Dear Friends,
This fall semester, I have had the privilege to witness the vibrant and courageous faith of our students, and have had the opportunity to meet and get to know a number of our alumni, among them Eric Kim '02. Eric writes this issue’s “Faith in the Real World.” In his article, he reflects on his time at STM and how it has deeply shaped his life spiritually and professionally. His experience reflects STM’s mission. At STM, we’re grounded in the mission of Jesus Christ so that those who come here experience, and are nurtured in, the abundant life they receive in their relationship with God; and, in turn, become abundant life for others — by directing their gifts and talents toward transforming the world from their respective fields.
Our students sharing their gifts and faith with others is a recurrent theme throughout this issue. You will learn about Elizabeth White’s GRD '22 STM Summer Ambassador experience at Kangole Girls Senior Secondary School (Uganda) in “Spending Time with my ‘Sacred Heart Sisters’” and Frank Lukens '22 discusses the importance of interfaith dialogue in his article about the Interfaith Jerusalem Panel that took place at STM this past October, a first in STM’s history.
This fall semester also brings a new face to our team. I am excited to introduce our new Executive Director, Joe Connolly. Joe has served fifteen years in the Catholic Healthcare system and, with me, will lead STM into the future. You can learn more about him in the interview on the facing page.
And, I could not forget to mention our donors, whose names are listed in this issue. It is through your generosity that we can nurture and support our students as we do. Thank you for sharing your abundance with us.
Finally, on behalf of our students and the team here at STM, I ask for your prayers and promise to pray for you, your families and your loved ones.
Gratefully Yours in Christ,
Fr. Ryan M. Lerner
Chaplain
