L’Uomo di Cultura Brother Randal Riede, CFX (1917-2003) “May he rest in peace”
On
November 7, 2003, Our Lord called home Brother Randal Riede, Xaverian brother and former librarian-extraordinaire of the North American College. Brother Randal came to the North American College on September 1, 1971 and remained for 26 years until he retired in 1997. During that time the library more than doubled in size. He did such a
“Brother was much more than a librarian. First and foremost, he was a man of the Church.” fine job that on January 10, 1999, His Eminence James Cardinal Hickey, C’51, dedicated the library in his honor. But Brother was much more than a librarian. First and foremost, he was a man of the Church. Msgr. Kevin C. McCoy, rector of the College and student while Brother
Brother Randal Riede, CFX, June 28, 1917 - November 7, 2003
Randal was here, states, “Brother Randal had a very deep faith; he was wholly committed to the Church. He was pious in a good sense, and had good daily devotions.” Without exception, he would visit the chapel daily and pray before the Blessed Sacrament on his way to and from the library office. Not only was he pious, but Brother Randal was very well-educated. Father Biegler, director of Apostolic and Pastoral Formation who also knew Brother Randal as a student, states, “Brother Randal was seen as a uomo di cultura, that is, he was a strong believer in a good classical education. He was a walking archive, and a world traveler.” Brother Randal promoted education among the seminarians, but not only a classroom education. He encouraged the seminarians to travel as much as possible. Father Biegler notes, “Brother Randal, speaking tongue in cheek, would tell us to ‘beg, borrow, or steal’ in order to travel.” Msgr. McCoy states, “Among the students there Above: Sr. Rebecca Abel, OSB, James Cardinal Hickey, and Br. Riede at the dediwas no hesitation to express their minds to him. He cation of the new library
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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E