Faculty & Staff Retreat Sets the Tone
for the School year.

The Mount Michael Benedictine faculty and staff gathered in the student union on Thursday August 14 for a retreat to kickoff the school year. Abbot Raphael started the gathering by talking about the values we all need to emphasize and express in our daily lives and teaching.

Today society’s focus is secular, relative and material. As the president of the school he has set out a goal to increase and develop a conscious awareness and promotion of the religious values that are central to Mount Michael Benedictine. He challenged us all to become conscious of the values we teach in our classes and in our actions.

Abbot Michael who leads the monastic community followed up with thanking everyone for their great commitment to Mount Michael Benedictine and the efforts everyone gives to make it such a great school. He then made two special presentations of appreciation. The first went to Mr. Eric Crawford for his fantastic work as our head of admissions. Kim Volpone who heads up the development office was also recognized for her leadership in making great strides in development.

The featured presenter of the day was Ron “Gus” Gustafson. Gustafson spoke at last spring’s Father-Son Banquet. He told the story of the many challenges he faced in his life after a farm accident, which severed his right arm and crush his right foot when he was nine years old. He told how you need to never give up no matter how difficult a challenge may appear because if you really wish to succeed you can over come any hurdle that life sets before you. He told us to set our goals high and challenge our students and ourselves to do more and become more than anyone thinks is possible because with a passion to succeed great things can be done.

The retreat concluded with Mass in the chapel.