A Letter from the President

Dear Friends and Alumni of Saint Mary, 

We have spent the year celebrating and looking back, as Mother Xavier Ross would say, “to see by what straight or twisting ways we have arrived at the place we find ourselves.” We have grown, adapted, and evolved, but at our core, the very heart of Saint Mary endures. 

Saint Mary has always been committed to educating young people to realize their God-given potential. This might sound like a catchphrase, but in reality, it speaks to the heart of who we are and what we believe: Each and every person is created in the image and likeness of our Gracious God and each is endowed with the capacity to learn, relate, and better our diverse world. As we tell the new students during our Matriculation Ceremony in Annunciation Chapel, “You, each and every one of you, are the light of the world, the very life of God is within you.” And we sing, “take your candle and go light your world” as the students hold their candles and circle the chapel in light. 

This faith has remained the bedrock of Saint Mary education for 100 years.

We now teach cybersecurity and have let go of home economics. Computers are now in every classroom. Both young men and young women live in the residence halls. We prepare not only teachers and business majors, but physical therapists, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists. We remind our nurses during their Pinning Ceremony that they are not just excellent health care professionals – they are also ministers who bring the healing presence of Christ to their patients. 

We are blessed to have navigated both straight and twisting paths for 100 years. May God continue to bless our next 100.

Blessings,

Sister Diane Steele, SCL, PhD, C’83

University President