LATROBE, PA – Br. Norman Hipps, O.S.B., P’61, C’66, S’69, professor of mathematics in Saint Vincent College’s Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing, recently was quoted in an article from the National Catholic Register about Pope Leo XIV likely being the first pope to have studied math as a primary emphasis before becoming pope.
According to Br. Norman, math is actually excellent training for a priest. “Math is an interesting field to study, whether it’s pure or applied. It has both that rigor that’s required—proving something that is to be proved, that other people will be convinced of your argument—but also requires a fair amount of intuition,” Brother Norman told the Register.
“In terms of those kinds of things a priest needs to do, whether it be thinking properly, or being attentive to different ways of looking at a situation, and sometimes being amazed that something that seems to be not true is true when you put the pieces together properly, I think it’s a great field for anyone who wants to be a minister—or to seek God, to put it in monastic terms,” he said.
About Br. Norman Hipps
Following his studies at Saint Vincent, Br. Norman earned a Master of Arts degree in mathematics in 1972 and a PhD in mathematics in 1976, both from Northwestern University. A member of the faculty since 1972, Br. Norman has also served in many administrative roles at the College, including provost (1987-2002), academic dean (1980-1987), director of the Opportunity Program (1978-1980), campus minister (1976-1978), and director of Project Headway (1972-1974). Br. Norman was president of the College from 2010 to 2019. Prior to his term as president, he served as the College’s executive vice president as well as dean of the Boyer School.
A member of the Saint Vincent Benedictine Community, he made simple profession of monastic vows on July 2, 1963, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1966.
