2024 ALUMNI APPEAL

Thank you for your continued support.

ALL DONATIONS FROM THE 2024 ALUMNI APPEAL WILL BE USED TO REPLACE THE ST. BEN’S GYMNASIUM FLOOR.

The following is the 2024 Alumni Appeal Letter from President-Rector Fr. Matthew Clark, O.S.B.:

Dear St. Ben’s Alumni,

As I write this letter, Bonfire Week is just around the corner! This means it’s time for St. Ben’s annual Alumni Donation Challenge — a special opportunity for you to help transform the lives of our current seminarians.

Many buildings you frequented during your time here have been renovated in recent years, but our gymnasium, built in 1951, has certainly seen better days. The gym’s original hardwood floors were damaged by the flood in 2016, and since that time our seminarians have been making do with a smooth surface concrete flooring — a less-than-ideal situation, to say the least.

As you know, our gym is more than just a building; it’s an essential part of daily life here. Physical health and wellness are a vital part of our formation program, allowing seminarians to grow, not only spiritually but also in body and mind. Many of us remember the camaraderie, laughter, and competition shared on that gym floor. It was a place where lifelong friendships were born, and resilience was strengthened.

Will you help us restore this cherished space by funding the first phase of our gym renovation project? This initial phase will focus on installing high-quality, cushioned flooring like what’s used on tennis and pickleball courts. It is much safer, more durable and flood resistant and far better suited for our seminarians’ needs.

Our goal is to raise $65,000 with this appeal to make this vision of giving our seminarians a safe, welcoming space for exercise, recreation, and community-building a reality. Every contribution, whether large or small, will make a meaningful impact. With your support, we can turn the gym back into the vibrant, formative space that so many of us remember fondly.

Please join us in this effort. Your financial support and your prayers mean the world to us and to our seminarians.

Thank you for being a part of the St. Ben’s family and for considering a donation to this worthy project. Together, let’s continue the tradition of giving back.

Go Ravens and Cheers!

In Christ,

Very Reverend Matthew Clark, O.S.B. (‘80), President-Rector