On the Hill

The Saint Meinrad Alumni Office is gearing up for the 96th annual Alumni Reunion that will be held this summer from July 29-31 on the Saint Meinrad campus. The event provides an opportunity for alumni to step back from the busyness of life and return to their alma mater for rest, spiritual renewal, and reconnecting with classmates.

Guests who arrive on Sunday are welcome to attend Vespers and Compline wit the monastic community in the Archabbey Church. A social will be held in the Alumni Commons at 7:30 p.m. and the 2023 movie, Wonka, will be shown in St. Bede Theater.

Reunion events will officially kick off at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 29. Alumni can choose to participate in a golf scramble at Christmas Lake Golf Course in Santa Clause, IN, or attend a presentation by Fr. Denis Robinson, OSB, titled, "Men Too, New Perspectives on the Sexual Abuse Crisis."

Fr. Denis serves as the 14 president-rector of the Seminary and School of Theology. He holds doctorates in philosophy and sacred theology from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.

In the afternoon on Monday, director of Saint Meinrad's Office of Hispanic and Latino Ministry, Ana Perez, will give a presentation on navigating Hispanic ministry. Perez, originally from Mexico, moved to the United States at the age of 15. She studied at Marian Heights Academy, Ferdinand, IN, before the school closed. For her sophomore and junior years of high school and graduated in 2001 from Heritage Hills High School. Perez studied social science at Oakland City University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2005.

Before the evening events, alumni will also have the opportunity to tour the new Saint Meinrad History Museum or attend an art tour led by Fr. Denis.

On Monday evening, the anniversary class banquet will recognize the classes of 1964 (60th anniversary), 1974 (50th), 1984 (40th), 1994 (30th), 1999 (25th), 2014 (10th), and 2019 (5th). Socials will follow at the UnStable and Alumni Commons.

A Day of Recollection will be held on Tuesday, July 30, led by Fr. Simon Herrmann, OSB. Fr. Simon will present in the morning and afternoon on, "When all else fails: Peace."

Fr. Simon serves as director of donor relations and young engagement at Saint Meinrad. He joined the monastic community in January 2015 and professed his solemn vows in 2019. He earned a Master of Arts in Catholic philosophical studies in 2017 and a Master of Divinity in 2021, both from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Fr. Simon was ordained a priest in 2021.

On Tuesday afternoon, tours will be available of the Saint Meinrad campus and the Abbey Caskets workshop. The reunion Mass will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the Archabbey Church. Bishop Erik Pohlmeier C'94 of the Diocese of St. Augustine, FL, will preside.

Bishop Pohlmeier studied mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas from 1989-1991. In 1992, he attended college at Saint Meinrad, graduating wit a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in sacred theology from from Gregorian University in Rome in 1997. In 1998, he receive3d a master's in spiritual theology from University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome.

Bishop Pohlmeier was ordained a priest on July 25, 1998, for the Diocese of Little Rock, AR, where he served as pastor for 24 years. In May 2022, Pope Francis appointed him the 11th bishop of St. Augustine. He was ordained and installed as bishop of St. Augustine on July 22, 2022.

On Tuesday evening, Dcn. Christopher Malone, PD'03 (99-03), of Mechanicsville, VA, will be honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award during the reunion banquet. 

Reunion details and updates can be found at https://alumni.saintmeinrad.edu and on the alumni Facebook page, www.facebook.com/saintmeinradalumni.