“Father Michael is one of the kindest, most thoughtful, genuine people I know. He cares deeply about his community and all those around him, and was (and continues to be) a great support for me and countless other students. He is an advocate for change and a voice for the voiceless, truly embodying all of the principles that the Edmundites were founded upon.” ~Megan McCauley, SMC ’18, Yale Physician Associate Program, Co2021
Megan McCauley agreed to an interview to help our followers understand more about the Edmundites. Here, she describes how they have had an impact on her. Please enjoy this interview and contact our communications manager, Lynn Monty, at lmonty@sse.org, if you would like to be interviewed, or to contribute to this blog page, or to learn more about The Society of Saint Edmund.
Megan McCauley: I met Father Michael back in 2016 (my junior year) when he first joined the Edmundites and was still Brother Michael. I was a MOVE Core Team Leader and came to campus a week early for Core Team training. It was actually Father Mike Cronogue that introduced us, and we made a connection right away, easily joking while volunteering at Rockpoint School. We continued to be a part of the same things, from retreats to MOVE events, and I remember asking him to be my partner for First Year Apple Picking while we were both volunteering. Throughout the semester, I spent many afternoons in his office, and we even did an escape room with a few other students, and I got to join him and the other Edmundites for dinner in Nicole Hall. We have been close friends ever since.
Q: How has he had an impact on you?
Megan McCauley: Michael is one of the kindest, most thoughtful, genuine people I know. He cares deeply about his community and all those around him, and was (and continues to be) a great support for me and countless other students. He is an advocate for change and a voice for the voiceless, truly embodying all of the principles that the Edmundites were founded upon. Michael still reaches out to me even now, three years post-grad, to check in and catch up. I value his friendship highly and treasure all of the memories of time spent at Saint Michael’s. My family and friends will actually ask me how my priest friend Michael is doing!
Q: Do you know other Edmundites?
Megan McCauley: I got to know a few of the Edmundites while volunteering with MOVE and attending retreats at Saint Michael’s College. Father Rainville, Father Vanderweel, and Father Cummings have done such wonderful work connecting with students and creating an inclusive environment. I miss and think of them often. And of course, no one could forget Father Mike Cronogue who founded the MOVE program and brought so much love and light to St. Mike’s. He leaves a great legacy to fulfill and I will always remember his selflessness and genuine care. Him introducing me to Michael was one of the greatest gifts, and I am so grateful for that.
I was not raised Catholic, but always felt included and welcomed by the Edmundites. They have always been welcoming and supportive, and I never thought I would get so involved in Campus Ministry, but I could not resist finding a home in this community. I also really connect with the message of faith through service, and am inspired by the Edmundites’ beautiful way of sharing their faith with others by working together towards a common goal.
One great memory I have is when Anna Lester put together Saint Michael’s first Women’s Retreat in the spring of 2018. I was really excited to be apart of this, but was a little unsure how we would facilitate a Mass on this retreat as it was only open to women students and faculty and all of the Edmundites are men. When I heard that Anna had asked Father Michael to stop by the retreat at Saint Anne’s Shrine for Mass, I knew she could not have chosen better. He was hesitant to accept, taking time and care to make sure that all of the women would be comfortable, and agreed to perform the necessary Mass in the most sensitive way possible. He did not make it feel awkward or intrusive to have a man join the retreat briefly, and this is just one of the many reasons I admire him. We even have a picture together from that day as I was teasing him that his liturgical vestment resembled a poncho, so we took a poncho picture together.
