A Message from the Head of School Dear Friends, This year marks the beginning of my twenty-fifth year at the Academy as an educator, my fifth year as Head of School and Principal, and my thirty-eighth year as a member of the Marmion Brotherhood! As I think back to my time as a student, I was blessed MARMION and fortunate to have many incredible role models and mentors, The News Magazine of especially the Monks. They made my time as a student such a Marmion Abbey positive experience that I, like so many alumni, couldn’t wait to and Academy give back and add to the legacy of so many before us. August 2017, Vol. 67, No. 4 If I were to poll the current students regarding those in the Marmion Community who they see as mentors and role models, they would have their own extensive list of amazing people currently part of our community. MARMION (USPS 330-520) While times have changed, the Marmion experience remains the same. At the center of the Marmion experience is published four times a year is and always will be the Monks of Marmion Abbey, as they continue to blaze the path for us all to follow. They, in January, April, August and along with our dedicated administration, faculty, and staff all share in the passion of developing the spiritual, November by Marmion, 1000 Butterfield Road, Aurora IL, intellectual, and leadership skills of the students attending the Academy. It is up to us, as current members of 60502. Second Class postage the Marmion Community, to make sure that the positive impact Marmion had on the lives of young men in paid at Aurora IL, 60507. Free 1933, 1959, 1984, 2016 and every year between continues for generations to come! subscription. To this end, throughout my first four years as Head of School and Principal, I have focused our efforts on Publisher: blending the strong tradition and educational practices of the Benedictine Monks with 21st Century educational Rt. Rev. John Brahill OSB ’67 tools and practices. As we remain a leader in providing the best Catholic, Benedictine, college preparatory education possible, we must continue to review, renew, and evolve as a school community. Editor: Madelyn Weed We have again expanded our Advanced Placement course offerings, our College Dual Credit course offerings through partnerships with Waubonsee Community College and University of St. Francis, and added to our Associate Editor: course offerings in the arts and social science. The college guidance, academic counseling, and student support Terri Rios departments have grown, as has our outreach ministry and marketing efforts, providing the opportunity for our students to go out into the community, give witness and represent Marmion as outstanding Catholic Contributing Writers: leaders. Terri Rios, Madelyn Weed, Anthony Tinerella ‘84, As a result of our collaborative efforts, hard work, and prayer, we begin the new academic year with great Rev. Kenneth Theisen OSB ‘59, Rev. Charles Reichenbacher OSB excitement. For the fourth year in a row, we continue to grow and will begin with record enrollment at the ’59, Adam Voirin ’02, Mark Butterfield Campus! We have set this designed five-year path of growth through the next academic year, Malkowski ‘08, Bill Fox ’74 when we will purposely plateau the student enrollment. We are excited to welcome six new instructors to the Academy and are blessed to welcome back to our instructional staff Fr. Paul Weberg, O.S.B.! Photographers: Brian Cole ’81, Bill Fox ’74, Terri I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for the wonderful support you continue to offer the Rios, Madelyn Weed, Juan Rios, Marmion Community in so many ways. I invite you to come back to campus for your visit ‘home’, anytime! Kelsey Damato, Maria Thornton Come and see first-hand the amazing things happening at the Academy and the students who continue to make us all very proud as the next generation of ‘Marmion Men’, ready themselves to be difference makers in Cover Photo by: Bill Fox ’74 the world of tomorrow. Marmion’s Varsity Baseball team raises their 3rd Place State Trophy Finally, I ask that you please keep in your prayers the Monks of Marmion Abbey, who have lost Fr. Basil, Br. after defeating Champaign Central Peter, Br. Jude and Fr. Philip all within the past year. These men gave their lives to God and to the Marmion in the final round of the State Community and will forever be in our hearts. Their selfless service and example of how to live as Christ gives tournament on June 10, 2017. us inspiration to continue the legacy and tradition of serving Marmion families for years to come. Send address changes to: May God bless and watch over each of you and your families, and may God continue to bless Marmion MARMION Magazine Editor Marmion Academy Academy. 1000 Butterfield Road Aurora, IL 60502 Respectfully, Phone: (630) 897-6936 FAX: (630) 723-3072 E-mail: [email protected] Website: marmion.org Anthony Tinerella ‘84 Head of School and Principal 2 - Head of School Letter Fr. Basil Yender, O.S.B ’61 1943 - 2017 Fr. Basil Yender, O.S.B., age 74 died peacefully in the Lord the morning of July 16, 2017 after suffering a long illness. He is survived by members of his monastic community and his brother George ‘59 (Gayle). He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Adeline (Seban) and by his sister Kathleen. Fr. Basil, born on June 8, 1943, was baptized Ronald at St. Brendan Church in Chicago. After attending St. Dorothy Church grade school in Chicago, he attended Marmion graduating in 1961 as Battalion Commander and Valedictorian. He entered Marmion Abbey as a novice in 1962 and professed his vows as a monk of Marmion on August 10, 1963. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy at Saint Procopius College. Fr. Basil studied for the priesthood at Saint Procopius Seminary and later at the Pontificium Athenaeum Anselmianum, Rome, Italy, receiving a Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He was ordained a priest on August 7, 1971. In 1975 he earned a Masters Degree in Secondary School Administration from DePaul University, Chicago. After ordination Fr. Basil served the Abbey and Academy in a variety of roles. Fr. Basil taught mathematics and theology at the Academy and was instrumental in overseeing Marmion’s initial implementation of computer technology. He also served as a dormitory prefect for many years and was Academic Dean from 1975-1988. In 1988 he was appointed Headmaster of the Academy. As Headmaster he guided the school through the significant change of mandatory JROTC to optional JROTC, established the LEAD alternate leadership program, the Campus Ministry program and Kairos Retreat. He strengthened the academic standards of the school and increased the number of AP and elective courses. He introduced the varsity sports of soccer and wrestling. He also oversaw the phasing out of the Academy’s residential program toward the end of his tenure. He stepped down from the position of Headmaster in 2003. After a one year sabbatical to study Sacred Scripture in the Holy Land and in Rome, Fr. Basil returned to Marmion to continue to teach theology at the Academy. He was also appointed Prior of the Abbey in 2004, a position he held until 2016, when he had to step down due to his increasingly poor health. During his time as Prior, he served on the Abbey Council as a wise and insightful voice. Fr. Basil taught junior monks Scripture and the Psalms and served for a brief time as Novice and Junior Master. Throughout his life Father Basil loved to teach. He also devoted himself to tending to the flowers and landscaping. The Rev. Basil Yender, O.S.B. ‘61 Memorial Scholarship Fund is being established to honor his years of dedication as a teacher and administrator at the Academy. Donations can be made online at Marmion.org/Basil or mailed to the Marmion Advancement Office. Brother Antony Maria Ordained Deacon Brother Antony Maria Minardi, O.S.B. ’08 was ordained a deacon by Bishop David Malloy on May 27, 2017 in the Abbey Church of St. Augustine of Canterbury. He will continue his final year of studies at St. Meinrad Seminary as he prepares for his ordination to the priesthood next year. Abbey - 3 Jubilees Celebrated in 2017 Fr. Charles Reichenbacher, O.S.B. ’59 celebrated 50 years of priesthood, being ordained on June 10, 1967 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, his home parish, by Bishop George Biskup. Fr. Charles was born in 1941 in Aurora, son of the late Herman and Marian Reichenbacher, and raised in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, where his maternal grandparents were founding members. He attended Marmion Academy for three years, and then transferred to St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, Elkhorn, Nebraska for his final high school year. He professed vows as a Benedictine monk of Marmion Abbey on August 10, 1961 at age 19. He graduated with a B.A. from Benedictine University, Lisle in 1964, and then attended St. Procopius Major Seminary and Bellarmine School of Theology, North Aurora. After ordination Fr. Charles received his Master’s degree in Sacred Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame. He was appointed master of liturgical ceremonies and director of liturgy for Marmion Abbey in 1970, a position he still holds. He taught religion and social studies at Marmion Academy from 1968 to 1980. Fr. Charles is most noted for his career in advancement and public relations. He was the associate development director and alumni director of Marmion from 1971 to 1985, then director of development until 2012.