Over the past year and especially during Catholic Schools Week, the Mount Michael community has been hearing more from alumni of Mount Michael and St. John Seminary during the morning chapel talks. Alumni were invited to give short presentations on their individual experiences of attending St. John Seminary/Mount Michael or the Benedictine values. Many of them begin their presentation by expressing gratitude for being invited to speak. It is obvious that they feel strongly about what they want to say and welcome the opportunity to do so.
One common theme that runs through most of their presentations is experiencing hospitality and the brotherhood of the community. The living component is usually the avenue through which these experiences happen. Many chose concrete examples about life in school to be clear about what they are saying. A good number of them say that choosing to attend Mount Michael was the best decision they made in their life, even if at first, they did not know a single soul in the school.
I must admit that I listen very carefully to what each former student has to say. I suppose that I am wondering what sticks with them after they have left us. Do they really remember anything about Benedictine spirituality and what makes Mount Michael different from any other Catholic high school? Do they grasp what we are all about?
A few years ago, I introduced a monastic way of praying to the Mount Michael students. It is called Lectio. Since I have been Director of the Oblates and I use the method of Lectio with the adult oblates, I thought it would be good to do the same with the students. I thought the silent periods and listening would be a good thing for teenagers as well as for adults. The method involves slow reading of a Scripture passage three times, silence, and then expressing aloud what the passage might be saying personally to those who participate. At first it was a bit difficult to get the students to express anything, but now it comes very easily, and it really seems natural to them. This year’s seniors, the class of 2025, have been leaders at Lectio and an example to the other students. They have been very faithful and serious about this method of praying, even if there are sporting events the night Lectio is scheduled.