
We'll start with "Who is Servite?" Who are these men? Servite is of every man, for every man. Her arms embrace Vietnamese, Irish, Nigerian, French, Indian, Tongan, Mexican, the poor and wealthy, the bright and the struggling. The statue of the Blessed Mother that greets students as they enter Servite is our statue of liberty, open to every man.
Servite is a center where God is invited to call each to become his own person. We have Catholics, Jews, Atheists, other Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Agnostics, Buddhists - each following his own call.
Servite is where every man is faced with the challenge of uniqueness, the appreciation of his loneliness; encouraged to make step after step, especially the first step along the path he must forge that no one else has trod; applauded for failed attempt, for resurrection as well as for victory.
Servite is where the friar's fire of wisdom and love brands every man"s soul, a fire that drives him to excel and enlighten and emblaze all who will follow him. And they will follow him! Servite is where we welcome the dark night that allows faith to reign victorious and wherein greatness of every man lies. It is where vistas and visions of mountain springs, major leagues and Carnegie Hall, the Pentagon and Capitol Hill, the all-American family and priesthood are presented to every man as possibilities.
Servite is a tradition of scholars, to-be-generals, authors, dentists, poets, lawyers, artists, doctors, accountants, teachers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, inventors and U.S. ambassadors. She is universal in her daring and reach, persistent in her pursuit, secure in her success. She is the yellow brick road where you discover your "you", living your "you", perfecting your "you" and loving that "you" more each day.
We try to be "Christ for others". Gandhi said, "If you Catholics really lived like Christ as you say you should, the whole of India would be Christian!" He threw down the gauntlet. We intend to answer.
Why love Servite? The challenge of uniqueness — Wisdom and love—Faith reigns —A tradition of scholars— Discovering you—Being Christ for others.