Saint John’s Abbey
College of Saint Benedict / Saint John’s University
Saint John’s Preparatory School
Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sesquicentennial
Benedictines in Central Minnesota — 150 Years
Authors at the SJU Bookstore
Jon Hassler, one of Minnesota’s most beloved writers, recently published “The New Woman,” which chronicles 89-year-old Agatha McGee’s introduction to assisted living. Agatha is one of the superstars of Hassler’s creative imagination. Several other Hassler books will also be available. Although he will greet his fans and friends, the author has curtailed signing books as a result of the muscular-degeneration ailment that he has battled for several years.
Kathleen Norris will sign copies of her books including “The Cloister Walk,” “Dakota: A Spiritual Geography,” “Quotidian Mysteries” and “Amazing Grace.” Norris is an award-winning writer, poet and essayist. “The Cloister Walk,” written after two extended residencies at Saint John’s, takes readers through one liturgical year – its rituals, its prayers and its daily activities.
Mike Sipe will sign copies of “Collegeville, a Photo Essay,” which he published in collaboration with his son, Michael. The Sipe “Collegeville Photo Essay” includes full-page color and black and white photos – landscapes, portraits and buildings – taken by the father and son team over several years in and around Collegeville. Thimmesh wrote a brief history of Saint John’s that is included in the book.
Fr. Hilary Thimmesh will sign copies of “Saint John’s at 150: a Portrait of this Place Called Collegeville.” Thimmesh’s book was published to celebrate Saint John’s 150th anniversary. Its 150 pages contain dozens of historic and contemporary photographs as well as several essays and brief articles that provide a panoramic review of Saint John’s since five pioneer Benedictine monks arrived in Stearns County in May 1856.