Heart speaks to heart: Newman-STM Anniversary Homecoming celebrates the heart of higher education

Great things start when heart speaks to heart, when a small group with faith and common purpose come together.  In 1926, a group of Catholic laity in Saskatoon wanted to encourage Catholic students to register at the University of Saskatchewan. They invited Fr. Basil Markle from Toronto to serve as chaplain and Professor of Scholastic Philosophy, purchased land on the corner of Bottomley Avenue and College Drive and built a Newman Hall to welcome Catholic students from all colleges to a “home away from home,” a Newman Centre on a pluralistic campus. From these humble beginnings, St. Thomas More College (STM) emerged in 1936 as a Catholic Liberal Arts College where students could explore the synthesis of faith and reason while earning their degrees from the University of Saskatchewan.

This October, STM launched a year-long celebration of one hundred years of the Newman Centre on this campus, the foundation of STM’s 90 years of service, with a four-day weekend of festivities. From October 1 to 4, the College welcomed over 200 alumni, students, faculty, staff and members of the wider community to a homecoming weekend filled with a holistic range of activities to enjoy: an academic lecture and seminar, historical displays in the STM Art Gallery, a book launch, a eucharistic celebration, a musical coffeehouse, and an awards event complete with a banquet. There was something for everyone!

On October 1, STM grounded its commemorations in the teaching of St. John Henry Newman who was recently elevated by Pope Leo XIV as a Doctor of the Church and the co-patron of Catholic education.  STM was honoured to welcome Dr. Michael W. Higgins to present a special lecture in STM’s Father O’Donnell Auditorium titled, “Illuminating Newman: Personal Reflections on an Enduring Presence.” Dr. Higgins serves as the Basilian Distinguished Fellow of Contemporary Catholic Thought at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, and the President and Vice-Chancellor Emeritus of St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo. Dr. Higgins points out that, “For Newman the church founds a university, not to celebrate genius, the wide acquisition of knowledge, or the cultivation of talent, but because of pastoral solicitude and the need to provide a spiritual underpinning for the lives of the students, to shape them for leadership in society, to create a space for their right flourishing.” Newman’s motto, that “heart speaks to heart” summarizes this philosophy of higher education that the Newman Center and STM embrace.

Dr. Higgins treated STM faculty and staff to a special seminar on the morning of October 2, reflecting on his book, The Church Needs the Laity: the Wisdom of John Henry Newman, affirming the essential role of the laity in the Church and the importance of higher education provided through Catholic liberal arts colleges like STM.

STM followed this up on October 2 with an evening of fun entertainment, in a special Coffeehouse hosted by the Newman Centre students in the Fr. O’Donnell Auditorium. The Coffeehouse is a tradition at the college, going back to the Sunday Night Socials in the original Newman Hall, and carried on faithfully by the Newman Centre students each year. The students welcomed alumni, staff and faculty musical acts to the stage. Over 60 alumni enjoyed the event.

Over the years, STM has expanded the fieldstone college building to meet the needs of the student body.  The 86,000 square foot STM facility was constructed in five stages: 1957, 1962, 1967, 2014 and 2018. STM welcomed alumni to guided tours of the building on October 2 and 3 and prepared to showcase the history of the college and Newman Centre with a deep dive into its archives. Jacquie Berg, Director of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment, created historical photo displays lining the walls of the STM Gallery, and other original items were showcased in STM’s Shannon Library.

On Saturday, October 3, STM celebrated the Newman-STM Anniversary Homecoming, the College's premier alumni event. In welcoming the alumni, Connie Andersen, STM’s Director of Advancement quoted Nemwan, saying “STM is our ‘Alma Mater, knowing her children one by one.’”  The evening began with a reflection on the history of the Newman Centre along with a video showcasing alumni stories, followed by the awards program in the Fr. O’Donnell Auditorium, where STM recognized the exceptional contributions to the community by Distinguished Alumni and STM Medal recipients. 

STM was delighted to name Cheryl Senecal, Alan Beasley and Dr. Ryan Meili as STM’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni, and Fr. Ron Griffin, CSB as STM’s 2026 St. Thomas More Medalist.

Cheryl and Alan (Class of 1988) met at STM studying Sociology and later married. Cheryl took a break from her studies to work for the City of Saskatoon for several years before returning to STM where she and Alan completed their bachelor's degrees in Sociology. Cheryl went on to earn a Masters of Adult Education and spent most of her career working with the Government of Saskatchewan as Assistant Deputy Minister in Social Services, Deputy Minister of Education and Chair of the Public Service Commission. She believes her formation at STM prepared her for a life in public service, which is “important and honorable work.” Alan worked with the Federal Government, as a parole officer with Correctional Services of Canada for more than 30 years. Alan credits the extra tutoring and mentoring he received from “incredibly gifted” professors Dr. John Thompson, Dr. Wilfrid Denis, and Fr. Ron Griffin, for his discovery of his own vocational calling to serve in corrections, giving a clear example of how the heart of his professors spoke to his own heart.

Ryan Meili (Class of 2000) is a family physician and tuberculosis consultant in Saskatoon with a focus on health equity and a lifelong advocate for healthy public policy. From 2017-2022, he served as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Saskatoon Meewasin and served as Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and Leader of the Official Opposition in Saskatchewan from 2018-2022. He is a volunteer with Partners in Health, an international organization whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Dr. Meili credits STM with connecting him to Fr. Les Paquin whose mission work in Brazil “demonstrated a model of accompaniment” which would inspire Dr. Meili’s own “heart speaks to heart” approach to medicine.

Fr. Ron Griffin, CSB, has been a member of the Basilian Fathers since 1960.  For more than five decades, Fr. Griffin has embodied the mission of St. Thomas More College through his dedication to learning, faith, community, and service at the college. This has included teaching at both the University of Saskatchewan and STM, serving as head of the Sociology department at STM, receiving the Excellence in Teaching award twice from the University, and serving as Dean of Ogle Hall. Beyond the classroom, he served as chaplain for 15 years at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon. His continued impact on STM’s liturgical life is present in widely appreciated reflections on the Sunday Scriptures. His influence has touched countless students, colleagues, and alumni, and his legacy continues to enrich the intellectual and spiritual life of the College. Fr. Ron spoke with gratitude of the ability to “contribute to this beautiful institution” as he reflected on his vocation as a priest and sociologist. He quoted Frederick Buechner’s definition of vocation, that “the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s hunger meet.”

To sum up the impact of the college as shown through our award winners, Dr. Carl Still, President of STM noted that “St. John Henry Newman’s teaching, that learning takes place as “heart speaks to heart” bears fruit here.  At STM, our students form relationships of care and trust with professors, chaplains, and other students who helped them discover their calling. Our alumni, who include not only those who graduated with arts and science degrees, but also those involved with the Newman Centre, carry this story of faith, community, and the pursuit of truth in service of the common good.”  Guests then enjoyed fellowship and shared a harvest banquet in the STM Cafeteria.

The homecoming weekend capped on October 4 with Mass co-celebrated by Fr. Ron Griffin CSB and Fr. Jim O’Neill, CSB in the STM Chapel. The liturgy was accented by beautiful music provided by an alumni choir led by Gerald and Dianne Woloschuk, which included a rendition of John Henry Newman’s  hymn “Lead Kindly Light,” and a lively closing song accompanied by a dozen children on handheld percussion instruments.

Following the liturgy, the community enjoyed a communion brunch and fellowship in the Shannon Library and then were treated to a special launch of the book, The Basilians, 1822-2022: Adapting to a Changing Church and Changing World by Fr. Ron Griffin, CSB, and Dr. Michael Hayden. In her introduction to the two authors, Dr. Gertrude Rompré, STM’s Director of Mission and Ministry, noted that “ what we see here today is the fruit of a lasting friendship between two scholars and two men of faith.” In this work, the two authors delve into the history of the Basilian fathers, whose remarkable charism of intellectual freedom, pastoral care of students, and concern for the common good has animated STM and shaped generations of students.  Fr. Ron shared about the history of the Basilians and the fruitful collaboration between the two authors that resulted in this cross-disciplinary contribution to the study of church history and the sociology of religion.

The Newman 100 Anniversary homecoming weekend was a celebration of the heart of higher education. As alumni, students, faculty and staff gathered to recognize many individual and cumulative journeys of knowledge, service, character, and faith, they were reminded that the discovery of vocation occurs when a student can pursue knowledge while “heart speaks to heart” in a space designed for human flourishing, like STM.

Enjoy photos from the homecoming weekend.

Photos by Paul Sinkewicz.