An Alumni Fall Gathering was held Oct. 1 at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, including prayer, tours and a reception to honour Distinguished Alumni Award winners of the past three years.

The inaugural alumni event was the opportunity to publicly recognize and celebrate all those who received the award since the start of the pandemic: the six winners from 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Distinguished Alumni:

2022 – Louise Tessier and Dr. Thomas Deutscher

2021 – Rita Gillies and Fr. Emile April

2020 – Mary Donlevy-Konkin and Deacon Richard Lucas

Inaugural STM Fall Gathering draws alumni, friends of college

By Paul Sinkewicz, STM Communications

(This article was originally published at stmcollege.ca and is used with permission)

St. Thomas More College began a new tradition recently with the inaugural STM Fall Gathering on Oct. 1.

The new annual event will celebrate the college’s alumni, donors and friends and will also feature the presentation of the STM Alumni of Distinction Awards.

This year’s fall gathering began with a celebration of faith in the STM Chapel in the afternoon, and included an honour song presented by Qwaydin Spotted Blue Jay Linklater, from Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

 

The day also included a self-guided art and architecture tour, which allowed returning alumni wander the halls of the college to see the many changes that have occurred over the years as the needs of its students have changed, as well as to appreciate the many significant pieces of artwork that grace the rooms and hallways.

The Alumni of Distinction awards were presented during a program in the Shannon Library, with award presenations made for 2020, 2021 and 2022 in a year when the college community was finally able to gather again after the interruption of the pandemic.

Dr. Tammy Marche, Dean of STM, said the stories of the distinguished alumni being honoured shows that the College’s graduates are indeed going out into the world and exploring faith, reason and justice, while also unselfishly serving others, each according to their individual gifts.

“The contributions each of these six award recipients has made to their communities does honour to the College, and we are grateful for the opportunity to show our appreciation to them at this event,” said Marche.

“The College has seen many changes over the years, but our mission and values have not changed and are very much alive today, as they always have been – in our students, faculty, staff, and our alumni.”

Each award recipient was introduced by Veronica Lucas, a recent STM graduate and a member of the STM Newman Alumni Association.

Honoured from 2020 were Mary Donlevy-Konkin and Richard Lucas. From 2021 were alumni Rita Gillies and Fr. Emile April, who sent his regrets. The 2022 Distinguished Alumni being honoured were Louise Tessier and Dr. Thomas Deutscher, who was nominated posthumously. Accepting on his behald was his wife, Marci Deutscher.

“What a gift it is to once again be able to enjoy in-person events, where we can laugh together, pray together, and embrace our shared connection to the STM community,” said Kari Sinkewicz, Manager of Development and Alumni Relations.

“We enjoyed outstanding attendance at the inaugural STM Annual Fall Gathering, with several guests travelling from out of province to join us,” she said. “We are looking forward to an even larger contingent next year, of alumni, donors and friends of the College gathering on October 14, 2023 to celebrate the announcement of the new Distinguished Alumni.”

Information about Distinguished Alumni:

Reprinted from the alumni page on STM website

St. Thomas More College has been around since 1936, offering its students a well-rounded liberal arts education with a focus on personal growth, leadership and the Catholic intellectual tradition. The college was founded to provide opportunities for students to grow intellectually as well as spiritually, and alumni include leaders in the community and beyond who are committed to social justice and the common good. The Distinguished Alumni award was founded to recognize some of these leaders.

Distinguished Alumna 2022
Louise Tessier

Louise Hudec Tessier was born in 1959 in Leader, Saskatchewan. A multidisciplinary artist, she initially studied accounting and then pursued a career in education, receiving a Bachelor of Education (Art and Music) from the University of Saskatchewan in 1982. She taught elementary school in Saskatoon and later moved to Regina.

A tile-making workshop in 1998 launched Louise into the world of clay. In her home studio, she creates ceramic art tiles using the processes of graphic design, linoleum stamp carving and printmaking. Louise’s designs, inspired by nature and the written word, evoke her Slovakian heritage with its folk-art tradition.

Inspired by music, poetry, gardens, her faith and travel, Louise is attracted to art in many forms. During a six-year sabbatical, Louise illustrated a book, created two large art pieces, and curated a touring group exhibition based on the life of Jesus (Moved by the Spirit). She has also expanded her artistic repertoire to include rug hooking, writing religious icons and, most recently, printmaking creating a work entitled, The Second Eve (Caligari Project Print Exchange & Exhibition, Saskatchewan Printmakers’ Association).

In 2013, Tessier published The Garden Way of the Cross (Novalis), using the text of Fr. Thomas A. Stanley’s 1993 work of the same title and illustrating the Stations of the Cross with her own botanical prints. Those prints were also rendered in clay and displayed in the St. Thomas More Art Gallery as part of the Moved by the Spirit exhibition. This set of 15 framed tiles is now permanently installed in the College, thanks to the artist’s generosity and ongoing support of STM.

Tessier’s work has been exhibited in galleries in various locations in the USA, Canada and particularly in Saskatchewan. In 2005, she won the Award for Excellence in Functional and Production Ware for the Saskatchewan Craft Council’s Dimensions exhibition.

During her 23-year ceramics career, Tessier has been involved with several arts organizations, including the Saskatchewan Craft Council, the Alberta Craft Council, the Sundog Arts Society, Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) and the Canadian Society of Decorative Arts.

Louise Tessier lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, where she works from her home studio. She continues her art studies through workshops in a number of media and has found much spiritual fulfillment through participating in iconography workshops in Ohio taught by instructors from the Prosopon School of Iconology.

A complete listing of works and awards can be found at: www.louisetessier.com

“I graduated from the College of Education, taking as many classes as I could from STM and singing each Sunday with the STM choir all during my university years. I made friends in the STM choir that I still count as good friends today…being part of STM is a memorable part of my life on many levels.” – Louise Tessier

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Distinguished Alumnus 2022

Dr. Thomas Deutscher (posthumous)

Dr. Thomas Brian Deutscher was born in Regina in 1949, spending his childhood there and in Saskatoon before moving to Humboldt, SK, with his family.

He attended high school at St. Peter’s College in Muenster, where he was taught by the Benedictine monks. This began his life-long commitment to Catholic education. He completed his BA in History in 1969, having served as the President of the St. Thomas More Students’ Association that year. He went on to receive his MA in History from the University of Saskatchewan in 1971. In that same year, he and Marci married and moved to Toronto and later to Italy to pursue his PhD.

In 1977, he was hired as a sessional lecturer by St. Thomas More College (STM) to teach history, becoming an Assistant Professor in History the following year. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1990. During the course of his career, he took on the role of STMFU president twice in 1982-83 and again from 1996-1999.

He was named Dean of STM in 1985, serving in that office for six years. He was also acting president of the College for a time. As a Catholic Church historian, Tom was committed to teaching and research; he completed many publications on the Catholic Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries, and considered his book, Punishment and Penance (2013), to be the culmination of his life’s work. Tom was the model of a Catholic scholar, demonstrating a faith seeking understanding and recognizing in all people their inherent human dignity. He did so with wit and hospitality.

Tom and Marci were dedicated to their family and community service. Together, they raised six children: Michael, Matthew, Tom Jr., Ben, Patrick, and Mary.

As stated in his obituary, Tom was deeply involved as a parent, “taking time to coach baseball/fastball, chaperone swimming, lead cub-scout packs as Akela, listen to piano practice, watch action movies, provide research assistance, and devise overly complex plans for routine events that involved the entire family and multiple vehicles. Tom also served as the president of Alliance for Life and was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus degree team. Tom loved to cook and eat a good meal to go along with his excellent homemade wine. He was gentle, patient, honest and compassionate, and always had another witticism prepared for even life’s most stressful moments. He was a loyal friend, and bravely fought to stay with his family for as long as he possibly could. His Catholic faith provided him with a true North that continues to serve as a guide for his friends and family.”

His life-long dedication to the Expos and the Riders is also worth mentioning, if only as one more example of loyal service to a cause!

Dr. Thomas Deutscher died on June 7, 2017, having made a lasting impact.

“When we think of Dad, it’s hard not to think of STM.” – Michael Deutscher (son)

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Distinguished Alumna 2021

Rita Gillies

Rita Gillies says that she has been blessed with a happy disposition, a love of learning, and an adventurous spirit.

Born in Saskatoon to a French-Catholic mother and a Scot-Irish non-practising Protestant father, both French and religion were downplayed in the home. Nevertheless, at age 10, Rita was sent to Prud’homme to learn French. The problem there was that everyone wanted to speak English. Her resultant vocabulary came from prayers and reprimands.

As to religion, the air was saturated with a religious atmosphere. Sports and fair play were like a quasi-religion for her father, a natural-born athlete. With him as their speed skating coach, Rita and her brother were champions in their elementary years.

School was always a joy for Rita. Early schooling was with only other girls, and with nuns as teachers. Her horizons broadened when she came to co-ed STM with priests as professors.

On the University of Saskatchewan campus she earned a BA, a BEd, and an MTS (Master of Theological Studies) through the Lutheran Seminary, due to its proximity. Her path to STM was due to good fortune. “A $100 STM bursary saved me from Teachers College, favoured by my cautious Dad, and aided my dream of the glamorous life at university,” Gillies said.

“When I was in high school my family moved from Saskatoon to North Battleford. So, with a return to Saskatoon, I was on my own to live life on my own terms. STM truly became my ‘home away from home’ — daily Mass with free toast, jam and coffee, endless free coffee all day, Ulcers (co-op lunch), library, ping-pong, cameraderie, — all this and more till evening curfew. With graduation in 1955 I was hired as a social worker thanks to the background in liberal arts that STM provided. I went out to the wide world with anticipation, confidence, joy and gratitude to STM.” – Rita Gillies

Gillies became a social worker for Weyburn and District, where she learned to drive, experiencing rural Saskatchewan’s four seasons, and hitting the ditch in snow and mud. Later she became a nurse through Kelsey Campus (now Saskatchewan Polytechnic).

However, pursued by the Hound of Heaven, thoughts of religious life became overpowering. She gave in and became Sister Marie Camilla of Sion (NDS).

From 1960-1965 she taught French and Religion at Sion Academy and, in 1965, thanks to her French, was sent for a three-year assignment to the Sion Convent, Ecce Homo, in the Old City of Jerusalem.

At that time Jerusalem was a divided city: West under Israel and East under Jordan.

The Old City was located in the Arab world. Two years later, after months of tension, the 1967 “Six-Day War” broke out. Israel won, frontiers changed, and all Jerusalem came under Israeli control. “The ramifications are momentous,” she said.

In 1968, Rita was sent to Montreal to help the Sion religious congregation’s efforts to found a Catholic Centre for Jewish Studies. While there, she studied Library Science at McGill University, left the congregation, and returned to Jerusalem as a librarian in the Ecumenical Institute for Advanced Theological Studies.

She studied Hebrew and began studies in the Guide School. One month into the course, the 1973 Yom Kippur War broke out. Some classmates were called up to serve in the military and remained on front lines for the rest of the year.

Gillies says the years of guiding tourists that followed were pure joy. However, in 1985 she returned to Saskatoon to give company to her widowed mother. Fr. Bernard de Margerie took her on staff at the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism to give life to the Vatican Document ‘Nostra Aetate” for interfaith relations.

She helped found Multi-Faith Saskatoon, and became a guide for schools to visit the multi-faith world of Saskatoon. Travel became a passion: her backpacking adventures became PowerPoint presentations at Public Libraries.

Today Rita is involved with refugees and immigrants. One of the newcomers had been a security guard in Baghdad, Iraq. To help him get licensed here, she took the course alongside him. The result: she also works as a security guard to this day.

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Distinguished Alumnus 2021

Fr. Emile April

Fr. Emile April was born the third of four children to the April family of Peesane — a hamlet on the road from Tisdale to Hudson Bay — in northwest central Saskatchewan.

He moved with his family to Zenon Park, where he lived for nine years, and then to Saskatoon, where he attended St. Paul’s High School. Following Grade 12, he enrolled in St. Pius X Seminary and in 1964, he became an alumnus of St. Thomas More College, graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy.

“During the years at STM, I lived at St. Pius X Seminary, where, by rule, the seminarians were to have a very limited social connection with STM. So, my connection was during class time,” Fr. April said. “We seminarians had some very good teachers and counsellors in the Basilian priests — mostly for philosophy but also political science and sociology. We also made lifelong friends with some STM students. Both the priests and the students made us feel very welcome and part of the Catholic presence on campus.”

Following graduate study in theology in Ottawa, Fr. April was ordained a priest.

Between 1967 and 1972, he served in parishes in Saskatoon and Vonda and taught at Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon.

In 1973, Fr. April left Saskatchewan for Rio de Janeiro to learn Portuguese for his work in the mission of União dos Palmares in Brazil, where he was to spend the next 26 years serving the one city, five towns and 50 rural communities in the mission.

Fr. April worked in the formation of Christian communities, evangelization, and baptism preparation in Brazil, as well as part of a team to help small farmers. In 1989, massive floods swept through rural Brazil, causing destruction in 112 cities, leaving more than 300,000 homeless, and damaging or destroying nearly 7,000 homes. In addition to his pastoral duties, Fr. April spent most of the following three years as part of a team building houses for families who had lost theirs.

In 2001, Fr. April returned to Saskatoon to work as a parish priest in urban and rural parishes for the next 20 years, retiring in August of 2017 at age 75.

Thinking of Christ’s service to the people of God and the application of the STM ideals for the good of humanity, Fr. April is truly a distinguished alumnus of STM.

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Distinguished Alumna 2020

Mary Donlevy-Konkin

By Art Battiste

Mary M. Donlevy-Konkin, Q.C., convocated in 1982, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree. This was followed by a Bachelor of Law in 1985.

Mary has faithfully served St. Thomas More College in numerous roles, generously providing her valuable perspective on STM Corporation from 2002-2007 as a member at large; as a representative on Corporation from 2014 to the present, and on the Standing Committee for the Appointment of the President since 2014. From January 2005 to December 2007 Mary served on the STM Board of Governors and on the Negotiating Committee from 2005-2007 and then the Organization and Membership Committee in 2007.

Mary is Senior Counsel in the Saskatoon office of McKercher LLP with experience in estate administration as well as navigating areas of public advocacy and government relations. She returned to McKercher LLP after serving for more than seven years in the Government of Saskatchewan. She was honored with a Queen’s Counsel appointment in 2014.

In her past roles with the provincial government, she served as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, Minister of Labour, Minister responsible for SaskPower, Innovation Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation, Saskatchewan Research Council and the Status of Women Office. Mary also served as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and the Minister responsible for SaskBuilds, Priority Saskatchewan and the Financial Consumer Affairs Authority.

Her experience in government includes initiatives such as the development of the provincial Immigration strategy, the Global Food Institute, the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation, establishment of Innovation Saskatchewan, construction of the Transition Shelter in Melfort, creation of the Office of Counsel for Children, changes to the Human Rights Code regarding transgender persons, and Kate’s Place, a supportive residence for women who are attending Regina Drug Treatment Court. Mary also assisted with the negotiations for Saskatchewan’s participation in the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System.

Building on her broad government experience, Mary provides her clients with assistance by advising them through public policy and regulatory design processes at different levels of government.

Mary provides leadership to an initiative at McKercher LLP aimed at entrepreneurs in our province, and which benefits women entrepreneurs, in particular. She is a founding member of Seeds for Dreams, an initiative that offers women-led businesses early stage financial support. Her personal experience as a member of a family of entrepreneurs provides guidance to a focused group of lawyers dedicated to assisting start-ups with some of the challenges they face.

Currently, Mary sits as vice-chair of Emmanuel Health, as a board member of Emmanuel Care (Catholic Health Ministry of Saskatchewan) former vice-chair of the United Way of Saskatoon and as Director of Protein Industries Canada one of Canada’s 5 Innovation Superclusters. Mary has also served on the boards of Crossroads International and the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.

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Distinguished Alumnus 2020

Deacon Richard Lucas

By Jessie Mann

Richard (Rick) Lucas attended St Thomas More College from 1986 until he convocated in 1989. He was a member of the Newman Club and served as the Newman Social Director. He continued to spend time at STM as a Newman Member, and as an assistant librarian in the Shannon Library until the spring of 1990.

Rick met his future wife Yvonne at STM and they have been married for 30 years and have been blessed with three children Francis, Veronica (Roni) and Regena (Regie). The couple are now grandparents and their daughter, Veronica, is currently a proud St. Thomas More College student, following in her parents’ footsteps.

Rick moved to Lloydminster and joined the Lloydminster Catholic School Division in August of 1990 as an educator at Holy Rosary High School. Over the years Rick taught many subjects: History, Social Studies, English, Commercial Cooking and Christian Ethics, just to name a few. He was a part of the Lloydminster Catholic Faith Mentorship program, served as a teacher consultant in the Grade 9-12 Christian Ethics curriculum renewal and led many other Division initiatives. Rick’s top priorities are his family and his faith in God. This love and genuine drive to never stop learning led him to pursue a Master’s in Religious Education in 2010. He convocated in 2014, completing the degree while working full time.

Rick spent countless hours with students in a variety of extracurricular activities. He was a teacher advisor/co-advisor for the Student Leadership Council and led the HRHS Key Club with passion.

The Key Club is a social justice group that in recent years raised over $30,000 for the Our Village Uganda program in Africa, built and planted a community garden at Onion Lake Mission and often hosted a Senior’s Gala event in Lloydminster around Christmas. He could be found leading a kitchen crew to make a Christmas meal for hundreds and you could always pick his voice out of the choir at masses and prayer services. During Easter, Rick could often be found leading student groups through Europe and Asia, broadening student perspectives and showing them the wonders of our world.

It is safe to say that being at STM deeply impacted the course of Rick’s life. While Rick is now an officially retired teacher, he continues to live his passion on all he has worked toward over the last 30-plus years and we wish him all the best as a new chapter begins with his ordination to the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Prince Albert.

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