ALLEGANY, N.Y. — St. Bonaventure University is launching its150th birthday celebration this month with a musical performance created to kick off the university’s sesquicentennial.
On March 31, 7:30 p.m., Antares, a young chamber ensemble, will perform the world premiere of The Canticle of Creation by Cal Stewart Kellogg at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on campus. A limited number of tickets is still available.
On April 1, the university will convene the 150th Anniversary Convocation in the Reilly Center arena, presenting honorary degrees to the Bishop Edward Kmiec of Buffalo, and Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM, general minister. Br. Jose will be on campus as a guest of the OFM English–Speaking Conference (ESC), which will meet at SBU from March 30 to April 4. Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, is president of the ESC.
Commemorating Family History
Among those attending the kick-off events will be the family of SBU’s founding friar, Pamphilus da Magliano, which is traveling to the university from Abruzzi, Italy, as well as relatives of Nicholas and Mary Devereux, SBU’s founding benefactors.
“The anniversary convocation and 15-month celebration of our 150 years of service provide unique and tremendous opportunities for us to celebrate the past as we prepare for a future full of hope,” said SBU President Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF. “As we honor the legacies of our founders, Nicholas and Mary Devereux, Fr. Pamphilus da Magliano, and Bishop John Timon, we also ask all those associated with SBU to consider the legacy that they will leave for future generations. This sets the stage for us to dream great dreams for an extraordinary future for SBU, just as our founders dreamed some 150 years ago.”
Celebrating through Friar’s Artwork
An exhibition of art by Miguel Loredo, OFM, created between 2002 and 2007, is being shown at the Quick Center through April 10. The exhibition, titled, “Miguel Loredo, OFM: New Works,” features more than 30 paintings of his.
“We are pleased to have the work of Fr. Miguel here on exhibition for the university’s sequiscentennial celebration,” said Evelyn Penam, assistant director and director of museum education at the center.
SBU’s 150th anniversary commemoration is a 15-month celebration. It spans two calendar years, because the first building on campus was dedicated in 1858 and the first classes were offered in early 1859. The commemoration will conclude in May 2009.