BSM Community Offers Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayers

On Monday, Nov. 21, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s community gathered for the school’s annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service in the Great Hall. The event featured readings and reflections, sacred hymns, and a Native American smudging ceremony.

“Our coming together this morning is reflective of our BSM community,” said Father Tim Wozniak ‘66, BSM’s chaplain, noting, “Each of us is called to show love to one another, affirming that our school is one body and one spirit - making a difference in others.”

The service began with Joseph Bester of Gichitwaa Kateri Parish offering a smudging ceremony in “The Four Directions,” assisted by Melania Meyers ‘24. Readings and reflections were then offered by local faith leaders including the Reverend Siri Hauge Hustad of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral; Cantor Ben Tisser, Senior Cantor of Beth El Synagogue, St. Louis Park, and Dr. Tamim Saidi, Resident Scholar of the Islamic Resource Group (IRG), accompanied by BSM student Abyan Chaudhri ‘24.

Kaylin Konkoly-Thege ‘26 offered a reading while Rosalie Goldberg, BSM math teacher and her daughters sang a Jewish prayer, Oseh Shalom. The BSM choir sang two hymns, “I Choose Love” and “Peace, Shalom, Salaam.” Also in attendance was Shawn Phillips of Gichitwaa Kateri Parish and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Father Tim spoke of bringing together some of the various faith traditions represented by students, faculty, and staff at BSM, “Each of us can make a difference both in the classroom and in our neighborhoods, living out the message of our holy books and being together as One BSM.”

The service is annually celebrated at BSM during the week of Thanksgiving.