The Altar of the Former Abbey Church Decorated ... - St. John's Abbey

Ryan Radmer, at left, and Robert Kirsch,
second from right, with students of
Saint Benedict’s Prep School
Two SJU Grads
Join Saint Johnʼs
Benedictine
Volunteer Corps
UPDATE ON 2003
VOLUNTEERS
Following his year of service
in 2003-04 at Colegio
San Antonio Abad, Humacao,
Puerto Rico, Quinn Martin
was baptized and received into
the Catholic Church at Saint
Johnʼs Abbey in early June,
2004. His consideration of this
step during his years at Saint
Johnʼs was confi rmed by the
example of the Benedictines of
Abadia de San Antonio Abad.
Quinn is pursuing a Masterʼs
degree at Seattle University in
a program for educating
underprivileged students.
After his year at Saint
Benedictʼs Prep, Newark, New
Jersey, Nick Banks is studying
at the University of Wisconsin,
Madison, for the Masterʼs
degree in library science with
an emphasis on making
available and presenting
information to minority groups.
SJU alumni interested
in joining the Saint Johnʼs
Benedictine Volunteer Corps
should contact Paul Richards,
OSB, at 320-363-3007 or
prichards@csbsju.edu.
Johnnies teach at Saint Benedict’s Prep School, Newark, New Jersey
Robert Kirsch and Ryan Radmer,
2004 graduates of Saint
John’s University, have joined
the Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer
Corps (SJBVC) and are teaching at
Saint Benedict’s Prep School in Newark,
New Jersey.
Initiated by Paul Richards, OSB,
subprior of Saint John’s Abbey,
SJBVC provides Johnnie alumni the
opportunity to join in the work and
prayer of a Benedictine community. A
two-week orientation program at Saint
John’s introduces volunteers to the
monastic routine and the basic principles
of the Rule of Saint Benedict.
They are then assigned to a Benedictine
community that offers them
meaningful work plus food, lodging,
a small monthly stipend and access to
needed transportation.
Volunteers are expected to spend
thirty to forty hours a week in the
work of the host monastery. They
also pray with the community once or
twice a day and join the community
for at least one meal a day.
Robert Kirsch, 21, of Fargo, North
Dakota, is a political science major
and intends to enter law school.
Originally excited and nervous about
VOCATION NEWS
the prospect of working in an inner
city high school, Robert is enjoying
the challenge of teaching American
history and coaching debate and mock
trial.
Ryan Radmer, 23, of Eden Prairie,
Minnesota, majored in English. He
wanted to do something different
after graduation and attended Brother
Paul’s presentation about this volunteer
program. Though he initially left
the room after the presentation, Ryan
decided to return to talk further with
Paul and take the plunge. He is tutoring
students, coaching lacrosse and
serving as a teacher’s aide.
Saint Benedict’s Prep School in
Newark was established by Benedictines
in 1868 when they arrived
in this city to minister to German
immigrants. With a seventh through
twelfth grade student population of
575 and a faculty of 65 (of which
seven are monks of Newark Abbey),
the school’s eleven-month calendar includes
a mandatory fi ve-week summer
session. Black students account for
67% of the enrollment, white students
10% and Hispanics 23%. The spirit
of the school fl ows from its motto:
“Whatever hurts my brother hurts
me.”
The Abbey Banner Winter 2004 page 21