Meghan Stretar - Master of Divinity
What brought you to Saint John's Graduate School of Theology and Seminary?
I graduated from the College of Saint Benedict in 2017. I had no idea I would be back so soon, but God works in mysterious ways, and not even a year after leaving, Collegeville started floating back into my mind. I was drawn to the idea of slowing down my life, so I trusted the whisper. Like Henry David Thoreau once said, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach." Creating a lifestyle centered around slowness, stillness, prayer, study, friendship and community intrigued me. I wanted to learn more about God and my authentic self in relation to Him.
How will you be spending your time once your coursework is complete?
Reading books that aren't assigned, writing, spending time with my family this summer, attending many weddings, and hopefully traveling. Overall I'm looking forward to a more balanced use of my time to continue growing in relationship with those around me and in my own emotional and spiritual development.
What are your future goals and plans?
I hope to work in college campus ministry following graduation.
How do you hope to use your degree?
Similar to what Frederick Buechner writes about vocation, the place where I see my deepest joy meet the world's deepest needs is supporting, mentoring, and accompanying young people in navigating this time of transition in their lives.
