Changes, 4th ed.

After years of service to this fine institution, last night we, along with some of their family members and friends, bade farewell to two faculty members who have given years of service to the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity and are now following God's call elsewhere. The evening began with Vespers, followed by dinner, and concluded with some farewell messages to the departing-faculty and speeches of thanks from them.

First was Dr. Jeanne McLean. Dr. McLean began here at SPSSOD teaching philosophy for the pre-theology program. She had previously taught at Saint Mary's University for many years, and thus was very adept at her field when she began here and sort-of hit the ground running. For this reason, when the sitting Academic Dean took leave, Dr. McLean was very able to fill in as interim-Dean and was so adept that it was decided she should be made permanent Dean. She fulfilled this role for about seven years when she decided to take a sabbatical. After returning, she continued teaching philosophy, though she did not resume her role as Academic Dean. She now leaves us, with plans to do some desired writing which has been on the back-burner while she thoroughly prepared her classes. Indeed, she received high praise for her intellectual acuity which was obvious in her clear and precise teaching, as attested last night by one of her students.

Second was Dr. Deborah Organ. A devout mother of five and wife to a professor in St. Thomas' School of Law, Dr. Organ has served the SPSSOD for seven years, primarily in the area of Homiletics and Multi-Cultural Ministry. With a long history of serving in Hispanic Ministry (both in the nation and without), Dr. Organ was an apt professor to aid Hispanic seminarians and lay-students here at the SPSSOD, as well as teach the class which we Theology III men have currently: Multicultural Ministry - Hispanic Ministry. Even more, having obtained a Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching, she was more than able to help seminarians hone their skills at making the Scriptures come alive within and for the faith community. Dr. Organ has been working on obtaining yet another degree in Social Work and Counseling and leaves the seminary with plans of continuing in Hispanic Ministry within this Archdiocese.

Indeed, this Seminary/School has benefited from these women's fine service. We extend to them our heartfelt gratitude, bid them farewell, and assure them of our prayers.