The following story was provided by Benilde-St. Margaret’s, a tri-charism school in the Midwest District.
While Benilde-St. Margaret’s has evolved over the last 50 years, there remains a constant for those who identify as Red Knights – the heart of BSM beats strongly in the person of Mike Jeremiah.
As campus minister – and so much more – he exemplifies the value of a face-to-face conversation, a kind word, a laugh and the importance of compassion. Jeremiah lives what he preaches, treating all with the same respect, and encouraging them to do likewise with one another.
In 1975, Jeremiah began working at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Barely a year had passed since the merger of the all-girls St. Margaret’s Academy and the all-boys Benilde High School to form Benilde-St. Margaret’s Catholic school. There was an opening in the theology department and the administration was looking for someone who could help build a foundation of community between the students in grades 10-12 who were still getting to know one another.
Now beginning his 50th year as campus minister at BSM, Mr. J., as he is lovingly called by students, remains actively engaged in building community for the school. He leads prayers before games for over 50 athletic teams, plans liturgical services with school staff and local clergy, is involved with the theology department program, helps with retreats and peer ministry programs, and avidly attends plays, concerts, and games of his beloved Red Knights. It’s a busy lifestyle, but for Jeremiah, it’s always about the students.
In a school that feels like a family, Jeremiah is beloved by students from junior high to high school because he knows practically all of them by name. He meets them wherever they are in life and interacts always with compassion. He knows a lot of their parents because many are alums who remember their own time as students with Mr. J.
For Jason Beste, a member of the Class of 1999, Jeremiah impacted the career path he chose and now thrives in on a global scale. “Mike J. was an example of contemplation in action, he taught me how to be driven and value the importance of making positive changes in the world,” Beste explained, noting that Mike J. deeply affected his perspective on life, influencing his decision to combine his service as a physician with social justice opportunities in Liberia, Mozambique, Malawi and in Ukraine, prior to the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Some alums return to BSM as members of the faculty and staff. Today, Joanie Sauer, Class of 1988, teaches math at BSM, but when she was a student herself at BSM, like many teens, rebelled against her faith, yet she says the most meaningful, faith-filled, community building moments came at those retreats led by Jeremiah. “I always left the retreats finding myself closer to Jesus and seeing the parts of Jesus in each and every one of my classmates.”
In 2003, when her brother was in an accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury, Jeremiah was at the hospital before even Joanie. “His prayer that he offered was something along the lines of…’ We are giving Joe to you God, we pray that Joe will come back to us as “Joe,” if Joe’s light is pulling him to YOU, we will accept your will and find comfort that Joe is with you.’ To this day my brother’s neurologist reminds Joe that he should be dead – his survival and the fact that he is still “Joe” is an absolute miracle.”
Regardless of whether it’s faculty or students, one of the thousands of BSM alums, or simply friends of the school, Jeremiah is known for his caring and compassionate approach over nearly five decades at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Jeremiah grew up in Illinois, venturing to Minnesota after high school to complete his undergraduate studies and a master’s at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Yet it was at Benilde-St. Margaret’s that Jeremiah discovered his true calling. In the classroom, at Mass, or after school, Jeremiah understands the importance of being present for students when they need someone to listen. And when the time is right, he knows that a kind word goes far in expressing compassion and encouragement in faith.