AU Honors Rector Magnificus and His Patron Saint, St. Albert the Great

WRITER: THE AU LIBRARY

On the morning of Friday, 14 November 2025, Assumption University of Thailand (AU) convened its faculty, staff, students and invited guests in a distinguished ceremony to mark the eve of the feast day of St. Albert the Great and to celebrate the patronage of their Rector Magnificus, Rev. Bro. Bancha Saenghiran, f.s.g., Ph.D., for whom St. Albert serves as patron.

The event highlighted the enduring legacy of St. Albert — his integration of faith and reason, his devotion to the service of knowledge for the common good, and his leadership rooted in trust. In his address, Rev. Bro. Bancha affirmed the university community’s commitment to open-minded inquiry, rigorous scholarship across disciplines, a culture of service grounded in the dignity of each person, and trust in God, in one another, and in the collective strength of our shared mission.

St. Albert the Great (c. 1200–1280) was a German Dominican friar, bishop and scholar recognised as a Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of scientists, philosophers and students of the natural sciences.

Under Rev. Bro. Bancha’s leadership, Assumption University of Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence, holistic student formation and meaningful community engagement—fully aligned with the spirit of St. Albert. His quietly visionary leadership has fostered a campus environment where the pursuit of knowledge, service to others and the culture of trust flourish.

Full Address of Rector Magnificus, Rev. Bro. Bancha Saenghiran, f.s.g., Ph.D.

Distinguished faculty, dear staff, beloved students, honoured guests,

Good morning. It is a joy and a blessing to be here with you today as we honour a special occasion, the feast of St. Albert the Great, and our celebration of his patronage.

St. Albert lived in the thirteenth century, yet his life still speaks to us clearly. He believed that faith and reason walk side by side, that deep learning and spiritual insight are companions. He once wrote,

“The aim of natural science is not simply to accept the statements of others, but to investigate the causes that are at work in nature.”
And again:
“The greater and more persistent your confidence in God, the more abundantly you will receive all that you ask.”

These words invite us to think boldly and to trust deeply.

At our university we strive for excellence, integrity, and community. I believe these very themes connect with what St. Albert stood for. Today, I want to reflect briefly on three ideas that flow from his legacy and guide us in our mission together.

First: Seeking truth.

We hold open minds. We value rigorous enquiry. We appreciate insight whether it comes from science, the arts, faith, traditions or from lived experience. As St. Albert taught, we don’t simply repeat knowledge, we explore causes, we ask questions.

Second: Serving others.

Our academic work, our administrative decisions, our campus culture—they matter not just for what we know, but for how we build community, uphold dignity, and contribute to the common good. In St. Albert’s time, the study of nature and God’s world was always tied to service; so too here among us.

Third: Leading with trust.

Trust in God. Trust in one another. Trust in the possibilities that arise when we work together, when we build on our strengths, when we learn from our experiences. And here I especially think of our student body, our faculty, our staff—together you make this community alive.

I stand here today filled with gratitude and hope. I feel grateful to serve among you, to foster a community that honors the values of St. Albert: wisdom and faith; service and excellence; curiosity and compassion.

To our students: you are the heartbeat of this institution. Your questions, your energy, your hopes shape our future.

To our faculty and staff: thank you for your dedication, patience, imagination and care.

To our leadership team and partners: thank you for your vision and trust.

Let us continue to live the legacy of St. Albert together. Let us study with humility and passion. Let us serve with generosity and brightness. Let us lead with integrity and hope.

Thank you all for being here today. May our work honor our mission, and may we move forward — pondering, learning, serving — in confidence, in community, and in love.

May God bless you all.

The morning celebration provided a meaningful opportunity for the university community to honor both patron saint and leader, and to recommit to the institution’s mission: to combine deep learning with compassionate service, to shape character alongside competence, and to root our community in trust and shared purpose.