Executive Committee
Alumni/ae Association of Regis College
The Alumni/ae Association can be contacted by email at regis.alums@regiscollege.ca. We would be happy to hear from you.
AGM
This year the AGM is on Friday, May 4th, 2012. Meeting at 6pm followed by supper at 7:30pm.
President's Report
To the Regis Alumni/ae Association,
It’s amazing to think how fast time can fly and how much can change in such a short period of time. In the five years that the Regis Alumni Association has been in existence, we as a community have grown and changed as well. We have left the cradle that was 15 St. Mary’s Street to come to 100 Wellesley. We transitioned from one president to another, the first who innovatively led our fledgling group from one home to another. Our tribe itself has seen its composition change as individuals completed their terms and laid the foundation for new individuals to pick up the torch to continue the process of furthering the goals of our alumni/ae group.
The past 12 months have sped by so fast that I can scarcely believe it. I would like to take this time to once again thank John Montague and Kathy McGrath for the gift that they brought to our executive but who felt it appropriate to not complete their terms for personal reasons. Each voice added influenced the course of decision-makings, added insights and perspective that may not have been considered and we are diminished by their absence.
But there has been much accomplished in these last 12 months. We have strengthened our identity and continue the process of communicating who we are.
Through the website and its continued updating, we hope we have given alums that may not have had the opportunity to physically be present at Regis a means of following what has been going on. We continue the work of refining our alumni/ae list to ever increase our capacity to inform individuals of events and perhaps foster greater communication.
Our association needs to be more than a group that meets only annually. There has been and will continue to be opportunities to share in the ongoing life of the College and help form current student bodies and the spirit of the College.
This past year, a donor tea was hosted by the College where several alums helped out to show how important Ignation formation and the Regis experience was for them. In addition a Christmas Bazaar, put on by former and current student, Catherine Von Zuben, also a current member of the board, was a fundraiser to the College which raised in excess of $10 000. This again was a venue where many alums had an opportunity to lend a helping hand. The success of the Bazaar has ensured that it will continue for the foreseeable future, and there will also be other initiatives to be presented such as hosting an afternoon tea as well as discussions around pub events.
Being an alum is not just about reminiscing about the good old days. It is also about sharing the triumph of our daily lives. We are proud of the successes of our community, some quiet, some not so and we want to promote them to one another as each person feels comfortable. By staying in touch we can, by mean of the Regis homepage and the alumni link, offer to others the example of the good work that the formation we have received at Regis College allows us to do in the world. Truly, we are faith in action and disciples of Ignatius of Loyola!
Every year, as new students come to Regis, the culture of the College changes. Fresh blood keeps Regis alive. But upon convocation that “fresh blood” becomes the voice of experience, or rather of their experience about what Regis meant to them. That is why it is so important to stay in relationship with Regis, lending our gifts, whatever they may be, as best we are able. I think that by actively engaging the enrolled community, our experience, our wisdom, enriches the College and inspires potential students to say that this, that the Alumni/ae Association, is something that they want to be part of. We never really think of it at the time, but in every active student, every potential registrant to the College, will become a member of our Association. It is my hope that with what we can do today, we can enrich our own existence for the future.
Respectively submitted,
Raymond Ryan, President
Regis Alumni/ae Association
Board of Directors
Past President
Gregory Beath, MDiv, 1999
After receiving a Master of Divinity degree at Regis College, Gregory ministered for four years to a parish as a lay pastoral associate. This was a great, formative experience in the areas of pastoral care, Christian initiation, sacramental preparation, and liturgy.
Eventually, Gregory decided to delve more deeply into the richness of the Church's liturgical tradition, and so, he travelled to Collegeville, Minnesota to study under the Benedictines at Saint John's Abbey and University: one of the seats of the liturgical renewal. He received a Master of Arts degree in liturgical studies in 2005.
Presently, Gregory is a consultant in the Liturgy office for the Archdiocese of Toronto. He assists parishes in various aspects of faith-formation, especially in areas of worship and catechesis.
President
Raymond Ryan, MDiv, 2004
A displaced Maritimer, Raymond Ryan came to Toronto in 2000, a late in life learner and former waiter. His time at Regis offered him many opportunities to develop and hone hidden gifts. After graduating Regis College he entered a Residency program in Clinical Pastoral Education with The Canadian Association of Pastoral Practice and Education in the spring of 2005 where he assisted patients, family and staff deal with the emotional and spiritual issues that may arise when hospitalized. After a 12 month internship at UHN he began working in Hamilton at the General, continuing to assist people in their time of crisis. The General (primarily known for its trauma and Cardiac work), was an amazing blessing in Raymond's life but to continue to develop professionally, transferring to the Henderson Hospital and Juravinski Cancer Centre to develop a greater understanding of the spiritual issues that arise when working with Cancer patients.
After a time, Toronto’s pull reasserted itself and Raymond wound up at West Park Healthcare Centre, a complex continuing care and rehab centre in the Jane St. and Weston Rd. area. The community of West Park is actually that and the people who work there are a remarkable family, one which he hopes to be a part of for a long time.
Raymond is delighted to be a part of the Alumni/ae Association as his Regis experience of collegiality and opportunity for personal growth and challenge is one which he wishes to continue for a very long time and he anticipates enjoying his time with the talented women and men of the Association Board and the further fostering of an exceptional community.
Vice-President
Catherine von Zuben, MAMS, 2010
Catherine thoroughly enjoyed thirty-five years in education in the role of teacher, consultant and principal. For the past many years (50 to be exact!) she has conducted children’s choirs, and in her parish of Good Shepherd 60 children sing God’s praises every Sunday morning.
Catherine joined the Regis College Community four years ago filled with enthusiasm at the thought of studying in a Jesuit College of Theology. The spirit and love which emulates from this environment challenged her to commit to the MAMS program which she enjoyed to the utmost. She graduated last year and her studies have awakened in her the desire to continue to teach Sacramental Preparation in her parish and to encourage other retired parishioners and members of the CWL to also be open to the invitation and privilege to study at Regis College.
As vice-president of the Alumnae, Catherine’s goal is to invite and welcome all graduates of Regis programs to be involved with the College after graduation. She is committed to raise funds for Regis through an annual Christmas Boutique which promises to offer the most beautiful Christmas gifts to be found anywhere. She invites you to assist in this fun project by donating raffle prizes, Christmas items and/or precious time to assist selling. Please contact Catherine or Wilma if you are interested in sharing your gifts, talents and time! The dates for our exciting project for 2011 are: Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. the weeks of November 28th and December 5th. Please join us!
Secretary
Wilma Scherloski, MAMS, 1999
After retiring from a long career in education as a teacher, Vice-principal, Principal and Supervisory Officer, Wilma decided to return to further studies. She received a MA in MS in 1999 and a Diploma in Spiritual Direction in 2001.
Presently, Wilma is Dean of Students at Regis College, a position she has held from 2001. Wilma spends a lot of time in Saskatchewan where she grew up.
Treasurer
Lynn O'Leary, MAMS, 1999
After graduating from Regis with a MAMS degree, Lynn continued her studies at the University of Notre Dame and completed an MA in Liturgy in 2002. Lynn has developed and used in parishes a programme for Eucharistic catechesis and a workshop on Liturgy and Spirituality. She is presently a research assistant to a retired University of Toronto professor.
Mary Lou Gormley, MAMS and DSD, 2008
Mary Lou Gormley is a graduate of MAMS and the DSD program at Regis (2008). She has been involved in pastoral care and spiritual direction ministry for several years and continues to explore new ways to make this ministry available to others. She is an active member of Spiritual Directors Ontario (SDO) annual retreat planning committee and involved in her local community. She is also a mom to an active thirteen-year-old named Andrew, stepmother to three wonderful women, and a Nana to seven grandchildren. She looks forward to her work with Regis’s alumina committee in the years ahead.
Beverly O'Grady
Beverly O'Grady is currently completing her last two courses for the Diploma of Spiritual Direction at Regis College. She has a Masters of Theological Studies degree (2001) from St. Michael's College. Bev works part time for the Archdiocese of Toronto in the Office of Formation for Discipleship as a faith animator and part time as a Catechist for St. Dominic's Parish in Mississauga. Her parish ministry includes First Reconciliation/First Communion preparation and Spiritual Direction. Bev has two young adult children, a spinning wheel and more fleece than anyone can possibly spin in one lifetime.
Fanny Quimson, MAMS, 1996
Originally from the Philippines, Fanny & her husband immigrated to Toronto in 1990 after their 2 daughters decided to work and live in North America. After her husband died in 1992, Fanny enrolled at Regis College, completed the 40 days retreat at Loyola House in Guelph and received the MA in MS in 1996. She then worked as part time secretary at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish where she also did some ministries. Until recently, she was employed by the Archdiocese of Toronto as Coordinator for catholic services at Bridgepoint hospital, but had to give up the job due to health reasons.
