b'was an active presence in his life. A Benedictine sister,coincidentally named Sister Thomas, was one of thefirst to talk seriously with him about religious life. I remember her saying, you are never alone whenyou have a religious community, he says. Brother Tom first met the Marianists when his familymoved to Covington, Kentucky, where a Marianistcommunity resided in a house down the street. Hisparents worked hard so he could attend CovingtonCatholic High School, a Marianist-run school at thetime. During his senior year, he decided to try Marianistlife that upcoming summer.In July 1963, I took the train from Cincinnati toupstate New York to begin my novitiate year," he says.That year left an indelible impressionespecially thecommunity and prayer lifeand he decided to stayand join the Marianists.You did it with enthusiasm!After the novitiate, Brother Tom studied at Universityof Dayton and began teaching at Purcell High Schoolin Cincinnati. The first two years were difficult, partlybecause I was trying to discern my own teachingstyle, he says.Once he earned the trust of students, however, andstarted teaching religion, he found his groove. Yearslater, a student told him, I dont remember anythingyou taught us, except the fact that you always did itwith enthusiasm! culture and family ties, but poor by most other Marianist Brother Tom Pieper,One of his most memorable experiences was in measuresinitially was an after-school and summer SM, who works in campus1980 when he helped facilitate the merger of Purcell reading program, but the Marianist brothers and UDs ministry at University of Dayton,hosts a meeting outdoors withwith Marian High School, another Cincinnati Catholic campus ministry department expanded it to a day students.school, to become Purcell-Marian High School. I was camp and teen center. impressed with how the students and administration It was a great blessing to return to my home statelistened to each other throughout that process, he says.of Kentucky where everyone was so welcoming andAfter 17 years at the school, Brother Tom agreed gracious, says Brother Tom. I tell UD students whoto serve in vocation ministry at Mount Saint John in volunteer with the program that people in AppalachiaDayton, Ohio, as the assistant director of novices and, dont need our salvation. Instead, we need to learneventually, the director of the novitiate.from them how to live simply, one day at a time, andThen, in 1996, University of Dayton had an opening build relationships with them.for a campus minister to work with first-year students Brother Tom retired from his role with UDSAP inin Stuart residence hall. While he served there, some 2017, but hes always looking for ways to build some-students nicknamed him BT and now, 20 years later, thing better, from small repairs in his communitysstudents even colleaguescontinue using the name. house to ways of overcoming challenges in the world.In addition to serving students in Stuart Hall, Brother Whats certain, Brother Tom always will stay busy,Tom has worked with Marianist Student Communities be creative and use his mind and hands to do things.and the UD Summer Appalachia Program (UDSAP). What we dont want is for him to get boredjustHe first became involved with UDSAP in 1997 and ask his kindergarten teacher.assumed management of the program two years later.The Summer Appalachia Program, serving families LeeAnn Meyer is program coordinator for the Office forin the rural mountains of eastern Kentuckyrich in Mission & Rector at University of Dayton.marianist.com/donate 13'