A Given Life

Pope Francis has dedicated 2015 as The Year of Consecrated Life.

Many meanings and associations flow from the term ‘Consecrated Life’, one of the first would be the thought of those men and women who pursue the vocation of religious life as nuns, brothers, monks, priests.   Another association is the way in which a person might consecrate or bless life by using the gift of our days as a blessing in life.

Consider this University of Portland legend.  Rev. George L. Dum, C.S.C.

Fr. Dum came to the Bluff in 1934 assigned to teach philosophy.  Which naturally put him in the Mathematics classroom, then as director and moderator of the Band, Gleemen, Chorus, Nurse’s Choral, Singing Wings (AFROTC), and also as performer with the Portland Philharmonic Chorale.  But his hobby was bridge, achieving the rank of Life-Master in Contract Bridge.   And of course he celebrated Mass at parishes throughout the area, delivered food to Blanchet House, and did wood-working in his retirement; only departing UP in 1987, after 53 years of service in the Portland community.  He taught in both the college and high school division, and contributed ‘Fight Songs’ for both Columbia Prep and University of Portland (School Song; On Pilots, On), as well as composing and arranging liturgical music.

Click to enlarge image

File sources: The Beacon, 1935 on; plus 50 years of the Log; Portland Magazine, Winter 2011.

Pope Francis has dedicated 2015 as The Year of Consecrated Life.

Many meanings and associations flow from the term ‘Consecrated Life’, one of the first would be the thought of those men and women who pursue the vocation of religious life as nuns, brothers, monks, priests.  Another association is the way in which a person might consecrate or bless life by using the gift of our days as a blessing in life.

Consider this University of Portland legend.  Rev. Maurice S. Rigley, C.S.C.

Professionally, an English teacher.  By vocation, priest and religious.  Moderator of the Beacon, the Preface, the Log, Monogram Club, the Biolog.  Volunteer campus park ranger and grounds keeper, providing a piece of clean lawn to relax and lounge.   Friend of student boarders; friend of the city as one of the Blanchet House mid-wives, taking charity and care to the homeless exile in Portland.  He filled his hours, blessed his days, and impressed the same values on other people and lives involved within his own consecrated friendship while at UP from 1938-1961.

Click each image for full text

File sources: Alumni Bulletin, September 1961; The LOG, 1962; The BEACON 28 February 1964, (photo with caption to the current sign board); Alumni Bulletin, April 1972; Alumni Bulletin, April 1976; The BEACON, 6 April 1978 (tree photo with caption); Portland Magazine, Spring 1992; The Catholic Sentinel, 2 July 2009.

Photo credits:
1946 Log, with Beacon Staff
July 1953 Indiana Province Review
Alumni Bulletin, September 1952, p. 3
Alumni Bulletin, April 1972, p. 7
Alumni Bulletin, April 1976, p. 14
University Museum