By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
The impact of the education and formation provided at St. Peter’s College for more than 100 years was highlighted and celebrated at an alumni reunion July 26-27.
Alumni who attended the college from the 1950s on attended the celebration, including some who attended the high school for boys that eventually closed in 1972, and others who took university-level classes offered in affiliation with the University of Saskatchewan — an opportunity that began in 1926 and continues to this day.
Brother Basil Schaan, OSB, of St. Peter’s Abbey led grace for the reunion banquet July 26, held in the SPC gymnasium. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
During the banquet program July 26 in the St. Peter’s College gymnasium, MC John Kreiser welcomed alumni and special guests and introduced the monks of St. Peter’s Abbey in attendance: Brother Basil Schaan, OSB, administrator of the Abbey; Brother Kurt Van Kuren, OSB; Brother Benedict Van Ginkel, OSB; Fr. Cosmas Epifano, OSB; Fr. Richard Meidl, OSB: and Fr. Lawrence DeMong, OSB.
An alumnus of St. Peter’s College (SPC), DeMong was also acknowledged for his many years of teaching both high school and university classes at the college, as well as for his recent service as chaplain.
Other alumni also acknowledged as special guests were Archbishop Emeritus James Weisgerber, who served as bishop of Saskatoon and of Winnipeg; Fr. Ralph Kleiter; as well as Dr. Gerald Junk and Dr. Jim Dosman, who have served on the college Board of Governors.
MC John Kreiser was a member of the organizing committee for the reunion. He and fellow committee member Delwyn Jansen were interviewed about the event – LINK.
Alumnus Alvin Ulrich spoke about the history of St. Peter’s Abbey, and the faith, vision and courage of the Benedictine months who established St. Peter’s Colony in the early days of the province. “They had the vision to build this college,” Ulrich said.
In response, Brother Kurt Van Kuren, OSB, rose and assured those present that the monks of St. Peter’s Abbey “have not finished dreaming,” pointing to hopes and plans for a future student residence building on the picturesque Abbey grounds.
Alumnus Alvin Uhlrich reflected on the history of St. Peter’s College, and the courage, foresight and vision of the Benedictine Monks of St. Peter’s Abbey at Muenster for establishing the prairie educational institution more than 100 years ago. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Alumnus Don Ross gave a memorial toast to former SPC teachers and alumni who have died in the past year, including teachers Les Pearson, Dennis Billo, Bede Hubbard, and Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB.
Tributes, toasts, and words of appreciation were part of the banquet program during the St. Peter’s College alumni reunion. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Ross also led the toast to all those who have taught at the college, saying “At St. Peter’s the Benedictine Monks created a community, where we had formal learning in the classroom, and informal teaching outside the regular class hours. The monks and lay teachers taught us about responsibility, accountability, hard work, teamwork, perseverance, accepting disappointment… They also taught us joy, celebration, reverence, faithfulness, and humility.”
Don Ross (left) led a number of toasts, including one for fellow-alumnus Fr. Lawrence DeMong, OSB, (right) who taught high school and university courses at St .Peter’s College, and has served as a chaplain to students as well. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
At St. Peter’s College, students learned that it “takes more than one of us to reach our goals,” Ross said. “In closing, I will use a phrase that Fr. Lawrence used in a chaplain’s report: ‘Each one is responsible for all.'”
Dr. Gerald Junk who graduated from St. Peter’s College high school program in 1951, led the toast to the alumni, reflecting on the impact of St. Peter’s College on the character and achievements of its students, and how that has in turn impacted the world.
“We are all better for having spent time here with the monks at St. Peter’s College,” he said. “We are people from all kinds of professions… some of us are farmers, some of us are teachers, some are engineers, some are bankers … accountants, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, nurses, writers, social workers, dentists, politicians, musicians, priests, and even an archbishop — and we are all graduates of St. Peter’s College. Because of our training here I think we all did a better job of whatever our chosen profession or life’s work was, I think we have done a better job because we attended this college. St. Peter’s has enriched out lives, and for the better, and our moral compass has been set here.”
Dr. Gerald Junk, the most senior alumnus at the St. Peter’s College reunion banquet July 26, led the toast to the alumni. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Jim Dosman, chair of the college Board of Governors, provided an overview of the college today, its legacy, the opportunities and challenges it faces, and how it is moving into the future, saying: “The task of the board of governors, working with the Benedictine charism, is to advise and channel the college in its current mission into the future.”
There has been a significant period of development in recent years, he said, including a major fundraising campaign to improve the physical plant, which is now “in fantastic condition.”
Under the leadership of President Rob Harysmachuk, St Peter’s College “is a very lean operation,” said Dosman. “St. Peter’s is continually trying to mould the mission – our misison which is the chief apostolate of the monastic community – to mould that mission to be in tune with changing times and needs.”
Enrolment in liberal arts has declined somewhat, “while we retain some very sparkling programs,” he reported. For instance, St. Peter’s College now provides first year engineering, with students almost universally going on to second year at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
The college has further expanded the footprint of meeting the needs of students in the area and beyond, he said. Most recently, in partnership with the College of Nursing, St. Peter’s is now home to a full four-year Bachelor of Nursing degree program. This enhances the student population, and provides a revenue boost, and an additional complement of students in first year programs, Dosman noted.
“We are extremely proud of the quality of our faculty,” he stressed. “Our sessional lecturers stay year after year, providing a very high qulity educational experience across the board.”
Dr. Jim Dosman, Chair of St. Peter’s College Board of Governors, gave an overview of the college’s operations today. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Challenges facing the college include ongoing changing demographics, how to sustain and enhance enrolment, and working with the monastic community as it also faces new challenges and opportunities, Dosman said. Overall, however, St. Peter’s College is healthy, debt-free and thriving, he stressed. “Every member of the board of governors is pledged to continue to expand the role of St. Peter’s College in the Benedictine tradition.”
He pointed to the joy of attending the annual awards ceremony, where some $80,000 in scholarshiops are awarded to St. Peter’s College students. “It is totally inspiring to see.”
Dosman thanked those in attendance, adding: “For many colleges such as ours, our strength is in the support of our alumni.”
MC Kreiser echoed that in closing remarks, encouraging alumni to get involved to ensure that St. Peter’s College continues its mission into the future. “St. Peter’s is well and thriving, and it is still as much needed as ever… we still need a sanctuary of prayer and peace,” he said. “That is paramount to the spiritual health of our society.”
He encouraged those in attendance to get involved in continuing the legacy of the college. “One small way for alumni to get involved is to work on revitalizing the alumni association. The monks have given us so much over the years, in some small way we can give back. An alumni association can support the college… and support its mission and values.”
Reunion events continued the next day with Mass in the Abbey Chapel celebrated by Archbishop Emeritus James Weisgerber and monks of the Abbey.
Some 100 alumni gathered for the reunion marking 100-plus years of education at St. Peter’s College. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Alumna Kathy Maier (nee Zubot) was one of the first cohort of female students to attend St. Peter College, taking university classes in 1968. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Fr. Ralph Kleiter of Saskatoon (left), and Archbishop Emeritus James Weisgerber, former bishop of Saskatoon and of Winnipeg, both attended high school at St. Peter’s College in Muenster. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Photos from through the years were on display. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Photos from through the years were on display in the St. Peter’s College gymnasium, which was transformed into a banquet hall for the alumni reunion. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Display at the St. Peter’s College alumni reunion. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
The alumni reunion included time for visiting, reminiscing, and touring St. Peter’s College. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Established by the Benedictine monks of St. Peter’s Abbey at their monastery in Muenster, SK, St. Peter’s College began as a high school in 1921 to provide education to young men from throughout the district. The university component started in 1926, when St. Peter’s College and University of Saskatchewan leaders agreeing on affiliation. After 1966, the U of S arts courses offered at the college became “co-educational,” with young women also enrolling at St. Peter’s College. After the high school closed in 1972, St. Peter’s College experienced a steady increase in social science, natural science, fine art, and humanities courses, including a recently-added full four-year degree program in nursing.
RELATED: Organizers reflect on celebrating St. Peter’s College legacy – LINK
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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.
Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.