St. Bernard's Magazine - Vol. 62, No. 1

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ST. BERNARD'S MAGAZINE NEW FACULTY & STAFF HIGHLIGHTS INTRODUCTIONS

& TO

NEW

FACES

GRADUATION 2020 CELEBRATING STUDENTS

OUR

AMIDST

THE

PANDEMIC

FALL SEMESTER UPDATES NEW

CAMPUS,

PROFESSORS, CERTIFICATES,

&

COURSES

www.stbernards.edu

Inside This Issue

Rochester Campus:

120 French Road

3

A Year in Review

(585) 271-3657

4

Message from the President

Albany Campus:

5

Faculty & Staff Highlights

6

Message from the Board Chair

7

Celebrating Over Three Decades

8

Our COVID-19 Response

Rochester, NY 14618

40 North Main Ave Albany, NY 12203 (518) 453–6760

Administration & Staff:

Stephen Loughlin, Ph.D. | President Matthew Kuhner, Ph.D. | Academic Dean Deacon Frank Berning, D.Min. | Former Director of Albany Campus Matt Brown | Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Sophia Zdanowski | Registrar & Coordinator of Development Corinne DerCola | Office Manager

10 11

Your Life is No Longer Your Own

Graduation 2020

12

Academic Year Updates

13

Student Spotlight

14

2019 Donors

Jim Pudetti | Controller Caterina Lucke | Administrative Assistant at Albany Campus Bernadette & Mike Bobrowski | Marketing & Communications Coordinators Pat Sweeney | Facilities Manager Daniel McAndrew-Greiner | Library Assistant at Rochester Campus

St. Bernard's Magazine is a publication Follow us!

of St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry

A YEAR IN REVIEW STEPHEN J. LOUGHLIN

We

W

have

continued

media

to

grow

(Facebook,

St.

Bernard’s

Twitter,

presence

Instagram),

on

e have had another amazing year here at St.

social

and

our

Bernard’s:

Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophy program now shows on page one of a Google search!

We continue to operate during the COVID-19

We

launched

four

new

certificate

programs

that

have

pandemic, teaching all our students by way of Zoom

already drawn great interest and enrollment

and

and

Our first group of out-of-state and international students

made

have been enrolled and are taking classes via our distance

Canvas,

student

our

learning

videoconferencing

system

(both

of

software

which

were

possible by your generous support: thank you!)

learning systems and software

No employees have been furloughed during the 2020

We

pandemic response

successfully migrated our “Theology and Culture” lecture

We have reopened in a limited capacity (staff is back

series to an online format during the pandemic

in the building and those students who wish to take

The 2019 Otto Shults Lecture featured the nationally known

advantage of in-class engagement have been safely

and respected theologian, Fr. Dennis J. Billy, who

accommodated)

presented on “The Way of Discernment: Living the Gospel

We entered into a teach-out agreement with Christ

in the Present Moment”

the King Seminary to take over teaching responsibility

We are working with the Strategic Planning Committee of

of

the

the

deacons

and

lay

students

in

the

Diocese

of

initiated

Board

a

new

(and

its

online

Chair,

series

Dr.

“Words

Richard

with

Wine”

DeMartino)

and

in

our

Buffalo

work up to our 5-year Strategic Plan, an updating of the

Together with the Diocese of Buffalo, we established

plan in place since the 2013 accreditation visit by ATS

a physical presence in Buffalo, utilizing the 1st floor

Several marketing initiatives were implemented and many

of the Catholic Center for instruction

additions where made to our website that have resulted in

Several grant applications were submitted, including

our highest number of credits attempted in 10 years

one to the Lily Foundation’s “Thriving Congregations

We

Initiative”

Federal Government

applied

for

and

received

CARES

funding

from

the

We witnessed the continued growth of our service to

We hired a full-time faculty member to take the place of

the

Dr.

pre-seminary

program

and

the

St.

Isaac

Jogues

Roslyn

Karaban

who

retired

after

more

than

three

House of Formation in Albany

decades of service. We are also in the midst of a search

We have an exciting new group of adjunct instructors

for

from across the United States

reitrement of Deacon Frank Berning

a

new

Director

of

the

Albany

Campus,

following

the

As you can see here and also in the pages to come, God has blessed us abundantly, and we so look forward to the challenges that face our School especially in these turbulent times. We pray that we might be found worthy not only of these graces, but also of your support. Together, we stand ready, willing, and able to do God’s work, honored that we have been entrusted with the great gift that is St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry.

3

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT It is with great joy and thanksgiving that my team and I present to you, our supporters, this edition of the St. Bernard's Magazine and all the accomplishments of this year. To say that this year has presented us with challenges not seen before is a great understatement! Not only have we built upon the work started in the first year of my presidency, but we have also met with determination, hope, and charity the crises that have befallen society as a whole and the Church herself.

I have said many times what a great treasure St. Bernard’s is and that we have a special responsibility to make this wealth available to all those who stand in need of it, particularly in these turbulent times; a brief review of the achievements listed on the prior page demonstrates just how blessed we are by God and your continued prayers and financial support. Of particular note there is, first, our growing relationship with and service to the Diocese of Buffalo. We have been entrusted with the intellectual formation of their deacons and lay students, something that we have joyously taken up since the summer. Secondly, we are maturing in our delivery of courses through our distance learning software, something that has allowed us not only to continue teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to welcome students from the rest of the nation and even, for the first time, from outside the United States. Clearly, our marketing and recruitment efforts have effectively spread the word about our School and are now beginning to bear great fruit! Our light is certainly not hid under a bushel but now begins to shine forth increasingly for the benefit of all.

We welcome with joy our newest theologian, that we say farewell to

Dr. Roslyn Karaban

Dr. Charles Hughes Huff,

into our family. It is with profound sadness

who retires from St. Bernard’s after over 3 decades of service to the

Faith and to every student that was fortunate to cross her path. We welcome

Mrs. Sophia Zdanowski

capacity as our Coordinator of Development and Registrar. And lastly we bid a fond farewell to

Berning,

in her dual

Deacon Frank

our Director of St. Bernard’s Albany Campus, who will be very much missed by the students in Albany but

particularly by me.

I could easily write for pages concerning St. Bernard’s and the fine community that makes possible our activities on behalf of the people of God. Our gratitude is immense but so too is our need for your continued financial and spiritual support. For it is only through your support that we can continue to donate the beauty that is St. Bernard’s to all to whom we have been entrusted. May God bless you this day and always.

Sincerely,

Stephen J. Loughlin, Ph.D. 4

President

FACULTY & STAFF HIGHLIGHTS The recent months at St. Bernard’s have been filled with comings and goings. The community was greatly honored to add a new member, already cherished, to the faculty, and the community was greatly saddened to say farewell to a revered member whose contributions to the Albany campus will not be soon forgotten.

It is with delight that the St. Bernard’s community welcomes

Dr. Charles

Hughes Huff to our faculty as Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture.

Dr. Hughes Huff earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East at the University of Chicago in 2019. He studies how ancient authors portray social practices in narratives and use technical and metaphorical language to make ritual authoritative. He is also interested in how scholars rely on modern ethical stances to evaluate ancient Middle Eastern social practices, particularly punishments. Dr. Hughes Huff is an experienced teacher and he cares deeply about pedagogical method. He has taught courses in Bible, the reception of the Bible in popular culture, ethics and moral theology, social justice, and philosophy. He also has experience as a member of a formation team for those preparing for the permanent diaconate. He is most excited at the prospect of joining the St. Bernard’s community and to work on behalf of its mission and that of the Catholic Faith. Outside the classroom, he enjoys wine and cycling, but not at the same time.

It is with sadness that the St. Bernard’s community bids farewell to

Deacon Frank Berning,

who has resigned as Director of St. Bernard's

Albany Campus effective September 12, 2020. It is heartening to know that this will allow him to concentrate more solidly and joyfully upon his pastoral duties on behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

Nevertheless,

Deacon

Berning

has

been

an

incredible

gift

to

St.

Bernard's and has been integral in its growth; he will be greatly missed.

Not

only

has

he

accompanied

the

students

in

their

day-to-day

difficulties and in their day-to-day victories, he has also contributed indispensably to the increase of enrollment at the Albany campus and to the greater utilization of St. Bernard’s formation by the Diocese of Albany. The collaboration between St. Bernard’s and the Diocese of Albany

for

the

development permanent

of

sake St.

of

pre-seminary

Bernard’s

diaconate

will

be

role

in

lasting

formation

the

and

formation

markers

of

of

the men

Deacon

further for

the

Berning’s

dedication. The St. Bernard’s community bids him every blessing.

5

L E T T E R

F R O M

T H E

Board Chair The year 2020, little more than half over at

our graduates to become exemplars of the

this point, may be remembered as one of the

our School’s mission, and, yes, our donors to

most

continue to provide the support that helps us

difficult

nation’s

and

history.

contentious

There

is

so

years much

in

our

to

be

concerned about, and even angered by, that

move

forward

and

for

which

we

are

so

grateful.

takes place seemingly everywhere we turn.

Thank But

even

are,

in

amidst

the

President

many

points

H.

of

nurturing

give

the

words,

that

offer

all

in

Volunteers

enforcement

officials

and

who

every

member

of

the

St.

us better.

And

the

a

special

thank

you

to

Professor

Roslyn Karaban, who is retiring after 33

who

years

give their time and attention to the less fortunate. Teachers, soldiers,

to

Bernard’s community who continue to make

inspiration.

their

sick.

there

Bush’s

and

who

of

W. light

encouragement Caregivers

turbulence,

you

of

distinguished

service

to

our

School. Roslyn is a perfect example of

law

someone who dedicated her career to

dedicate

making

their lives to serving others. And people

St.

Bernard’s

a

better

institution. I can tell you firsthand that

who take on adversity with a smile and

she made me a better Chair with her

resolve, and not hostility and resistance.

intellect, critical thought, and, it must

For all of our faults as a nation, we are

be said, directness. Thank you, Roslyn,

a lucky country indeed that there are so

for all that you have done for us. As we

many who rise to the occasion to make

bid

their surroundings and institutions — and

good-bye

and

thank

you

to

Dr.

Karaban, we also welcome Dr. Charles

themselves — better.

Hughes Huff to our faculty. Dr. Hughes Huff comes to us from the University of

And

that

is

where

I

see

St.

Bernard’s.

Chicago and we are so very thrilled to

We

seek to provide instruction and inspiration to

have

those

School.

who

want

to

know

their

faith

better,

him

join

the

mission

of

our

who want to become better leaders in the Catholic community, and who want to serve God in a more informed and inspired way.

And thanks to all of you in the St. Bernard’s community who serve, care for, and support

By most measures, we are a small institution, but we aspire to be bigger, better, and more dynamic every day. And

all

of

St. Bernard’s

constituencies play a role in that aspiration.

We look to our Chancellor to guide us with wisdom with

and

love,

vigilance,

our

our

Trustees

President

to

to

oversee

lead

with

vision and compassion, our faculty to serve with

dedication,

our

staff

to

execute

with

excellence, our students to think critically,

6

who we are.

And here’s to better days ahead for all of us.

Sincerely, Edward W. Kay, Jr. Chair, Board of Trustees

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE: THE RETIREMENT OF DR. ROSLYN KARABAN, PH.D. It is with sadness that the St. Bernard’s community bids farewell to Dr. Roslyn A. Karaban, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling and Director of Pastoral Formation, as she transitions into retirement. Dr. Karaban

has

been

a

pillar

of

the

School

during

a

career

that

has

spanned over three decades, totaling 33 years of distinctive service in

teaching,

countless

advising,

other

buildings, different

under

overseeing

contributions. several

academic

and

pastoral

She

has

different pastoral

placements,

worked

in

several

administrations,

contexts.

Her

as

and

impact

well

as

different in

many

inside

and

outside the classroom was immense, and her zeal and dedication are a cause of great admiration.

Professionally

speaking,

Dr.

Karaban

is

a

Claretian

Social

Justice

grantee,

Mexico-American

Cultural

Center,

San

Antonio (1980); she is the 19th recipient of the Helen Flanders Dunbar Award for Significant Contributions to Clinical Pastoral Training, awarded by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (2019); and she is a member of the

American

Association

of

University

Women

and

the

Society

for

Pastoral

Theology.

Dr.

Karaban

received

her

Bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) at Stonehill College in 1975; she completed her Master of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School in 1978 and her Doctor of Philosophy at the Graduate Theological Union in 1984. She is the author of numerous

publications,

including

Responding

to

God's

Call:

A

Survival

Guide,

and Complicated

Losses,

Difficult

Deaths: A Practical Guide for Ministering to the Grieving, and Crisis Caring.

You

have

given

much

to

St.

Bernard’s,

and

I

am

I

remember

my

diaconate

humorous lessons. She gave us practical strategies centered on

- one of the few remaining texts on my shelf after

whenever I wanted to use the word “empathetic,” I

science and faith. Without

over a decade post graduation.

For some reason I

somehow instead kept using the word “emphatic.”

this knowledge I would have not

remember a working session from one of your classes

My spell check would never catch it, and of course,

been able to perform my ministry

where we worked in groups. You came into our little

being “empathetic” is a big part of pastoral care.

to

group and offered insight about the helper needing

So I used that word A LOT. Roslyn, with her great

confidence and success.

to wait and give time for the person to think. It is a

sense of humor, pointed out to me the error of my

God bless you today and always,

reminder

my

ways (and she didn’t let my big gaffe affect my

my dear professor. Retirement is

ministry, and a voice that reminds me of the role of

grade). To this day we both still laugh about that

a beautiful thing, and you

silence. Thank you again for sharing your expertise.

paper.

deserve it.

Blessings on your future.

“empathetic” is an important part of my diaconal

ministry. And I owe it all to Roslyn!!

Marianne Katz

Deacon Eric Bessette

has

carried

with

me

through

I

can

now

“emphatically”

say

that

thing:

being

the

years

ago.

People

I

from

a

one

Roslyn

Theology

in-depth analysis of pastoral interaction, and it was for

her

Pastoral

to the textbook from the Intro to Pastoral Counseling

except

to

took

chaplain were planted. From time to time I still refer

–

“verbatim”

I

much from her wise, gentle and

too

first

of

(which I was a little nervous about). It included my

analysis

my

year

taking your classes, the seeds of my second career as

that

submitted

2nd

formation

good

I

during

happy I benefited personally from your training. While

of

learned

God

so

with

Mary A. Bills

Chaplain, Unity Hospital 7

A G U I D I N G S T A R I N T U M U L T U O U S T I M E S : O u r

As

of

2020,

C O V I D - 1 9

R e s p o n s e

February

pandemic

St.Bernard’s

both

to

response,

troubleshoot

administration,

any

technical

issues

faculty,

and

to

be

staff,

students

were

enjoying

a

lively were

and

simply

present

rather

semester:

to

the

community

there

and

of

faculty

students.

15

in-person

Ultimately,

no

courses

unfolding

scheduling

changes

were

to

across there for

a

our

campuses,

was

a

search

full-time

stages,

would

When

the

into

accomplished honored

and

did

not

classrooms placed pivot our

us

towards

the

sessions of

already

administration join

each

session

8

class

during

survive

at the

St.

under

the

ways,

School’s

2018

of

position

Zoom

for

mid-Spring faculty in

staff the first

and

semester

and

all

took

the

beginning weeks

of

dearly to

be

of via

the

the

many

Spring everyone

was the

a

the

to

each

times.

our

strength

this

our

of

felt

blessed

the

throughout

time

formation

and

will

be

creative

remembered

of

lives

upended.

School

lack

encounter.

Bernard’s

in

of

cross was

foster

moment

of

abruptly

assist

for

the

a

of

were

forms

While was

new

2020

as

rhythm

St.

to

Field

became

other

continuation

opportunities

that

Bernard’s

community

through

the

St.

position

at

this

time

all,

a

calendar

circumstances

with

community

by in

our

the

our

cancelled.

engagement.

in-person

of

the

of

under

supplemented pastoral

were

placements

uninterrupted

students

of

classes

to

2020.

utilizing

no

impossible

the

campuses

Members and

these

God,

The

Fall

proficient

technology.

to

be

videoconferencing

use

our

these

already

under

excellent

in

all

semester

be

all

the

experience

struck,

work

the

thrived.

across for

were

uncertainty:

many

Zoom

an

Many were

in

in

class

just

–

in

technology

in

and

pastoral

during

the

Thanks

truly

investment

of

concluded

circumstances community

Would

earlier

circumstances?

Bernard’s

state

final

experience

continue

times?

its

various pandemic

a

formation

unsettling

field

across

thrown

in

students

in

assignments

were

member

some

participating

contexts.

academic

faculty

and

made

By

team

was

a

trial

our

God’s

hopes

experience

navigating

deep

and

of

as

society grace,

that

the

community

guiding these

by

star

to

tumultuous

This past summer, St. Bernard’s opened our virtual doors to many new and returning faces due to our first

ever

“

Summer 2020 Free Audit ”

initiative.

In

fact,

over

100

people

audited

our

Summer

2020

courses. What an amazing gift for our community! These students expressed interest in our institution across

our

Bernard’s

country

also

and

made

globe

this

due

decision

to

our

courses

knowing

the

being

fear

made

and

available

turmoil

that

via

Zoom.

COVID-19

The

has

staff

caused,

at

St.

and

is

continuing to cause. We wanted to give back to our community in a way that would allow us to keep sharing the gifts of our faculty, without putting any unnecessary burden on those who may be struggling right now. A few of our auditors have already decided to enroll in a program with us for the Fall 2020 semester. Take a look at our Summer auditor enrollment and read what some of them have to say about their experience!

Summer Session I: 91 auditors

Summer Session II: 38 auditors

"I took the Philosophy of God course as

"Auditing a course this summer gave me

"I thoroughly loved the Political Theology

an audit student with Dr. Loughlin this

the wonderful opportunity to experience

course with Dr. Kuhner and Dr. O'Neill.

summer. I enjoyed the course immensely

a

as

enrolled

the

material

was

demanding

but

St.

Bernard's

rewarding, and Dr. Loughlin was superb

class,

as

provided

an

experienced

through course more

the has

of

Aquinas

works

we

motivated

the

writings

and

especially

and

as

the

affable

studied. me

of

The

and

practical

the

me

course

firsthand.

Sacraments material

with

knowledge

I

This course occupies a niche of thought

RCIA

that is hard to come by, and I am very

presented

grateful I had the chance to audit it. The

and

theological that

I

use

and on

a

remote impair

format the

of

richness

the of

course the

did

material

not or

to

re-visit

daily basis as a Pastoral Associate for

discussion, and I found myself reframing

Thomas

Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. I'm

the ideas I had previously encountered in

grateful

historic political texts. As I continue to

addressed,

relate

to

spirituality."

-

The

Saint

themes

they

guide

in

Ken Wightman, Markham, Ontario

my

that

the

course

online.

My

course

encouraged

experience

was

with

me

offered

auditing

even

more

a to

pursue my studies, I hope to use what I learned

in

this

course

to

apply to St. Bernard's for this fall to earn

analysis of state governance."

my MAPS degree."

-

-

build

my

Arina Dmitrenko, Toronto, Ontario

Lisanne Jensen, Albany, New York

A Day in the Life of Thalia Hadley, M.Div. Class of 2020 Each workday I pull my hair through the plastic straps of my N95 and tuck it behind my ears, I stretch the band of my face shield over my head. I cannot cross the threshold onto any unit of the long-term care facility without full precautions. As far as I know I’m negative for COVID-19, having been tested earlier this week, but none of us want to jeopardize another’s health. With the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers, we can’t be too safe. Residents have not seen their loved ones since March. I bring communion to a resident while her family prays on the other side of a screen, read the 23rd Psalm to another with her daughter outside the window, speak on the phone with a niece assuring her I will visit her aunt again tomorrow. After a year and a half working as a chaplain at St. Peter’s Hospital, I have transitioned to working at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center. While the hospital has allowed for limited visitors, nursing homes are still restricted because of COVID-19. Staff have become family as well as caregivers.

In the chapel I have a basket filled with folded multicolored paper, an encouraging word on each small piece. Today, my random selection read the word “community.” Community is a word I would use to describe my time at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, a place that allowed for sharing of ideas and growing together in mutuality. Fred Boehrer, Ph.D. taught me the phrase, "participatory eschatology." In light of this, I have to believe that my work now, donning my gray scrubs, smiling behind my N95, rubbing sanitizer into my hands, is for the greater good, for the community, for honoring the dignity and worth of every person and bringing about the Kingdom of God. 9

When we commit our lives to God, our lives no longer belong to us. For they have been put at the service of our Lord to dispose of as He sees fit.

YOUR LIFE IS NO LONGER YOUR OWN STEPHEN J. LOUGHLIN

O

ne of the exhilarating yet terrifying aspects of a life lived in

dedication to the things of God is that one never quite knows where one will end up from year to year. For instance, if people had told me while I was still an undergraduate philosophy student at St. Jerome’s University in Ontario, Canada, that I would: study in Rome at the Angelicum; return to Canada and get married the following year; pursue my Masters and Doctorate at the University of Toronto; teach as an adjunct at both St. Jerome’s University and Niagara

University;

move

to

America

to

teach

philosophy

at

DeSales University; experience all manner of moving adventures and

tenancies;

live

again

in

Rome

for

four

months

as

part

of

DeSales’ Study Abroad Program; and now act as President of St. Bernard’s – I surely would have disbelieved them. Clearly, there is much I have left out here. Nevertheless, the stage is set for this

when we commit our lives to God, our lives no longer belong to us. For they have been put at the service of our Lord to dispose of as He sees fit.

You can expect to be called out of the familiar, and maybe even out of your own country, much as Abraham had been, and drawn into something unknown to you but has nonetheless been promised to and prepared for you. You can expect to be asked to become gift to others in what you say and in what you do.

Your

light,

so

beautifully

kindled

within

you

and

admired

longingly by you over the years will no longer be for you alone, will no longer be kept under a bushel but will be asked to shine for all to see. You need not worry about what you will say; our Lord will give you His words at that time. All that you will need will be given to you, and even some of what you want will be granted: “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38).

piece’s simple and rather common point:

In this regard, I often think of that very touching scene between

Peter

resurrection

and

(John

Jesus

21:15-19)

by

the

where

Sea

of

Jesus,

Tiberius upon

after

Peter’s

His third

You will never suffer the want, decay and abandonment that afflicts the irreligious, but will

declaration of his love of the Lord, tells him: “Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying

always be full, experiencing that joy particular to the Christian that begins here and now, but awaits its

by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had

consummation in the life to come.

said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

This prophecy, directed to Peter, applies in like manner to all who love the Lord, to those who love Him above all others, have

And so, as I sit here in my office alone during this time of

placed their lives in His hands and are ready to take up His burden

quarantine, I contemplate that fact that I have always lived my

and His cross. Personally speaking, although my wife and I have

life not knowing where I will be next year. I have never set down

left our country, home, family and friends in response to God’s

roots, as the saying goes. For although I am in this world, I am

call,

be

not of it, and I find myself ever ready to shake the dust off my

extraordinary. We tell it in much the same spirit that St. Augustine

feet, take up my staff, don my cloak, and travel down the road

we

do

not

consider

our

situation

and

story

to

that it might give testimony to the work of God in our lives as Christians, and offer clues, perhaps, to the anatomy of Christian conversion and of living in the world. relates his early life in his Confessions, namely,

If our lives are any indication of the character of the Christian journey, you can expect in your walk to be led where you do not want to go. You can expect no longer to do the things you used to do, to enjoy the things of your former days, or even to dress as you once did.

10

to the next place to which God calls. There is but one land that I seek, one place that I call home, one Lord for whom I am ready to pour out all that I am in imitation of what He has done for me. My prayer is that you continue in this way.

found the only life worth living.

For in this is

2020

GRADUATION Graduation our

together, the

at

academic it

St.

brings

academic

catechetical, graduation great

Bernard’s

calendar. such

and

concern or

to

the

opting

in

may

together

come

was

held

minor hoods spread

hopes

their

on

of

community

deep

and

of

culinary

and

in

it

28

accord

delights

at

joy

at

at

with the

the

final

Heart

were

social

reason, pandemic

time

the

distancing

celebration

after

pastoral,

question

of

in

cancelling

the

Class

guidelines,

the

ceremony

of

of

2020

ceremony NY.

Some

degrees

and was

to

community

Rochester,

conferral

of

brought

decided

Commencement

Cathedral

worn,

celebrate

response

the

on

God

in

the

wherein

of

and

committee

before

The

events

face

instead

and

event

the

leaders

Ultimately,

Bernard’s.

venerable

together

and

President

in-person

one

Sacred

masks

our

and

seeking

come

this

during

an

St.

to

For

committee.

galvanized

special

learners

students,

ministry.

virtually,

made:

most of

profound

arranging

be

the

friends,

studies

August were

of

scheduling

hold

still

and

Friday,

done

of

planning

to

formal

adjustments was

one

a

theological

postpone,

concludes

is

achievement

preparation

graduation

As

the

and

usual

distributed

But the joy and grandeur of the occasion remained the same, thanks be to God, and the celebration of the beloved Class of 2020 took place at long last. via

individual

portions

upon

exit.

St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry Class of 2020 Jennifer Abdalla - Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Studies - Director of Faith Formation for the Brighton Catholic Faith Formation Program

Ashley Blank - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Coordinator of Faith Formation for St. Catherine of Siena Church in Ithaca, NY

Deacon Johan Engström - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies - Director of Faith Formation and Parish Deacon at St. Pius X Church in Chili, NY

Deacon Vincenzo Franco - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies - Deacon assigned to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport, NY

Luke Gabello - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Thalia Hadley - Master of Divinity - Chaplin at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center

Deacon Roger Loucks - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

Lisa Vignogna - Master of Divinity Pamela Walpole - Master of Arts Theological Studies Pursuing areas of Pastoral Ministry and Chaplaincy

Tricia Wilder - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Director of Catholic Campus Ministry for SUNY Cortland

Regina Wright - Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

11

2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR UPDATES

S

t. Bernard’s has kicked off the 2020-2021 academic year with an array of new offerings and academic developments.

It is our privilege to welcome two new adjunct professors to our talented and dedicated faculty: Mr. Apolonio Latar III, M.Ed. will be teaching a new course titled, "The Whole Breadth of Reason: Faith, Science, and Technology." Mr. Latar brings with him a profound grasp of the theological, philosophical, and scientific issues that are implied in such a course, and he is deeply interested in helping our students navigate these difficult waters.

Mr. Ian Buterbaugh, LCSW,

will be teaching

Pastoral Care. Mr. Buterbaugh has a tremendously rich background, with significant clinical experience, considerable theological formation, and a real concern for the human person and the ways in which pastoral care may be extended in any and all situations. As always, our adjunct faculty members bring a great richness to our offerings and enable us to provide our students with a more complete and comprehensive formation; we are so grateful for their expertise and their dedication to the students at St. Bernard’s!

The team of administrators and staff at St. Bernard’s, led and inspired by Dr. Loughlin, has been reflecting for some time about how to draw more people into our educational community and share more widely the gifts we have to offer. We are thrilled to debut a significant development that arose from this line of reflection! This Fall 2020 semester, St. Bernard’s is launching

four Certificate Programs,

specifically designed to enrich those wanting to learn more – who desire to be

formed and informed so as to offer a well-formed witness to the world – but who may not desire to commit to a graduate degree program. We have selected four areas of focus that are deeply consonant with the mission and vision of St. Bernard’s, and which also will assist the pastoral and ministerial efforts of those who enroll. These four certificates are: (1) Catholicism and Fine Arts, (2) Catholic Philosophy, (3) Catholic Bioethics, and (4) Catechetical Leadership. These programs require anywhere from 4-6 courses, and they are priced competitively and affordably. The curricula for each program is designed so that the graduate will have a broad and deep understanding of the topic, with a richness and vividness that could not be obtained from other free or open-sourced platforms. We look forward to welcoming even more people into our community of learning disciples through the addition of these Certificate Programs!

Finally, be on the lookout for our

Fall Theology and Culture events, all available via Zoom and Facebook Live. We have

decided to have each of these events this Fall take up an issue that will become more and more pressing as the weeks pass: they will form a three-part series on “faithful citizenship” in the lead-up to the presidential election. St. Bernard’s is eager to join this conversation, not through partisanship and political maneuvering, but by reminding us that the search for the good, the true, and the beautiful rests at the heart of authentic politics.

A YEAR OF TRANSITION One of the most distinctive aspects of Christianity is the assertion that, even in the most trying circumstances, the loss of beloved people and beloved institutions will never have the final word. In this sense, while the loss is often more than we can bear, the assurance that God will draw all things to the good grants the Christian ballast and bravery in the face of all things. Earlier this year, the people of God in the Diocese of Buffalo lost a beloved institution that they have known and cherished for over a century and a half. Christ the King Seminary, the academic and pastoral heart of priestly, diaconate, and lay formation in the Diocese, ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2019-2020 academic year. St. Bernard’s main campus is located in the Diocese of Rochester on the eastern border of the Diocese of Buffalo; we mourn deeply with our neighbors during this time of transition.

12

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo, appointed a Steering Committee to ‘reimagine’ and provide recommendations for the future of formation in the wake of the Seminary’s closure. The community of St. Bernard’s was thrilled to hear that the Committee accepted its proposals to provide the intellectual formation for the diocesan diaconate formation program and to provide those lay men and women who had begun a degree program at the Seminary with a means to complete their degree at St. Bernard’s. The first course offered for all men in diaconate formation was offered in Summer 2020, with a full outlay of courses being offered for different cohorts beginning in Fall 2020. Many lay students have also taken up coursework at St. Bernard’s in the Summer and Fall 2020 semesters.

It is an understatement to say that all of

these students have greatly enriched the St. Bernard’s community! In accord with St. Bernard’s commitment to subsidiarity, the establishment of a location to hold on-site classes in Buffalo is in development, as is the hiring of local adjunct faculty members to provide students with the same excellent education and formation they can expect from faculty members at our other campuses.

BUFFALO STUDENT SPOTLIGHT The transition back to school after years of marriage and family life was certainly a challenge, but the support of Deacon Tim and the CKS professors helped them ease back into student life. As relatively new Master’s students, it was somewhat of a shock to learn that CKS was closing after the 2020 school year.

This, coupled with the COVID pandemic, transformed “normal” life into chaos. Mike and Lauri’s final class at CKS was handled professionally

under

the

circumstances.

By

the

time

the

partnership with St. Bernard’s was announced, both had come

the Lord never promises simplicity or ease once you respond to His call. So, with faith and curiosity, they to accept that

In 2013, Mike began to discern a call to the permanent diaconate. As is often the case when the Spirit taps one

moved

on the shoulder, he resisted at first. The concerns of family

leading them.

ahead

in

the

direction

the

diaconate

program

was

life, his professional career, and doubt initially ruled out following

the

call.

Over

time,

God

began

to

eliminate

Their first class at St. Bernard’s, Marriage and Holy Orders,

these perceived barriers and Mike committed to learning

was

more about the diaconate. Meanwhile, Lauri had recently

Matthew Kuhner and Fr. Peter Van Lieshout. As the initial shock

begun teaching at Chesterton Academy of Buffalo, which

of jumping into a remote class at a new institution wore off,

features a classical, integrated curriculum that teaches all

they

subjects through the lens of Catholic faith. After seeing

Although

the

the value of this education, the Hahns decided to dedicate

delivery

from

their time to helping it succeed and Lauri became the

completed their first course, Mike and Lauri are now looking

school’s Headmaster in the Spring of 2019.

forward

an

unexpected

both

especially When Mike decided to formally apply to the diaconate

became

to

summer

quite

coursework the

to

their be

taught

comfortable was

were

Master’s

part

of

the

by

with

demanding,

professors

continuing

excited

class

professors

the

the

transition.

content

exceptional.

program.

Dr.

Having

They

development

and

of

are St.

Bernard’s new campus in Buffalo!

formation program in the Diocese of Buffalo, the director of

the

program,

prospective students

Deacon

deacons’

alongside

Tim

wives

their

Chriswell,

were

explained

invited

husbands.

to

Because

that

enroll of

as her

involvement with Chesterton Academy, Lauri decided to pursue this opportunity. Both enrolled in the Masters of Pastoral

Ministry

program

at

Christ

the

King

Seminary

(CKS), and in the Fall of 2019, went back to school nearly

Mike and Lauri Hahn have been married for 27 years and have 6 children. They currently live in Clarence, NY, a suburb of Buffalo, and have attended Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Williamsville since 2005.

30 years after completing their undergraduate degrees.

13

2019-2020 Annual Donor Report Our

2019-2020

Annual

Donor

Report

recognizes

those

who

made

financial

or

in-kind

contributions to St. Bernard’s between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020. We are deeply grateful to our friends listed here. Through your prayerful support, we are able to continue to provide outstanding facilities and resources to prepare our graduates for a lifetime of ministry.

ST. ISAAC JOGUES SOCIETY (2500-5000)

ST. JOHN NEUMANN SOCIETY CONT. (100-249)

CISTERCIAN SOCIETY CONT. (1-99)

Mr. James Weisbeck

Deacon Matthew Dudek

Ms. Rosalyn DellaPietra

Dr. & Mrs. David Gaesser

Mr. & Mrs. Dominic Devaney

Dr. & Mrs. William Grace

Deacon Patrick DiLaura

Dr. & Mrs. Cutberto Garza

Ms. Teresa Dunn

Ms. Margaret Churnetski

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Grosswirth

Mr. Robert Dylong

Rev. Charles Curran

Mr. Mark Greisberger

Ms. Carole Eilers-Lloyd

Mr. Paul Dinicola

Mr. & Mrs. Carl Holtz

Mr. Richard Emond

Rev. Thomas Erdle

Ms. Arlene Hughes

Mr. Vincent Emond

Rev. Dr. F. Richard Lesser

Ms. Catharine Kurz

Drs. David Felten & Mary Maida

Dr. Kevin Parker

Mr. Paul LaCour

Mr. James Flanagan

Dr. Norma Scavilla

Mr. Francis Lahr

Mr. & Mrs. Scott Goldstone

Rev. Paul Tomasso

Deacon Robert Lyons

Mr. George Gublo

Mr. Gerald Lynch

Joseph Hammond & JoAnn Crowley

Mr. & Mrs. James McCarthy

Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Hart

Mrs. & Mr. Jeriann & Mike McEvoy

Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Hosenfeld

Ms. Marianne Antczak

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Messina

Ms. Jeanette Housecamp

Deacon Peter Battisti

Ms. Eleanor Nasser, in honor of Rev. Lewis

Ms. Carol "Kitt" Jackson

Mr. Philip Gelsomino

Brown & Rev. Mathew Jones

Mr. David Jehle

Mrs. Elizabeth Gilges

Rev. Thomas Nellis

Gregory Hofmann & Kim Johnson

Mr. & Mrs. John Haefner

Ms. Anne Olek

Mr. Donald Keeley

Dr. Roslyn Karaban

James Robinson

Ms. Judy Klein

Ms. Carmen Ana Klosterman

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rosdahl

Mr. Walter Krawczyk

Rev. John O'Connor

Ms. Patricia Schroth

Mr. Robert Lewis

Frank Thomas & Nancy O'Keefe

Ms. Jean Shafer

Mr. John Madden

Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey Rosenberger

Deacon & Mrs. Patrick Shanley

Rev. Frederick Mannara

Mr. William Shafer

Paul Sheck, in memory of Lorri Sheck

Ms. Ann McCauley

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Smith

Mr. & Mrs. Kevin McGann

Ms. Susan Storke

Ms. Gina McGrath

Mr. Robert Stowell

Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Meyering

Rev. Daniel Tormey

Rev. William Michatek

Rev. Wilbur Votraw

James Williams & Elizabeth Milliken

Mr. Timothy Wood

Mrs. & Mr. Mary Muggleton & Gerard Strauss

Rev. Lawrence Wrenn

Ms. Helen Morone

Ms. Patricia Mousaw

ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA SOCIETY (1000-2499)

ST. RENÉ GOUPIL SOCIETY (500-999)

ST. MARIANNE COPE SOCIETY (250-499) Ms. Margaret Benza Mr. Donald Bunk, in memory of Professor John Owen Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Muriel DeMartino Deacon David Kepler

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Nescot

Rev. Robert Schrader

CISTERCIAN SOCIETY (1-99)

Rev. Robert Werth

ST. JOHN NEUMANN SOCIETY (100-249)

Ms. Caroline Bailey Mr. & Mrs. George Bauer

Anderson Charitable Fund

Ms. Gail Bauerschmidt

Mulligan Fund

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Mary Ann Bender

Mr. John Arrigan

Rev. R. Richard Brickler

Ms. Charlene Bantel

Mrs. & Mr. Marie & Donald Butts

Rev. Victor Bartolotta

Ms. Elaine Buzzinotti

Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Kathleen Bauer

Ms. Elena Cambio

Mr. & Mrs. John Bazyk

Mr. William Carreo

of

Ms. Lois Cogovan Ms. Katherine Conlon

Mr. Timothy Clark

Ms. Rachelle Cotugno

Mr. Robert Conway

Dr. Timothy Davis

14

Dr. & Ms. Paul Rapoza Mr. Jose Rivera Mrs. Rosanne Russell Mr. William Schott Mr. & Mrs. Charles Steiger Mr. Robert Stratton Rev. W. Jerome Sullivan Ms. Mary Urzetta Deacon Paul Virgilio

Mrs. Joann Coan

Rev. Gerald Beirne

Fr. Sebastian Falcone

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Pieramico Deacon Joseph Placious

Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Alfieri

Anonymous (3)

Deacon James Chappe ll, in memory

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Patane

GIFTS IN KIND Ms. Mary Leisner Mr. Vincent Lenti Rev. Loren McGrail

NEW DONOR TIERS

ST. RENÉ GOUPIL SOCIETY (500-999)

St. René Goupil was a French Jesuit lay missionary who traveled to the Americas in

CISTERCIAN SOCIETY (1-99) The

1640. He worked with St. Isaac Jogues,

Order of Cistercians was founded by

who ordained him a priest to care for the

our namesake, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in

sick and wounded in present-day New

1098. This monastic order follows the Rule

York State. While traveling through the

of St. Benedict and lives by the motto "ora

state, he was captured, tortured, and

et labora," prayer and work. Just as the

murdered. He died uttering the Holy Name

Cistercians employ the value of manual

of Jesus, becoming the first canonized

labor to deepen culture and their

martyr in North America. Just like St. René,

community life, the gifts of the donors in

the generosity of the donors of this tier

this tier allow us to further our educational

allows us to profess the name of Jesus in

work.

all that we do.

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON SOCIETY ($5000-$9,999)

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in New York City in 1774. Due to her husband’s tuberculosis, she moved to Italy where she was first introduced to Catholicism. When she returned to America as a widow she converted to the Faith. She went on to found the first Catholic school for

ST. JOHN NEUMANN SOCIETY (100-249)

St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia in 1811. He traveled to

New York where he was ordained a priest and was stationed in Buffalo. He was a fierce

ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA SOCIETY (1000-2499)

St. Kateri Tekakwitha was the

first American-born citizen to

day upstate New York. She lived during

be canonized a saint. The

a very tumultuous period of the 1600’s

charity of the donors in this tier allow us to carry out St.

patient, and skilled worker. She is known

traveled, often on foot, to build churches and schools for German and Irish emigrant children. The

American congregation of religious sisters. She was the

daughter of a Mohawk chief in present

but was nevertheless a very diligent,

advocate for the poor and

girls in the nation and the first

Elizabeth Ann Seton’s zealous

as the “Lily of the Mohawks” for her

devotion to Catholic

purity and devotion. We thank God for

education.

the devotion of the donors of this tier.

charity of the donors in this tier allows us to further the ministerial and pastoral work of St. John Neumann.

ST. ISAAC JOGUES SOCIETY (2500-5000)

St. Isaac Jogues was a French educator, Jesuit priest, and missionary

ST. MARIANNE COPE SOCIETY (250-499)

St. Marianne Cope’s family emigrated to Utica, New York, after which she joined the Sisters of Saint Francis in Syracuse. She “cheerfully accepted the work” of caring for leprosy patients in Hawaii and founded schools and homes for women and girls during her time there. The charity of the donors in this tier allow us to carry on God’s will in the cheerful spirit of St. Marianne Cope.

who traveled to the Americas in 1636.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was an

He led a group of missionaries through present-day Canada and

adviser of popes, defender of the faith,

New York State with the sole goals of education and evangelization. He was captured and tortured but continued to baptize and minister to indigenous peoples and other prisoners

ultimately martyred. St. Isaac Jogues teaches us determination and selflessness in the pursuit of God’s work, which is made possible by the

healer of schism, reformer of a monastic order, scripture scholar, theologian, and an eloquent preacher. Despite his unfailing dedication to the challenging public work to which God called him, he always treasured

throughout his captivity. He escaped, returned to missionary work, but was

ST. BERNARD SOCIETY ($10,000+, PLEDGES, ESTATE AND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION GIFTS)

the virtue of the hidden monastic life.

Through the intercession of our namesake and the charity of the donors of this tier, we are able to carry on the zeal of St. Bernard in pursuit of our theological and ministerial mission.

charity of the donors in this tier.

Annual Financial Summary June 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020

REVENUES

EXPENSES Administrative and Marketing: $457,893

Net Tuition, Less Financial Aid: $590,903

Facilities, with Depreciation: $143,562

Diocesan Income: $42,461

Instruction (Rochester) and Admissions: $303,477

Donations and Bequests: $32,800

Other: $47,363

Distribution, Releases from Endowments: $354,064

Instruction and Facilities (Albany): $182,787

Other: $21,608

Total Expenses: $1,135,082

Total Revenues: $1,041,836

15

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