Abbey News and Official Statements
Brother Dan Morgan and Brother Michael Leonard receive advanced degrees.
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Fr. Jonathan Licari, OSB is new Saint John's Prep Headmaster
On behalf of the Saint John's Prep School Board of Regents, it gives me great pleasure to announce the selection of Fr. Jonathan Licari, OSB as our next Headmaster, and preserving continuous monastic leadership since 1857. After a thorough internal search process, the Board elected Fr. Jonathan with unanimity and enthusiasm. Fr. Licari will begin leading Saint John's Prep School on July 1, 2013.
Throughout this process, the Search Committee was guided by Saint John's Preparatory School's policy which dictates that a Headmaster search begin with an evaluation of internal monastic candidates. Although several monastics indicated their interest in the position, Fr. Licari successfully completed the application and interview process.
Ryan Gerads '97, Search Committee Chair, stated, "Fr. Jonathan has demonstrated strong character and leadership in previous administrative positions. The Search Committee strongly felt that established that Fr. Jonathan has the talents and enthusiasm necessary to flourish as the next Headmaster of Saint John's Prep. I am confident that Fr. Jonathan is the best candidate to lead Saint John's Prep into the future."
Fr. Licari is currently the sub-prior of Saint John's Abbey. Licari was ordained a priest in 1976 and professed vows in 1982. He holds doctorates in both philosophy and canon law. Licari taught at Saint John's School of Theology?Seminary from 1982-2001. He has served as prior of the monastery and as pastor at Saint John the Baptist Parish, Collegeville, MN, Holy Name Parish in Medina, MN and at Seven Dolors in Albany, MN.
Licari stated, "I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a long tradition of excellence in education, in the Catholic Benedictine tradition, at Saint John's Prep."
I would like to thank all of you for your great commitment to Saint John's Preparatory School and this process. At this important time in the School's history, the willingness of parents, faculty, staff, students and alums to share their time and collective insight was critical to the success of the search. Throughout, the community was led by our extraordinary Search Committee, Chaired by Ryan Gerads '97. We are grateful for their tremendous devotion to our school and the care and wisdom of their leadership.
I also would like to thank Fr. Timothy Backous, OSB as he assumes a new position as Vice President of Mission Integration at Essentia Health in Duluth, MN. His seven years of leadership put Saint John's Prep on strong footing with a beautiful new music and middle school building, the addition of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the addition of a sixth grade, and strong leadership through a successful accreditation and strategic planning process.
Though Fr. Licari's official duties begin July 1, 2013, he will be working with Fr. Tim and the Executive Leadership Team to ensure a smooth transition. When you see him on campus or at an event, please join me in welcoming him to Saint John's Prep.
Sincerely,
Clay Hamlin '84
Chair, Board of Regents
"Carbon footprint for monastery is reduced by over 200%"
In the field of sustainability the saying goes, "you can't reduce what you can't measure." Tracking and monitoring resource usage, behaviors, and system output are critical aspects in helping make Saint John's Abbey become more sustainable.
In order to determine its own carbon footprint, Saint John's Abbey has completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory for each of the past three years. We are pleased to announce that over this three-year period, our sustainability efforts have reduced the carbon footprint for our monastery by over 200%; from 4,961.5 mtons CO2e in 2010 to 2,281.7 mtons in 2012.
To read the full report, click on the PDF link.
Saint John's to present Pax Christi Award to the Rev. Richard Frechette
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Saint John's Abbey and University will present its Pax Christi Award to the Rev. Richard Frechette on Friday, April 19, in Collegeville. The award will be presented during a private dinner.
Frechette will give a public talk titled "My Life and Labor of Love in Haiti" at 2:30 p.m. April 19 in the Alumni Lounge (Quad 170) at SJU. The talk is free and open to the public.
A Passionist priest, physician and missionary, Frechette has been serving impoverished children and orphans for more than three decades.
Frechette has worked with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), also called Our Little Brothers and Sisters, since 1979. Through his work with NPH and Friends of the Orphans, Frechette has provided health care, education and love to hundreds of thousands of children.
He established and currently oversees St. Damien's Hospital in Haiti. St. Damien's provides long-term care to critically ill children and outpatient services to more than 17,000 children and adults each year.
As the highest honor awarded by Saint John's Abbey and University, the Pax Christi Award recognizes those who have devoted themselves to God by working in the tradition of Benedictine monasticism to serve others and to build a heritage of faith in the world.
The award has been presented to 59 individuals, dating back to 1963.
The Saint John's Bible
COLLEGEVILLE - Original folios from "Letters and Revelation: The Saint John's Bible" will be on
display at St. John's University for the first time since their completion in 2011.
The exhibition begins Monday and runs through Oct. 31 at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library on the
campus of St. John's Abbey and University.
Letters and Revelation, the culminating volume of the entire Bible project, is characterized by rich
illuminations of some of the most dramatic and influential passages of Scripture.
Commissioned by St. John's Abbey and University in Collegeville, The Saint John's Bible is a
contemporary work created in the tradition of handwritten medieval manuscripts.
Accompanying the pages will be the first public viewing of HMML's newest acquisition: a Coptic
manuscript leaf from a ninth century Psalter (book of Psalms).
For more information, call 363-3351, email tternes@csbsju.edu or visit www.saintjohnsbible.org.
Nick Moe designs solar greenhouse.
SJU Senior Steve Johnson is the student who developed the concept in a Social Entrepreneurship course fall of 2011 and who worked with many at SJU to make it a reality. Thanks go to Nick Moe, the Sustainability Fellow at SJU for his continued work on designing a solar greenhouse that gained approval across the campus, to John Taylor in Institutional Advancement for his tireless fundraising to obtain the funds needed to build it, to Bill Boom and Gary Jorgensen for their leadership and creativity in the detail work necessary to take a design and make it viable, to the SJ Abbey leadership for their continued encouragement and to the members of the Sustainability Loan Committee and the McNeely Center Student Venture Loan Committee for their support of the venture. This winter greenhouse will be managed by a team of students. It will produce lettuce and other green vegetables for the Dining Service at SJU, starting later this semester.
Saint John's alumnus Denis McDonough '92 has been appointed the new White House Chief of Staff.
"The Saint John's community is extremely proud of the public service of our alumnus Denis McDonough '92. We applaud President Barack Obama's selection of Denis as his new Chief of Staff. We are absolutely confident that Denis will serve with the integrity and character he has demonstrated throughout time at Saint John's University and beyond. He follows an esteemed line of Johnnies in public service including, among others, Senators Eugene McCarthy and David Durenberger and Representative Mark Kennedy. Denis's professional success is further evidence that a Benedictine liberal arts education is superb preparation for leadership and service at the highest levels of public life, be that in the public sector, the business community or the world of non-profits. We wish Denis all the best in his new role."
Father Luke Steiner, OSB died Friday, January 18.
Obituary
Saint John's receives One Million Dollar grant from Lilly Endowment.
Saint John's School of Theology.Seminary has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to assist in the coordination of The Theological Programs for High School Youth Initiative.
Since 1992, the Endowment has invested more than $90 million through grants to 48 seminaries across the United States and Canada to establish theology programs for high school youth. Two essential purposes guide the Endowment's youth initiative: to stimulate and foster an excitement about theological learning and inquiry, and to identify and encourage talented Christian youth to consider vocations in the ministry.
Brother David Paul Lange, OSB and Brother Simon Hoa' Phan, OSB
As associate professors of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, Brother David Paul Lange, OSB and Brother Simon hoa' Phan, OSB are exhibiting art works as part of the
CSB/SJU Art Faculty Exhibition
January 14 - February 13, 2013
In the galleries of the Benedicta Arts Center on the campus of the College of Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph, MN. An opportunity to meet the artists, hear their comments about their works and answer questions will take place in the gallery on January, 25 at 6:30 pm.
Fr. William Skudlarek, OSB is doing well with the community at our priory, Holy Trinity Monastery in Fujimi, Japan.
Prior Fr. Roman Paur, OSB, writes,
William is making his mark again on the community here in chilly Fujimi in many ways including lots of good suggestions for improving our liturgy and helping us do it better; one splendid thing after another coming out of the kitchen; and moving many piles of branches left after cutting down and sawing up 25 big trees earlier this fall. The snow has come and gone for a while.
The picture tell it all, and we are grateful.
Blessed Christmas and New Year!
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Saint John's University (Minn.) legendary football coach John Gagliardi announced his retirement on Monday, Nov. 19. The search process for his replacement begins immediately.
"Seventy years (60 at SJU) is a long time to be doing the same job," Gagliardi said. "Luckily, I've always been blessed with great players, friends, family and support to make it this far."
"Nobody ever said that getting older was easy. I just can't do the job at the level I used to anymore."
SJU (5-5, 3-5 MIAC) ended its 2012 season with a 27-22 loss Nov. 10 at Bethel.
Gagliardi will remain on staff until his current contract expires June 30, 2013.
Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer appointed Communications Director
Abbot John has appointed Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB as the new Director of Communications for the Abbey. Bro. Paul-Vincent finished nine years as Vocation Director and has recently returned from a six-month sabbatical in Wisconsin. Brother Aelred Senna, OSB was appointed Vocation Director in August of 2012.
Marriage amendment in Minnesota
As a Catholic institution we take the proposed amendment to the Minnesota constitution as an opportunity "to witness to our conviction that marriage is a vital part of the social fabric" that needs support and attention. By doing this we hope to put the marriage amendment into a larger context that acknowledges the challenges that people face in reconciling their faith commitments with a variety of other positions in the culture.
Individual members of the monastic community do have individual opinions regarding this and other political, social and even moral issues under discussion in our society. Individual monks may express their personal views on such issues based on their own freedom of conscience, though in doing so, they do not necessarily represent the opinion or view of the abbey. In this situation, the individual speaks for himself only.
As an institution we strive to ensure that whatever takes place under our auspices be consistent with the integrity of the Church's teaching on marriage. We wish to witness to unity, respect, and peace, even in the midst of challenging emotions and differing ideas on this matter.
Brother Urban Pieper, OSB died in the Abbey Retirement Center on November 1, 2012.
Obituary
Father John Kulas died in the Abbey Retirement Center on October 14, 2012.
Obituary.
Father Raymond Pedrizetti died in the Abbey Retirement Center on September 3, 2012.
Obituary.
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