Last weekend, the Benedictine Volunteer Corps welcomed alumni from the past ten years back to campus for a lean-but-lively “Feast of Saint Benedict” retreat. In three sun-soaked days, we prayed, worked, played, and reminded one another why Saint John’s still feels like home.

Friday night opened with Abbot John Klassen’s candid talk, “The Long Vocation.” We capped the evening with Brother Aelred’s famous childhood chicken strips and strawberry shortcake (watch for the full recipe in the Abbey Banner this fall). Saturday morning turned Ora et Labora into muscle memory as alumni fanned out for a campus-wide trash pickup, combing trails, parking lots, and roadside ditches to leave the grounds (and the town line) cleaner than we found them. Early Saturday afternoon, we went on an excellent Arboretum Wagon ride through the incredible forest, guided by John Geisler, Abbey Forest and Land Manager. Saturday afternoon spun into an all-out volleyball match with monks vs. alumni, ending in laughter, not a scorecard (monks won), followed by a grill-out under the pines. Sunday wrapped with Mass and a sending circle where each alum named one grace they’re carrying forward. We snapped the photo above after the final volleys flew.

For a brief stretch, we were “rooted and reaching” together again, proof that the BVC bond outlasts borders, job titles, and even a decade of calendar pages.

Introduction: Honda Pilot 2012

After a nineteen-hour drive including stops in Wisconsin and Ohio, we were finally in visual distance of Newark, New Jersey, and on a clear day, the New York City skyline. A nervous sensation comes over me as my 10-month journey begins and I tell myself to take deep breaths and take one step at a time. My stomach drops as I turn right towards the main entrance of Saint Benedict’s Prep under the skyway across the street. If anyone had told me that I was to move to Newark, New Jersey, to become a volunteer teacher after my senior year at St. John’s, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. I may have thought nothing of it, but if there is one thing I’ve reflected on from this year, taking a different path or unexpected turn might just be the right choice.

Saint Benedict’s Prep, located at 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, is a school like no other. It has been a beacon of hope to Newark and its surrounding communities since its founding in 1868. Newark Abbey and Saint Benedict’s Prep have worked hand-in-hand, building their community, reflecting, and actively teaching the strong Benedictine values. Education, stewardship, hospitality, learning from your mistakes, and taking part in leadership exercises helps form students into strong “difference-makers” in their communities.

Figuring Things Out: Summer Phase

As I move into the St. Benedict’s Prep Leahy House, located on the school property, to begin my year of service, I begin to wonder about the upcoming daily interactions of the students and what the school environment might be like. How long is the passing time? When is lunch? What time is midday prayer? And, what goes on during the Summer Phase? These were all questions that were jumping through my mind during our first faculty meeting on July 24th, 2024.

Students arrived for morning Convocation at 8 a.m. for the first day of the summer phase in early August. It was hot, and students were expected to be in school until 12:30 p.m. Taking attendance, followed by prayer and announcements from Father Edwin Leahy, the longtime Headmaster and graduate of Saint Benedict’s Prep, went quickly by each morning. August days passed, and students were engaged with a constant string of activities and challenges. Little did the students know, each day’s scheduled activities that they undertook had many purposes.

First and foremost, the purpose was to keep the students engaged and surrounded by members of the St. Benedict’s community to promote predictability and security on the property. Two, to help students gain valuable credits counting towards graduation and applying real-life scenarios; Three, to allow important figures of the St. Benedict’s community to check in with students who have troubled personal lives to support them in a structured setting. The schedule at SBP is different than most schools, but doesn’t mean that it’s below or lesser than any other private or public high school. The schedule, according to Fr. Phillip Waters ’62 in the series Under the Hood (The eleven-month school year), “The kids could not be away from school for three months in the summer—and that applies especially to kids who lived in Newark, there was nothing to do except to get in trouble”. I had never been around that sort of high-energy before. It was positive, but I felt overwhelmed at times. It took some getting used to as my first teaching requirements approached in September, after Fall Break.

Room’s 20 & 23 – Intro to Modern Business

The end of Summer Phase brought on Fall Phase, where the Benedictine Volunteers are tasked with teaching an elective of their choosing to juniors and seniors. The challenge that the volunteers face is one that teaching is entirely new to them. Teaching a class requires organization, attention to important details, public speaking, and mentorship skills that come together to embody the type of teacher you’d like to be. Structured and by the book, but loose and casual, and never losing sight of what you’re trying to accomplish in the 14-week elective, was the approach for me. These are the things that I valued in class as a student and look back on with positivity. I credit the many teachers at Saint Thomas Academy, my alma mater, who also shared this approach and way of teaching.

Intro to Modern Business, Room 23, was the location of my first semester class. Mostly juniors and some seniors walk into day 1 of Intro to Modern Business with all the sounds from the hall. As students find their seats, my hands shake with nervousness and sweat as the time has finally come, Syllabus day. Getting the feel for students in a small but well-organized class, I walk to the front and attempt to read with ease as they flip through the double-sided text. It went well, and my nerves seemed to have evaporated within about 10 minutes. The first semester was more predictable with guest speakers and students asking for recommendation letters from me, which was an amazing feeling.

I traveled to Kenya on the Nairobi Experience for 11 days in late December and early January. I had heard so many impactful and wonderful things about this trip, and it allowed me the opportunity to travel to Africa for the first time. Kenya was full of wonderful and eye-opening experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life. My main takeaway was the importance of the day-to-day interaction with the many Kenyans we met. No matter where we were, whether Mlango Kubwa or in Naivasha, families and individuals were so friendly and welcoming to people who were interested in their culture. Often saying in response to a simple “thank you” was “you’re most welcome, feel at home”, which was such a powerful thing to say to a stranger that they just met.

Room 20: When I came back from Kenya, with a full heart and everlasting memories, I was greeted with twenty-five new students and an entirely new classroom dynamic. It was the push to the end for many seniors, and with that came some “hard to find” motivation and wake-up calls that students found in the last couple of weeks of school. It was a bit chaotic at times, and I had to revisit the drawing board for lectures and lessons. But I cherished this group of students. So many great memories of learning and mentorship helped us all grow and take the next step in life. Both semesters and classes ultimately ended up being entirely different than one another.

God Lives In The Everyday—The Old Building

Seeing God in the everyday is something that Fr. Albert Holtz emphasized during our semi-monthly meetings in the monastery. He would start off each week by reading a chapter from the book “Downtown Monks”. The book is a series of personal accounts and impressions in which Fr. Albert describes the journey of the small community of Monks at Newark Abbey and Saint Benedict’s Prep after the school’s closure in 1971-72. Titles of notable chapters include Hospitality: First Day of School, The Peaceable Kingdom: William, Dropping Your Shield:

The Honor Code and All Together: Freshmen Backpacking. Every instance that we brought into the conversation from class or an everyday interaction was something that had layers of meaning to it. These conversation topics helped us understand more about the students we were teaching and interacting with on a daily basis. As a teacher, you wear many different hats, and it’s very important to understand that. We have to tend to the heart, mind, and soul of each student at Saint Benedict’s Prep and every school. As these kids are the future who will live in society, raise families, and form communities. Each 30-minute meeting from 7:45 p.m.-8:15 p.m. was introspective and allowed us to reflect on the past two weeks on our walk back to Leahy House for evening activities or to prepare for tomorrow’s lesson in-class.

Stay Up, Stay Up, Don’t Let Nothing Get You Down—The Trail

As a Benedictine Volunteer on your way to Newark, New Jersey, you’re bound to do some research about the school and city you’ll be serving in. So, the first thing that I did after confirming my status with the BVC and Saint Benedict’s Prep was look to YouTube to provide visuals and content to give me some perspective. The first video that I clicked on was Under the Hood – Series (The Trail). I didn’t think much of it, but kept it in the back of my mind for later in the year and asked around about the significance of the project. As the year went on, the buzz around teams, companies, and the 3-day and 5-day hikes started growing. So did my curiosity. I spoke with faculty and administrators about my decision, and not one person said they regretted doing it. Whether it was their first year or their twenty-fifth, they all described it as something deeply meaningful. That kind of long-term connection to a team, a club, or a project is common at Benedict’s — and it’s what makes the school what it is. The faculty and staff are constantly finding new and powerful ways to help students grow.

One moment that stands out to me happened on the last night on the trail at Bear Mountain. We were waiting at the base for the Maroon and Blue companies to arrive. The rain started. It was already cold, and the added layer of rain made the idea of hiking to the summit seem nearly impossible. And yet, team by team, they came. It was one of many moments that

reminded me of what Saint Benedict’s stands for: resilience, community, and growth through shared challenges.

The End: Graduation

As students walked to the front of the stage to receive their diplomas, they were met with a deep sense of accomplishment. I overheard students say, “We finally made it,” “I never thought this day would come,” and “I don’t think I’m ready for what’s next.” These are natural feelings for any graduating senior, but I’d like to believe students know that Saint Benedict’s Prep will always be in their corner, no matter where life takes them.

Beneath a large tent on the Leahy House field, nearly 100 seniors stood proudly alongside their families and friends. The songs of convocation were sung with passion and unity, marking the final time this class would gather in such a way. “Time flies when you’re having fun” was the first thought that crossed my mind as we watched on with pride from our seats. This was a year that won’t be forgotten—one that will be shared in stories and memories as time carries us into the next chapters of our lives.

A Digital Leap Forward in Butare, Rwanda

There’s a hum of anticipation in the classrooms of École Autonome de Butare this past month - forty brand-new laptops and eight projectors have just rolled in, hand-delivered by Innocent Muragijimana, CEO of the Kigali tech firm Evotech. The equipment arrives with a one-year, worry-free warranty, a gesture that speaks to the company’s confidence and to its commitment to the school’s budding technologists.

Evan Mattson and Ian Aadland, the Benedictine Volunteer Corps volunteers and educators who spearheaded this fundraiser, wasted no time. Short, hands-on workshops will introduce teachers to the laptops, while quick-reference guides will cover keyboard basics and file management, because technology only matters when the people using it feel empowered.

Each machine boots up to Kolibri, an offline learning platform packed with interactive lessons, videos, and quizzes. It’s a smart hedge against Rwanda’s occasional power glitches: when the lights flicker or the internet stalls, students won’t miss a beat in their explorations of math, science, and literature.

Next on the docket: custom charging cabinets, due for installation this month. Once they’re wired in, technicians will mount projectors in every Upper Primary classroom (P4–P6), transforming chalk-dusted walls into dynamic learning canvases. For the younger grades (Nursery–P3), one projector will remain on standby in the Head Teacher’s office, ready for story hours and science demos, but mindful that little hands often learn best with tactile tools.

All of this momentum is powered by generosity from BVC families, and CSBSJU alumni and friends. Thank you for turning a wish list into working hardware!

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center is no stranger to rousing speeches, yet Saturday’s commencement for the Alliance for Catholic Education felt singularly electric. Tyler Johnson, Benedictine Volunteer Corps alumnus, Rome veteran, and self‑described “high‑school math teacher who moonlights as a choir director, cooking‑club moderator, and now assistant cheer‑coach” stepped to the lectern and delivered an address that stitched humor, Scripture, and hard‑won classroom wisdom into a seamless whole.

“Our lives are steered by uncertainties,” Johnson told the 90 graduates of ACE’s 30th cohort, quoting A Gentleman in Moscow. “But if we can persevere and remain generous in heart, we may be granted a moment of supreme lucidity.” That lucidity, he suggested, had arrived precisely here: in a hall packed with teachers whose two‑year crucible of lesson plans, late‑night grading, and communal prayer had forged something sturdier than résumés—vocation.

Johnson’s own road is a study in vocational momentum. After earning a mathematics degree at Saint John’s University, he spent a year at Sant’ Anselmo in Rome with the Benedictine Volunteer Corps from 2021 to 2022 before landing in North Philadelphia, where he has taught algebra at Roman Catholic High.

Yet the speech refused self‑congratulation. Early jitters (“I’ve never been to Philadelphia—my only references were It’s Always Sunny and Abbott Elementary”) gave way to a Psalm‑soaked meditation on gratitude:

Johnson urged his peers to see every quiz bombed, every faculty‑meeting frustration, as prologue. “Whatever comes next,” he said, “is just the next necessary course of events and uncertainties. We are all on the threshold of a bold new life we were truly meant to lead.”

That sentiment resonates far beyond Notre Dame’s quads. Over the last decade, the BVC‑to‑ACE pipeline has sent six alumni, from Hanga to Humacao, to Catholic classrooms nationwide. Jack Doyle ’23 now teaches math in Philadelphia; Ethan Sturm‑Smith ’24 arrived in Detroit this summer after a year in Kenya. They join veterans Nick Swanson ’20 and Philip Evans ’16 in proving that a monastic year abroad can segue naturally into chalk‑dust and report cards at home.

As the newly minted M.Ed.s recessed, Johnson lingered with fellow BVC stalwarts Alec Torigan ’10 and Ben Demarais ’08, swapping monastery stories like soldiers comparing campaign notes. In that circle, the Benedictine hallmarks, hospitality, stability, and daily conversion, felt less like ancient vows than modern marching orders.

“For all that has been, thank you; for all that is to come, yes,” Johnson concluded, quoting Dag Hammarskjöld. The graduates answered with a standing ovation, then spilled onto the Indiana lawn, uncertainties intact, lucidity dawning, ready to teach the world to count its blessings one student at a time.

Mathare’s red-dirt lanes were still slick from the night rain when Cole Brown crouched beside a half-circle of children, his Johnnie-red T-shirt lost beneath a black backpack. “Kwa nini unanichecka?” he teased in Swahili, why are you laughing at me? and the whole group erupted. Moments later bowls of ugali and greens slid across a plywood counter, the first meal of the day for dozens of kids who know hunger more intimately than homework. Brown served exactly none of it; he was too busy practicing his verbs. The laughter did the rest.

Brown and Thomas Hessburg are the vanguard of the Benedictine Volunteer Corps’ 2025-26 chapter, the first of 13 young graduates who will fan out across four continents this year. For three weeks, I traced their first steps, helping them trade Midwestern certainty for Nairobi’s improvisational hum. We slept on thin mattresses in the guest wing of Amani Centre Parish, woke to the matatu calls over Thika Road, and learned that settling in is less about luggage than listening.

Their calendar filled fast. Mornings at St. Benedict’s Primary saw Brown handed the keys, an eighth-grade math class, and, because Kenya rewards ambition, a self-designed business course. Hessburg, a hopeful doctor, slipped into Uzima Hospital, run by the Benedictine sisters next door, and is starting off with the humble work of weighing newborn babies. Afternoons belonged to Alfajiri, an art collective born in the Mathare slum. There we watched Yusuf, a one-time street boy, beam beside his first professional gallery showing, oil on salvaged canvas, bright as Nairobi’s matatus.

Evenings blurred: a family-style dinner at a CSBSJU alumnus’ flat where eight Johnnies and Bennies squeezed onto plastic chairs; late-night grant-writing sessions chasing funds for a long-imagined basketball court; an Italian restaurant splurge for a group of Alfajiri boys tasting pasta, and possibility, for the first time. Outside, the city simmered with the historical mandamano protest, but inside the parish gates, conversation never strayed far from service, sport, and the next day’s lesson plan.

Their year has only begun, but already the Amani Centre is louder for their presence, and, if laughter is a metric of success, Mathare’s alleyways are, too. For the Benedictine Volunteer Corps, hope still travels best one conversation, one classroom, one shared plate at a time.