Gratitude for Things Big and Small REV. DAVID A. SCHUNK ‘10, VICE RECTOR Every so often, we look back and review a period of
Still, while we all know big events and milestones are
time, thinking about the big things, the major events and
great moments, our lives are filled with smaller and more
milestones that have occurred. This gives us a sense of
ordinary day-to-day tasks. It is often these moments
our accomplishments and what we have done. In priestly
which fill us with daily gratitude. This past year, we had
ministry, this can be something like a building that has
a pause in major projects with time to focus on smaller
been built or remodeled, or a successful event like a
things that, though more ordinary, still require attention:
parish’s centennial celebration. We are able to look back
we refurnished the Good Shepherd Chapel and Pope
with our teams and say with gratitude: we did it! Over the
Paul VI Parlor on the seminary campus, replaced some
past several years at the College, we have had several
of the old washing machines and clothes dryers for the
major projects that have changed campus and community
seminary laundry room, and installed a new ventilation
life dramatically. We can look back to the building of the
system for the Casa Santa Maria Rare Book Collection.
new tower, a new seminary gym, room renovations at
Our Economo and Director of Personnel have also been
the Casa Santa Maria, and most recently, renovations to
working hard to finish and put into place updated labor
the seminary kitchen. We can look back with gratitude on
contracts and agreements for our Italian lay personnel
many great things that have been accomplished at the
who faithfully serve the College. As one may imagine, this
College over the past several years. Of course, there is
is no small task, since new benefits are presented along
also the greatest work that has been done and cannot
with plans for updated safety training, so we can con-
be found in stone or shingle—the men who have finished
tinue to provide a healthy work environment for all the
their priestly formation here and returned home to
members of our community. Then there is the cleaning,
preach the Gospel.
food preparation, facilities maintenance, gardening and grounds work, and business office support, all of which occur on a daily basis, allowing our community members to focus on the work of priestly formation. Certainly, there are major projects on the horizon, and as those come into focus, we will be sharing those plans and what they mean for the community. In the meantime, we are thankful for the daily bread that our Lord provides for all of us, and we look back on the moments of our life at the College, both big and small, with gratitude in our hearts.
2022 Rector's Dinner Honorees Mr. Denis and Mrs. Lynne Jilot (second and third from the right), enjoy the evening with His Eminence James Cardinal Harvey '75. The Jilots came to know the College through the the Busch family. Karen Busch is on the left and Isaac Pecha '23 (La Crosse) on the right. 28
The Pontifical North American College
