Benilde St Margarets School - Sangraal / Benilden Yearbook (St Louis Park, MN)

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BENILDE, FROM VISION TO VICTORY It was in early 1952 that the pressing need for a new Catholic boy’s high school in the Minneapolis area became apparent to Brother J. Marie, then the Director of De La Salle High School. Brother Marie’s vision began to take shape through a number of organizational conferences with zealous laymen who recognized the serious situation. There had been previous efforts to found such a school, but these had ended in failure, mainly because there were not enough teachers available to staff a new school. In spite of an even greater need by 1952. it was touch and go whether a new school could be built in the face of such a critical shortage of teachers. Finally, after obtaining the late Archbishop Murray's permission and financial support — if teachers could be found — Brother I. Philip. Visitor of the St. Louis Province, consented to supply the new school with teachers. The first hurdle was cleared! The second, money for construction, was taken care of by a parish-to-parish Building Fund Drive, the generosity of Archbishop Murray and later, that of Archbishop Brady. With construction beginning in the winter of 1955. Benilde threw open its doors in September. 1956. to its first students, about 325 freshmen and sophomores. With the opening in the Fall of 1958 of the new senior wing, Benilde's original sophomores, now seniors, become the first graduating class of the new school. Thus Benilde begins to serve its basic purpose, preparing boys to live as Christian men. The vision of 1952 is now the victory of 1959! Page 11

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BLESSED BROTHER BENILDE Our school, whose patron is Blessed Brother Benilde, is now training the Catholic young men of suburban Minneapolis in the Christian tradition that he himself observed. But who is this man? His relative obscurity outside of the Christian Brothers’ schools is an effect of his very greatness. One of his greatest virtues was an heroic, yet unspectacular observance of his rule. Because of this quiet, saintly virtue, Brother Benilde ranks in a class with Theresa, the Little Flower of Jesus. Brother's virtue also had a very tangible quality. About three hundred vocations to the priesthood and the religious life are attributed to his influence. A retiring person by disposition, Brother Benilde developed the ability to influence others by the example of his own simple, dedicated life. In leading others to God, he achieved eminent sanctity for himself. It was only logical, then, when a new Catholic school was built in a Minneapolis suburb, that recently beatified Brother Benilde should become its patron. Pag© 10

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THE BIG JOB - WINTER