June. 197« - CROSSROAo« - »
V
Warren L. Clark
Clark Promoted To
Vice-President
Of Development
Father John P.
Bradley, President of
Belmont Abbey College,
recently announced that
Mr. Warren L. Clark has
been promoted to the
position of Vice-
President of Develop
ment at the College.
Clark, a native of
Flushing, New York,
came to North Carolina
almost six vears ago, and
has served as Diiean of
Students at Belmont
Abbey College since July
1970. Before beginning
his career at the Abbey,
Clark had served 23 years
in the U. S. Military,
where he rose to the rank
of Lt, Col.
Clark assumes the
newly created Vice-
President of Develop
ment position during
Belmont Abbey College’s
Centennial Fund Cam
paign. He will be
responsible for comple-
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SPOIJCHT
By FR. JAMES SOLARI, O. S. B,
Fr. Oscar, Chaplain And
Director Of Campus Ministry
tion of the Centennial
Fund drive and for future
fund raising and planning
for the College.
When asked what he
hopes to accomplish in
the new position, Clark
comment^ that among
his goals were to broaden
the base of financial
support, and to further
develop leadership to
achieve this goal.
Clark further explained
that he thinks that it will
be a challenging position,
which will require the full
utilization of his six years
experience with the
College.
No official word has
b^n released as to who
will be selected to replace
Clark as Dean of
Students. Approximately
75 applications for the
post nave been received.
Oscar Burnett, Jr. was
bom in Savannah, Ga.
during the roaring twen
ties ! Perhaps this fact is
symbolic — for he still
creates an uproar in his
ministry to the students
as Chaplain and Director
(rf the Campus Ministry.
Fr. Oscar had contact
with Boiedictines ctf Bel
mont during his youth,
both through Sacred
Heart Church and
Benedictine High, which
he attmded. His under
graduate degree was
earned at Armstrong
CoUege in his native city
and graduate studies in
law were completed at
Emory University in
Atlanta. He was a prac
ticing attorney for five
years before the attrac
tion to the monastic life
brought him to Belmont
in 1957. After a year of
novitiate he was ad
mitted to vows and began
his seminary studies at
the Abbey. He served as
socius to the novices who
followed him and
managed also to tea^
Business law and Con
stitutional law in tl»
College during these
years. He was ordained
to the priesthood in 1962.
For three years he was
the Dean of Students in
the College — memorable
years for so many of our
alumni who recall that he
once felt constrained to
bring to an abrupt halt a
concert in the Haid gym
nasium when the selec
tion of songs became
offensive. During this
period he was vigorous in
requiring students to
observe regulations but
equally concerned that
all should be treated
fairly and with under
standing.
He was next assigned
to serve in the Priory in
Richmond. For a year
and a half he worked as
assistant pastor of St.
Benedict’s Church and
taught at Benedictine
High School. In 1970, he
he was recalled to
Belmont by Abbot Ed
mund to become sub-prior
of the monastery. Novice
Master, and Procurator.
He very ably filled these
demanding offices for the
next two years. In 1973 he
asked to be appointed
full-time Chaplain of the
students — toe position
he now fills with great en
thusiasm.
Fr. Oscar is toe first
such full-time person to
serve toe campus minis-
highly important facet of
campus fife. Under his
try. His appointment
marked a new departure
and concern for this
nport
fife.
direction, many willing
hands collaborated in a
thorough renovation of
the former TKE
fraternity house. This
resulted in the beautiful
Chi-Rho Center for
Campus Ministry.
The goal of this
Cam nils Ministrv is to
Hendersonville, Ashe
ville, and Burnsville (in
the mountains).
“Students are what the
Ministry is all about,” he
says. “My personal goal
is to reach more of them
and to attempt to get
them involved in God’s
service.”
Fr. Oscar is grateful
for the substantial
suppix-t he receives from
the Faculty and Adminis-
Fr. Oscar, O.S.B.
build community on
campus in order to hear
witness for Christ
through worship and
acts of brotherly love. Fr.
Oscar, (the Big “O” — as
he is affectionately
known to students) has
organized a remaikable
variety of activities and
projects to engage
students actively in
ministry: regular visits
to the correctional center
in Dallas, N. C., to or
phanages, to hospitals,
to homes for toe aged,
projects to assist poor of
toe area.
Fr. Oscar is, of course,
a pastor to students first
and foremost. He
provides sacramental
ministry, is available at
most hours of day and
night for counselling, is
often at students’ side in
difficulties, whether
before civil court or
disciplinary hearings.
A series of student
retreats has been
another of his special
concerns — these have
been conducted at sites
which are conducive to
self-examination and
meditation such as:
Ocean Isle (on the coast).
tration of the College, yet
he knows that additional
funds are needed to
supply services to the
variety of persons
touched through the
Campus Ministry. At
present he is lodcing for a
vehicle to transport
students to toe above
mentioned places where
they can offer Christian
service.
Anyone know of such a
vehicle that he might
use?
CROSSROADS
Published bi-monthly by
Belmont Abbey College,
Belmont, North Carolina.
Acting Editor:
R. HOWARD SUGGS
Photos by:
STEVE OHNESORGE
JEFFSAILSTAD
CHARLIE GRISSOM
Contributions by:
MARY COOK
FR. BRADLEY
FR. JAMES
ABBOT JUDE
AND STAFF
Second class postage
paid at Belmont, N.C.
28012