Saint John’s Prep to Host Reunion of Native Americans

On Saturday, September 17, 2011, Saint John’s Preparatory School and Fr. Timothy Backous, Headmaster, will host a reunion of Native Americans and families who have attended Saint John’s Prep School and St. Benedicts.

Saint John’s Abbey, located in Collegeville, MN, and Saint Benedict’s Monastery, in St. Joseph, MN, have enjoyed over a 100 years of partnership and success with the Native American communities in the State of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Timothy Backous, OSB, Headmaster of Saint John’s Preparatory School, stated, “The Prep School is very proud of its history and partnership with Native American communities, especially the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. As a result of our Native American relationships and collaboration with numerous foundations, we would like to recognize communities and individuals that have not only attended Saint John’s Prep School, but have gone back to their communities and have made positive impacts on their Native community. One of our biggest partners in working with the Prep School to improve Indian education has been the Blandin Foundation, which will also be recognized at this reunion.”

Marv Hanson, a Red Lake Tribal Member and graduate of Saint John’s Prep and St. John’s University, who assisted in organizing the reunion, stated, “It will be great to invite tribal members back to St. John’s and St. Ben’s and reminisce. We have had some very successful attendees of the Prep School and St. Bens and it will be nice to have an event to share stories. If you attended the Prep School for even one year, the Prep School impacted your life in a positive way. We want all Native people who attended this reunion to attend this even.”

“This will be a historic event and we would like to continue supporting quality education for Native Americans, this will be a wonderful event” stated Fr. Tim Backous. For more information, visit http://www.sjprep.net. To register, contact Mary Ritter at Saint John’s Prep by calling 320-363-3317 or online at https://www.sjpalums.net/default.aspx?Page=EVNTEventDetail&EventID=1010

Founded in 1857, Saint John's Preparatory School is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-educational, day and boarding International Baccalaureate college preparatory school for students in grades 6-12, with boarding options beginning in the 9th grade. For more information, call 320-363-3321 or visit http://www.sjprep.net.