By Rob Culligan ‘82
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
The former and late president of Saint John’s University, Br. Dietrich Reinhart, had a wonderful way with words. One of his many accomplishments during his 17-year presidency was the revision of the University’s mission statement.
Those familiar with mission statements may think of them as run-of-the-mill, dull or lackluster, akin to reading a technical manual. But this was not the case for Br. Dietrich. He excelled at wordsmithing. It was his forte: finding creative, colorful, inspiring, even poetic ways to express the ordinary.
Br. Dietrich set forth with gusto to rewrite the Saint John’s University mission statement in search of the perfect prose. What followed was a short, memorable declaration that rolled off the tongue:
To renew the fabric of community,
one generation to the next,
ever striving for excellence,
ever grounded in Benedictine tradition.
At the time it was written (circa 2000), my reaction was very Minnesotan. Sounds pretty darn good… not bad at all, don’t ya know.
Twenty years later – in the midst of a global pandemic – I see it in an entirely new light. It is not only eloquent and lyrical: it is also authentic, and bold, and relevant, and urgent.
During times of stability, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly noble or noteworthy about renewing the fabric of community. Afterall, shouldn’t that be the goal of every organization in any age?
But in turbulent times, when we are living in isolation and economic insecurity abounds and the fabric of society is unravelling at every seam, there’s a deep yearning for a sense of community, a sense of stability, a sense of place.
At Saint John’s, building community is what we do best. It’s the Benedictine way. For our students and our graduates who live and learn in this communal environment, it becomes part of their DNA.
Saint John’s alumni are experienced community-builders who venture into the world to make a difference. In true Benedictine humility, they do so without fanfare or need for recognition. They do so because they are called. It’s the right thing to do.
They practice what John Gagliardi preached: Ordinary men, doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways. That is the true sign of a Johnnie: community, character and leadership.
During the Coronavirus outbreak, Saint John’s has chronicled stories of numerous Johnnies fighting the epidemic, caring for those in need, entertaining, consoling, healing. Alumni like…
· Canh Tran, Garrison Pease and Tom Kaster from the Class of 2009, medical professionals working on the frontline of the ongoing pandemic in New York;
· Phil Steger ‘97, who converted his whiskey distillery to produce hand sanitizer;
· Joe Kelly ’83, who is in charge of Minnesota Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management;
· Grammy award-winning musician John McCutcheon ’74, who released a new album titled “Cabin Fever: Songs From the Quarantine”;
· George Maurer ’88, the acclaimed composer and musician, who performs a series of Facebook Live performances called “Sunday Morning Curbside Pickup”;
· Dr. Kurt Schwieters ’88 who began a Facebook group titled “Dr. Kurt: A Reliable COVID-19 Update.” In just two months, it has grown to nearly 2,000 members and features posts with updated information, advice for coping with pandemic stress and links to helpful tips, contact information and resources; and
· Thomas Tse ’88 from Hong Kong who writes: “Business activities are slowly returning to normal. Due to the social unrest in 2019 and this COVID outbreak, I think the Hong Kong economy needs a long, long time to recover. For me, I am busy trying to help tenants by providing them temporary rental reliefs.”
These are but a few examples from among the multitudes of Johnnies across the globe using their gifts and talents to do good deeds for their neighbors, for their communities and for humanity. Ordinary men, doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways. As we sing in our beloved Alma Mater, it is the true Johnnie spirit shining through.
In his recorded message to his fellow graduating seniors, this year’s Saint John’s Student Senate President, Owyn Ferguson, summed it up well by stating: “The measure of our success will not be what we gain, but by what we give.”
Amen to that, Owyn….
Speaking of an uplifting message, during the Great Recession Br. Dietrich expressed his optimism about the future. His parting note to the Saint John’s community was one of hope: Our best days are yet to come. Likewise, in the midst of this current global pandemic, Saint John’s remains similarly confident. We are resolute in our determination to continue the important work of educating young men in community, in the coming academic year and beyond, from one generation to the next.
God bless to all.
Editor’s Note: Here are links to several of the alumni stories referenced in this reflection:
SJU graduates on front line of COVID-19 pandemic fight in New York https://www.csbsju.edu/news/sju-doctors-in-nyc-2020
Phil Steger Puts His Company to Work Fighting Pandemic
https://gojohnnies.com/news/2020/4/3/swimming-and-diving-former-sju-swimming-star-puts-his-company-to-work-fighting-pandemic.aspx
Minnesota Homeland Security Chief Joe Kelly brings calm to pandemic response https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-homeland-security-chief-joe-kelly-brings-calm-to-pandemic-response/570162232/
John McCutcheon ’74 still sharing stories - just a little differently now
https://www.csbsju.edu/news/john-mccutcheon-2020?fbclid=IwAR3U_U8V-lU2xZ8-QRrEO6BcZmDfqDOTpy8Y1mzN32zPjJNiUU3n1XTvNQw
George Maurer performs “Sunday Morning Curbside Pickup
https://www.facebook.com/SJUAlum/posts/10158509150031563?__tn__=K-R
Dr. Kurt Schwieters use social media to spread facts over fear https://www.csbsju.edu/news/kurt-schwieters-2020