On the Hill

If you’re a Saint Meinrad alumnus, you’ll find a schedule and registration form for the 95th Alumni Reunion in this issue of your newsletter. This year’s event will be held July 31 - August 2 on the Saint Meinrad campus, with a lineup of events designed to inform, nurture and enlighten former students from all eras.

Guests arriving on Sunday can join the monastic community for Vespers and Compline in the Archabbey Church. Sunday evening, there will be a reception in the Alumni Commons and the movie, “A Man Called Otto,” will be shown in the St. Bede Theater.

Reunion events officially kick off on Monday, July 31, with a presentation by Br. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB, titled “Contributing to a Depolarized World: A Benedictine Project.”

Br. John Mark, a monk of Saint Meinrad, is a licensed psychologist, a faculty member of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, and a fellow in human formation with Saint Luke Institute.

Since joining Saint Meinrad in 2002, Br. John Mark has served his community as vocation director, assistant formation director and choirmaster. He spent several years conducting psychological evaluations for candidates for priesthood, diaconate and religious life. He also is the author of the book, How We Love: A Formation for the Celibate Life, published by the Liturgical Press.

Reunion guests can also compete in the annual golf scramble on Monday morning at the Christmas Lake Golf Course in nearby Santa Claus.

On Monday afternoon, Ms. Cassie Schutzer will present a workshop on “Known and Loved: A Relational Approach to Young Adult Ministry.” She is the director of Saint Meinrad’s grant-funded Young Adult Initiative, which partners with 10 parishes as they focus on improving their ministry with young adults.

After the presentation, reunion guests are welcome to take a tour of the Saint Meinrad grounds or the Abbey Caskets workshop. The tours will also be offered on Tuesday after lunch.

Members of the graduation classes of 1973 (50th), 1983 (40th), 1998 (25th), 2013 (10th), and 2018 (5th) - in addition to the 60th anniversary of the 1963 high school class - will be honored at the banquet on Monday evening. Socials will follow at the UnStable and Alumni Commons.

On Tuesday morning, Fr. Julian Peters, OSB, will present the first of two Day of Recollection talks on “Living with the Unfolding of Mystery.” The second half of his talk will be held Tuesday afternoon.

Fr. Julian, a monk of Saint Meinrad, is the director of the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates. He also serves as clergy liaison for the Permanent Deacon Formation Program and, until recently, was the School’s director of liturgy. He also serves as a commuting chaplain for the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, IN.

The reunion Mass will be celebrated in the Archabbey Church on Tuesday afternoon. Archbishop Emeritus J. Peter Sartain will preside and preach at the Mass.

Archbishop Sartain retired in 2019 after leading the Archdiocese of Seattle for nine years. Before that, he served as bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, IL, for four years and as bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock for six years.

A native of Memphis, TN, James Peter Sartain studied at Saint Meinrad College (Class of 1974) and earned a bachelor’s degree in English. He then studied in Rome, receiving a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in 1977 and a licentiate in sacred theology with a specialization in sacramental theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum San Anselmo in 1979. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 15, 1978.

At the banquet on Tuesday evening, Archbishop Sartain will be honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Reunion details and updates can be found at https://alumni.saintmeinrad.edu and on the alumni Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SaintMeinradAlumni.