Winter Comes to Collegeville - St. John's Abbey

Simon-Hoà Phan, OSB
VOCATION NEWS
In this third year since its inception
the Saint John’s Benedictine
Volunteer Corps (SJBVC) has
recruited five graduates of the SJU
2005 class to serve in Benedictine
communities in the United States
and abroad.
Andrew Dirksen, political science
major from LeMars, Iowa, and Michael
Hahn, political science major
from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, work at
Saint Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New
Jersey. They are tutors of students
and teacher assistants at this seventh
through twelfth grade, 575-student,
inner city school established by Benedictines
of Newark Abbey in 1868.
Mark Hoffman, music (vocal)
management major from Duluth, Minnesota,
works in the library and with
the grounds crew at the International
Benedictine College of Saint Anselm
in Rome, Italy. Established in 1687
and restored in 1888, the college enrolls
some ninety students in programs
of priesthood and monastic studies,
theology, philosophy and liturgy.
page 26 The Abbey Banner Winter 2005
Paul Conroy, English major from
Monticello, Minnesota, and Andrew
Krueger, communication major from
Orono, Minnesota, teach English at
the Abbey of Hanga in Songea, Tanzania.
Founded in 1957, Hanga Abbey
with its 150 members is the largest
Benedictine community in Africa
and operates a hospital, dispensary,
primary and secondary schools and
seminary. Paul and Andrew participated
in the Saint John’s Study Abroad
Program in South Africa during the
spring 2004 semester and together
climbed Kilimanjaro, the 19,340-feet,
tallest mountain in Africa.
Why did these young men volunteer?
Dirksen: “I wanted a change
of pace, time to reflect on my future
and the chance to experience a different
environment and ethnic group.”
Hahn: I was infected to service
during my years at Saint John’s.”
Hoffman: “I didn’t have time in
high school or college to do volunteer
work, so this is the opportunity
I need.” Conroy: “I want to help
others.” Krueger: “I was interested in
Members of the 2005 Saint John’s Benedictine
Volunteer Corps, l. to r.: Andrew Krueger,
Andrew Dirksen, Mark Hoffman, Michael
Hahn, Paul Richards, OSB (director), Paul
Conroy
Five Benedictine
Volunteers Serve
in New Jersey,
Rome and
Tanzania
by Daniel Durken, OSB
Saint John’s 2005 graduates were “infected to service” at Collegeville.
the Peace Corps, but when that didn’t
work I still wanted to do volunteer
work.”
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. The host
community provides their food, lodging
and a small monthly stipend.
SJU alumni interested in joining
Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer
Corps should contact Paul Richards,
OSB, director of the program, at 320-
363-3007 or prichards@csbsju.edu. +