CSB/SJU to host 13th Annual Red Mass

The 13^th Annual College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University Red Mass will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn. 

The Hon. Arthur J. Boylan, retired federal magistrate judge, will be the recipient of the Fidelis Apparitor Award at a reception immediately following the Red Mass at the Gorecki Center on the campus of the College of Saint Benedict. The award, which means "faithful servant" in Latin, is given to individuals who have been good and faithful servants of the law. Past recipients have included Judge Wilhelmina Wright of the Minnesota Supreme Court, Jerry Lane of Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance, federal Judge Diana Murphy, trial attorney Susan Holden and Judge John Simonett, also of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Boylan retired in January. On that occasion, the Hon. Chief Judge Michael J. Davis of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, said:

"On Nov. 1, 1996, Judge Boylan was appointed as a federal magistrate judge for the District of Minnesota. He quickly gained a reputation as a thoughtful and even-tempered judge. Judge Boylan also became nationally known as an exceptional mediator. His calm, tenacious, and fair manner have helped to settle hundreds of cases both big and small. He has mediated settlements in emotionally charged cases ranging from a lawsuit involving a police officer shot by a fellow officer to a lawsuit involving a murdered woman and the security system that failed to alert her to the intruder.

"Judge Boylan is most well-known for his role as the mediator of the 2011 NFL lockout dispute, Brady v. National Football League. Under intense media glare, Judge Boylan worked on negotiations for 26 sessions over more than 100 days. Against the odds, the NFL Players Association and the NFL Commissioner reached a deal to end the NFL lockout on Aug. 4, 2011, having cancelled only one preseason game, and signed a 10-year collective bargaining agreement. Judge Boylan's straight-shooting and calm style gained the trust of all those involved. He truly loves to mediate and help the parties find the best solution for the situation. The State of Minnesota is grateful that Judge Boylan chose to make this his home.

"Throughout his career on both the state and federal bench, he gave selflessly to the court and the legal profession. He is a past president of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. In 2013, the Minnesota Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers honored him as 'Jurist of the Year.' "

The CSB/SJU Red Mass is the only event of its kind to encompass all of Minnesota, both in its scope and its goal of celebrating the important work of judges, attorneys, students of law, policy-makers and civic leaders. The Red Mass tradition has its roots in the Middle Ages and is celebrated in Washington D. C., Edinburgh, Paris, Toronto and other large cities as the judicial year begins.

The Red Mass liturgy is open to the public. Tickets for the reception cost $30 and pre-registration is requested by Nov. 1.  Please register at http://csbsju.imodules.com/redmass14 or contact Maureen Opitz with questions at [email protected].