The craftsmanship of Songkanh Vongphouhtone, a parishioner at St. Michael Parish, Milwaukee, reached the Papal household, South Africa and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Vongphouhtone has created crosiers, a pastoral staff that is modeled on a shepherd's crook, for a bishop in the Archdiocese of Cape Town, Milwaukee native and head of the Prefecture of Papal Household Archbishop James Harvey, and Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan.
Additionally, Vongphouhtone has created a processional cross and Paschal candle holder for St. Lawrence Seminary, his alma mater. Vongphouhtone credits his experience at St. Lawrence with having a profound impact on his life.
Read more about Songkanh Vongphouhtone and his unique artistic talents in this week's Catholic Herald
featured article.
THE SHEPHERD'S STAFF - Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan gazes proudly at a custom-made crosier made for him by St. Lawrence Seminary graduate Songkanh Vongphouhtone. St. Lawrence Seminary rector Capuchin Franciscan Fr. Dennis Druggan looks on. Song learned his woodworking skills at the high school seminary and has crafted crosiers, or shepherd's crooks, for two other bishops.
(Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero)
| 
