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