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Donor Appreciation Night
Donor Appreciation Night is an annual event put on by the Foundation of Newman Theological College and St. Joseph Seminary. The evening is an opportunity for the Foundation to say thank you to the donors and benefactors of Newman Theological College and St. Joseph Seminary.
Donor Appreciation Night 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007 was an evening to remember. Newman Theological College and St. Joseph Seminary welcomed 301 guests who were treated to fantastic food, fellowship and fabulous entertainment.
Dr. Caroline Nolan, a member of the College Faculty, opened the evening with prayer. Foundation Executive Director Paul Croteau, served as emcee. Warm messages of gratitude were articulated by: the Chairman of the Foundation Board, Mr. Dan Dean; President of Newman Theological College, M. Bryn Kulmatycki; Rector of St. Joseph Seminary, Rev. Shayne Craig, p.s.s.; seminarian Rev. Mr. James deBeer; Student Council President, Miss Natasha Godin; and the highlight of the evening was hearing Most Rev. Richard Smith, our Shepherd, deliver the news first hand (and before the media received the announcement) that we’d be relocating to the Edmonton Pastoral Centre.
We’ve been blessed again this year with a wealth of talent within our student body and alumni. The 2007 Convocation Choir opened the entertainment with an original piece written by Dr. Gwen Miller (a member of the Faculty). Other acts included: Miss Claire Rolheiser (accompanied by Dr. Gwen Miller); Anaphora (a youth choir led by a current Newman Student, Mr. Michael Landry; the entire Seminary Community (led by Fr. Eric Sylvestre, p.s.s.) with a couple of special guests; Boris Derow; and Rev. Mr. Geoffrey Angeles. Dr. Bob McKeon, Vice Dean of Theology, took interested donors on guided tours of the Library and other reaches of the College and Seminary. The annual donor wall displayed the names of our friends in faith from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007.
A Thank You from Seminarian, Rev. Mr. James deBeer Meister Eckhart
Meister Eckhart once said: “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.” In a way, then, this whole evening is a prayer. A prayer of thanksgiving for all of that with which God has blessed Newman Theological College and St. Joseph Seminary, and in particular, the blessing all of you have been for us—donors, benefactors, volunteers and supporters. As a seminarian in my last year of studies (God willing), I know that we can sometimes get so caught up in what has to get done: papers, assignments, meetings, that we sometimes forget why we are here. Tonight is an opportunity for us to not only remember how grateful we are to study and be in formation, but also to remember and thank those who make our studies and formation possible: you. This evening also reminds us that our purpose here goes beyond textbooks and commentaries. We see our studies and ministry in the light of gratitude which means everything we do is to be a prayer. A prayer of thanksgiving. As donors you have not only empowered us to learn about our faith so that we may be Christ for the world carrying out the mission of the Church as chaplains, teachers, mothers, fathers, pastors, brothers and sisters. But you have also been Christ for us by sharing your gifts, your treasures and even yourselves. In doing so I think that every time a Newman Graduate counsels someone in Winnipeg or celebrates Mass in Wetaskiwin, all these people who have gone on to carry out the mission of the Church in their ministry, these people are living prayers of thanksgiving. Prayers of thanks to God for you. So on behalf of all seminarians, I would like to convey our deepest gratitude for everything you have shared with us and please be assured of our commitment to share with the world what we have been given. Once again, thank you.
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