Saint Mary's Newsroom

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota men’s hockey team will hold the ninth annual Teddy Bear Toss on Friday, Dec. 7, during the Cardinals’ 7 p.m. home game against UW-Superior at the Saint Mary’s Ice Arena.

Fans attending are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal — preferably new, but those in good used condition will also be accepted and appreciated. Teddy bears will also be available at the arena for a donation of $1.

Additionally, boxes will be located in the rink and in Saint Mary’s Hall for the Saint Mary’s community to place new and gently used stuffed animals to be used in the toss. These donations are due by Friday, Dec. 7, at noon.

After the first Saint Mary’s goal in the first period — or at the end of the first period if no goals have been scored — fans will have an opportunity to throw their teddy bears and stuffed animals onto the ice. They will then be collected and distributed to children in the Winona area through the Toys for Kids program.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Guest speaker Catherine Pakaluk, Ph.D., of The Catholic University of America will discuss “Justice, Dynamism, and Social Order” as the inaugural Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Cardinal Virtue presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. and will be held at the Saint Mary’s University Center, 2540 Park Ave., Minneapolis. A reception will follow.

Speakers and topics selected for the Cardinal Virtue presentations have been chosen to create thought-provoking dialogue. Dr. Pakaluk, assistant professor of Social Research and Economic Thought at The Catholic University of America, will address the topic of economic justice as the first installment of the presentation series.

Pakaluk joined the faculty of The Catholic University in 2016 and founded the Social Research academic area. Formerly, she was an assistant professor and chair of the Economics Department at Ave Maria University. Her primary areas of research include economic of education and religion, family studies and demography, Catholic social thought, and political economy.

Cardinal Virtues presentations are thematically centered around the virtues of prudence (practical wisdom), temperance, courage (fortitude), and justice.

Prudence is an intellectual aptitude that enables us to make judgments that are consonant with our proper end as human beings. Temperance, in a general sense, denotes a kind of moderation common to every moral virtue and is directed to the good. Courage moderates those desires that prevent us from undertaking more daunting, difficult tasks — even allowing us to endure pain and discomfort when necessary in pursuit of truth and good. Justice is a sustained or constant willingness to extend to each person what he or she deserves in relation to what is truly good for that individual and having both community and individual elements related to it.

Questions about this or any of the Cardinal Virtues presentations may be directed to Saint Mary’s University’s Office of Mission at 507-457-1646. Other presentations, scheduled throughout the 2018-19 academic year, include:

• Prudence — Candace Volger, Ph.D., professor at The University of Chicago, Feb. 21, Saint Mary’s Winona Campus.
• Fortitude/courage — Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., professor at Boston College, March 14, Saint Mary’s Winona Campus and Cascade Meadow facility in Rochester.
• Temperance and the gifts/fruits of the Holy Spirit — Eleonore Stump, Ph.D., professor of Saint Louis University, April 9, Winona Campus.

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is inviting the public to a showing of Ken Burns’ documentary, “The Mayo Clinic: Faith – Hope – Science” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in Room 200 of the Science and Learning Center.

The two-hour documentary film, which features the voices of Tom Hanks, Sam Waterston, Blythe Danner, and Josh Lucas, explores the clinic’s 150-year history and what it means to put the needs of the patient first.

The film tells the story of William Worrall Mayo, an English immigrant who began practicing medicine with his sons Will and Charlie in Rochester, Minn. When a deadly tornado tore through their small community in 1883, the Mayos took charge of recovery efforts, enlisting the help of the nearby Sisters of Saint Francis to care for patients. Afterwards, Mother Alfred Moes, the leader of the convent, told Dr. Mayo she had a vision from God that instructed her to build a hospital, with him as its director. She believed it would become “world renowned for its medical arts.”

Blending historical narrative with contemporary patient stories (like those of John McCain and the Dalai Lama), this film is a timely look at how one institution has met the changing demands of healthcare for 150 years — and what that can teach us about facing the challenges of patient care today.

The medical center now treats over a million patients every year from 50 states and 150 countries and employs 64,000 people in Rochester and at campuses in Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz.

Saint Mary’s is proud to collaborate with Mayo Clinic on its new 3+2 Physician Assistant program. Many Saint Mary’s alumni work at the renowned medical center, and Saint Mary’s students are fortunate to be able to learn and work with talented staff at Mayo Clinic through several initiatives.

The event is hosted by Saint Mary’s Student Activities Office and the John C. Parmer School of the Sciences with support from Eric Olson from KMSQ in Austin.