From the Office of the Superintendent: Building the Foundation for the Future

Dear Alumni, Parents, Students, Faculty, Staff, Monastic Community and Friends,

With hearts full of gratitude, we begin the celebration of the 135th Anniversary of Saint Bede
Academy.

For 135 years, Saint Bede has been a place where young people are invited to seek God, pursue
excellence and grow into lives of purpose, leadership and service. Rooted in the Benedictine
values of faith, community, hospitality, stewardship and scholarship, our Academy has shaped
generations of students while remaining faithful to its founding mission..

As we celebrate this milestone, we give thanks for all who have been part of the Saint Bede
story: the monks whose vision established the school, the faculty and staff who have dedicated
their lives to its mission, the families who have entrusted us with their children, and the alumni,
benefactors, and friends whose generosity has sustained this community across the decades.

Our anniversary invites us to remember a remarkable beginning.

On the 7th of September, 1891, Saint Bede opened its doors on this historic site overlooking the
Illinois River Valley. What emerged from the rich farmland of north-central Illinois was more than
a school. It was a bold act of faith and a commitment to the transformative power of Catholic
education. The Benedictine monks who founded Saint Bede believed that education was a
sacred ministry—one that would form both minds and hearts.

At a joyous celebration at Saint Bede on October 10, 1891, Bishop John Lancaster Spalding
delivered his Dedication of St. Bede College address remarking on the enduring contribution of
the Benedictine tradition, observing that “faith and love, humility and patience are the saving
principles. They fertilize the earth, illumine the mind, strengthen the heart.” More than a century
later, his words still capture the mission of Saint Bede Academy.

Saint Bede today looks different from the Academy that opened in 1891. In those early years,
nearly every role on campus was filled by monks—teachers, prefects, administrators, coaches,
maintenance staff, groundskeepers, and spiritual leaders. Over time, as the monastic community
evolved, a new generation of talented lay educators and staff stepped forward to continue this
important work. Today, Saint Bede is blessed with exceptional faculty, dedicated personnel, and
support staff who, under the guidance and inspiration of the monastic community, faithfully
advance the Benedictine mission. The people have changed, but the values endure.

Those founders built for a future they would never see. We are the beneficiaries of their faith,
sacrifice, and foresight. Now the responsibility is ours.

As we honor our past, we must also prepare for our future. A strong future for Saint Bede
depends on remaining accessible, mission-driven, and financially sustainable. Central to that
future is our responsibility to build a lasting endowment.

An endowment is more than a financial asset; it is a lasting investment in the Academy's mission.
it supports scholarships and financial aid, strengthens academic and student programs, attracts
outstanding faculty, and provides stability during changing economic times. In many ways, an
endowment is the bridge between generations—linking the generosity of yesterday with the
needs of tomorrow.

One of the greatest benefits of a strong endowment is that it helps keep a Saint Bede education
within reach for families. While tuition remains essential, tuition alone cannot sustain everything
that makes this school exceptional. Simply put, endowment is what allows a school to make
decisions based on mission rather than financial pressure.

As stewards of this institution, we are called not merely to preserve Saint Bede, but to
strengthen it. May this anniversary deepen our gratitude, renew our commitment to our

mission, and inspire us to invest boldly in the future.

Together, let us celebrate 135 years of Benedictine education and ensure that Saint Bede
continues to flourish for generations to come.

With gratitude and prayers,

Eve Postula ’84

Saint Bede Academy Superintendent

"That in all things God may be glorified."
— Rule of Saint Benedict 57:9

From Europe to the Illinois Valley: The Journey that Led to Saint Bede

Long before the first students walked through the doors of Saint Bede in 1891, the Academy's story had already crossed continents.

It began more than 1,300 years ago with St. Benedict of Nursia, whose Rule shaped a way of life centered on prayer, learning, community and hospitality. That Benedictine tradition spread throughout Europe, eventually taking root at Metten Abbey in Bavaria. From there, a young monk named Fr. Boniface Wimmer, OSB carried the Benedictine mission across the Atlantic, finding Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa, in 1846.

Just 15 years later, Benedictine monks arrived in Illinois to serve the growing German Catholic community at St. Joseph Church in Chicago. As they traveled throughout northern Illinois, they recognized another opportunity - not simply to serve parishes, but to establish a school that would educate young men while forming them in the Benedictine tradition.

Their vision found an eager supporter in Bishop John Lancaster Spalding of Peoria. Together, they selected a 200-acre farm between Peru and Spring Valley as the future home of the new school. Construction began in 1889, but the project was anything but easy. Money was scarce, and the monks borrowed heavily to keep construction moving while overcoming obstacles that included finding a reliable water supply. Their perseverance paid off.

On Sept. 7, 1891, Saint Bede College welcomed its first class of 50 students. Named for the Venerable Bede - an English monk, scholar and teacher whose lifelong pursuit of knowledge reflected the school's mission - the new institution quickly became a place where faith and education flourished together.

When the college was formally dedicated on Oct. 12, 1891, hundreds of guests from around the Illinois Valley and beyond gathered to witness the opening of the new Benedictine college, Bishop Spalding marked the occasion with a special address on the front steps of the Academy. In the address, he declared Saint Bede would educate both the mind and the soul. He challenged the new college to become a place where faith, scholarship and service would shape generations of students. Now, 135 years later, that vision continues to guide Saint Bede Abbey and Academy. 

Saint Bede Academy to Celebrate 135 Years this September

By Fr. Ronald Margherio, OSB ’68, Campus Historian

In September 1891, a group of young men arrived at a new Benedictine school overlooking the Illinois Valley. They wore different clothes, studied different subjects, played different sports, and lived in a world that would be almost unrecognizable to today's students.

This fall, the 135th freshman class will walk through those same doors. Much has changed in the years between.

The student body is now young men and women. Classrooms contain technology that the founders could never have imagined. Athletic opportunities have expanded dramatically. The campus has grown and evolved. Even the cost of attending Saint Bede Academy tells the story of a changing world.

Yet these photographs reveal something remarkable. Beneath the obvious differences lies a deeper continuity.

The question is not simply what has changed. The more interesting question is this: What would the students of 1891 recognize in the students of 2026? I suspect they would recognize quite a lot.

They would recognize young people arriving with hopes for the future. They would recognize friendships being formed in classrooms, hallways and on athletic fields. They would recognize teachers who challenge students to grow, not only academically but personally. They would recognize a community that seeks to form character as well as intellect. Most of all, they would recognize a school rooted in faith.

For 135 years, Saint Bede Academy has remained grounded in the Benedictine values upon which it was founded: faith, community, hospitality, respect, stewardship and the pursuit of wisdom.

These values have outlasted changing fashions, changing technologies, changing educational methods and changing generations. They continue to shape the life of the Academy today just as they did when the first students arrived in 1891.

Having arrived at Saint Bede as a freshman in 1964, I have had the privilege of knowing monks who remembered alumni from the 1920s and 1930s, and students who will graduate in 2029 and beyond. That experience has taught me something important: Saint Bede Academy belongs to no single generation. Each generation receives a gift, cares for it and passes it on. That has been the story of Saint Bede for 135 years.

As Benedictines, we often speak about stability. Stability is sometimes misunderstood as resisting change. In reality, Benedictine stability is something much deeper. It means remaining rooted while continuing to grow. An oak tree is stable not because it remains small, but because its roots are deep enough to support new growth year after year.

The story of Saint Bede Academy is much the same.

The school has never stood still. It has adapted to new times, welcomed new generations, embraced new opportunities and responded to new challenges. Yet throughout those changes, it has remained faithful to its mission of educating young people in a community shaped by Benedictine values.

Each generation has received a gift from those who came before. Students, parents, faculty, monks, alumni, benefactors and friends have all played a role in preserving and strengthening that gift. In turn, each generation has passed it on to the next. That may be the most important lesson of this anniversary.

The history of Saint Bede Academy is not merely a story about buildings, classrooms, athletic teams or tuition costs. It is the story of people. It is the story of thousands of young men and women whose lives were shaped here. It is the story of a community that has endured because each generation cared for something larger than itself.

For 135 years, the faces have changed. The mission has not.

Different generations. The same Benedictine foundation.

The Alumni Association Introduces a Graduation Pinning Ceremony

Graduation day at Saint Bede Academy is a milestone that students and families look forward to for years. This spring, the Alumni Association added something new to the occasion—a pin, and with it, a formal welcome into the alumni community.

At the 2026 commencement, the Alumni Association introduced its inaugural pinning ceremony, recognizing each new graduate as a member of the Alumni Association. The members of the Class of 2026 received a Saint Bede Alumni pin to welcome them and remind them that their connection to Saint Bede doesn’t end with senior year, but rather, can continue throughout their lives.

The pinning ceremony took place prior to graduation in the Perino Science Center. Four members of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association — Julie Arkins ’95, Nora Cosgrove ’78, Gina Mudge’94 and Claire Perona Murphy ’78 — gathered the students and, as the students approached one by one, attached the golden pins to their green gowns. 

Cosgrove noted that “seeing the graduates’ faces light up” as the pins were presented “was one of the most moving experiences” of her years with the organization, with Murphy adding that “the pins added a unifying symbol for the students to wear for their commencement” which identified them “not only as members of the graduating class but also as part of a rich tradition dating back to 1890.” For Arkins and Mudge, the moment was particularly meaningful, as each was able to place the pin on her own child.

The ceremony is a fitting symbol of what the Alumni Association is all about — welcoming graduates into a community that stays with them and can support them long after they leave campus.

Connecting Alumni, Supporting Students

The Saint Bede Academy Alumni Association was founded in 2014. Membership is automatic and free; every graduate becomes a member the day they receive their diploma. And while the Alumni Association is happy if members support the school, raising money is not one of its goals. 

The Alumni Association’s mission is primarily to bring together alumni, and also to facilitate helpful connections between alumni and students. Recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, it is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors, led by President Grant Bosnich ’13, Vice President Claire Perona Murphy ’78, Secretary Emma Perona Bosco ’14 and Treasurer Nora Cosgrove ’78.

“Saint Bede shapes you in ways you don't fully appreciate until years later,” said Bosnich. “The Alumni Association exists to make sure that bond never fades, and that every graduate knows we’re in their corner.”

The Association’s calendar of events includes alumni get togethers such as the Chicago Happy Hour at Monk’s Pub and the summertime Pistol Shrimp game, as well as the Golden Bedan/Distinguished Alumnus Breakfast, which honors graduates at their 50-year reunion and recognizes an outstanding alumnus with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Alumni Association also connects students with alumni through an in-school Career Panel and mentoring program and assists the Administration at the annual auction and for various homecoming events, such as Bruins Jam. 

The pinning ceremony is a welcome new tradition—a small but meaningful moment that reminds each new graduate that the Alumni Association is here, and is glad to have them.

If you are interested in hearing more about the Alumni Association, please contact them at alumniassociation@st-bede.com or follow the Saint Bede Alumni Association Facebook page.

Alumni Spotlight: Kyle Dinges '95

What path did your life take after graduating from Saint Bede?

I was fortunate to continue my baseball career at Quincy University, where I played for four years and then coached for an additional year. After Quincy, I moved to St. Louis and immediately began working in sports sponsorships on the radio side, selling partnerships for the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Rams at the time. In 2008, I began my career with the St. Louis Cardinals in corporate partnerships and have been there ever since. 

Looking back, what part of your Saint Bede experience shaped you the most?

Saint Bede taught me that God comes first in everything and that actions always speak louder than words. Treating others the way you want to be treated is one of the most important values I try to live by every day. It can sometimes be challenging in business, but in the end, doing the right thing always matters. 

What does Saint Bede mean to you today?

Saint Bede played a huge role in helping me establish my priorities in life. It taught me that through hard work, dedication and the right attitude, any goal can be accomplished, no matter how big or small. 

In what ways do you stay connected to or give back to the Saint Bede community?

I’m not able to get back to the Illinois Valley as much as I would like, but I have always enjoyed following my nephew, Geno Dinges ’27, and my Uncle Bill Booker through the baseball program. The St. Louis Cardinals enjoy supporting their community camps and the Saint Bede Auction whenever possible. 

Why do you feel it’s important to stay connected to Saint Bede?

Saint Bede has been an important part of not only my life, but also the lives of my entire family and now the next generation of our family as well. Saint Bede represents community and always welcomes everyone with open arms. 

What advice would you give current students about making the most of their time at Saint Bede?

Get involved in the Saint Bede community by trying different activities and opportunities whenever you can. Sports are great, but don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Be comfortable being uncomfortable — that’s how you grow and become the best version of yourself. 

What’s one lesson, value or tradition from Saint Bede that you carry with you in your daily life?

Things don’t always happen the way you want them to or on the timeline you expect. Trust the process, stay patient and in the end, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.