Easter Season

Dear Saint Mary's College Community,

In this second week of the Easter season, I wish to congratulate and welcome our students who received sacraments of initiation at last evening's liturgical celebration: Jai Shen and Vanessa Snyder, who were baptized and confirmed, and Shannon Cova, Tracy Morales and Jaime Marie Sconberg, who were confirmed and received first Eucharist. Thanks also to those members of Campus Ministry and volunteers who accompanied these students during their time of preparation.

Thanks are also due to Brother Michael Sanderl, who has accepted the position of dean of campus ministry. Brother Michael has also been appointed as a delegate to the 43rd General Chapter of the Christian Brothers, and will be off to Rome for the five-week meeting immediately following De La Salle Week. Joining him in Rome for the General Chapter will be Brother Dominic Berardelli and Brother Michael Avila.

The inaugural session of the International Lasallian University Leadership Program will be in mid-June. This two-week meeting will gather more than 50 faculty from international institutions for talks, reflection, prayer and discussion about our higher education mission. Saint Mary's College will be represented by three participants: Jeff Sigman, Dana Herrera and Sally Stampp, as well as two presenters, Phylis Martinelli and Dana Herrera.

Here on campus in mid-June we host the Cummins Lectures on Catholic Thought, featuring Rosemary Luling Haughton. Signups for this important series of lectures and seminars are open through this week.

I have named the search committee for the provost, with Carole Swain, the vice provost for mission, as the chair. The other members of the committee are professors Ken Brown, Br. Charles Hilken, Roy Wensley, Anna Novakov and Chris Sindt. In addition, Registrar Julia Odom and Dean of Student Life Scott Kier are also committee members. The committee has already begun working with consultant Paul Gallagher to set the timetable for the search.

And finally, I encourage each of you to participate in the events of De La Salle Week (April 22-28) as your time permits.

In St. La Salle,

Brother Ronald Gallagher