Father Patrick Beretta to Deliver Montana Tech Fall Commencement Address

Father Patrick Beretta will deliver the commencement address for Montana Tech’s fall ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, according to mtech.edu.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the university’s Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex (HPER). Following the formal address, the university will host a reception for graduates and their families at the Student Success Center.

Beretta serves as the parish priest at St. Patrick and Immaculate Conception Church and holds the position of chaplain at Montana Tech. His career has moved through several distinct sectors, including education, hospitality, community leadership, and ministry.

Born and raised in Paris to an Italian father and an Irish mother, Beretta received his education in France, Ireland, and Rome. After a period teaching ethics in Ireland, he moved to the United States to take a leadership role in continuing education at Lynwood Medical Center.

He later spent 22 years in the hospitality industry, an era that included being named the 2021 Restaurateur of the Year by the Southern California Restaurant Writers. His intellectual pursuits extend into writing for The Huffington Post and serving as the chair of the Carroll College Board of Trustees, with research interests spanning theology, history, the cultural arts, and resilience.

Since arriving in Butte, Beretta has integrated himself into local civic efforts. He founded the annual Butte Local Heroes Celebration and worked alongside public health officials and local government to establish a community response to the fentanyl crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also recruited volunteers to support vaccination efforts.

Beretta expressed surprise at the invitation to speak, noting that the outreach from Chancellor Johnny MacLean was “entirely unexpected.” He described feeling “deeply moved, honored, and humbled” by the request.

“I think very highly of our students. To me they represent some of the best of the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders,” Beretta said.

He noted a specific affinity for the university’s relationship with the local area, citing its “tight connection to the city of Butte and its rich mining history.”

In preparing his message for the graduating class, Beretta intends to focus on themes of high standards, respect, and community involvement. He has identified several personal guiding principles that he believes facilitate success: maintaining uncompromising standards, avoiding defensiveness, viewing complaints as growth opportunities, and converting grief into gratitude.

Beretta intends to urge the Orediggers to find ways to serve others through local volunteering. He also plans to address the nature of respect and compassion in professional and personal life.

“Allow life to surprise,” Beretta said. “Be entirely committed to practicing the respect of others. Get involved in your community. Volunteer in areas that are of interest to you. Learn that compassion is not weakness, it is power. Don’t demand respect, work hard at earning it.”

For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, Montana Tech will livestream the event on the university’s YouTube channel.

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