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
Saturday, March 20th, 2010
At the Annual General Meeting on March 20th those in attendance were treated to a fascinating guided tour of the new site led by Mr. Roberto Chiotti of Larkin Architects, who helped us appreciate the challenges and successes of creating a fitting home for our College, and Rev. Peter Larisey, S.J., who gave us insight into the great works of art that grace the new space.
President's Report
1. "Time to Say Good-bye" Event:
On May 30th,2009, the Alumni/ae Association Board hosted a very successful evening to give alumni/ae and members of the Regis College community a chance to bid farewell to the old St. Mary and St. Nicholas Streets location. The evening consisted of a dinner, silent auction, reflection given by Prof. Emeritus Margaret Brennan, IHM, and a celebration of Evening Prayer.
The funds raised for the evening were donated to Regis College in order to help furnish and create a comfortable student lounge. The evening gave a wonderful opportunity for alumni/ae, staff, and friends of the College a chance to socialize and reminisce. The evening would not have been successful without the stellar efforts made by those who donated items for the auction, support from Regis staff, especially Adrienne Pereira, the members of the Alumni/ae Board.
2. Communications:
One of the challenges of beginning this new Association has been reaching its members. Gratefully, we have been able to receive support from the College in this area. In terms of a contact list, the Development Office assisted us when we were newly formed and provided us with a basic list of alumni/ae. Over the past few months, the College has provided a new, updated list for our use. Lynn O'Leary has been diligently working on maintaining this list. While this is a very time consuming project, it is absolutely essential for us to maintain a solid contact list of postal and e-mail addresses. This will help us move forward as an Association and to foster our goal of staying in touch with its members.
The College has been reviewing it's website. In the meantime, we have been able to create an Association link for Alumni/ae to keep them posted on events and to stay in touch, update information, etc.
3. Governing Board:
The Governing Board of the Association is composed primarily of volunteers. They have committed their time and energy to gradually tend this fledgling Association through various events over the past few years since the Association's foundation. Without their dedication, this Association would not exist. My gratitude for all Board members is profound.
Some members have chosen to step down at this AGM for a variety of reasons: distance, health, and time commitments. Therefore, it is necessary to elect new members to the Board. From my perspective as out-going President, one struggle has been dedicating enough time to the Association due to other pressing commitments, especially pastoral ministry. I say this not to dissuade volunteers, but rather to encourage those who will hold a leadership roll on the Board to ensure that they will be able to have the time necessary to move the Association forward.
4. The College's Support:
The Association is blessed to have the support of the College on so many levels. Rev. Joe Schner has generously support us, made room for Association President to have a seat on the Board of Governors as an assessor member, and has encouraged the Association. Faculty and staff have also been tremendous supporters in so many ways. All in all, the relationship between the College and the Association is very good.
5. Delay in holding the AGM:
Unfortunately, we were unable to hold to the AGM before the 2009-year was out mainly due to conflicting schedules and slow coordination. We ask the Association's indulgence in this matter and hope to avoid this in the future.
Respectfully submitted by
Gregory Beath, M.Div., S.T.B., '99 PresidentAlumni/ae Association of Regis College
The following is the new configuration of the Board of Directors.
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.
Secretary
John Montague, MDiv, 2002
John Montague graduated with an M.Div in 2002. For the past eight years John has organized a Day of Reflection for Catholic parents of lesbian daughters and gay sons. He facilitates talks and workshops, and consults with people in ministry about resource materials on this subject. He is the Secretary of the Board of the Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry.
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.
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.
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.
Kathy McGrath, MAMS, 1994
Kathy grew up in Montreal the third of eight children, six girls and two boys. After graduating from Marianopolis College , she moved to Toronto in 1967 to attend a program leading to a certificate in social welfare from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. Kathy worked at the Children's Aid Society for six years, Surrey Place Centre for fourteen years and Vocational Rehab briefly. Kathy started her Theological studies in September of 1990 and earned a Master of Arts in Ministry and Spirituality in 1994.
In 2001, she did a three-month internship in Chaplaincy at the Ontario Correctional Institute, a men's prison, followed by a year's residency in Chaplaincy at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Kathy now works part-time as a hospital Chaplain. She likes to read, watch films, travel and crochet. She loves gatherings of family and friends. Kathy has one daughter and two grandchildren. Kathy belongs to ACT II Studio at Ryerson, the Older Women's Network and Women for African Grandmothers.