Lumen Winter 2024

Catholic Studies News

The new face of Catholic Studies for students and guests is Madelyn Borchardt ‘19 . Madelyn graduated from St. Thomas with a Social Work major and Catholic Studies minor and completed the Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership at the School of Divinity in 2023. Before joining Catholic Studies, she was a client advocate for Abria Pregnancy Resources. In addition to supporting the department, Madelyn supervises student employees and supports undergraduate recruitment.

Since 2015, Dr. Raymond MacKenzie , professor of English and Catholic Studies and editor of Logos, has completed numerous translations of classic French literature— including Balzac, Stendhal, and Barbey— for the University of Minnesota Press. His newest is Gustave Flaubert’s Sentimental Education (2024). In

V. PRAYER TO BE SIMPLE From Fourteen Prayers by Francis Jammes, translated by Raymond MacKenzie O bedient butterflies go with the wind, Like those petals that blow toward you, Strewn by dear little children processing. Well, my God, it’s morning and already Prayers are rising toward you, along with The blossoming butterflies, the rooster’s Cries, and the thuds of the stone breakers. Here, beneath the glittering sycamore leaves, Now, in this July heat cracking the soil, You can hear—not see—the creaking cicada’s Diligent hymn to your Omnipotence. The troubled blackbird, in the glistening Foliage, keeps trying to sing but doesn’t dare. He sets himself and then shoots off at once, Low to the ground, Somewhere away from here. My God, do it gently today, like yesterday, Like so many days: let life start all over again. Like these butterflies, these laborers, Like these cicadas feeding on the sun, And these blackbirds hidden deep up in the Black leaves: let me continue, O my God, To live in the simplest way I can.

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni said goodbye in September to a pillar of the Catholic Studies community when Ann Serdar began her well- earned retirement. Since 2011, Serdar supported the work of Catholic Studies in her role as Department Coordinator and nurtured the heart of Catholic Studies as “house mother.” Her professional skills ensured that day-to-day operations in Sitzmann Hall ran smoothly. And her thoughtful instincts ensured that the Department Chair and every faculty, staff, and student were supported in their work. “For 12 years Ann was a welcoming smile and a listening ear for hundreds of our students,” Dr. Robert Kennedy said. “She celebrated their successes and eased their anxieties. At the same time, she looked after her absent-minded faculty colleagues and ensured that the work of the department went smoothly. She occupied a special place in the hearts of everyone in Catholics Studies.”

addition, Mackenzie was the first to translate French poet and novelist Francis Jammes's poems cycle Fourteen Prayers in the Spring and Summer 2023 volumes of Logos (see “V. Prayer to be Simple" in sidebar to the right).

“Madelyn brings with her a heart for service and excellent organizational skills,” said Dr. John Boyle. “She is a great addition to Catholic Studies.” Madelyn and her husband, Steve, live in Northeast Minneapolis and are members of Our Lady of Grace.

Rachel Sherry ’21, ’23 CSMA is a FOCUS missionary serving at Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Dr. Ron Snyder ’13 CSMA, a retired orthodontist and president of the St. John Henry Newman Association of America, is the producer and host of the “Newman on Tap” podcast. Snyder’s discussions with academics, clergy, and followers of the life and work and spirituality of Newman can be found on Apple Podcasts.

Luke Utrie '19 is a Credit Analyst with Premier Bank in Osseo, Minnesota. He and his wife, Lynn ‘17 , live in Maple Grove and are members of St. Thomas the Apostle.

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