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For six consecutive Wednesday evenings starting June 25, Mt. Irenaeus will host a peaceful re-creation, offering interactive times of silence, prayer and sharing, all revolving around this year’s theme “The relevance of God’s covenant today.”

Each of the evenings will begin with a 4:45 p.m. Mass, followed by a dish-to-pass supper at 6 p.m., ending with time in the chapel from 7:30 to 9 p.m. All are welcome to come whenever they would like, to enjoy the beautiful setting of the Mountain.

The dates, presenters and topics of each Evening of Re-Creation are:

June 25: Fr. Dan Riley, O.F.M., “God’s covenant poured out for us and fulfilled in us
today”

July 9: Fr. Lou McCormick, O.F.M., “Covenant, Contemplation, and Justice”

July 16: Doug and LisaJo Looney, “Living justly in an unjust world: stories from
Tanzania, Bolivia”

July 30: Walt Chura, S.F.O., “The transformation of Thomas Merton: how he learned to
love the world”

For directions or more information, call (585) 973-2470, or visit www.mounti.com.

State Senator Catharine M. Young is all about serving others. She has been a New York State Senator since 2005 with six years in the New York State Assembly prior to that.

The second oldest of six children, she grew up on a dairy farm in Avon in Livingston County. Her grandfather was her best friend growing up and she attributes much of her appreciation for the agricultural industry to time spent with him on the family farm.

“Few people know that agriculture is New York state’s No. 1 industry,” she says. Her time on the committee has seen her focus on such issues as growing biomass for energy production, using alternative fuels for bio-energy, and increasing the output of the state’s maple industry.

She and her staff handle thousands of cases brought to her through e-mail, letters, phone calls and drop-ins to her Olean and Jamestown offices in the course of a year.

“In this job,” she says, “you can do a lot of great things for your community and help a lot of people. That’s the most rewarding part.”

Though she enjoys her job immensely, Senator Young is concerned about the knowledge of the impact that state government has.

“When I go into classrooms to talk, I ask the students: ‘how many of you thought about state government and how it is going to affect you today?’ Nobody raises their hand. But it really does; whether you drive on a road or a bridge, have a grandparent in a nursing home, a child in school — all of those things affect your life, so state government is really far reaching,” she said.

The most challenging aspect of the job, Senator Young says, is the size and location of her district.

“I represent a very large district. It often takes three hours or more to drive across it, and since Albany and New York City are so far away and the centers of power in the state, it is easy for us to be forgotten,” she says. “It is my personal mission that we get the resources and attention that we need here.”

Senator Young currently focuses on solving rural poverty, creating jobs, and cutting taxes and wasteful government spending.

After attending SUNY Fredonia for two years, Senator Young transferred to St. Bonaventure University. When deciding on whether to attend St. Bonaventure or Syracuse University, she ultimately chose Bonaventure because of the personal attention she would receive.

When she arrived on campus, she says “almost everyone knew everyone else and that was great for a transfer student. When you don’t know anyone, it was really special to be in that environment.”

As a mass communication major, she says she was very lucky to learn from the professors in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“Russell Jandoli, in particular, was a phenomenal teacher. He instilled in you the mission that in journalism you should report all the facts to let the public know what’s going on and not inject your personal opinions into the story. It was wonderful to have his guidance.”

While a student at Bonaventure, Senator Young worked in public relations at Zippo and edited a medical monthly magazine. “Those types of things really help shape your career because of the practical experience.”

She adds that “one of the great things about Bonaventure was that not only did you learn in the classroom but that you learned by doing. And as a newly graduated person, when you start a job that makes all the difference in the world.”

Upon graduating, Senator Young used her communication skills to land a job as a reporter for a small newspaper outside of Rochester. Covering many local board meetings, she realized she had a great interest in politics. “Communication skills are important in politics because you have to communicate one-on-one with constituents but then also be able to make speeches and debate bills on the floor,” she says. “My education and experience was invaluable to what I do now because I was able to understand the whole political process.”

Senator Young also worked at St. Bonaventure in the late 1980s as assistant director of the Annual Fund. “It was beneficial because I got to know alumni from all over the country. SBU is like a family tradition because it’s such a terrific experience. All the time people say to me, ‘Oh, you went to SBU? So did I,’ and it’s beneficial to be a part of that network.”

Referring to the network of Bonaventure alumni, Senator Young says “It is a great resource to reach out with internships and career opportunities and I would encourage use of it because I remember what it was like when I was first starting out. We need to help the next generation in the workforce and encourage them to stay in New York state,” she says.

As an elected official, Senator Young has observed the migration of young workers from the state and the importance of retaining workers for the state economy.

“It’s been institutionalized that young people think they have to leave the state to get a job and that’s really not the case. We have to encourage young people to stay here because there are many opportunities,” she says.

“One of the things I’m working on is integrating the public school curriculum with workforce needs. We can do a better job than we are now. I have several companies in my district who are experiencing workforce shortages and can’t find the skilled people that they need.”

In regards to young people interested in her profession, she encourages anyone interested to “get active in their communities: volunteer for nonprofits, run for a school board, a town board, or simply help your neighbors out.” Working in politics, she says, is “all about helping others and serving your communities — and that’s something that’s very gratifying.”

On Friday, June 6, St. Bonaventure University president Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F, S.T.D., will be presenting at the 2008 Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities’ (AFCU) third National Franciscan Symposium held at Alvernia College in Reading, Pa.

Her morning plenary presentation, “Character Formation: Educating for Ethical Living,” will address topics such as the Franciscan ethical perspective, the Franciscan response to global issues and problems, and how Franciscan values transform culture, society and the world.

The title of the June 5-7 symposium, “Franciscan Education: Developing Leadership; Building Character; Impacting Student Learning beyond the Lecture Halls,” suggests the focus for the conference’s content and dialogue – an ongoing study of the Franciscan intellectual tradition in higher education, and an opportunity to explore new scholarship and innovative teaching methodology that can make it relevant and exciting for undergraduate education.

The two-and-a-half day symposium will include a keynote presentation, three plenary presentations, multiple break-out seminars and an evening Celebration of the Arts in Franciscan intellectual life. Participants will discuss the best practice models exemplified at other institutions.

In collaboration with the AFCU, the symposium is co-sponsored by the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies and the Bernadine Franciscan Sisters, sponsors of Alvernia College.

St. Bonaventure University is one of three institutions celebrating special anniversary years that were recognized Sunday, May 18, at Niagara University Commencement Exercises at the Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center.

Honored along with St. Bonaventure, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, were Christ the King Seminary of East Aurora, founded at the same time as St. Bonaventure, and D’Youville College of Buffalo, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Above: Anniversary Awards are presented to (from left) the Rev. Richard W. Siepka, S.T.L., president of Christ the King Seminary; Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., president of St. Bonaventure University; and Sr. Denise Roche, GNSH, president of D’Youville College. At right is the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara University president. Below: Sr. Margaret receives her award from Fr. Joseph.
Fr. Joseph L. Levesque, Niagara University president, said Pope Benedict XVI, during his recent visit to the United States, thanked Catholic university presidents and educators for their dedication and generosity. It is in that same spirit, said Fr. Joseph, that Niagara recognizes the anniversaries of three Western New York Catholic institutions of higher learning.

“We are happy to recognize them because we have so much in common,” said Fr. Joseph. “As Catholic institutions, we share in a faith that promotes the dignity of all people.” He presented special Anniversary Awards to the presidents of each institution.

Founded 100 years ago by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, D’Youville College is named for the founder of the congregation of religious women, Marguerite d’Youville. She spent her life finding creative ways to serve the poor, and her heritage is reflected in the college’s emphasis on health-related professions, said Fr. Joseph. The college has grown and prospered over the last 29 years under the direction of alumna and President Sr. Denise A. Roche, Ph.D.

St. Bonaventure University, founded as a college and seminary 150 years ago by a group of Franciscan friars, remains dedicated to the charism of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, said Fr. Joseph. St. Bonaventure University President Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., is the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in theology from the Franciscan University in Rome. A former director of the University’s Franciscan Institute and former dean of the School of Franciscan Studies, “her research and writings have made a significant contribution to contemporary Franciscan history and life,” said Fr. Joseph.

Christ the King Seminary, which also marks its sesquicentennial this year, was founded along with St. Bonaventure and was situated on the University campus until 1974 when it merged with St. John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora. The seminary’s main mission is to educate candidates for the priesthood, but it also serves lay people preparing for permanent diaconate and students pursuing graduate degrees in theology, pastoral ministry and divinity. The Rev. Richard W. Siepka has served as president and rector of the seminary since 1996.

All three presidents were presented citations and Anniversary Award medals by Fr. Joseph.

University announces new mileage rate

Effective June 1, 2008, the mileage rate that the University reimburses for business use of a personal vehicle will change. The new rate is $.505 per mile for all business travel beginning June 1, 2008. Travel expense vouchers for travel prior to June 1 will be reimbursed at the current rate of 48.5 cents per mile. If you have questions in regard to this matter, please feel free to contact Patty Shumway at extension 2185 or pshumway@sbu.edu.

Dr. Rodney Paul, associate professor of economics in the Department of Finance, presented two invited papers at the International Association of Sports Economists conference in Gijon, Spain. The two papers presented were “Are Behavioral Biases Consistent Across the Atlantic? A study of European Soccer” and “Baseball: America's (White Male Adult) Pastime.” The baseball paper was additionally co-authored by recent St. Bonaventure graduate Charles Bender.