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Hilary Thimmesh named director of Benedictine Institute at Saint John’s
July 10, 2009
Catholic Spirit article (8/7/09) | St. Cloud Times article (7/13/09)
The Rev. Hilary Thimmesh, OSB, president emeritus and a 1950 graduate of Saint John’s University, has been named director of the Benedictine Institute at Saint John’s, Collegeville.
The Benedictine Institute at Saint John’s was established by the University’s Board of Regents in 2008 to honor the late Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president emeritus of Saint John’s University. Reinhart served as the 11th president of Saint John’s University from July 1, 1991 to Oct. 21, 2008.
“The Benedictine heritage is deeply rooted in ancient cultures and we often think of it as one of the great civilizing forces in European history,” said Thimmesh. “There is also a contemporary Benedictine world that stretches around the globe. We at Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s are part of that world. The Benedictine Institute will help us see our mission as teachers and learners from the rich perspective of the world we come from and awareness of our world today.”
The purpose of the Benedictine Institute is to strengthen the Catholic, Benedictine character of Saint John’s University that has been its hallmark since it was founded by the monks of Saint John’s Abbey in 1857. It will do so by fostering an understanding and appreciation of Benedictine tradition, spirit and values among students, faculty and staff, as well as alumni, parents and friends to maintain and support a lively, rich and authentic Benedictine character and conversation on campus; fostering interaction between the monks of Saint John’s Abbey and students, faculty and staff of Saint John’s University; and promoting linkages between the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, the Collegeville Institute and The Saint John’s Bible with the academic programs of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Theology•Seminary.
Programs associated with the Benedictine Institute will include: visiting scholars who bring Catholic intellectual tradition to bear on teaching and the curriculum; symposia on Saint John’s Catholic, Benedictine character and identity; faculty development and research grants on the Catholic, Benedictine tradition; study trips for faculty, staff and alumni to Catholic and Benedictine sites and student programs that convey Benedictine values, promote vocational reflection and prepare students for leadership and service in church and society.
“Fr. Hilary's long experience in academic affairs, student development and monastic leadership makes him the ideal director of our new Benedictine Institute,” said the Rev. Robert Koopmann, OSB, president of Saint John’s University. “Saint Benedict was concerned for every aspect of the well being of his communities. This wonderful project will encourage ever new and timely methods to share our Benedictine charism throughout the Saint John’s and Saint Benedict’s community.”
“I am thrilled that Fr. Hilary has accepted the position of director of the Benedictine Institute,” said Abbot John Klassen, OSB, of Saint John’s Abbey. “He is a highly respected teacher, thinker and leader on our two campuses, with a seasoned and integrated view of the dynamic interaction between being Catholic and Benedictine.”
Thimmesh came to Saint John’s from Osakis, Minn., as a college freshman in 1945, entered the monastery as a novice in 1947, was ordained as a priest in 1954 and began teaching in the English department in 1956.
In 1956 and 1963, respectively, Thimmesh completed master’s and doctoral degrees in English Literature at Cornell University, N.Y. Since then, his life has been a mix of teaching and administration as academic dean from 1967 to 1969; apostolic administrator of Saint Martin’s Abbey in Olympia, Wash., from 1978 to 1980 and prior of Saint John’s Abbey from 1980 to 1982. Thimmesh served as the 10th president of Saint John’s University from 1982 to 1991.
Now professor emeritus of English and president emeritus, Thimmesh retired from full-time teaching in 2008. Almost continuously from 1954 to the present, Thimmesh has served as a faculty resident in the student residence halls at Saint John’s.
He served as one of the original members of the Regent Candidate Advisory Council for the University of Minnesota for six years and chaired the Central Minnesota Community Foundation from 1992 to 1995. He was the editor of Saint John’s at 150, a book published in 2006 to mark the Saint John's sesquicentennial celebration.
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