Dear STM Community,
I'm writing this message at the beginning of our Lenten journey. I still have Ash Wednesday's Gospel reading (from Matthew 6) resounding in my heart. May this holy season be the occasion when we set aside extra time to place ourselves prayerfully in God's presence in order to listen and to receive God's love. May it be the occasion when we fast of those things that keep us from turning to God, the only One who can fulfill our deepest longing and hungers. And may it be the occasion to reflect on God's immense generosity to us—revealed most dramatically in Jesus' self-offering in love—and be inspired to greater generosity to help those in need.
We are delighted to send you this issue of Amici in Domino. There is much good news for us to share, including external recognition of STM's excellence. Please find a new feature, a link to news from our alumni. If you have items and information you would like to share with the STM community, please feel free to send them to us. I realize there could be a tension between this invitation and Ash Wednesday's Gospel ("take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them"). But we are happy to set forth your and our accomplishments in the spirit of Jesus' words a chapter earlier: "Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" (Matt 5:16). Indeed, may God be glorified!
Thomas D. Stegman, S.J.
Dean