10/07/2026
From the Desk of the First Gentleman
Homecoming is this Saturday, and I have been thinking about what it really means to “come home.”
I never participated in Homecoming during my university years, nor did I attend a university reunion. Apparently, I was not very good at the whole “coming home” thing. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that Homecoming is about much more than returning to a familiar campus. It is a reminder that we belong to something larger than ourselves.
Perhaps there is some physics involved. Physicists like to think about forces, connections, and systems. Simply occupying the same space does not create a functioning system—and the same may be true of people. Community requires a force of attraction. It requires listening, forgiving, sharing, praying, celebrating, and sometimes working through disagreements.
That spirit of togetherness is at the heart of Mount Mary’s mission. Each person brings unique gifts, experiences, and hopes, and we become stronger when we choose to walk together.
Perhaps that is one of the gifts of Homecoming: the opportunity to recognize the relationships that have shaped us and reconnect with the people and place that have been part of our stories.
Maybe I am finally beginning to understand what “coming home” means.
As we celebrate Homecoming this Saturday, may we be reminded that wherever our paths lead, we remain connected through community, faithfulness, and mutual appreciation. đź’™
— Michael Cherney, SSND Associate
First Gentleman of Mount Mary University
