US Bishops' Catholic Identity Report
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CatholiC identity at
Benedictine college
Ten-Year Review of Ex Corde Ecclesiae in America
atChison, Kansas
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october 22, 2011
“The mission that the Church, with great hope, entrusts to Catholic universities…
concerns the very future of humanity.”
Blessed John Paul ii
Your excellency, Archbishop Joseph naumann,
Greetingsonthisfirst-everfeastofBlessedJohnPaulII.Asyouknow,thisistheanniversaryofthedayBlessedJohnPaulIIbecamepope,andspokethewords“Benotafraid!OpenthedoorstoChrist!”Thirty-threeyearslater,itfeelsrightthatBenedictineCollegeiscelebratingthebeatificationofthelategreatpontiffbyreportingtoyouaboutourprogresswiththeapostolicconstitutionforhighereducationthathegavetheChurch,Ex Corde Ecclesiae.
Thisreportrespondstothe“Ten-YearReviewoftheApplicationofEx Corde EcclesiaefortheUnitedStates”requestedbytheU.S.ConferenceofCatholicBishops’CommitteeonCatholicEducationandyourofficeearlierthisyear.Wehopethisreportisnotmerelyanaccountofobjectivecriteriamet,butapictureofaplacethatproducesmenandwomenwhowilltransformtheworldthroughtheircommitmenttointellectual,personal,andspiritualgreatness.WehopetoshowwhywearetheflagshipcollegeoftheNewEvangelization.
Inrecognitionofhisbeatification,BenedictineCollegehasmadeoneofthelatepontiff’sfavoritephrases,“BeNotAfraid,”ourthemefortheyear.AtourAugustconvocation,Princeton’sDr.RobertP.Georgechallengedourstudents:“TheloveofChristthatdemandstheimpossiblealsoemboldensandem-powersustodoit.Sodoit!”AtourMayCommencementceremonies,GeorgeWeigelwillendouryearbypointingstudentsagaintoBlessedJohnPaulII.
IhavechallengedourcommunitythisyeartofollowJohnPaul’sexampleand“Benotafraid”tobeatrulyCatholiccollege,fullyinstepwiththeChurchandfullyengagedinourcontemporaryculture.Ihopeyouwillseehisspiritinthereportthatfollows.
Yours in christ,
StephenD.Minnis
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Ex CordE as Magna Carta
“I then felt obliged to propose an analogous Document for Catholic Universities as a sort of ‘magna carta’, enriched by the long and fruitful experience of the Church in the realm of Universities and open to the promise of future achievements that will require courageous creativity and rigorous fidelity.”
— Blessed John Paul II
WhenBlessedJohnPaulIIcalledEx Corde Ecclesiae“asortof'magnacarta'”henodoubtenvisionedascenarioinwhichaCatholiccollegecouldusehisConstitutiononHigherEduca-tiontohelpreaffirmitsidentity,clarifyitsmission,andrenewitsquesttobecomeatrulygreatCatholiccollege.
Thereisperhapsnobetterexampleofthesuccessfulapplica-tionofEx Corde EcclesiaethanBenedictineCollege.
Overthelasttwodecades,wehavenotonlyexperiencedobjectiveproofsofsuccess,butundeniablesignsofGod’sblessing.Fromtheclassroomtotheresidencehallstoournewartandarchitecture,thefruitsofEx Corde Ecclesiaeareev-erywhereoncampus.Inthisreport,wewanttosharewithyouhowthePope’swordshavetakenonfleshanddwellrichlyinthelife—andlives—ofBenedictineCollege.
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Inaugural nursing class in the Mother Teresa Center for
Nursing and Health Education, which was dedicated on the
centenary anniversary of Mother Teresa’s birth.
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iCatholiC identity
&Mission
TheUSCCBEducationCommittee’sdocument“Ten-YearReviewoftheApplicationofExcordeEcclesiaefortheUnited
States”(Nov.14,2010)asks:
“1.InwhatwayshavetheCatholicidentityandmissionoftheinstitutionbeenclarifiedandenhancedduringthefirst10yearsofTheApplicationofExCordeEcclesiaeintheUnitedStates?Howhasthesupportofthebishopandtheengagementofthe
presidentbeenbeneficial?” Sincetheyear2000,BenedictineCollegehasclarifiedandenhancedourCatholicidentityandmissioninseveralways.
Inthissection,wedescribehowourCatholicmissionisaliveinour:
Academics&Faculty
CampusLife&Traditions
CollegeMinistry&SpiritualEmphasis
Leadership&Administration
Art&Architecture
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AcAdemics & FAculty
“CatholicuniversitiescherishtheirCatholictraditionand,inmanycases,thespecialcharismsofthereligiouscommunitiesthatfoundedthem.”
— The Application of Ex Corde Ecclesiae for the United States
Prospective FacultyAllprospectivefacultyandseniorstaffmembershavea“missioninterview”withthepresidentanddeanofthecollege.Thepresidentandthedeanexplainthenatureandsignificanceofthemissioninthelifeofthecollege,andprospectiveemployeesareaskedhowtheyenvi-sionthemselvescontributingtothismission.Thisinterviewisacrucialstepinthehiringprocess.
Orientationfornewfacultyincludesboth an orientation to the mission andspecificexplorationofEx Corde Ecclesiae.
Faculty and CurriculumTheCatholicidentityoftheinstitu-tionisexpressedthroughoutthecurriculum.
Studentsarerequiredtotakethreephilosophyandthreetheologycoursesaspartoftheirgraduationrequirements.
Coursesindepartmentsasdiverseasenglish, sociology, political science, economics,andmasscommunica-tionsincludeencyclicalsandotherChurchdocuments.
departments across the college curriculumregularlyofferwholecoursesthatreflecttheChristianinspirationofthecollege,including
CatholicSocialTeaching(econom-icsandtheology),SpiritualityinLiterature(English),MedievalLayReligion(history),LiturgicalChoir(music),andChristianityandMassMedia(journalismandmasscom-munications).
Various programs in the college havespecificrequirementsthatreflectourCatholicidentity.OurbusinessschoolrequiresstudentstotakeEthicsfromthephilosophydepartmentandChristianMoralLifefromthetheologydepartmentasgraduationrequirements.OurnursingprogramrequiresstudentstotakeaChristianbioethicscoursefromthetheologydepartment.
Ourphilosophyandtheologyde-partmentscooperatewitheachother,withotherdepartments,andwiththeArchdiocesetomaintainthestrongCatholicidentityofourcurriculum.
Thechairsofphilosophyandtheol-ogyjointlyofferathree-semestergreatbookscoursecalled“FaithandReason,”explicitlyfulfillingthecallofEx Cordeto“promotedialogue… so that it can be seen more pro-foundlyhowfaithandreasonbearharmoniouswitnesstotheunityofalltruth”.
ThephilosophydepartmentcentersitscurriculumontheteachingsofSt.
ThomasAquinas;itoffersaspecialprogram(calledaco-major)tailoredspecificallytoallowstudentstocombineaphilosophymajorwithamajorinsomeotherfieldofstudy,therebyprovidingstudentsanop-portunitytointegrateknowledgeacrossareasofspecialization.
Afteryearsofbeingknownasthereligiousstudiesdepartment,ourtheologydepartmentheededthecallofEx Corde that all catholic col-legeshaveadepartmentoftheology,andreclaimeditspropername.IncooperationwiththeArchdiocese,thetheologydepartmenthasjoinedwiththeeducationdepartmenttodevelopacertificationprogramforprospectivehighschooltheologyteachers.
Wearetheonlyschoolinthecoun-trythatoffersatheologymethodscourseintheEducationDepartmentforthosewhowanttoteachhighschool.
FellowshipsBenedictineCollegelaunchedanewacademicprogramonitsAtchisoncampusin2010,theGregorianFel-lowsprogram.NamedforSt.Grego-rytheGreat—thefirstBenedictinetobecomePope—thenewfellow-shipsprovideuniqueeducationalopportunitiestoadvanceintellectualcultureoncampusandintheworld.
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Catholic AtmosphereSince2001,nearly1,200Benedic-tinestudentshaveparticipatedinourLeadershipSeminar.Itprovidesfoundationalleadershipprinciplestostudentsconsideringformalandin-formalleadershippositions,engagesstudentsinactivelearningoutsidetheclassroom,andallowsthestaffselectingthestudentleadersanopportunitytomeetandobservethestudentsbeforetheselectionprocess.ThestudentswhoattendtheLeadershipSeminarwillthenserveasculturalagentswhoeducatenewstudentsaboutthemissionandvaluesofthecollege.
Allstudentsareexposedtopresen-tationsonemotionalandphysicalchastityatournewstudentorienta-tion.
Nearly250studentleadersreturntocampusearlyinthefallforastu-dentleaderMassbeforetheybeginmove-inandorientationforallnewstudents.
Catholicidentityinformsdetailsofcampuslife;forinstance,thecafete-riaservesnomeatonFridaysduringLent.
Everyyear,weadoptspiritualthemestosetthetoneforcampuslifeandministry.Pastthemeshaveincluded“DoSomethingBeautiful
forGod,”“HopeDoesNotDisap-point,”“IgniteYourSpirit,”and“Forward.AlwaysForward,”whichwasinspiredbyArchabbotBonifaceWimmer’swords,“Forward.Al-waysforward.…Man’sadversityisGod’sopportunity.”Our2011-2012themeis“BeNotAfraid,”aswecelebrateBlessedJohnPaulII.
Inadditiontotheregularcollegeministryofferings,weprovidevari-ous special spiritual opportunities fortheentirecampuscommunity.Inthepastyear,forinstance,wespon-sored“JohnPaultheGreatDays,”“EucharisticMiraclesoftheWorld,”and“TheLifeofMotherTeresa.”
Campus TraditionsIn2002,theBoardofDirectorsvotedunanimouslytoapproveanalmamaterfortheCollege.Thelyr-icsandmusicofthehymn,“OLordofEv’ryBlessing,”werecomposedbyalumniofthecollegeandbegins:“OLordofev’ryblessing,wepraiseyoufortheplacethatsitsabovetheriverandunderheaven’sgrace.WecallherAlmaMaterfromheartswithloveaflameandproudlygorejoicingwithBenedictine’sname.”Thishymnisregularlyusedaspartofall-schoolMassesandofficialcollegeactivities.
EachyearonthefirstSundayinMay,womenstudentswhohavede-
claredtheirintenttoenterreligiouslifearechosentocrownthestatueoftheBlessedVirginMary.Stu-dentswhohavedecidedtobecomeseminariansserveataMasswhichprecedesthecrowning.Inthepast10years,87menandwomenfromBenedictinehavegoneontosemi-narytoprepareforthepriesthoodorthereligiouslife.
BenedictineCollegehasinstitutedaprayerfulnewCommencementweekendevent:theMarchofLight.Graduatingseniorstakeaclasspicture at a prominent campus loca-tionandthenprocesswithcandlestoMary’sGrotto,wheretheyplacetheircandlesbeforeprocessingontotheBaccalaureateMass.Itisamomentforfaculty,staffandstu-dentstobrieflyuniteandhonortheschool’sCatholicidentitybeforestudentsgraduateandleavecampus.
cAmpus liFe & trAditions
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SacramentsFourdailyMassesareofferedoncampus.
Apriestisavailableintheconfes-sionalatregulartimestwiceaday,atcampusMasses.
Onmove-indaysatthebeginningoftheschoolyear,weoffera“fam-ilysend-offMass”wherefamiliescanworshiptogetherbeforeparentsheadhome.AtthecloseofthisMass,parentsaregivenachancetobestowablessingontheirchild.
Prayer and DiscipleshipPerpetualEucharisticadorationisofferedoncampusinaprogramsharedbytheAtchisonCatholiccommunity,inadditiontoweeklystudent-onlyEucharisticadoration.
EveryWednesdayat7:30a.m.dur-ingtheacademicyear,ourpresi-dent,StephenD.Minnis,andtheDeanoftheCollege,Dr.KimberlyShankman,leadaRosaryopentotheentireBenedictineCollegecom-munity.
Monks,Sisters,andotherleadersfromoursponsoringcommunitiesleadinvocationsandbenedictionsatmajorgalas,games,dinnersandevents.
In2009,ourCollegeMinistrycreat-edtheannualInteriorLifeProgram.Itisamonthlymini-conferenceontheinteriorlifetaughtbyatheologyprofessor.Thegoalistocreatea
clearpathtoprayersoastudentcanliveitinhisorherdailylife.
Thecampusholds24-hourvigilstopromotethesanctityoflife;thevig-ilsincludeEucharisticadoration,areheldincooperationwiththeKnightsofColumbus,andareledbyRavensRespectLife.
About600studentsparticipateinweeklyBiblestudies.
Morethan120studentsparticipateinweeklyone-on-onediscipleshipmentoring.
PilgrimagesOurFlorencecampusleadspilgrim-age to norcia, italy, the birthplace ofourfounders,St.BenedictandSt.Scholastica.
EachSpringBreakourCollegeMinistryleadsapilgrimagetoMonteCassino,Subiaco,andRome,Italy.
EachMayourCollegeMinistryleadsapilgrimagetotheHolyLand.
Promoting VocationsWeoffermultipleopportunitiesforvocationaldiscernment,suchastheannualNunRunandMonkRunoverspringbreak,theannualvoca-tionfair,SamuelGroup,andspiri-tualdirectionbyoneofthesevencampuschaplains.
Foryears,thecollegehasatraditioncalledPartnersinPrayerwherecur-
rentBenedictineCollegestudentspraywiththeBenedictineSisters.
Ourannualvocationsfairattractsover30dioceseandreligiousordersthatcometorecruitcandidatestothereligiouslife.Inthepasttenyears,87studentshavepursuedthepriesthoodorreligiouslife.
National ScopeIn2010,ourCollegeMinistrycre-atedtheJohnPaulIISpeakerSeriesto bring prominent catholic intellec-tualsandculturalleaderstocampus.
TheFellowshipofCatholicUniver-sityStudents(FOCUS)wasfoundedatBenedictineCollege.Ourchapteriswidelyconsideredanationalstan-dard.Inthepasttwoyearsalone,25BenedictinegraduateshavegoneontoserveasFOCUSmissionaries.Over400studentshaveattendedaFOCUSNationalConferenceinthelasttwoyears.
Severalotherinternational,national,andlocalCatholicassociationsareactiveoncampus,includingtheKnightsofColumbus,VarsityCatholic,Lifeteen,CommunionandLiberation,PartnersinPrayer,andDaughtersoftheKing.
Nearly70studentathletespar-ticipateinweeklyVarsityCatholicBiblestudies.
Social JusticeAllstudentclubsandorganizations
college ministry & spirituAl emphAsis
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arerequiredtocompleteanan-nualserviceproject.Otherstudentorganizationsarespecificallycommittedtorespondtotheneedsofthecommunity,forexample,HungerCoalition’sSkip-a-Mealprogram,tutoring,andProjectConcern.(Over420studentsskipamealeveryWednesdayand70studentstutorinthelocalelemen-taryschools.)
RavensRespectLifehasmorethan300members.
Lastyear,fourbusloadstraveledmorethan48hourstoattendtheMarchforLife.OurMarchforLifegroupwasfeaturedonEWTNinthedocumentaryThine Eyes.
SocialJusticeWeekannuallybringsinadiversearrayofspeak-erstoaddresstheneedsofthepoor,underprivilegedandvulner-ablemembersofsociety.
Collegeministry’sextensiveser-vicetothepoorandadvocacyef-fortsaredescribedinthe“servicetothewidersociety”section.
Residence LifeAllresidencehallsaresingle-sex.
ResidentiallivingpoliciesfollowtheChurch’steachingonhumansexualitybyupholdingthedig-nityofthehumanperson.Policiesonalcoholusage,visitation,andcohabitationreflectaChristiananthropology.
Residencelifeintegratesfaithandreasonthroughdailydisciplinemeetings,ourresidencelifepolicyandprocedures,andourstaffmemberswhotrytoexemplifythisprinciple.
Residentassistantsarerequiredtohavetwoprogramspersemester,oneofwhichisspiritual.Forex-ample,residencehallsoftenhostaRosaryorMorningPrayer.
Roomblessingsareheldeveryfallaftermove-inday.
Therearecrucifixesinalldormrooms.
ResidentdirectorssponsorhallMassesorcelebratethefeastdaysoftheirhall’snamesake.
Hallssendstudentrepresentativestoserve,usherandreadatMassonarotatingbasis.
Residentdirectorsandresidentas-sistantsinviteresidencehallmem-berstogotoEucharisticadorationasagrouponcepersemester.
Themesforhallprogramsoftenreflectorsupporttheliturgicalseason.
Student ServicesTheCounselingCenterStaffoper-atebyhighethicalstandardsandactinconformitywithChurchteaching.
EachcampusdepartmentactsinaccordancewiththeteachingsandtraditionsoftheCatholicChurchfirstandforemostthroughitsrecruitmentandhiringofstaff,in-corporatingCatholicidentityintojobdescriptions,trainingmanuals,andprofessionaldevelopmentop-portunities.
TheStudentHealthCenterpro-videshealthcareinconformitywiththeChurch’sethicalandre-ligiousteachinganddirectives.Inparticular,theHealthCentersup-portstheChurch’steachingonlifefromconceptiontonaturaldeathandonissuesrelatedtohumansexuality.TheCenterdoesnotmakereferralsorprovideinforma-tionforservicesthatconflictwithCatholicteaching.
Sister Thomasita Homan, OSB, and Benedictine College student, Sister Presentasia Chipeta, from
Tanzania, who stayed at Mount St. Scholastica.
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President and Board of DirectorsOurpresident,StephenD.Minnis,isasought-aftercommentatoronCatholicidentityandpubliclife.HedeliveredanaddressonacademicfreedomataCatho-liccollegetotheHeritageFoundationinWashington,D.C.;hasspokenatregionalLegatussocietymeet-ings;deliveredspeechesontheimportanceofspiri-tualvaluesintheworkplace;addressedtheKansasCityCatholicLegalAssociation;beeninterviewedonCatholicradio;addressedtheregionalassociationofcollegecareercounselorsontherelevanceoftheprin-ciplesoftheRule of Saint Benedictforcontemporarystudents;andcontributedachapterontheimportanceofmissioninasuccessfulorganizationforabookonleadershipdirectedatbusinessleaders.
PresidentStephenMinnisalsolaunchedtheMemorareArmyprayercampaign,whichisagroupofstudents,faculty,staff,andfriendsofthecollegewhoserveasprayerwarriorstoseektheassistanceoftheBlessedMotherforspecialcampusintentions.
OrientationforserviceonourBoardofDirectorsin-cludesadetailedpresentationonCatholicidentityandmission.TheMonksandSisterswhoarepartoftheboardprovidespiritualguidanceinavarietyofways,includingthecelebrationofMassbeforeeachboardmeetingandtheopeningandclosingofmeetingsinprayer.
Schoolpolicyrequiresthatwegranthonorarydegreesorconferothercommendationsonlytothosecandi-dateswhosepublicpositionsarecompatiblewithourCatholicmissionandidentity.
PriestsandreligiousSistersoccupykeypositionsofleadershipinourcollegecommunity,includingsixboardmembers,fivechaplains,facultymembers,theDirectorforMissionandMinistry,andtheassociatedeanofthecollege.
President’s Cabinetdr. Kimberly shankman, dean of the college, is the thomas Aquinas Fellow for the center for the Advance-ment of catholic higher education and chair of the Kansas state Advisory committee to the u.s. commis-sion on civil rights. she recently spoke at columbia university about pope Benedict XVi's Caritas in Veritate.
CharlesGartenmayer,AthleticDirector,wasfeaturedonEternalWordTelevisionNetwork(EWTN)forhisroleinVarsityCatholic,aprayerinitiativeforstudentathletes.
JoeWurtz,DeanofStudentLife,isamemberoftheboardoftheFellowshipofCatholicUniversityStu-dentsandoneofitsfirstmissionaries.
TomHoopes,VicePresidentofCollegeRelations,istheformereditoroftheNational Catholic Register andFaith & Familymagazine.Heandhiswife’s“Us-er’sGuidetoSunday”columnappearsweeklyintheRegister.HeisafrequentcontributortoOur Sunday Visitor,CatholicVote.org,theKnightsofColumbus’FathersforGoodandotherCatholicmediaoutlets.
FatherBrendanRolling,OSB,DirectorforMissionandMinistry,isamemberoftheCatholicCampusMinistryAssociationandhaswrittenforOur Sunday Visitor.
WedevelopedandexpandedourCollegeMinisterpo-sitionintothecurrentcabinet-levelDirectorforMis-sionandMinistryposition.
WemakeuseofexternalbenchmarkingtoolssuchastheNewmanGuidetoChoosingaCatholicCollegeandtheNationalCatholicRegister’sCatholicIdentitySurveyisusedtoidentifykeyidentity/mission indicators.
leAdership & AdministrAtion
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the story of Mary & BenediCtine College
In1856,Fr.HenryLemke,whofoundedourSt.Benedict’sAbbey,foundhimselfinalife-threat-eningsituation.Hehadtraveledadistancetovisitthesick.Withoutfoodoradequatefluids,hebeganthewalkhome.Thatnighthelosthisbearingsinafright-eningthunderstorm.Lemkefoundhimselfdisoriented,weak,surroundedbydarkness,infastrisingwaters,withnoideawhichdirectiontogo. HedirectedhisprayerforprotectionthroughMary—somethingtheLutheranconverthadrarelydonebefore.Assoonashesaidtheprayer,alightappearedonthehorizon.Hestumbledtowarditandfoundthatitwasalanternhanginginthewindowofacottage. Amotheranddaughterlivedthere,andtheyshelteredhimfromthestorm.Heaskedwhythelan-ternwashanginginthewindowatall.Thedaughtersaid,“Aladydressedinwhiteappearedtomeinadreamandtoldmetoputitthere.” Twoyearslater,in1858,BenedictineCollegewasfoundednearbytheplacewhereFr.Lemkewasrescued—thesameyearaladyinwhiteappearedtoanotherlittlegirlinasmalltown;St.BernadetteinLourdes,France.
BenedictineCollegebuiltMary’sGrottoin2008tocommemoratetheappearanceofOurLadyinLourdesandourfounding150yearsbefore.WeputarosaryblessedbyPopeBenedictXVIandmixedLourdeswaterintothefoundation,andlaterfeaturedtwostonesfromtheoriginalLourdesgrotto. Thegrottoisintheheartofcampus.ThegrottoisthecenterofseveralBenedictinetraditions:IncomingFreshmenbegintheirconvocationthere,andgraduatingseniorsendtheirtimeoncampusthere.EachyearonthefirstSundayinMay,womenstudentswhoplantoenterreligiouslifecrownthestatueofMary.Studentswhohavedecidedtobecomeseminar-iansserveatMassbeforethecrowning. the National Catholic Register andKansasCity,Kan.,Archidiocese’sThe Leaven havepublishedstoriesaboutthegrotto,chroniclinghowtheprayersofthecollege’sMemorareArmybuiltit,howithasbe-comeadestinationforprayer(andmarriageproposals)oncampus,andhow,accordingtoanairportweatherwatcher,GrottoprayersstalledastormfromenteringAtchisonforhoursduringitsdedication.
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AwArdsWe recognize catholic identity through six awards.
The Humanae Vitae Award is presented to individuals who have made the catholic church’s teaching on life, bioethics or human sexuality better known and appreciated.
The John Paul II Distinguished Speaker award is presented to individuals for their outstanding contribution to the new evangelization called for by Blessed John paul ii and pope Benedict XVi.
The Do Something Beautiful for God award is presented to individuals or organizations that exemplify what mother teresa described; “every day on awaking, my desire and my enthusiasm is this: today i must do something beautiful for god.”
the Offeramus Medal is awarded to women alumnae who exemplify service. recent recipients include Biblical scholar sister irene nowell, osB, and pro-life activist sherry mefford lange.
the Kansas Monk is awarded to male alumni of the college for exemplary service to the community.
the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict honors those who have lived the Benedictine values of our country. A recent recipient is cardinal christoph schönborn of Vienna.
Top to bottom: An icon of Sts
Scholastica and Benedict with the
campus Abbey by College Ministry
director Fr. Brendan Rolling,
OSB. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, by Dawna Gardner,
commissioned by Benedictine College
president Stephen D. Minnis. Students visit Pope Benedict XVI in
Rome.
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StatuaryInadditiontoourgrotto(mentionedabove)andFrederickHartstatuary(mentionedunderEcumenism)newcampusstatuesincludethefollowing.
Weunveiledthelatestadditiontocampus,aneight-foot-tallbronzestatueofSaintBenedict—fashionedbyKansasCityartistandBenedictinealumnusTimMispagel.
TheSt.ScholasticaPlazaoncampusfeaturesbas-reliefandstatuescommemoratingtheinfluenceoftheBenedictinesistersonourcommunity.
PaintingThefirstflooroftheHavertyCenteroncampusisorganizedaroundafloor-to-ceilingmuralbyAnthonyGudethatdepictstheinfluenceoftheCatholicChurchandtheBenedictinesonAtchison,Kansas.Inaddition,keyvirtuesemphasizedintheRule of St. BenedictareinscribedonthewallsoftheCenter’srotunda.
AnIconofSt.BenedictandSt.ScholasticasupportingourownAbbeyisfeaturedthroughoutcampus.Theiconwaswrittenbyourdirectorofcollegeministry,FatherBrendanRolling,OSB.
WeestablishedtheInstituteofDivineArtwithnotedartistElizabethZeller.Theinstitutetrainsstudentstoprovideworksofartforpublicworshipspaces,hasbeenendorsedbyCardinalChristophSchönborn,andisamemberoftheinternationalsacredartassociationImago.
Campus ArchitectureWiththeblessingoftheMissionariesofCharity,wededicatedtheMotherTeresaCenterforNursingandHealthEducation,thefacilityhousingtheBenedictineCollegenursingprogramin2010.Thebuildingwasdedicatedonthe100thanniversaryofMotherTeresa’sbirth,August26.
OurnewlybuiltFerrellAcademicCentervisuallyemphasizesourfourpillars:Catholic,Benedictine,LiberalArtsandResidential,andwillfeaturestatuesofSt.BenedictandSt.Scholastica.
WehaverenamedseveralbuildingsoncampustoemphasizetheCatholicidentityofthecollege: • St.BenedictHall,ourmainadministrationandacademicbuilding. • St.ScholasticaHall,anewfreshmanwomen’sresidencehall. • St.Martin’sMemorial,renamedfreshmanresidencehall. • KremmeterandWolfHalls,twodormsoncampusnamedafterBenedictinefounders. • SchirmerHouseandHartmanHouse,twonewcampustownhouses.
Theschoolhasopenedeightnewresidencehallssincetheyear2000,aswellasourNursingCenterandAcademicCenter.WehaveplacedaSt.BenedictMedalinthefoundationofeachbuildingwithaspecialblessing,followingacenturies-oldBenedictinetradition.
art & arChiteCture
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Bishops, archbishops and our abbot open the 2009 school year at
Benedictine College.
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Bishops, archbishops and our abbot open the 2009 school year at
Benedictine College.
iiCoMMunion
with the ChurCh
TheU.S.Bishops’“Ten-YearReviewofTheApplicationofExCordeEcclesiaefortheUnitedStates”nextasks:
“2.HowhascommunionwiththeChurchbeenstrengthened,bothbyinitiativescomingfromtheinstitutionandbyinitiativescomingfromthebishop/localchurch?”
BenedictineCollegeisthankfulforthestrongbondthatexistsbetweenourcampuscommunityandthelocalparish,archdiocese,bishop,anduniversalChurch.Inthissection,we
describeourcommunionwiththeChurchin:
TheArchdioceseofKansasCityinKansas
ServicetoOtherDioceses
BishopsWhoHaveVisitedCampus
CuriaandCollegeofCardinalsVisitorstoCampus
NotableCampusBenedictines
BenedictineCollege’sAlmaMater
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Forward,alwaysforward,
...Man'sadversityis
everywhere forward!
God's opportunity.
Benedictine College installed a new 8-foot statue of St. Benedict in the
center of campus in 2011.
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“EveryCatholicuniversity,withoutceasingtobeauniversity,hasarelationshiptotheChurchthatisessentialtoitsinstitutionalidentity.”
— Blessed John Paul II
Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan.Wewelcomethearchbishopontocampusmultipletimesayear;heregularly celebrates our Bacca-laureateMassandparticipatesinspecialoccasionsincludingdedica-tionsandblessings.
Thearchbishophasinitiatedayear-ly“FiresideChat”meetingwithourseniortheologyandphilosophymajorsdiscussingsignificantissuesintheChurch.Ourstudentsandprofessorsarebenefitedgreatlybyseeing the episcopate as partners withthem.
Wecollaboratewithvariousofficesinthearchdiocese,aswellaswithotherCatholicorganizationssuchastheKnightsofColumbus,Kan-sansforLife,andCatholicChari-ties,tosponsoreventsoncampusandsupportarchdiocesaneffortsinvolvingtheRighttoLife,youth,evangelization,andliturgy.
Service to Other DiocesesWeengageinsignificantoutreachtobishopsinthefivestatearea(Missouri,Iowa,Nebraska,Colo-rado,andKansas).
Withourtrainingandorganization,ourstudentsgivedozensofretreatsformorethan1,000highschoolstudentsyearly.
Severalordersofreligioussisters,followingtheencouragementoftheirbishops,havechosenourcampusasthesitefortheirprofes-sionaldevelopment.TheseincludetheSchoolSistersofChristtheKing;theMarianSistersofLin-coln,Nebraska;theFranciscanSistersoftheMartyrSaintGeorge;andBenedictineSistersfromTan-zania.
Weremaincommittedtotheinter-nalgoalofpreparingstudentstobecomeactiveparishleaderswhentheyreturnhome.
WelendsupporttoChurchout-reachefforts,includingthearchdio-cese’sfaithdevelopmenteffortforteachersandFr.RobertSpitzer’sevangelizationefforttoreachCatholicstudentsatpubliccollegesanduniversitieswithphilosophydistancecourses.
Bishops who have visited campus in the past 10 years include:
KansasCity,Kan.,ArchbishopJoseph naumann
omaha Archbishop george lucas
OklahomaCityArchbishopPaulCoakley
Baltimore, Auxiliary Bishop denis Madden
Cristalandia,Brazil,BishopHerbertHermes
DodgeCity,Kan.,BishopJohnBrungardt
KansasCity-St.Joseph.,BishopRobertFinn
Phoenix,Ariz.,BishopThomasOlmstead
Springfield-CapeGirardeau,Mo.,BishopJamesV.Johnston,Jr.
Wichita,Kan.,BishopMichaelO.Jackels
communion with the church
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Visitors from the curia and college of cardinals include:
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, car-dinalArchbishopofVienna,deliveredthelecture“PopeBenedict,Regens-burg,andtheControversyofCreationandEvolution,”atBenedictineCol-lege.ThecollegealsopresentedhimwithitsprestigiousCrossoftheOrderofSt.Benedictaward.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’sAmbassadortotheUnitedNations,visitedFebruary18,2009,anddeliveredthelecture“TheRoleoftheCatholicChurchintheUnitedNa-tions.”
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic NunciototheUnitedStates,celebratedtheschool’sopeningMassandConvo-cationonSept.1,2009.Henotedthat“TheLord’s‘indwelling’onthecam-pusofBenedictineCollegenurturesthefaithandpromotesthesurepathtopeace,now,asithasdoneforover150years.”
Church LeadersTostrengthentieswiththeworldwideChurchandtoguideourinstitutionaldirection,officersofthecollegehavemetoff-campuswithseveralchurchleaders,includinginNewYorkwithCardinal Renato Martino,aCardi-nalDeaconandPresidentEmeritusofthePontificalCouncilforJusticeandPeace,andintheVaticanwithArch-bishop Michael Miller,thenSecretaryfortheVaticanCongregationofEduca-tion.
Twoofourtheologians,Dr.JamieBlosserandDr.MatthewRamage,metinWashington,D.C.,withU.S.bishopsaspartofthe“IntellectualTasksoftheNewEvangelization”conference.
Notable Campus BenedictinesFatherMeinradMiller,OSB,theSubpriorofSt.Benedict’sAbbeyandChaplainatBenedictineCollege,isamuchsought-afterretreatleaderfortheMissionariesofCharityaroundtheworld.Inaddition,hegivesretreatsforCommunionandLiberationandvari-ousreligiouscongregations.
SisterPaulaHoward,OSB,aformerprofessorandadministratoratBene-dictineCollege,isarespectedico-nographerwhose170iconshavebeenpurchasedbyindividualsandinstitu-tionsacrossthecountry.
FatherMatthewHabiger,OSB,formertheologyprofessoratBenedictineCol-lege,hasservedaspresidentofHumanLifeInternational,hasdonetwoseriesfortheEternalWordTelevisionNet-work(EWTN)andhasbeenaguestonvariousshows.Since2003hehasbeenafull-timememberofNFPOutreach.
FatherJustinDamienDean,OSB,theassistantcampusminister,isknownforhismarriagesupportprogramwhichhasbeenfeaturedonEternalWordTelevisionNetwork(EWTN).
SisterMaryIreneNowell,OSB,amemberoftheBenedictineCollegeboardofdirectors,isanotedbibli-calscholar,respectedtheologian,andprolificauthor.
Sister Paula Howard, OSB
President Stephen D. Minnis conducts a tour of our Mother Teresa Nursing Center for the Missionaries of Charity.
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Jesus Christ“TheloveofChristmustcomebeforeallelse.”
RB4:21Community
“Theyshouldeachtrytobethefirsttoshowrespecttotheother.”RB72:4
Conversion of Life“Yourwayofactingshouldbedifferentfromthe
world’sway.”RB4:20Love of Learning
“WeintendtoestablishaschoolfortheLord’sser-vice.”RBP:45Listening
“Afterhearingtheadvice,ponderitandfollowthewisercourse.”RB3:1-2
exCeLLenCe through virtue“ThatinallthingsGodmaybeglorified.”RB57:9
hospitaLity“Allguestswhopresentthemselvesaretobewel-
comedasChrist.”RB53:1stabiLity
“Neverswervingfromhisinstructions,weshareinthesufferingsofChristtoalsoshareinhisking-
dom.”RBP:50stewardship
“Regardallutensilsandgoodsassacredvesselsofthealtar.”RB31:10
prayer and work“Webelievethatthedivinepresenceisevery-
where…Theylivebythelaboroftheirownhands.”RB19:1-48:8
BenediCtine College Values
President Stephen D. Minnis conducts a tour of our Mother Teresa Nursing Center for the Missionaries of Charity.
Alongwithacrucifix,acopyofthesevaluesisdisplayedineveryclassroomandineachstaffdepartment.
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iiiinCorPoration
of the norMs
Next,theU.S.bishops’reviewdocumentasks:
“3.IncorporationoftheNorms.Inthefollowingcategories,forexample,howhasitbeenpossibletoincorporatethenormsofTheApplicationofExCordeEcclesiaeforthe
UnitedStateswithintheactualsituationoftheinstitution?”
BenedictineCollegehasincorporatedthenormsofEx Corde Ecclesiaeandcanonlawregardinghighereducationthroughouttheinstitution.Inthissection,weexaminethe
wayswehavedonesoregarding:
SettingouttheCatholiccharacterintheguidingdocumentsoftheuniversity
StrengtheningoftheCatholicidentitybymembersofthe
universitycommunityinaccordancewiththeirspecificroles
Grantingofthemandatum
CommunicatingGospelvalues,servicetothepoor,socialjusticeinitiatives,andecumenicalandinter-religiousactivities
Pastoralcareoftheuniversity’sstudents,faculty,
administrationandstaff
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By Ruth Krusemark, Stacy Neidbalski, Fr. Andrew Hoffer
O Lord of ev’ry blessing, we praise you for the place
That sits above the river and under heaven’s grace.
We call her “Alma Mater” from hearts with love aflame
And proudly go rejoicing with Benedictine’s name.
O hear your ravens calling; in faith we fly to you.
For you alone are holy, and you alone are true.
Just as the river flowing, you always will provide.
So in all things forever may you be glorified.
Surround her with your goodness
and keep her in your peace.
May Benedictine flourish, her family increase.
Like dappled trees in autumn or flowers fresh in spring,
Your glory casts its beauty where souls in wisdom sing.
This school of your own service has set us on our way
To follow you in knowledge unto the endless day.
Let fear not daunt our movement toward hope of
promise bright
As now we run in courage with love’s untold delight.
BenediCtine’s alMa MaterIn2002,theBoardofDirectorsvotedunanimouslytoapproveanalmamaterforthecollege.
Thesongisregularlysungatcollegeactivities.
Above: College Ministry's trip to Rome and mission work.
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“TheseGeneralNormsarebasedon,andareafurtherdevelopmentof,theCodeofCanonLaw…TheyarevalidforallCatholicUniversitiesandotherCatholicInstitutesofHigherStudiesthroughouttheworld.”
— Blessed John Paul II
FollowingthespecificcategoriessuggestedbyEx Corde Ecclesiae, wehavediligentlyattemptedtostrengthennormsthatalreadyaffirmourCatholicidentityandmission,aswellasimplementnewinitiativesthatwillenhanceandexpandthatidentityandmission.Thosenormsareincarnatednotonlyinprogramsandpoliciesthatconstitute“theactualsituationoftheinstitution,”butultimatelyinourpeople.Herearesomeofouraccomplish-mentsintheareasdesignatedinthedocument.
Setting out the Catholic character in the guiding documents of the university.Sincethebeginning,therelation-shipbetweenBenedictineCollegeandtheCatholicChurchhasbeenanorganicone.FromtheLeaseAgreemententeredintobythesponsoring institutions, the Basic Agreementstates,“[the]ConventandtheAbbeyacknowledgethatthesuccessoftheCollegewilldependtoagreatextentontheirsupport,andeachagreesthattheCollegewillbeandremainoneofitsmajorapostolates.”Thecol-legewasestablishedbymonksandsisterstoservetheCatholicsin
ourarea.ItcurrentlyexistswithintheArchdioceseofKansasCityinKansasandreceivesrecognitionasaCatholicCollegewiththeconsentoftheArchbishop.
Inthepast10years:
WecreatedaVisionandValuesstatementtopromote10focalpointsofourCatholic,Benedictineidentityandhaveposteditineveryclassroomandeverystaffdepart-ment.
WehavesystematicallyintegratedCatholicidentityandmissionintowordingofallgoverningdocu-ments:themissionstatementinthecatalog,strategicplan,vision,andvaluesstatement.
ThepresidentworksthroughthehandbookoftheAssociationofBenedictineCollegestoidentifyhallmarksofBenedictineeduca-tionandincorporatethemintoourvisionandmission.
Strengthening of the Catholic identity by members of the university community in accordance with their specific roles.SeeSectionIaboveforseveralexamplesofcollegepractices.In
addition: OurorientationofnewfacultyincludestrainingontheCatholic,Benedictinemission,withspecificreferencetoEx Corde Ecclesiae.
Wedevelopedthecurriculumforthenursingprogramaccordingtothearchbishop’snormsforCatholichealthcarefacilities.
OurDeanofStudentLifehasincorporatedCatholicTheologyoftheBodyteachingintodormitoryorientationandstudentdevelop-ment.
Granting of the Mandatumthe National Catholic Register’s article“BenedictineCollegeEm-bracesMandatum”(Aug.17,2003)proposedtheschoolasamodelofcanon-lawcompliancewithregardtothemandatum.
Ouradvertisementsforpositionsinthetheologydepartmentspecifical-lyrequireapplicantswho“enthusi-asticallyseekthemandatum.”
Allofourtheologyfacultyhavereceivedthemandatum.
incorporAtion of the norms
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CommunicatingGospelvalues,servicetothepoor,socialjusticeinitiatives,&ecumenicalandinter-religiousactivities
See the College Ministry and Spiri-tual Emphasis section above. Addi-tionally:
Social JusticeSisterBarbaraMcCracken,OSB,oneofourBenedictineSisters,wasaprincipalorganizeroftheeventcel-ebratingthe30thAnniversaryoftheChurchwomenofElSalvador,com-memoratingtheirChristianservicetothepoorandoppressed.
TheHungerCoalitionhascommit-tedanaverageof400studentstotheweeklySkip-A-Mealprogram.StudentsdonatetheirWednesdayeveningmealtobenefitthelessfor-tunate.Withthehelpoffacultyandstaff,studentspackageanddelivermeals.Studentsaredeeplymovedbythehumanityofthepeopletheymeet.
Overtheyears,theHungerCoalitionhasbranchedouttoincludetutoringstudentsatlocalschoolsandcloth-ingthehomelessinKansasCityincooperationwiththeorganizationUplift.
In2005,BenedictineCollegegrantedanhonorarydegreetoSeanO’BrianbecauseofhisserviceastheheadoftheDeathPenaltyRepre-sentationClinicattheUniversityofMissouri-KansasCity,aswellashisprobonoworkforprisonersawait-ingexecution.
BenedictineCollegehasrespondedannuallytotheVaticanNuncio’sinvitationfortwostudentstoat-tendthe“PathtoPeace”summerprogramattheUnitedNations;theprogramwasestablishedbytheCatholicChurchandseekstofosterprojectsofareligious,conciliatory,humanitarianandcharitablenaturewithaviewtopromotingfundamen-tal human rights by calling attention tospecificemergencyneedsarisingindifferentpartsoftheworld.
Environmental StewardshipTheBenedictineAcademicCenterwillbethefirstnewLEED-certified(green)buildingonacollegeoruniversitycampusinthestateofKansas.LEEDisaninternationallyrecognizedcertificationsystempro-vidingthird-partyverificationthatabuildingwasdesignedandbuilttoimproveenergysavings,waterefficiency,andotherenvironmentalstewardshipbenchmarks.
In2004,alumnaDr.WangariMaathaibecamethefirstAfricanwomantoreceivetheNobelPeacePrize.Shereceivedtheawardfor“hercontributiontosustainablede-velopment,democracyandpeace.”Inthe1970s,MaathaifoundedtheGreenBeltMovement,anenviron-mentalnon-governmentalorgani-zationfocusedontheplantingoftrees,environmentalconservation,andwomen’srights.MaathaiwasanelectedmemberofParliamentinKe-
nyaandservedasAssistantMinisterforEnvironmentandNaturalRe-sourcesinthegovernmentofPresi-dentMwaiKibakibetweenJanuary2003andNovember2005.SheistheonlyNobelPeaceLaureatetograduatefromanAmericanCatholicCollege.
Ecumenical and Inter-Religious OutreachAbout60%ofcollegeministryac-tivitiesareecumenicalinnature.
Weofferdozensofyearlyalcohol-freeeventsforstudentsofallfaithslike“JamfortheLamb”thatareattendedbyseveralhundredstudentsoverthecourseoftheyear.
Thecollegeoffersavarietyofpraiseandworshipopportunities.Ourstudentsleadandparticipateinvari-ouson-campuspraiseandworshipevents,includingapassionplayandRave-N-Worship.
ThecampusprominentlydisplaysFrederickHart’sreligiousstatues,includingSt.Peter,Adam,andSt.Paul,aswellascastingsofHart’s“ExNihilo”(OutofNothing),argu-ablythemostimportantworkofreli-gioussculptureinthe20thcentury.
the school hosts international StudentsfromoursisterschoolinJapan,servedHongKongwithaMastersinBusinessAdministrationprogram,andfacilitatestheeduca-
sociAl Justice & ecumenism
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Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, one of several John Paul II Distinguished Speakers who have visited campus.
BenediCtine College guiding doCuMents
VisionBuildingOneofAmerica’sGreatCatholicColleges
“BuildingagreatCatholiccollegerequiresacom-munity-widecommitmenttoexcellence.WededicateourselvestoeducatingstudentstobecomeleadersintheBenedictinetradition,whowilltransformtheworldthroughtheircommitmenttointellectual,per-
sonal,andspiritualgreatness.”
MissionCommunityFaith,andScholarship
“OurmissionasaCatholic,Benedictine,liberalarts,residentialcollegeistheeducationofmenandwom-enwithinacommunityoffaithandscholarship.”
tionspecialstudentsfromoverseas,welcomingstudentsofotherreligions.Recently,aBenedictineCollegestudentfromIraqwaschosenbyUSA Today asacollegiatefeaturewriter.
TheecumenicalRavensRespectLife,with310members,isoneofourmostpopularcampusclubs.Everyyear,wetraveltotheNationalMarchforLife;in2011,werecordedthelargestnumberofstu-dentparticipantsinBenedictineCollegehistory.Ourgroupof237wasjoinedinWashington,D.C.,byArchbishopJosephNaumann.Inaddition,asmallgroupofstudentsregularlypraysandofferscounsel-ingoutsidethenearbyFoxHillabortionclinicinKansasCity.
Promoting Gospel ValuesFatherRobertJ.Spitzer,S.J.,formercollegepresi-dentandcurrentpresidentoftheMagisInstitute,haspartneredwithBenedictineCollegetoofferanonlinecourseentitledPhysicsandMetaphysics;thecourseisofferedviaNewmanCentersandthroughFOCUSchaptersatpubliccollegesanduniversities.StudentswhosuccessfullycompletethecoursemayreceivecreditfromBenedictineCollege,thatcanbetransferredtotheirinstitution.
OurfacultyregularlyattendFides et Ratioconfer-ences.Asanoutgrowthofthatexperience,facultyreadinggroupshavebeenformedtoexplorediffer-entaspectsoftheCatholicintellectualtradition.
Pastoral Care of the University’s students, faculty, adminis-tration, and staffSixmonksservethespiritualneedsofthecampus,andsistersatMountSt.Scholasticaprovidepastoralservices.
SeeSectionIformanyexamplesofpastoralcare.
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iVserViCe to the wider ChurCh
and soCiety
TheU.S.bishops’“Ten-YearReview”documentnextasks:
“4.ServicetothewiderChurchandSociety.Howdoestheuniversitycontributetothelifeofthelocalanduniversal
Churchandofsociety?Howdoestheuniversity,whichasaCatholicuniversityisessentialtotheChurch’sgrowthandtothedevelopmentofChristiancultureandhumanprogress,seektoaddresscontemporaryissuesandtheirethicaland
religiousdimensionsbydrawingontheCatholicintellectualtradition?”
BenedictineCollegeseesitsmissiontoserveothersandteachChristasintegraltoitsCatholiccharacter.Inthefollowingsection,weshowhowtheCollegeisaservicetothewider
Churchandsocietythroughits:
Serviceprograms
Fundraisingassistance
Universityoutreach
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ACatholicuniversity“preparesmenandwomenwho,inspiredbyChristianprinciplesandhelpedtolivetheirChristianvocationinamatureandresponsiblemanner,willbeabletoassumepositionsof
responsibilityintheChurch.”— Blessed John Paul II
WhilewearelocatedinAtchison,Kansas,wewanttopositivelyimpactthewholeworld.Fromthemanymilesourstudentstravelonpilgrimages, mission trips or to giveretreats,totheconferenceswehost,therearecountlesswaysthatBenedictineCollegeservestheChurch,society,thefamily,andeachindividualperson.
ServiceIn2011,wecarriedout15missiontripswithover558participants,travelingover1.4millionmiles.ServicetripsincludedcannedfoodandmoneydrivesforthepooronNativeAmericanreservationsandsuchlocationsasKansasCity,theBronx,NewYork,andNewOrleans;aprogramcalledProjectUplifttobringclothestothehome-less;participationintheministryoftheSistersofCharityinSaintLouisandCalcutta;evangelisminAr-gentina,England,andRussia;andbuildinghousesandschoolsforthepoorandoppressedinBelize,Haiti,theDominicanRepublic,andElSalvador.
Wemaintainaveryhighpercent-ageofministryeventparticipationamongourstudentbody.Eightypercentofourstudentsparticipateinweeklyministryevents,fromMasstoserviceprojects.In2010,wehad62studentBiblestudylead-ers,211serviceteamvolunteers,213liturgyprogramvolunteers,andover18,765cumulativepartici-pationsinevents.
Since2006,wehavefaithfullyprovidedannualupdatesandde-tailedreportsoftheretreatswehostwithinathree-hourdrivingradius,duringwhichourstudent-ledcam-pusretreatteamserveshundredsofyouth.From2008to2011,thenumberofretreatsincreasedfromeightto42.In2011,weserved1,189youththrough34retreatsin93parishes.
FundraisingEveryyear,studentspersonallyraise100percentofthecostoftheirpilgrimagesandservicetrips.In2010,weraised$216,358.65to
benefitthepoor,protecttheunborn,andevangelizelocallyandinterna-tionally.
Everyyear,weassistArchdiocesancharitiesintheireffortstobenefitthepoorandothers.In2010,weprovidedvolunteerstoserveattheSnowballGalaforCatholicCharities,GaudeamuseventforCatholicEducationFoundation,andtheSouperBowlfundraiserforKnightsofMalta.
Since2006,ongoingvolunteerevangelizationinMissouri,Iowa,Nebraska,Colorado,andKansasdiocese;studentsserveasCCDteachers,volunteeryouthminis-ters,andcounselorswithCatholiccampssuchasCampTekakwithaor summer programs such as totus Tuus.
University OutreachFormorethan1,000years,Scrip-turalliteracyhasbeenapillarofBenedictinespirituality;since2006,wehavemotivatedanin-creasingnumberofstudentsto
serVice to the Wider church & society
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participateinregularBiblestudy.In2010alone,197freshmensignedupforFOCUSBiblestudiesontheirfirstdayoncampus.
TheFellowshipofCatholicUniversityStudents(FO-CUS)hasdesignatedBenedictineCollegea“flagshipschool”andidentifiedthelocalchapterasanationalstandard.TenpercentofallactiveFOCUSmissionar-iesareBenedictinealumiandthequalityofourpro-gramissostrongthatFOCUSsendsalltheircampusministryleaderstoBenedictinepriortosendingthemoutintothefield.
WesponsortheannualKansasCatholicStudentCon-vention.Sincetheconventioncameunderourleader-shipin2010,wedoubledthenumberofcollegeanduniversityparticipants,from180to368.
Benedictine College MinistryMISSIONThemissionoftheBenedictineCollegeMinistrySt.MartinCenteristoformthestudents,facultyandstaffofthecollegeintheGospelofJesusChristthroughtheCatholictraditionofsacramentalunion,spiritualformation,scripturalliteracyandsocialmission.
VISION"TransformlivesinChrist"-John15:5.BenedictineCollegeMinistryexiststotransformlivesinChristthroughHisChurch,bylivingincommunitywiththestudentsandthoseaffiliatedwithBenedictineCol-legeandguidingthemontheirjourneyofintellectual,personal,andspiritualformation.
“Benedictine college ministry aims to form men and women who are joy-ful in their vocation, leaders in their
communities, competent in their pro-fession, mature in their faith, virtuous
in their decisions, and dedicated to serving the global human family by
building a culture of life and civiliza-tion of love for the glory of god.”
— From Benedictine College Ministry's Impact Statement
Top to bottom: Benedictine Students help the Atchison community, serve as missionaries in Belize, and unite in prayer with the Mount St. Scholastica Dooley Center.
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VContinuing
CooPeration
Finally,theU.S.bishops’“Ten-YearReview”documentasks:
“5.Inwhatspecificwayshasthisconversationyieldedanappreciationofthepositivedevelopmentsandtheremainingchallenges?Whatisthebestwaytocontinuethisdialoguebetweenthebishopandanindividualpresidentoragroupof
presidentsfromthediocese?”
After150yearsofhistory,BenedictineCollege’smissionofpartnershipwiththeChurchhasseen,withthegraceofGod,multiplefruitsinalumniandworksofcharitythroughouttheyears.Inthissection,wewillshowwaysinwhichourcommitmenttotheChurchwilllastintotheforeseeable
future.
the catholic church is our heritage, our home, our community,ourpartner,thetiethatbindsustosomanyemployeesandsupporters,themotherthathasaidedand
sustainedusforyears.OurCatholicidentityisour deepestidentity.
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“EveryCatholicuniversityistomaintaincommunionwiththeuniversalChurchandtheHolySee;itistobeinclosecommunionwiththelocalChurchandinparticularwiththediocesanBishopsoftheregionor
nationinwhichitislocated.”— Blessed John Paul II
Werecognizethatwecannotrestonoursuccessesortakeourvic-toriesforgranted.Wehavead-optedasourmottothequotefromArchabbotBonifaceWimmer,“Forward.Alwaysforward.Every-where,forward.…Man’sadversityisGod’sopportunity,”becauseweunderstandthatitisnotenoughtostartwell,oreventoperformadmirablyinthemiddleoftherace.Theaimistofinish—andtofinishstrong.
Some signs of future cooperation with the Church include:
Therequiredpresenceofmonksandsistersonourboardofdirec-
torsrepresentmandatorytiestotheChurchinourby-laws.
ThehiringofcommittedCatholicsinkeypositionsacrossthefacultyandstaffwillhelpinsurefuturecommitmenttotheChurch.
our alumni bishops, our many alumnipriestsandsisters,andthe87studentswhointhepast10yearshavepursuedpriestlyandreligiousvocationsarelivingbondsofunitywiththeChurch.
EvenaswearecommittedtoapplyingthenormsofEx Corde Ecclesiaeinever-increasingscopeandfullermeasure,werealizethat
wewillnotbesuccessfulwithoutthecontinuedguidanceandsupportoftheChurch.WewantourArch-bishopandtheBenedictinemonksandsisterstoknowthattheirpres-ence on our campus is important to us;theirinfluenceiscriticaltoouracademicandspiritualvitality. Forthisreason,wewelcomecon-tinuedcooperationwiththeleader-shipandservantsoftheCatholicChurch.ByGod’sgraceworkingthroughallofus,weareconfidentthatBenedictineCollegewillbeoneofAmerica’sgreatCatholiccolleges.
continuing cooperAtion
Dodge City, Kan., Bishop John Brungardt,
Benedictine class of 1980.
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"Be Not AfrAid."
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ut in oMniBus glorifiCetur deus