St Josephs College - Phase Yearbook (Rensselaer, IN)

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TOP: REV. NORMAN G. REV. HENRY J. MARTIN, TOP: REV. CHARLES J KOLLER, A.B. A.B. ROBBINS, A.B. BOTTOM: REV. NORMAN BOTTOM: REV. MR. VIN- L. I-IECKMAN, A.B. CENT SI-IAFER, A.B. Page tfwenfy-eight

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COLLEGE PRESIDENT The family name of Dirksen has long been prominent in the . annals of Collegeville history. In 1891, the first year of the school's existence, the name of Mr. Frank Dirksen was upon the rolls. He is the father of the college presi- dent. Both father and son were active in the C.L.S. and other campus activities. Both chose teaching for their life work. THE VERY REV. ALOYS H. DIRKSEN, S.T.D. Father Dirksen is a native of Mercer County, Ohio. Following his studies at St. Joseph's, and later at St. Charles Seminary, Carthagena, Ohio, he was ordained in 1926. After a year of teaching at St. Joseph's, Father Dirksen spent three years of graduate study at Catholic University, Washington, D. C., majoring in Sacred Scripture. In 1931 he returned to the faculty of St. Charles Seminary, teaching Sacred Scripture and Hebrew. He was thus occupied until his elevation to the St. Joseph's presidency in 1938. Father Dirksen is a crusading president. Few days go by in which he is not traveling afield-whether to address alumni chapters, Knights of Columbus, or to preach at Ecclesiastical functions. His published articles are numerous. Listing Father Dirksen as a regular con- tributor are The Ecclesizzsfiml Review, The H onzilefic fum' Pasforal Rcwieztf, The Classical Bullefilz, Sign, Columbia, and The Missionary. Father Dirksen has served on the Revision Committee of the English New Testament, prepared by the Catholic Biblical Association of America. Page twenty-sefueoz

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RELIGION Perfection of character through divine grace, and solid religious instruction, is the proper and immediate end of Christian education. This is the burden of the late Pontiff's Encyclical, Christian Education of Youthu. It follows, then, that the Catholic College must not only strive to impart sound Catholic teaching and practice, but it must, likewise, seek to translate that knowledge into instructive action. Conscious of this primary aim of Catholic education, St. Josephis has made every effort to present a well-planned course in advanced religious instruction. The Religion courses are, therefore, arranged with a view to correlate the funda- mental truths of the Catholic faith with the real issues and problems facing the layman in his daily life and conduct. A knowledge of the Life of Christ and a general acquaintance with the Sacred Scriptures being a necessary background for an intelligent understanding and appreciation of the whole religious structure, special emphasis is placed on the reading of the Bible. To insure sound teaching and effective guidance, the Department of Religion is comprised solely of priest-members, all trained instructors. To supplement the formal courses offered, a library of representative books and pamphlets relative to the respective courses are available for student use and reference. As a capstone to the entire religion program, the College oifers every student the opportunity for individual and personal guidance by a priest member of the faculty, the choice is determined by the student. REV. THOMAS H. GROTEN- RATH, M.A., CHAIRMAN