The Benedictine values are a cornerstone of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University experience.
That doesn’t stop after graduation. Graduates of the two schools take those values with them and put them into practice in their daily lives.
Nowhere is that more apparent than on the annual Benedictine Day of Service, which this year took place on April 12. On that day, CSB and SJU alums across the country came together to take part in organized service projects at sites in their areas.
“It’s a great excuse for our alum community to come together and show our respective geographic locations that we truly are a close-knit community, as well as a community focused on giving back and helping others,” said Joan Van Grinsven Doss ’13, the chair of the alum chapters committee of the CSB Alumnae Board.
“Our chapter in Des Moines is new, so this was a good way for us to get together. We worked at Meals From the Heartland (an organization that packages meals for delivery to food insecure children and families) and we had great participation. A couple of alums brought their kiddos. It was a great, family-friendly environment.”
Here is a look at the projects various alum chapters undertook:
Minnesota
- Central Minnesota – Catholic Charities of St. Cloud (packing food supplies for Mobile Food Shelf); SJU Athletics Kids Fighting Hunger Event (packing meals alongside SJU student-athletes and other members of the CSB and SJU community).
- St. Paul – Second Stork (sorting, stickering and packing supply bags containing diapers and wipes critical to the health, safety and care of a newborn in the first few weeks).
- Twin Cities – Open Arms (preparing and packing food for nonprofit organization); Feed My Starving Children, Chanhassen (packing meals).
- Duluth – Churches United in Ministry (providing permanent, safe and supportive housing for families, as well as six shelter units for unhoused families).
- Rochester – Family Service Rochester (assisting with spring yard clean-up for homeowners in need of assistance).
United States
- Des Moines, Iowa – Meals From the Heartland (packing meals).
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota – St. Francis House (serving the homeless).
- Milwaukee – The Guest House of Milwaukee (preparing and serving breakfast, with prep work done the night before in St. Bernadette Parish kitchen).
- Denver – Food For Thought (working to eliminate weekend hunger in Denver area schools by providing meals).
- Omaha, Nebraska – Food Bank for the Heartland (sorting donated food and packing food packs for the BackPack Program, which provides access to healthy food).
- Notre Dame (Indiana) – Transformation Ministries (volunteer work at Iron Sharpens Iron for children in South Bend).
- Tempe, Arizona – Feed My Starving Children (packing meals).
- Washington, D.C. – A Wider Circle (an agency that works to advance equity and address the root causes of poverty).
- Dallas – Habitat for Humanity (volunteering time at Dallas Habitat ReStores).
In all, over 150 volunteers took part, though two more sites are still planning to complete their service work.
“Benedictine Day of Service continues to be an inspiring collaboration between dedicated alum volunteers, the CSB Alumnae Board and the SJU Alumni Board,” said Adam Herbst ’99, executive director of university relations at SJU. “Thanks to the passion and leadership of these alums, our global community is able to unite in service and live out the Benedictine values that are at the heart of our mission.
“It’s amazing to witness Bennies and Johnnies showing up for their communities — often on the same weekend, in cities and towns all over the country,” he added. “Giving back is second nature for our alums, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s events such a success.”
“Benedictine Day of Service has become a steady, reliable expression of the Benedictine Values and the beautiful way Bennies and Johnnies live them out in their communities on (or around) one special day each year,” said Valerie Jones ’94, executive director of alumnae relations at the CSB. “Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are grateful to the chapter leaders and project organizers who work with local nonprofit partners to organize projects that are meaningful to their community, then unite with other alums, families and friends to fulfill a local need.
“It’s extremely fulfilling to hear back from local chapter leaders of the joy and delight from alums, their nonprofit partners and community members that results directly from experiencing the Benedictine values of respect for persons and our ever-present sense of hospitality in action,” she added. “Thank you to every Bennie and every Johnnie and their friends and family members who volunteered to serve.”
