READING, MA — In a culture where negativity has taken hold in politics and television, carrying out an act of kindness for someone else is more important than ever.
This was the message that Dr. Steven R. DiSalvo, president of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, told the 740 students at Austin Preparatory School in Reading.
“This is the question I want you to ask yourselves: How can you live your faith and make a positive impact in someone else’s life?” he said.
Faith was the topic of Dr. DiSalvo’s remarks. He selected the topic because it aligns with the school’s theme this year, “Know your faith and live it well.”
“Knowing your faith requires you to be educated in ways that transcend books and articles … and embracing the belief that we were put on this earth for a higher purpose,” Dr. DiSalvo said.
The college president visited Austin Prep as part of the school’s St. Augustine Lecture Series. Named for Austin Prep’s patron, the series is designed to enrich the intellectual life of the school community by exposing students to accomplished individuals who share their experiences and lessons learned in life.
Previous speakers were Brian Montgomery, former Deputy Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary in the Executive Office of President Bush and former Housing & Urban Development Secretary for President Obama; and Major General Charles W. Whittington, Jr., the Deputy Commanding General of Operations in the U.S. First Army.
The challenges we face in life are part of our life’s journey, so embrace those challenges, Dr. DiSalvo said.
“The future is right in front of me,” he said. “You must know that you can do anything, because together, we can change the world for the better.”
Dr. DiSalvo is the first lay president in Saint Anselm’s 125-year history. He is a longtime leader in higher education and philanthropy, and a former president of Marian University in Wisconsin. Prior to Marian, he worked at several nonprofit organizations, including the Hopewell Group Inc., the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, and the Junior Achievement of New York, Inc.
(NOTE: The above press release is from Austin Prep.)
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