Bro. Conal receives 2015 Ryken Award
Congratulations to former headmaster Bro. J. Conal Owens, C.F.X., who was honored with the 2015 Ryken Award.
Every year on Founders Day, the school community nominates a member of the faculty or staff who has devoted time, talent, and passion to Saint John’s while exemplifying Xaverian values like compassion and humility in his daily work.
The Theodore James Ryken Award is bestowed every Founder’s Day - the fest of St. Francis Xavier - by each Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School upon a member of its faculty or staff who strives to live out the cornerstones of the Xaverian philosophy, to participate in the school’s community of faith and nurture members of its community.
The headmaster presented the Ryken Award to his predecessor, Brother Conal, the sixteenth headmaster of the school. The Ryken Award is the most prestigious honor granted to a member of the faculty or staff each year who participates in the school’s faith community, is committed to fostering the intellectual, moral, and creative growth of all students, and fulfills the Gospel call to peace and justice.
Prior to recognizing his predecessor with the Ryken Award, Headmaster Michael Welch reflected on what Founders Day means for XBSS students and educators today. "We believe that the Xaverian calling is a way of being put in our place in the world, a place of humility and simplicity, from which we receive the grace to turn toward God, fall in love with God, and put ourselves in God’s service as followers of Jesus. Through the Xaverian Way we are awakened by the Spirit of God to our own graced potential and freely offer that giftedness in service to the gospel."
In introducing Bro. Conal, he remarked, "this year’s recipient of the Theodore James Ryken award turned toward God, fell in love with God, and put himself at the age of sixteen in the service of God – and we are heirs of that relationship and how he lived out his relationship with God in service to Saint John’s. He, like Ryken, began his teaching ministry by teaching in a grammar school, teaching 55 4th grade students at St. Theresa’s in Brooklyn, his first year, prior to serving at five other Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools as teacher, and also varsity baseball coach at one of the schools. He served as Principal of Mission High School in Roxbury, prior to coming to Saint John’s where he began as a Religion teacher. This year’s recipient celebrates his 50th year at Saint John’s, and 70th year since he joined the Xaverian Brothers.
"In many ways, we all stand on the shoulders of this year’s recipient of the Ryken Award. We give thanks each day when we walk into a building that bears his name. A strategic thinker, a person who is genuinely loyal and faithful to friends, his confreres and all involved in Saint John’s."
Saint John's celebrated with the twelve other XBSS schools in the United States, and with all Xaverian Brothers Sponsored schools in Kenya and Congo.
Browse through all pictures from the Founders Day Mass and Ryken Award.
Prior to recognizing his predecessor with the Ryken Award, Headmaster Michael Welch reflected on what Founders Day means for XBSS students and educators today. "We believe that the Xaverian calling is a way of being put in our place in the world, a place of humility and simplicity, from which we receive the grace to turn toward God, fall in love with God, and put ourselves in God’s service as followers of Jesus. Through the Xaverian Way we are awakened by the Spirit of God to our own graced potential and freely offer that giftedness in service to the gospel."
In introducing Bro. Conal, he remarked, "this year’s recipient of the Theodore James Ryken award turned toward God, fell in love with God, and put himself at the age of sixteen in the service of God – and we are heirs of that relationship and how he lived out his relationship with God in service to Saint John’s. He, like Ryken, began his teaching ministry by teaching in a grammar school, teaching 55 4th grade students at St. Theresa’s in Brooklyn, his first year, prior to serving at five other Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools as teacher, and also varsity baseball coach at one of the schools. He served as Principal of Mission High School in Roxbury, prior to coming to Saint John’s where he began as a Religion teacher. This year’s recipient celebrates his 50th year at Saint John’s, and 70th year since he joined the Xaverian Brothers.
"In many ways, we all stand on the shoulders of this year’s recipient of the Ryken Award. We give thanks each day when we walk into a building that bears his name. A strategic thinker, a person who is genuinely loyal and faithful to friends, his confreres and all involved in Saint John’s."
Saint John's celebrated with the twelve other XBSS schools in the United States, and with all Xaverian Brothers Sponsored schools in Kenya and Congo.
Browse through all pictures from the Founders Day Mass and Ryken Award.
