Merton Center Re-Dedicated

Paying tribute to its namesake, the Thomas Merton Center at St. Bonaventure University was rededicated during a special ceremony Wednesday.

The Merton Center is home to the campus ministry team and offices for Mt. Irenaeus, Bona Buddies, the Warming House, the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, and the Journey Project. Located at the center of campus, it is a place where students gather for relaxing, cooking, socializing, mentoring and spiritual counseling.

“The beauty of what goes on here and flows out of here is a blessing,” said Robert Donius, vice president for University Ministries.

In a 1966 letter to a St. Bonaventure alumnus, Thomas Merton noted that, “St. Bonaventure represented one of the happiest times of my life.”

Merton, considered one of the most distinguished spiritual masters of the 20th century, taught English at what was then St. Bonaventure College in 1940 and 1941. As he revealed in “The Seven Storey Mountain,” Merton discerned his monastic vocation while he worked at St. Bonaventure.

Merton (1915-1968), a Catholic writer and Trappist monk, authored dozens of books that include poetry, personal journals, collections of letters, social criticism and writings on peace, justice and ecumenism.

During the rededication ceremony, Fr. Robert “Bob” Struzynski, O.F.M, a member of the Franciscan community at Mt. Irenaeus, gave the reflection “A Self-Reflection by the Thomas Merton Ministry Center.”

“His ideas of education and Saint Bonaventure’s ideas of education come together so beautifully,” Fr. Bob said.

Also as part of the rededication, a permanent photo display of Thomas Merton was installed in the center.

The structure was originally a maintenance building from its construction in the 1950s until 1972, when it began to be utilized by the campus ministry team.

To read Fr. Bob Struzynski's reflections, click HERE. (PDF)

(Photo provided by St. Bonaventure University)