St. Mary's College: A Student's Thoughts
by Tom Beam, SMC Freshman
Photography by Mary E. Gentges, SMC, 1986
Reprinted from Winter, 1991, Alma Mater,
Alumni Bulletin of St. Mary's Academy & College
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When the sun rose on the morning of September 4, 1990, I was supposed to have been excited, for it was to be my first day of attending classes at the community college near my home in Maryland. Instead, due to a rather sudden change of plans, which occurred two weeks prior to that date, I found myself twelve hundred miles away from home, in the north-east corner of Kansas, sitting in a third-floor dormitory room, wondering to myself why in the world I had ever changed my mind. As the seven a.m. bell rang in the hall, I walked over to one of the windows in my room, and, pulling back the curtains, I knelt down to say my morning prayers. I was sick, nervous, and somewhat depressed, and I asked God why I had ever come to be enrolled as a Freshman at St. Mary's College.
Today when I knelt down, the view from my window was quite different than it was on that early September morning, and the words of my prayers had also changed. Now, the once green grass was hidden under a blanket of white. Now, the leafless trees whipped in the cold January wind and flakes of snow whirled to the ground. And now, my prayers were no longer words of regret and desperation, but rather of thanksgiving to God for allowing me to return for a second semester at St. Mary's.
"But what is there to be thankful for?" "How can you possibly be happy there?" I can almost be certain that every student here has been asked these questions at one time or another. Sometimes it's friends "back home," who are enrolled in prestigious universities; and sometimes one's own relatives want to know such answers. Yes, it is true that when one graduates from St. Mary's College, he or she cannot claim the title of lawyer, doctor, or architect—such titles are to be obtained at those "prestigious" institutions. However, St. Mary's is different from other colleges. What the students learn here is not merely to bring them success in the forty years which lead to retirement, but it is to remain with them for a lifetime, and, by the grace of God, bring them a more important success in eternity.
College life for an SMC student can be summed up in three words—Religious, Academic, and Social. Though the student experiences these aspects during different times of the day, it is the combination of these three which truly creates the well-rounded education offered here.
I cannot help but to recall the first Friday night that I spent as a St. Mary's Freshman. A group of fellow classmates and I decided to take a walk into town. We were all new friends and we wanted to explore our new surroundings. The fun that we were having quickly ended as a Mustang full of "town kids" cruised by, and someone yelled out of the window "Freaks!" It had to have been the guys' short haircuts and the girls' skirts that gave us away.
I suppose, in their eyes, that one is a freak if he attends a college where daily Mass, daily Rosary, Benediction, and other devotions are always available. I suppose that a college like St. Mary's—where there is a Rector instead of a president; where teachers lead the students in prayer before and after class; and where the goal of the administration, the faculty, and the students is "To Restore All Things in Christ"—would, in their eyes be the breeding ground for freaks.
However, since that Friday night so long ago, the emotions of that group have gradually transformed from anger and embarrassment to feelings of silent and thankful pride—thankful, not so much that we are thought of as freaks by our peers, but rather thankful that, in the eyes of God and not of the world, to be labeled with such a name is indeed a compliment. A St. Mary's student's first and most valuable lesson is that there is no shame in being a Catholic. One should be proud of possessing the true Faith. The true Faith is what St. Mary's offers, and one should be thankful for it!
The education which is found at St. Mary's College is an education in the truest sense of the word. The liberal arts program furthers the student's general studies in math, science, English, and history, as well as introduces him to many unique courses which prove to be equally valuable and challenging. The instructor of each class is devoted to teaching his subject matter strictly from a Catholic point of view, so the student need not worry himself with sifting through endless notes trying to distinguish true from false and right from wrong. Each instructor believes his course to be the most important one.
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Fr. Kimball, the college chaplain, teaches Theology twice a week and prays for the day when he can ask all thirty of his students a question and be rewarded with thirty answers—none of which bear any resemblance to a modern day heresy. Surely, with such a task, Father can be justified in labeling his classes (Father also teaches Philosophy and Ethics) as the most important.
Fr. Daniels' Liturgy class follows the history of the Catholic Liturgy from the time of the Apostles up to, and including, present day. Father believes his is the most important period of the week, and that is understandable, since the liturgy is the "greatest teacher of Dogma" which exists.
Certainly, Dr. Kosa has a just claim to place the classes in her department at the very top of the list. Without Latin class, who would bring life to this "dead language" and cause students to appreciate the words contained in the Mass?
Such are the stories of all the faculty members of St. Mary's. But it still remains unanswered as to which is the most important class. In all honesty, and for the safety of my grade point average, I must agree with all of them!
Life at St. Mary's College is not all work and no play; the students here do have a social life. In high school back home, I can recall having many acquaintances, but a true friend was difficult to come by. Here, I can say with certainty that I have found sincere friendships that will last long after my college years are over. For some reason, there are often misconceptions about the students who attend this college. Before I came for my first semester, I had heard all the horror stories which depicted the average student as a somber, mummy-like misfit, who, when not studying, was praying. I am happy to report that I have found the students here as being quite normal.
Of course, one's spiritual and academic life take priority, but recreation is not forgotten. In these past six months I have had some of the most enjoyable times of my life. There are square dances, festivals, Saturday night family movies, parish drama club, and football and volleyball games in the quadrangle. There is Christmas caroling, ice skating, a Superbowl party, and there's always someone waiting to play cards in the reading room. Furthermore, there doesn't have to be a planned activity in order to take a break from one's studies. The campus and property surrounding it lend themselves to nice, long walks with a group of friends.
There is, however, another aspect of the social life here at St. Mary's which I doubt exists at any other college in this country. The friendships acquired here are not merely based upon common interests and ambitions; they are also founded upon a common Faith. It is not unusual to be in the middle of a basketball game and have someone shout that it's 6:40 and time for evening Rosary. No one is thought of as an idiot if he decides to stay for Compline rather than going out for pizza. I will never forget the one day that I took a relic of St. Thomas Aquinas from my pocket and placed it on my desk before a Latin examination. I began to think to myself what sorts of reactions would occur had I been at the community college back home. Before this thought escaped my mind, the student sitting across from me reached over, picked up the relic, kissed it, made the Sign of the Cross, and returned it to my desk. Such friendships and stories are abundantly found in St. Mary's. In a world where having a "good time" usually implies doing the wrong things, it's nice to be in a place where good friends can have good times in a good way.
When I was asked to write this article, I must admit to having been somewhat reluctant at first. I was not sure that I would be able to convey a balanced and accurate description of what St. Mary's College is really like. If my words have evoked images of a college which prides itself on the formation of strange religious fanatics, or if I have simply held up a mirror and reflected those qualities found in secular colleges, than I have wasted my time and your time. St. Mary's College is neither of these things. It is a college where the practicing on one's faith, the learning of one's studies, and the partaking of good times is all done in moderation—and all done for the greater glory of God.
St. Mary's College is owned and operated by the Society of St. Pius X. The school offers a classical four-year liberal arts curriculum, and a four-year teacher-education curriculum. For more information on courses taught, tuition, boarding fees, rules and decorum of the College, write to:
Rev. Fr. Ramon Angles, Rector
St. Mary's College
P.O. Box 159
St. Mary's, Kansas 66536
Phone: (913) 437-2471
St. Mary's College is not yet accredited.
 Mr. Beryl Gibson, teacher of Physics and German at SMC, makes a point during class. |
 Students take notes in Fr. Kimball's Theology class. |
 Dr. Barbara Berfanger, Dean of St. Mary's College. |
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