Reflections Magazine Issue #60 - Fall 2003 | Page 12

From the
Heights

10

The Beauty

of the

Mountaintop

By Anthony Butler ’04

Editor’s Note: Anthony Butler, an elementary

H

ave you ever been to the moun-

istry within the Church the opportunity

tains? Have you stood in the mist

to deepen their understanding of what

second year as president of Student Senate.

and looked out over the lush scenery

ministry means. Students participate

Although not Catholic when he arrived at Siena

below? Have you ever felt you could

in presentations and discussions with

just reach up and grab the clouds? Have

Aquinas faculty and each other. The

you felt you were as close as you could

presentations range from systematic

get to God without being in heaven?

theology to preaching to leadership. The

education tri-minor from Deerfield, is in his

in 2000, he became active in the social justice
side of Campus Ministry early in his freshman
year. “The good work of helping people and
standing up for things I believe in” drew him into
discussion with Siena’s Campus Ministry Team,
where he discovered that the Adrian Dominican
value system “spoke to who I am.” Earlier
this year, he completed the Rite of Christian
Initiation for Adults and was baptized and
confirmed in the Catholic Church.

Recently I had the opportunity to experience all of this and more in majestic
Colorado Springs, CO.
The Aquinas Institute of Theology in St.
Louis, with a generous gift from the Lilly
Endowment, sponsors 20 undergraduate
students each spring for Ministry in the
Mountains. The program is designed to
give students who are interested in min-

students are able to see how theology is
necessary for ministry, as well as seeing
the constant threads that run through the
various areas of theology.
This year’s students (who attended the
program free of charge) came from different universities. Kristen was from
Providence College. Amy was from
University of New Mexico. Many were
from the Midwest. All were connected