A Monk's Tale

Lent has begun...

2010-02-18T06:43:00.000-08:00

Even though Saint Benedict says a monk's life should be Lenten in character all the time, (see: http://www.osb.org/rb/text/rbemjo3.html#49) I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. Not being much of a meat eater, for example, how can a dinner of wonderfully cooked vegetables and perfectly roasted fish be a penance? Some of the best meals of the year come to the monastic table during this season. We have an abundance of breads, cheeses and fruits as well as delicious black bean soups. How is that "abstaining?" Yet, I only speak for myself. I'm sure some of my brothers who love the meat and potato diet that our German founders brought with them from Metten are truly miserable during these 40 days.
Around the school, I hear the students talking about what they are "giving up" and this is impressive. So far the words "chocolate" "TV" and "being mean to my sister" have been bandied around. Yesterday, at our Ash Wednesday Eucharist, I asked two students and one teacher's wife to talk about their experiences of service in Ohio, Jamaica and Haiti. All three spoke to the reality of giving as a life changing act. The notion of service has become more and more interesting to our students both at Prep and in the college. It is my hope that more of us can delve into that world with more frequency and intensity. Even the briefest of times in service to the truly desperate in our world can go a long way in helping us understand our place in the world and how narrow it can be.
So, to the love/hate feelings I have for Lent...I usually dread it mostly because it represents the dog days of winter. When Ash Wednesday rolls around, we see the sun begin to rise a little earlier each day and stay with us a few more minutes in the evening. We feel the "death threat" wind chills abate and the aching, teasing promise of spring....but you know, deep down inside, that you won't be able to open those windows and breath fresh air for a few more weeks. The drabness of the outdoors is matched by the bare, spare liturgies and the whole experience begins to drag. But in the end, that's OK too. The emergence of spring and Easter wouldn't be as meaningful without the cold of winter and Lent. Perhaps that's why Benedict believed in it so much.

Hospitality ala 2010....

2010-01-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

When I was a faculty resident living with college students, I once overheard a conversation which threw me for a loop...one of the guys had been caught with an authorized overnight guest (of the opposite sex) and she was being escorted out of the building by the resident assistant much to the chagrin and loud protests of her host. "Whatever happened to Benedictine hospitality?" he cried as his evening's plan were drifting out into the cold Collegeville night. You have to give him a point for creativity. I've heard the concept of Benedictine values used as a club before but not in that way!

Hospitality is indeed something endemic to Benedictines because the Rule is pretty explicit on the matter: "Let all guests be welcomed as Christ." The beauty of that simple directive though can mask the sometimes unexpected challenge which guests can present. Our new guesthouse at Saint John's is a remarkable place of welcome and warmth but every so often we hear of the guest who turns the place upside down either figuratively or literally. Our staff of brothers and lay people have had to address some interesting moments. The details are not important although I've encouraged them to keep a record so a book can be written. What should be pointed out, however, is that unlike a hotel, where unruly guests can be turned out into the night, a monastery doesn't have the option (unless of course there is some imminent threat of harm to self or others.) Put quite simply, a monastery is the only place in the world that I can think of where inhospitality is NOT an option even if the behavior of the guest leaves something to be desired.

Monastic life is often thought of as "counter-cultural" and perhaps this is a radical instance of that. Monks are mysteriously able to tolerate almost anything. Whether or not that is uniquely monastic or perhaps because of a twinge of "Minnesota Nice" thrown in the mix, it is certainly real.

To read more on Benedict's notion of hospitality go here:

www.osb.org/rb/text/rbeaad1.html#53

Finally, Fujimi!

2009-12-14T04:49:00.000-08:00

Fujimi monks in recreation room.

The monks of Saint John's built a new monastery in Fujimi, Japan in 1999 which replaced one closer to Tokyo that had been gradually choked off by commercial development in the wake of WWII. This place could not be more amazing. Surrounded by two mountain ranges, it is an incredible blend of east and west, Fujimi and Collegeville charm. The poured concrete walls (what else?) contrast the warm teak wood floors from the Philippines. The chairs and tables were crafted at Saint John's then shipped over and assembled on site. If the weather permits, you can walk out the main path of the house and see Mt. Fuji in the distance. There are young men joining the monastery at a faster rate than they have room....a good problem for any monastic community. The Prior, Fr. Roman Paur, is as gracious a host as you can imagine and not just to monks. They have a perfect guest wing, small but beautiful and open to any of you who read these words. I add their email address with confidence that they would love to hear from anyone who is interested in their ministries: fujimi@osb.or.jp. The monastery is a few short train rides from Narita airport, even closer to Tokyo.

Tomorrow I look forward to seeing the small town, famous for its water, skiing and of course, the views.

2009-12-14T04:31:00.000-08:00

These are images from The Humble Adminstrator's Garden in Shanghai China.

2009-12-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

Today I am coming to the last point on a whirlwind trip to Asia which included visits to China, South Korea and Japan. We are blessed with a large contingent of students from this part of the world and once a year I gather with their parents to celebrate that relationship. I cannot say enough good things about their children. Bright, talented, polite and respectful are words that only begin to scratch the surface. At our last regents’ meeting, one of the students played piano for us and left his audience breathless. Others in the past have executed and donated wonderful pieces of art. The Asian students have also helped raise the academic profile of the school by scoring incredibly well on national tests in math and science. They are a much beloved part of our residential program drawing accolades from Brett Hendrickson, our director. But most of all, these students always seem to have a good attitude about everything. I’m sure this experience is not all an easy street for them. We forget how far from home they are and how foreign our ways must. Yet, I can never pass one in the hall or on the way to the refectory without receiving a polite greeting and a warm smile. Perhaps they intuit the fact that a headmaster’s day is not an easy street as well?

At any rate, I am always excited to see Asia and this trip will include a much anticipated stay at the Saint John’s house in Fujimi, Japan called Holy Trinity Monastery. We have several of our monks living in a community that has been there since the 1940’s but recently relocated out of a busy section of Tokyo to a more remote, mountainous region which is more conducive to monastic life. In their beautiful new home, the monks feel more able to recruit native vocations and live a more contemplative life style. It must be working because there has been a sudden uptick in the number of young men joining the community. It would be very nice to see resurgence in the membership of that house.

The China visits included Shanghai where I saw about 12 parents and then Ningbo, a smaller city (by China's standards) but one of our hubs because of faithful parents who love Saint John's Prep. Yesterday, I spent less than 24 hours in Seoul Korea but had a lively and incredible meal with several of our Korean families. One of the couples drove over 4 hours just to be there. More on all of this later. In a couple of hours I will make my way by train to Fujimi hoping to navigate what I'm told is a complex but very efficient train system.

2009-11-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

We humans are very systematic thinkers and doers. We always seem to find either by necessity or invention, the shortest distance between the starting point and the goal. The entire history of human society is a constant telling and retelling of this phenomenon. If you didn’t get a chance to see the movie Wall-E, I would urge you to put it on your priority of things to do in the next few weeks. It tells the story of our planet being so overly polluted that eventually all humanity has to evacuate to this large galactic village that floats somewhere in space. The human beings have become huge blobs that sit on these chairs that float around in rather orderly fashion from place to place. All of their communication is done virtually with these monitors that sit before them. They don’t even have to move their heads left or right – they simply talk to others through their screens even though the person to whom they are speaking is floating right next to them. They’ve created a life of such ease that their existence is literally machine like. They don’t even wear shoes anymore because their feet never touch the ground. But, through a series of unexpected events, they eventually come back to earth….literally. They reclaim their former existence, accept the messiness of their planet and set out to become truly human again but this time with a new found appreciation for each other in real time and for their home which through neglect they had allowed to deteriorate.

It’s a simple story and a bit silly but it touches a nerve with regard to our responsibility to the environment AND to this tendency of ours to seek the easiest way possible to our goal. The embarrassment of riches that flows from modern, scientific accomplishments has the power to make our human race more productive and holy. But the shadow possibility also exists. These achievements can lead us to a sub human existence, turning us into floating blobs of being that go from one desire to the next regardless of the consequences.

Fair and balanced no more!

2009-11-03T17:51:00.000-08:00

I amaze my friends when I tell them I listen to conservative talk radio and watch Fox News but I like to keep one ear on the other side of things. This country seems to be oddly and impossibly split right down the middle and has been for years so it should be of interest to all of us to try and keep abreast of the issues. However, lately, the great divide is no longer interesting. It has become predictable, boring and in some cases, unintelligible. Take for instance, the debate on health care. There are simply no solid figures to support the claim that European "socialized medicine" is inferior to the free market structure we currently employ. But all it takes is a unified voice - even if it's totally false - to convince a broad number of us to fear a fabricated conclusion. From what I can understand, the purpose of reform is to help insure those who are not currently insured. Logically, the more health care that reaches the masses, the less we spend on the disastrous results of an unhealthy populace. "But health care is not a right!" they will cry on talk radio....this is true but can you look a dying person in the eye who can't afford dialysis and tell him or her "it's not your right to have this treatment?" This is the thing that is beginning to turn my stomach with these conservative views: everything can be reduced to ideology and principle. But the fact is we are talking about people. I guessing that reality is just too harsh for idealogues to deal with so they stick to the "principle" in order to avoid the psychological or spiritual damage that would result if people got in the way of their good and just order.

No, I'm done with trying to stay "fair and balanced." Their voices are angry, shrill, and mean-spirited. I've begun dialing the radio over to classical music and letting Mozart or Debussey help me escape the assault on common goodness. We don't debate anymore in this country...we choose sides, dig trenches and then lob any kind of weapon we can in the direction of the enemy, formerly known as "fellow citizens." From what I can tell, and I hope I'm wrong, this society of ours is officially in decline and we need someone to lead us out of it with a voice of hope, confidence and mercy.

Time challenged yet optimistic...

2009-10-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

After receiving a gentle nudge from one of my colleagues to "remember to blog" I realized it has been some days since I've written - mostly the regular kind of days but sprinkled with visits to my mother's bedside, the funeral of a friend's elderly father, a home football game and some pastoral work in the city. The school year clips along with unbelievable speed. We are already helping international students shop for return tickets for their long Christmas break.

I subscribe to a little known magazine called Ode - the subtitle proclaims it to be for "intelligent optimists." At least I fill one of those requirements: I've always been optimistic about things! Whenever I stand in front of our students I cannot help but wonder how they will face the challenges of life. Their intelligence and their savvy give me solace but there are mean spirited people in this world as well that match them step for step in those characteristics. In this latest issue, Karen Armstrong talks about why God is still a good idea. In her interview she says: "Religion is really an art form and a struggle to find value and meaning amid the ghastly tragedy of human life." A struggle I can understand but a form of art is not a way I've thought of religion before. My generation was basically handed religion to us in rather black and white terms....take it or leave it was pretty much our menu of options. That simply doesn't seem to make sense to me when it comes to passing on that faith to today's children. They are cleverer, more thoughtful and more analytical. They need more imagination when it comes to making big decisions in life and religion is one of those. Armstrong's notion of "an art form" is something that could engage them because it splashes colors of possibility on a life's canvas and graceful movement into the ongoing dance of life. Art forces us to reach deep inside and welcome whatever we find there. This is a big difference from the way we approached religion: either you believe or you....well, you know the rest. I love her way of suggesting that faith is a core human experience which, when absent, makes us more vulnerable to baser appetites and tendencies. I know some will scoff at her notion that God is an "idea" but this is not the place to tackle that enormous subject....

A big tent

2009-10-13T04:19:00.001-07:00

I have never forgotten an address given at the SJU commencement ceremony several years ago by a friend of mine, Tom Beaudoin. He challenged the graduates to remember that one of the best aspects of the Catholic Church was that it was "catholic" or universal. He described all the types of believers who claim to belong to this church and said "thank God there is room for all of them under this big tent." Lately, his words seem to be falling on deaf ears. We spend more time trying to push each other out from under the tent than we do living the gospel message of welcome, respect and love for one another. This past weekend while celebrating mass in the Twin Cities, I did a quick scan of the congregation. On one side of the church was a young couple, the wife obviously new to the English language because the man next to her was helping her to navigate the liturgy with a small booklet he held in front of her. It was touching to see them trying to participate and when (I assume) she would make a mistake, they would giggle. Toward the back of the church was a very unhappy looking elderly man who, before mass, had come up to a group of us and asked if we took communion in the hand. When I told him we did, he replied that the sisters had taught him as a child, if this ever happened, he would go to hell. His comments reminded me of how much similiar teachings were being carried into the church and how much unnecessary torment some of us shoulder when we come before God. Finally, my eye caught the group of confirmation students who were there on retreat that day. One of them, in the very front row, looked as though he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. He just looked tired, unhappy and unconvinced this was the right place to be but (again, I assume) he didn't have much choice. All three of these people, sitting in different parts of the church were obviously the extremes...many who filled in the spaces around them blended into one presence...but it reminded me of how diverse we are as a church and how wonderful that is...the voice of God calling us from wherever we are in body, mind or spirit to this conversion of heart, this rebirth, this new life. Those three people helped me appreciate the unity of Faith, not the factions that we seem to be fixated on these days. The church could be this great unifying reality in our world that seems so hopelessly splintered if only we would focus on what brings us together rather than what differentiates my understanding of belief from yours.

Happy Ending(s)?

2009-10-08T11:58:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned a few entries ago, one of our monks donated stem cells that were then 'coaxed' into becoming bone marrow for his stricken brother. The procedure normally takes 4-6 weeks of isolation on the part of the recipient. Somehow, this time frame was whittled down to 1 week because, it seems, the acceptance of these stem cells has been miraculously smooth. What I find interesting is that the doctor who explained the procedure to us called them "magic cells" if they worked. She went on to say that there is no scientific explanation as to why this happens, hence, the simplistic language. At this point, the words "magic" and "miracle" seem appropo. If havesting certain white cells from one body and then "coaxing them" into becoming bone marrow cells for another body actually works....I guess I don't care what you call it. All I can say is "Wow."

At school, we have hit the peak of our bout with the flu. Because no one is really being tested for H1N1 it is hard to say what kept nearly 20% of kids out of school yesterday (including me!) but there were fewer absentees today and I'm being assured that we are on the rebound.

Flu bugs, festivities and a dying mother....

2009-10-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

The busy-ness of the fall is in full swing. Homecoming for the university and Prep coincided for the second year in a row making the schedule manic, to say the least. But I must say the highlight was not the thrilling last second win by the college football team but rather the exhilarting and electric atmosphere of the Prep Homecoming Variety Show. One would expect that two hours of high school students being silly and making music would be something to endure but act after act saw a level of talent and sophistication that is simply not found in other schools. From the beautiful piano solos to the amazing Chinese instruments, these kids amazed the audience with their poise, preparedness and panache. Our tag line "Your World Awaits" makes a lot more sense to me after seeing this level of effort. The performers were not just there to entertain - they were there to share their art and it was impressive.
The flu bug is beginning to thin our ranks even though it's hard to say which strain it is. The H1N1 gets all the attention but in most cases, it seems as if the seasonal bug is taking more victims. We have plans in place including "percentages" that would force us to close the school but it hasn't come to that quite yet. There must be some kind of lesson in this - the great and powerful human race reduced to sniveling feverish lumps of flesh by a virus. Makes you wonder yet again about our fragility and the thin line which separates us from normal living and desperate lives.

....which provides a nice segue to the last and most important reality of this busy week: my mother is obviously dying and I'm fairly certain she won't be able to fend off any kind of flu bug this winter. She was diagnosed with Altzheimer's last March when stroke like symptoms began to diminish her overall health. She receives hospice care, spending most of her days in a hospital bed in her living room. My father is her doting and attentive care giver. When she speaks, she talks of rose gardens but today, as I sat next to her, she spoke of the garden of paradise...something I've not heard her mention until today. She also claims the "Son of God is exploding" - an ominous sounding vision to say the least which I assume is nothing more than the product of her mental and physical deterioration. I have asked her if she's ready to die, wants to die and she responds with an emphatic "NO!" All of this is certainly ironic because just last November, she was part of the audience at one of my talks on end of life issues. At that time, I had asked her if her "wishes" were in order and she, typical of us all, replied that it was not necessary at this time. She was always insistent that there were to be no heroic, unnecessary means of sustaining her life but never signed a document to make those wishes legal or binding. I'm happy to say that the treatment she receives is respectful of her humanity dignity but makes no pretense of curing or restoring her to health. We keep her warm, fed, washed and loved until that time when her frail body can not sustain this earthly life anymore. People ask me if this is difficult and of course it is but I always add that we all have to face this time sooner or later and in a way we are lucky: there is no pain, no terrible disease, no suffering. We have been able to say almost daily how much we love her and what a great mother she is to us. Many among us are not so fortunate.

Amazing day...

2009-09-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

"Depending on the circumstance, you should be hard as diamond, flexible as a willow, smooth flowing like water or as empty as space."

Morihei Ueshiba

Yesterday, I accompanied one of our monks to the hospital where he is beginning a lengthy process of donating stem cells to his sick brother. The procedure seems to be a last ditch effort to save (perhaps only extend) his sibling. In any hospital, there is always waiting involved and our visit was no exception. As we waited in silence punctuated by desperate efforts to find some levity somewhere, we observed a parade of desperately ill adults, teen agers and children, I presume all hoping for basically the same miracle of healthy bone marrow. Oddly enough, there was very little panic or sadness in the air. They all seemed caught up in a routine that was much like any other ordinary part of life. I can only guess they were used to these procedures and found them a necessary part of their schedule. The caregivers had an equally dispassionate attitude probably the result of having left their terror behind or just plain exhausted by it and having no more room for doubt in their minds and hearts. What I felt most was a sense of heroism on the part of those who were donating as well as those who were doing the fighting. Heroic too are those who spend hours of their lives driving the patients to the hospital, sitting right beside them, jumping up at the least whimper to get them whatever they wanted...helping them to keep from jumping off ledges or just breaking down in tears. As I watched all this I asked myself if I would ever be ready to face a challenge like this. Would I have this level of dignity, grace, patience and faith? Moments like the ones they face could be just around the corner for any of us. I know that sounds fatalistic but the body for all its majesty and complexity is also very fragile. One enzyme out of place can mean months of therapy. So I appeal to myself to take Ueshiba's words seriously - be ready to assume the necessary softness or hardness that these or any of life's problems present be they of the body or the spirit. The more we can adapt, the more likely we will to show the same courage I found in that hospital.

Regents, weddings, implants and a funeral...

2009-09-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

The retreat finished on a good note. For the first time, our board was actually in the school during a regular day...not that any day is ever "regular." We spent quality time with a consultant, Chris Fischer, who talked us through the process of asking ourselves what kind of board we want to be. It was interesting because of the seven new regents who, in my mind, bolted from the starting gate at break neck speed. They showed interest, commitment and broad thinking - exactly what you hope and dream about when you assemble a group for this purpose. The remaining time was business as usual but also a tour of the school, a visit to various classrooms and lunch with a group of chosen students who actually got to associate real people with the title "regent." For them, it has been a mysterious force that would show up on the day they left for long weekends. Now here they are eating turkey sandwhiches and drinking Diet Cokes, sweating out the late summer heat and humidity just like the students were doing. I had more positive feedback from this meeting than I've had from any other and I bet it had a lot to do with the presence of the students.

Last weekend took me to Mankato for a wedding between a former colleague and his amazing bride. I cannot imagine how it took them so long to find each other but the result speaks for itself. I have strong feelings about these wedding ceremonies as well...too often they seem like obligatory prayers that need to be said quickly so the invitees can eat, drink and dance. I've even had brides and grooms remind me to keep my "words" short because they have a limo rented at 3 PM but only for an hour and they wanted to do a "bar hop" before the reception. *Sigh* But this wedding was totally different. It had spiritual depth, liturgical creativity and solemn purpose. Most engaging however was the sense of pure, unadulterated gratitude. You don't see that everyday. This couple dispensed with a lot of the modern day trappings (I use that word deliberately) and made it a true celebration of family, friends and covenant.

Today I had a titanium post drilled into my jaw where it will ossify (hope that's the correct word) for four months when it is ready to receive a permanent tooth. Tim Jacobsen, an alum of Saint John's University, was the man at the helm and I was more surprised than anyone how quickly and easily it went. Having someone drilling into my jaw is not my idea of a good start to the week but at least I will fill the hole that has been sitting in the middle of my lower teeth for some weeks now. In the meantime, soup, yogurt and energy drinks!

Finally...from the Abbey...tonight we receive the body of Br. Francis whom I lovingly called Frank and he let me get away with it. He was a master garden, his expertise shown in roses and we was as proud of those flowers as anything in life, not because he grew them but because we all appreciated them and him for helping them grow. His goal was to avoid moving to our retirement center so when a massive stroke felled him last week, I somehow know he refused to come home and be catered to....he went the other way...the way he's been eyeing for the past several years and he will be missed for his sense of humor, gentle spirit and quiet demeanor. He's one of those giants that come in a small package. It could have been easy to miss him but I'm glad I didn't.

Growing numbers...

2009-09-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

More good news today about the enrollment which continues to grow, this time with a girl from Chicago who is looking for an academic community that is smaller and more attentive to individual needs. I'm struck by the feeling of celebration on the part of our staff when this happens. It is almost as though someone else has found the treasure we've buried behind pine trees and lakes. Last year we enrolled a young man from one of the far coasts who did not want to be here at all. But it didn't take long for him to find that the mix of students and staff was perfect for him.

And while the subject is numbers, allow me to share more good news, this time from the monastic side. Last week we clothed four new novices (for those unfamiliar with these terms - those who spend a year in the monastery seeking entrance) and celebrated the first vows of John Meoska (again, by way of explanation: first vows can be for one year or three, an initial commitment to the monastery which can be renewed up to 9 years). Both of these events are significant for the abbey. Vocations are down all over the world so this kind of interest in our way of life reminds us that what we offer our world and society still has relevance. I'm struck by just how counter cultural this way of life is. Yes, in some ways we resemble any other family and business....cars, books and the other trappings of consumer society but the material elements of life are always under the watchful care of our brothers who hold us in check and remind us that less truly is more. The abbey which numbers around 150 has struggled with the idea of growing smaller (down from around 400) but once we began to feel the opportunity of smallness rather than the oppression, things began to change. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the idea of so many people under one roof, we began to reach out to each other in support and love. Ironically, the smaller we have grown, the more we've learned to be good brothers to one another. I think the school can learn the same lesson and not grow to the point of losing mindfulness of what a treasure we have found.

Regents Retreat

2009-09-14T04:31:00.000-07:00

Regents are here and for the first time, we are meeting as school is in session. Even the veterans have not had this chance before. While understandable that regents need time and space to delve into difficult and challenging decisions, the fact that they've never seen a normal school day is somewhat of a surprise. There will be more follow up here after the event.

Parent Roundtable

2009-09-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

Wednesday evening will bring the first of our monthly parent discussions we call "roundtables." These gatherings are meant to bring us together to find out what is on the minds of our "home faculty." It is always something I look forward to even though it can sometimes be contentious. Parents have strong feelings about the schools of their choice and, frankly, I find that exciting and noble. The real tragedy would be a weighty indifference. Perhaps it is because I was not called to be a parent that makes me so empathetic when concerns are brought to the table. My understanding, however, is not what they seek at these meetings. When that happens, we all have to remind ourselves that the dimensions of an academic community sometimes don't reach as far as we had hoped they would. Our expectation, our vision, our hope for the school must be tempered with a recogntion that each school is a tapestry of such things, woven together over many years and representing an approximation of excellence. We take the best information that current educational theory provides, the resources at hand, the talent in our hallways and stich them all together to make our unique SJP pattern. We are always confident and hopefull that the final product will be a picture of beauty but it won't come without flaws, imperfections and loose threads. These roundtable discussions are one of the tools by which we do and redo this work of art we call "Prep."

Visiting Barbara...

2009-09-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

While I was the Athletic Director for the university, I had the chance to visit regularly with an incredible man who graduated from St. John's in the 30's. He was a singularly intelligent, hardworking and wise individual who spent most of his time in the garden. Jade plants were his most prized possession and the list of recipients (most of whom bid on these magnificent plants at auctions of one kind or another) was too long to track. Nearly two years after his death, his widow told me a very touching story that she had not shared before. In his final days her husband had a plan: he was going to return to St. John's and fulfill his dream...to be a Johnnie coach. This idea became so persistent that it was all he ever talked about. As he lay dying, his mind took him back to Collegeville where he lived some of the best days of his life and he imagined himself again to be a part of that place. It is no secret that the ordinariness of our lives can mask the true value of all its immediacy. When we fall into routines, we can sometime miss the extraordinary places and people we experience. Her story gave me an opportunity to reflect (again) on where we live and work and just how special a place it is. It is sad that Larry never made it back to coaching here but standing at his grave just a few days ago in Seattle, his widow surmised that he was esctatically coaching a game somewhere because that was his notion of being in paradise.

A school much like ours...

2009-09-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

I am visiting Woodside Priory in Portola Valley, CA, founded by the Benedictine monks from Saint Anslem in New Hampshire and as we are German, they are quite Hungarian. About 50 years ago, their founder staked out a remote area of this region and bought it for a mere $80,000. Today, their community and its school sit on some of the most longed for pieces of real estate in the Bay Area. The monastic community is down to its last five monks and they won't be sending anymore so now the school, under the leadership of Mr. Tim Molak must make sense of that reality as they face the future. He and his staff are deeply dedicated to keeping the Benedictine spirit of the school alive and strong. Once again, it is good to find the spirit of Benedict a hot commodity in this world of ours. We use the word "community" quite a bit in places like ours but forget its most elemental meaning - caring for each other. Of course, this does NOT mean "keeping each other happy at all costs." Nor does it mean giving everyone what they want. Sometimes what we want is not what's best for us. Sometimes, in fact MANY times, the wisdom of the community can see that better than we can ourselves. Woodside has a bright future and so does Saint John's Prep because we both understand the nature of true community.

Week One in the Books

2009-08-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

The school year should never just "begin" with a bell. When an institution like ours is commencing its 153rd year of existence, there should be celebration or at least something formal with which to begin. This year we repeated our "Opening Academic Convocation" with an introduction of students, faculty, staff and Regents. We were blessed with the presence and words of our Chancellor, Abbot John Klassen and the Chair of our Board of Regents, Linda Marrin. One of the student leaders, Matthew Fitzgerald, gave a brilliant address with words of wisdom that defy his youthfulness. I too had a chance to share something that has been on my mind since last year: a steady stream of sentiment that suggests a school should not change lest it cease to be the place it was or "as I remember it." In an interactive experiment, I asked all present to imagine that the year is 1959 - 50 years ago. We have decided as a school that it is perfect the way it is....and we make a solemn oath to NEVER CHANGE IT...not a thing! Then I asked everyone to stand and as I described the folks that decision would have eliminated from our halls, I asked them to sit and close their eyes. Then, when it was all over, they could open their eyes and behold who was left. I began with the middle schoolers so all 72 of them sat down with their teachers. Then I asked all the girls to sit down because we wouldn't have allowed them to enroll. Next came the day hops because 50 years ago, all were residential except for a very small number. Then, of those dormers who were standing, those who were not interested in priesthood or monastery could also be considered eliminated. Then came lay faculty because most of them were monks....and finally regents because we didn't have a board in those days. We let Mr. Froehle stay because he was here 50 years ago but besides him, all that were left standing was the Abbot, Fr. Ian and myself. When the students opened their eyes, the point was clear - if you don't change, you cease to exist. This is not to say that change is easy or without great pain. Some of the alums barely recongize the school they once attended but if their education taught them anything it is that growth and change are necessities of life whether we like it or not. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, the values of the school have not changed one small bit. Community may not mean the same to the 21st century student as it did to the '59ers but it is still a value nonetheless. Quality education, international opportunities, great co-curriculars....all these are still very much a part of our school and in some ways, have grown stronger. Finally, we are still a school very much rooted in its Catholic/Benedictine heritage. We believe that spiritual growth is deeply connected to intellectual and physical growth as well. No amount of changes to physical plant or personnel will ever change that.

Inaugural Entry

2009-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Friends of Prep,

In his book The Global Achievement Gap, Tony Wagner quotes the renowned educator Anthony Alvarado who said "isolation is the enemy of improvement."
That concept is applicable not only to educators but to just about every human endeavor. It is the wisdom that built and sustains monasteries. It is the wisdom that forms tribes, villages, towns, cities and countries. Is is the tendency of human beings to seek community as a way of surviving. Isolation invites sickness, weakness, fear and misunderstanding. To not interact breeds resentment, anger and even hatred. To build bridges between cultures and societies is one of the best antidotes to what ails our modern world. It is a healing balm to bring people together to share their food, their music, their dances, their stories. To become acquainted with someone from the other side of the world is to realize they are people first, not ideologues.

Saint John's Prep School is a place that provides the bridge between these distant cultures. In one community, we have students from 18 different countries around the world, 7 different states in the USA and many different cities within Minnesota. Every one of those numbers represents diversity in grand ways but also in small ways. One wouldn't typically think that a student from Deerwood and one from Sartell would be all that different. But their stories are quite unique and what they bring to our school is a perspective that we must learn to treasure.

Of course, our enemy, isolation, is not just about being from different parts of the world or state. It's also about faculty, staff and administration. If we see ourselves as "islands of excellence" instead of a "culture of excellence" (a distinction I first learned from Pat Bassett) our quality will suffer. Without connection, interaction, challenge and growth, we will chug along in mediocre ways but never achieve that level of greatness for which we long. It is my hope that the Prep community will continue to believe in and work toward the phrase that sits right under our logo: Your World Awaits. I truly believe it is necessary for us to ramp up our efforts to bring our world closer not only by enrolling international students but also by working collaboratively and igniting the creative spark that comes from parents, alums, regents and friends. 153 years of existence is an amazing accomplishment for our school but that was not achieved by isolated success stories, rather, it was the ability to share the conceptual and actual work that it took to build all this. As the "new generation" of this inheritance, I hope we can continue to strengthen what we have so we can entrust to those who follow us the same quality academic institution.