"I t was a great honor to have served the college for 26 years," Brother Randal said afterward. "These years were some of the happiest of my fife." All who had the privilege of residing at the College during Brother Randal's long career will remember his remarkable wisdom continuing generosity and unfailing gentlemanliness.
The college was pleased to welcome His Excellency Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the new Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, who attended the ceremony along with Archbishops John P. Foley (C'65) and William J. Lavaba ('62), Bishops Paul S. Loverde (166) and William F. Murphy ('64), and former rectors of the College Msgr. Lawrence Purcell ('66), Msgr. Charles Murphy ('62), Archbishop Edwin O'Brien (C'76), and present rector, Msgr. Timothy Dolan ('76).
S ince Br. Randal's retirement in 1997, the operations of the library have been expertly guided by head librarian Sister Rebecca Abel, O.S.B. Through a number of terminals located throughout the library, students can locate books in the collection and access patristic works and the Catholic Periodical Index on CD-ROM. Sister Rebecca has also overseen an architectural reorganization of the library to accommodate a new office, reading room, and the Pius XII conference room. Thanks to a generous donation from the E.L. Wiegand Foundation of Reno, NV, Sister's enthusiastic efforts and the assistance of students and faculty, the circulation system of the library has been computerized through an enormous project of "bar-coding" over 40,000 volumes. The E.L. Wieqanb Foundation supports programs and projects of exemplary organizations in the fields of education, health, and medical research, public affairs, civic and community affairs, and arts and cultural affairs. The Good Shepherd welcomes all who visit the College Library.
"T he library has been blessed by the generosity of our benefactors and alumni; said Sister Rebecca. "With these resources, I have been able to make the works of the library more accessible. All this would not have been possible if it weren't for the outstanding collection of books which Br. Randal worked so hard to acquire."
The college is currently moving into a new phase of improving the library facilities at the Casa Santa Maria, which will include relocating and reorganizing the collection. Soon the computer networking which has facilitated research on the Janiculum also will include the growing collection at the graduate house.
Sister Rebecca Abel, O.S.B, and Mrs. Maria Marconi are enjoying the newly installed library automated computer system.
NAC Sports
North American Martyrs Need New Nickname By James Mason, Class of 2001, Diocese of Sioux Falls
A fter decades of being the doormat of the international seminary soccer league, the North American