Learning to combine faith, academics and leadership, 23 St.
John’s freshmen participated in a special retreat this fall to
launch their membership in the inaugural class of the University’s
selective Catholic
Scholars Program.
“Great Catholic scholars often are great Catholic leaders,” said
Rev. James Maher, C.M., Executive Vice
President for Mission and Student Services, who celebrated the
retreat’s Opening Mass. In particular, Fr. Maher invoked thinkers
like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Thomas More, who possessed “the
great gift of the head” and “the everlasting gift of the
heart.”
Welcoming the Catholic scholars and their families, Fr. Maher
urged students to find new and creative ways to integrate faith
with reason in preaching the Gospel. “You are here” he said,
“because people have seen potential in you that can transform our
Church. Perhaps the greatest gift you can give to people is an
invitation — to invite them with faith, with vibrancy, to Jesus
Christ.”
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