b'LIVING SIMPLY, ONE DAY AT A TIMEMarianist Brother Tom Pieper draws on his Kentucky roots and his faith to help students trust Gods direction for their lives.By LeeAnn MeyerALL PHOTOS: JULIE WALLINGPeople in Appalachia dontneed our salvation.Instead, we need to learn from themhow to live simply,one day at a time,and build relationshipswith them. Brother Tom Pieper, SMBrother Tom Pieper, SM, also often called BT by students and friendsI A Kentucky upbringingt is hard to believe that Marianist Brother Tom Pieperhas spent the majority of his life in schools, especially Born in Florence, Kentucky, as one of seven children insince he considers himself a kindergarten dropout. the Pieper household, Brother Tom realized early onFrom the time he was a kid, Brother Tom knew that that God played a central role in the family. Bedtimehe learned best by doing, so he occasionally left his prayers took awhile, he says, because my parentskindergarten classroom in the middle of the day to came around to bless each of us as we knelt at our beds.walk home, because I was bored sitting at a desk and His moms motto was God will provide, anddoing nothing, he says, with a boyish grin. Looking since Brother Tom trusted his mom, he also trusted inback now, though, Brother Tom says his greatest sur- God. From ironing pieces of bread to make hosts forprise is how much God worked in his life, including his pretend Mass, to serving at his familys parishhis call to be a Marianist and an educator. alongside the Benedictine sisters, Brother Toms faith12 Call 1.800.348.4732'