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O’Donnell Honored with Freshman Advisor of the Year Award

Joseph B. O’ Donnell, PhD, chair and professor of accounting, is the recipient of the 2012-2013 Canisius Freshman Advisor of the Year Award. Christine J. Ryan, PhD, associate dean, undergraduate academic advisement, presented O’Donnell with his award earlier this month. He was nominated by his freshman advisees and ultimately selected by a committee of academic administrators based on his dedication to freshman advisement and to his students. This is the fourth year that the college has honored a faculty member with the Freshman Advisor of the Year Award. In addition to receiving the award for his office, O’Donnell’s name has been engraved on a perpetual plaque which is displayed in the Student Advisement Center.

Submitted by Marketing & Communication

Hoop Teams Host Holiday Doubleheader

Your men’s and women’s basketball teams host a holiday doubleheader this Saturday afternoon at the KAC. Canisius basketball presents a tremendous way for you to enjoy a fun-filled and festive afternoon with your family in the friendly and warm confines of the Koessler Canter.

The Canisius women open conference play against league newcomer, Quinnipiac, at 2 p.m., while the men’s team, coming off a great win at Holy Cross, host the Lamar Cardinals at 4:15 p.m. Lamar is coached Bobby Knight’s son, Pat.

All children tickets are only $5. Call 888-2885 to reserve yours now, or visit gogriffs.com.

Submitted by: John Maddock, associate athletic director – external affairs, Athletics

Christmas Greetings from Fr. Paul Dugan, S.J.

Merry, merry Christmas to all my friends, relatives, students, and classmates! Believe me, I miss and will always miss, the days in Buffalo, Rochester, and Brooklyn.

It was a difficult transition, but Murray-Weigel has been very kind to me, and I am very happy to be here.  Do I get good food?  Yes, indeed – three full meals!  Do I get a drink?  Yes, but not as many!  Do I walk?  Yes, but with a walker, and I use a wheelchair for outdoor trips.  I have attended football games, seated in the end zone, as well as men’s and women’s basketball games.  A volunteer pushes me in my wheelchair to the gym or field. The Fordham football team had only one loss and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they were defeated by Towson University in Baltimore.  Just as at Canisius, students here appreciate your attendance.

How about entertainment?  Yes – student socials, lectures, arts and crafts!  Music?  Plenty –twice -a -week sing-alongs, professional recitals, a pianist, a violinist, vocalists, and the Fordham choirs in the University Church where I was ordained along with Fr. Avery Dulles.

How about medical care?  ArchCare, a managed healthcare provider, oversees our needs with great success. I had my left hip replaced and an eye operation. Both procedures went extremely well. A light anesthetic was administered for the eye surgery.  During the operation, I sometimes could hear what the surgeons were saying.  The first time they were talking medical things; the next time they were saying that San Diego was the best place for a vacation.  When they shook me awake, my first words were, “I want to go to San Diego!”  This broke up the medical staff!   Here at Murray-Weigel, they keep a close watch over you, so I am getting my money’s worth!

Equally as important as medical attention is the companionship, which is special.  You meet Jesuits you know but haven’t seen in a long time.  They share their experiences.  Some have traveled and studied far and wide: France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Vatican City, South America, England, Ireland, Philippines, islands in the Pacific, Spain ( At Pamplona, Fr. Haus and I attended the running with the bulls. Young people from all over the world come for the best party in Europe! Of course, we tried to convert them!), Cervinia (My ski place! It’s the Italian side of the Matterhorn.).

Pretty and handsome Fordham student volunteers help us, and we help them.  As I said earlier, they push me to games and concerts.  They are trying to bring order to my life by clearing my desk, drawing up mailing and email lists, and teaching me the computer (but I don’t always do my homework!).

My cousin, Joe Shanahan, stayed at the Hall for a couple of days, and he was really impressed with the staff and Jesuits because they are so friendly and helpful.  You have my invitation to come visit, too! The Fordham campus is beautiful, and Murray-Weigel is practically part of that campus.

The spiritual benefits here are immense. The great care motivates us to be grateful and not to feel depressed. We are confident that our prayers will benefit our friends and families, and we ask that you, in turn, pray for us.

A skilled Jesuit living here took the pictures I have included. I tried to smile, for I have built my career on my smile!  My dear relative created the oil painting. He wouldn’t tell me how much I could get for it. For some reason, the question offended him! The plant is from a distinguished Buffalo family that was the first to visit me. The prayer shawl crocheted in Canisius colors was made by a good friend from Buffalo.

A note to friends who are pushing me for pope: The chance is remote, and the problems for a pope might be too much, even for me!

So wipe away the tears you are shedding for me but don’t be jealous, for even Murray-Weigel is not a perfect world. I hope this letter passes the censors!

Wonderful as Murray-Weigel is, it is an expensive operation.  60 retired Jesuit priests and brothers live here. Visit us, telephone us, and email us. Make a contribution if the Spirit moves you, but don’t mortgage the house! Your friendship and prayers are gifts enough.

Will you do me one last favor? Please spread this message – and the joy – to others!

(Fr. Robert Haus with me in our new solarium)

Christmas blessings,

Fr. Paul Dugan, S.J.

Employee Christmas Mass, Luncheon December 20

A Christmas Mass will be offered at 11:30 a.m. in Christ the King Chapel on Friday, December 20, followed by the employee Christmas luncheon from noon – 1:30 p.m. in the Peter Gust Economu Dining Hall. Please take this time to visit with and enjoy the company of our college community as we come together to celebrate Christmas and the blessings of our friends and co-workers.

This year, in the spirit of giving, members of the Canisius community attending the events are asked to bring a non-perishable food item(s) to benefit St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy in Buffalo. The items collected will be used for their Food Pantry. St. Luke’s serves between 400-600 people a day in their Dining Room, they own 23 homes in the area for mostly women and children, have two shelters for men, a Mission Mall and a Home School to educate the children they serve. St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy does not receive money from the government or the diocese. Trusting in God’s Divine Providence, the ministry depends on donations from individuals like you. St. Luke’s is one of the college’s community partners.

Drop off bins will be located in the dining hall during the Christmas luncheon. Please help in any way that you can.

No RSVP is necessary and all but essential employees are released to begin their holiday immediately following the luncheon. Happy Holidays!

Submitted by: Lisa Fischer, executive associate to the vice president, Academic Affairs

Serve as one of Santa’s Elves-St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy needs your help!

Help be one of Santa’s Elves for Christmas!
Serve with Campus Ministry at St Luke’s Mission on Thursday, December 19,  from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Open to faculty/staff your families and students)

  • St. Luke’s needs thousands of wrapped toys moved from a secret location they affectionately dub their “toy box”to their Mission Mall on this time and date. We are in need of 40+ people for this project!
  • The toys will be delivered to families in need in the City of Buffalo
  • After our work Amy Betros, HON. ’09 Foundress of St. Luke’s will host the Canisius volunteers for fresh homemade pizza in their Dining Room.
  • We will have vans leaving in front of the Tower Lot at 6:30pm. You can also may choose to meet us at St. Luke’s we have people there waiting for you!

To sign-up or if you have questions contact Joe Van Volkenburg at vanvolkj@canisius.edu, or 465-9327.

Submitted by: Joe Van Volkenburg, assistant to the director of Campus Ministry