Fr. Greg Dobson, vicar of Southern Cattaraugus County in the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y., presented Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal during Commencement Weekend. (Photo courtesy of SBU)
Service to community and to the Church were featured this weekend when the two Province-sponsored colleges awarded degrees to more than 1,300 students. During commencement ceremonies, St. Bonaventure University and Siena College honored the contributions of a university president, a Franciscan friar, an ambassador, students, and others, celebrating what it means to embrace the spirit of St. Francis.
SBU’s Celebration of Service
In Western New York, on Saturday, the president of St. Bonaventure University was honored by Pope Francis at the university’s baccalaureate Mass.
Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, who is retiring this summer, received a standing ovation from more than 1,000 students, family members and university community members after Fr. Greg Dobson, pastor of St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in nearby Olean, surprised her with the papal medal.
The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice — meaning “For Church and Pope” in Latin — Medal, is given by the Catholic Church for distinguished service to the Church by laypeople and clergy. It is the highest medal that can be awarded by the pope to non-ordained members of the Church or laity.
Fr. Greg, vicar of Southern Cattaraugus County in the Buffalo, N.Y., Diocese, presented the medal and papal certificate on behalf of Bishop Richard Malone, who nominated Sr. Margaret for the honor but was unable to attend the Mass.
Jaisree Iyer and Jason Damon were named the Ideal Bonaventure Woman and Man for the Class of 2016. Jason is planning to join Holy Name Province as a postulant in the fall. (Photo courtesy of SBU)
On Sunday, more than 560 students received degrees from St. Bonaventure on May 15. Among them was Jason Damon, ’16, who was recognized as the Ideal Bonaventure Man for his graduating class. Damon, who completed his degree requirements in December 2015, has been living with the friars at Mt. Irenaeus as a Mountain Companion. He plans to enter Holy Name Province’s postulant program in the fall.
The university’s keynote address was given by journalist and author Dan Barry, ‘80, who with humor and humility, described Bonaventure people — ranging from a custodian to professors to a friar — who helped him develop maturity and compassion. Barry, a reporter for The New York Times since 1995, talked of writing “about saints and mobsters” and about learning about “otherness.” He described the impact of Daniel Riley, OFM, who taught him “the difference between studying your faith and living your faith.”
Barry, along with three others, was given an honorary degree at the Sunday morning commencement. Also honored were Fr. André Cirino, OFM, of Immaculate Conception Province, and Maureen and Ray Dee, ‘64, longtime benefactors of the university.
New York Times columnist Dan Barry gave the keynote address at St. Bonaventure University. (Photo courtesy of SBU)
Fr. André, whose ministerial experience includes parish work, Franciscan formation, pilgrimages, and retreats, as well as secondary and graduate education, helped establish the Little Portion Retreat House for the poor in Bronx, N.Y., and worked on a team in collaboration with Secular Franciscans offering retreats free of charge for eight years. He helped establish the TEC retreat program in the Archdiocese of New York and co-authored a retreat handbook, “Teens Encounter Christ.”
The Dees were honored for their philanthropy, which includes major gifts in support of campus initiatives as well as other less publicized initiatives, such as helping students participate in service trips. The former chair of the SBU Board of Trustees and his wife established the Dee Family Endowment for the School of Business and an endowment fund for Mt. Irenaeus.
Also that weekend, SBU presented a Gaudete Medal to Mary Trinity, ‘81, for her community service. Trinity, wife of Barry, “embraces the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare as passionately as any alumnus we’ve ever had,” said Sr. Margaret at the annual Thomas Merton Prayer Service on Friday evening. During her time at SBU, Trinity worked with Daniel Riley, who founded the Warming House in Olean.
Siena College president Edward Coughlin during commencement on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Siena)
Siena’s Recognition of Unique Qualities
On the eastern side of the state, also on Sunday morning, Siena College celebrated its 76th commencement at the Times Union Center in Albany. Degrees were awarded to 785 graduates.
The class of 2016, surrounded by family and friends, reflected — both at the event and in video clips — on the qualities that make a Siena degree unique.
“We will be people who hold doors for our colleagues, because that is what Siena taught us,” said commencement speaker Meena Zakher ‘16. “We will be the people who help our fellow co-workers, because that is what Siena taught us. And we will create tight-knit communities wherever we go, because that is what Siena has taught us.”
The commencement also featured words from Siena trustee Daniel “Din” Cahill, ’75, associate professor of English and The Fr. Jerome Walton Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient, Christiane Farnan ’93, and honorary degree recipient Ambassador Douglas Hickey, ’77. These alumni exemplify the success that Siena graduates can achieve with hard work, determination and the Siena community by their side, according to an announcement on Siena’s website.
Providing advice to the graduating Saints, Ambassador Hickey said, “Do something big. If you can’t do something big, do something not so big. Just do something to change the world. We all can affect it.”
Keynote speaker Ambassador Douglas Hickey, ’77, addressed the Siena College graduates. (Photo courtesy of Siena)
Hickey has carried Siena’s Franciscan values and teachings with him throughout his life, working tirelessly on behalf of the poor in the Diocese of San Francisco, according to a Siena press release.
Recognized as a “Builder of Siena,” Hickey became one of the principal donors to the college’s Values and Visions Capital Campaign in 2000 by creating the Douglas T. Hickey ’77, Chair in Business. His philanthropy to Siena includes making the lead gift to the Douglas T. Hickey ’77, Technology Center, home of the Will Raub Trading Room. He is currently on the boards of Siena, BinWise, and Plug Power Inc.
Because of his lifetime of exemplary achievement, leadership and service to the public, private and non-profit sectors of society, Siena presented Hickey with the doctor of humanities.
On Friday, students, friars and administration members gathered at Serra Manor for the fifth annual Siena College Senior Champagne Toast. It provided a formal send-off for the class of 2016, according to the Albany Times Union, which posted a photo album online. College president F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, offered the toast and friars, featuring those who graduated from the college, led the singing of the Siena fight song.
On Saturday, the traditional baccalaureate Mass was celebrated by Lawrence Anderson, OFM, the college’s chaplain. Ed led the friars in praying a blessing upon the graduates.
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.
Related Links
- Video of Dan Barry’s Commencement Address
- Olean Times-Herald photo gallery of St. Bonaventure University Commencement
- “Siena Alum Hickey to Lead USA Team at World’s Fair” – Dec, 4, 2014, Siena.edu
- “SBU President to Retire” – Jan. 22, 2016, HNP Today
- “Siena Musicians Play at St. Anthony Shrine” – May 1, 2016, HNP Today
- “Nearly 1500 Graduate from SBU, Siena” – May 19, 2015, HNP Today