Faculty in Focus

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from working with students at The Hive?

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Fr. Mark Dilone, O.S.B.
Spanish Teacher
After teaching for almost two decades, I would say I have learned a lot from my students over the years. I can also confidently say that I have learned more from my significantly shorter time teaching St. Benedict’s students than at any other time in my teaching life. My Benedict’s students have taught me how to be part of their community, how to support them and have taught me about how to live community in a way I had never experienced. They have taught me how to be a better teacher and they have made me proud to be a father to many, while inspiring me to persevere in hope-filled service to God and our mission here. 

Br. Thomas Hall, O.S.B. ’06
Moderator, Gray Bee Ministry
The most important lesson I’ve learned from working with students at The Hive is the value of patience. While I’m used to understanding things quickly — and therefore getting them done quickly — I’ve learned that it often takes students longer to understand things, which is why students don’t always get things done as quickly either. Being patient, which involves listening and talking with, and not just to students, helps. 

What helps me be patient with students is remembering that I was a student here. Teachers had to be patient with me, especially when I had my own difficulties due to my cancer treatment. Everyone has their own problems and learning to deal patiently not only with these students, but with everyone in the community, is a valuable lesson.

Fr. Maximilian Buonocore, O.S.B. H’15
Director of the Learning Center, Mathematics
Some years ago in early December, a student with ADHD was fidgeting to the point of dancing in his chair. I gave him a stern look. He spoke up, “Fr. Max, am I making you nervous?” “Yes,” I replied, “you certainly are.” “Good,” he said, “I’m just doing my job.” I felt a surge of frustration and the temptation to yell at him; but then I thought, “It is Advent, and this is an Advent moment.” An insight came to me that kids recognize that their challenging behaviors are a test of the teacher’s patience and charity and, perhaps, a way of challenging us to show them compassion. This doesn’t rule out the use of sternness if needed, but it does mean using discernment. Every challenging moment is an Advent moment — an opportunity for Christ to come forth — to be incarnated, as it were — through me, through my acts of patience, kindness, charity and mercy. 

Br. Bruno Mello, O.S.B.
Philosophy and Logic Teacher
When I teach philosophy, I often pause class to check comprehension. One student constantly expressed to me that he was confused and had a lot of questions. This particular student was also literally acing the course with a perfect grade of 100%.

It didn’t take me long to realize that far from being lost and confused, this student’s readiness to admit ignorance and ask deeper questions was a tell-tale sign that he was among the brightest students in the room. Seeing my students’ humility and willingness to learn has inspired me to follow suit: to become a more humble teacher and a more attentive listener of the Word of God, who speaks to us in the concrete realities of our life.