The Scroll

What is the greatest musical instrument? The human voice, of course. When you put dozens of those voices together under a gifted director, you have a near heavenly experience. Nothing could better describe just such an experience than last weekend.

The 2009 Minnesota Collegiate Choral Festival was held, and choirs were invited to submit blind CDs of their work. From the many entries, the following five choral groups were selected: Minnesota State University-Mankato, Northwestern College, St. John’s University, the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the Chamber Singers from the University of St. Thomas.

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Posted by Fr. John Malone at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Every Sunday, I make the hour-long trek home to visit my family and enjoy my parents’ delicious home cooking.

One Sunday, as my parents rummaged around the kitchen preparing dinner, I kept hearing, “Bailey, no! . . . Off the counter! . . . Bailey! That’s not for you; don’t eat that! . . . Down, Bailey!” Our one-year-old red lab puppy, Bailey, loves helping out in the kitchen. Sensing my parents’ irritation, I got up from my lazy nap and took the crazy pup outside for some exercise.

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Posted by Darcy Haubrick at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

We’ve had two engaging and thoughtful blogs already about the Opus Prize and its winners. Can there be more to say? More to write? More to convey?

As a back-stage, behind-the-scenes, on-stage and fully engaged participant in the Opus Prize preparations and production, I say, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Such a grand event provided all who attended mountainous lessons and elephantine emotions. Here are a few of the reflections and comments both overheard and intentionally noted during and after last Wednesday evening’s event.

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Posted by Carol Bruess at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I don’t know how the other five Catholic universities that hosted the Opus Prize Foundation awards did, but I can’t imagine that any one pulled it off with more spirit, sensitivity and sentiment than the University of St. Thomas Wednesday evening.

St. Thomas hosted the 6th annual awards ceremony to honor the work of three social entrepreneurs around the world – unsung heroes who are working to solve society’s most vexing and persistent problems. The winner, Aicha Ech Channa of Morocco, received $1 million and the other two, Sister Valeriana Garcia-Martin of Columbia and Father Hans Stapel of Brazil, each received $100,000.

The crowd at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis was large and enthusiastic; people got to their feet for a half-dozen standing ovations.

»Read more of "Seeing the face of the Lord"

Posted by Dave Nimmer at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

When I was in Bogotá, Colombia, for the Opus Prize due diligence visit last May, members of our group would often express our fascination with the ambient, saintly presence of Sister Valeriana García-Martín. As she graciously led us through her facilities, we simply lost count of all the times her loving character and powerful aura left us stunned.

In short, she is an extremely remarkable woman, and I will be absolutely honored to see her again at the Opus Prize event on Wednesday evening. I also look forward to meeting the other two finalists for the $1 million Opus Prize: Aïcha Ech Channa of Casablanca, Morocco, and Father Hans Stapel of Guaratinguetá, Brazil.

»Read more of "Want to hear amazing stories?"

Posted by Brady Narloch at 08:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)