.”

Meet Rev. Haile Suba Weldegiorgis, C.M., Business Student at St. John’s University

Born north of Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, Fr. Weldegiorgis was ordained a priest in 2017. Sponsored by the Vincentians of the Eastern Province to continue his education in the United States, he arrived at St. John’s eager to expand his understanding of St. Vincent, particularly how the church leader organized his charity efforts to assist the peasantry of 17th-century France.

That explains his choice of a graduate course of study. The Master of Science program in Global Management and Leadership provides students with essential skills for managing global organizations, featuring modern approaches to management, sustainability, inclusiveness, and human resource management. The program offers several electives, allowing students to specialize in global supply chain management, management consulting, project management, and more.

Fr. Weldegiorgis is in the first year of a two-year program that should ideally prepare him to handle project management and related issues upon his return to his native country in 2027 with a master’s degree.

“In general, in my country the civil institutions often lack the qualities of a good leader,” Fr. Weldegiorgis explained. “Leaders are very important for society, and leadership is a key to social service.”    

One of six children born to Ethiopian farmers, Fr. Weldegiorgis has always felt close to the Church. Catholics number less than one percent of the population in Ethiopia, where the dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity. Ethiopia’s Christian roots go back to the earliest decades of the Church.

But it is also a country that has seen historical conflict, famine, other humanitarian shortages, and human rights abuses. The Vincentians have had a presence in the country since 1839 and the Vincentians Ethiopia province is active in evangelization, social development, and clergy formation.    

“From an economic perspective, Ethiopia is a growing country,” Fr. Weldegiorgis said. “But there are Vincentian missionaries everywhere who help with the poor and provide social services, as well as schools in the various parishes.”

Rev. Haile Suba Weldegiorgis, C.M., Is at Home at St. John’s University

Together with other Vincentians on the St. John’s Queens, NY, campus, Fr. Weldegiorgis lives in Murray House, where he participates in daily services, shops for essentials to support the residence, and more. On weekends, he travels to nearby parishes to celebrate Mass.

While he has been on the St. John’s campus for less than a year, he has already made an impression on his fellow Vincentians. He plays Ping-Pong regularly with Rev. Tri Duong, C.M. ’00SJC, University Chaplain and table tennis expert. He also plays intramural basketball and volleyball on teams with Rev. Hugo Medellín, C.M. ’05SJC, Campus Minister for Faith Formation and Mission Outreach.

Like Fr. Weldegiorgis—known to his fellow priests as “Fr. Haile”—both Fr. Duong and Fr. Medellín were born outside of the United States.

“When you come from a poorer country, your spirituality can be shaped differently,” Fr. Duong said. “Fr. Haile has such respect for the Eucharist and for his relationship with God. He is so humble and an example for all of us in the house.”

“Fr. Haile’s gentleness and kindness are rooted in his soul,” Fr. Medellín added. “These Vincentian virtues flow naturally to him. I can see him flourishing as a capable and kind pastor when he returns to his country.” 

That will come in 2027. In the meantime, Fr. Weldegiorgis is enjoying his time at St. John’s and in New York City. He said the memories he is making here will undoubtedly inform his ministry in Ethiopia.

“When I see New York and the hard work of the people here, it is so impressive,” Fr. Weldegiorgis said. “Also, the development of this institution and the hard work of my fellow students have really impressed me. Continuing that development is important to me.”