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CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

catholicnewsherald.com | March 12, 2021

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Teacher retirements announced

CHARLOTTE — The principals of St. Ann and Our Lady of the Assumption schools recently announced their upcoming retirements. Kathy McKinney from St. Ann and Allana-Rae Ramkissoon from OLA will both retire at the end of this school year.

McKinney has served in the Diocese of Charlotte since 1997, first working as a kindergarten teacher at St. Patrick School in Charlotte. Ramkissoon has worked for the diocese since 2005 and has served as OLA’s principal since 2008.

The search for a second assistant superintendent also continues, to succeed Debbie Mixer, who retired at the end of 2020.

School leaders hope to have the positions filled by the end of this school year. — Catholic News Herald

ACS scientists earn honors

ASHEVILLE — Several Asheville Catholic School students recently placed at the Western Regional Science Fair and are moving on to state competition: n Sam Lordi: first place, Grades 3-5 Physics and Math n Avery Mueller and Charles Palmeri: second place, Grades 3-5 Chemistry n Owen Beardsley: first place, Grades 6-8 Biological Sciences n Dylan Vigue: first place, Grades 6-8 Technology n Frank Palmeri: second place, Grades 6-8 Technology

The following students were also recognized: n Jayden Nguyen and Ethan Bermudez: third place, Grades 3-5 Chemistry n Grier Case: honorable mention, Grades 3-5 Engineering/Technology n Sara Jimenez: honorable mention, Grades 3-5 Biological Sciences n Ava Westmoreland: honorable mention, Grades 3-5 Physics/Math n Olivia Westmoreland and Sophia Olinger: Honorable mention, Grades 6-8 Biological Science n Anna Ruth Brookshire: Third Place, Grades 6-8 Chemistry n Nina Jung: Third Place, Grades 6-8 Earth and Environmental Science

Sisters of St. Joseph retiring from 2 Triad schools

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR Gober and Principal Gary Callus. “Their The high school “is a wonderful, charism as Sisters of St. Joseph has been wonderful place,” Sister Taylor said. “It’s more than teaching – they have imbued sad that our presence will not be there

WINSTON-SALEM — After a combined our schools with love for God and others. physically, but the spirit of the Sisters 80 years of service, three Sisters of St. Throughout their years of service, the of St. Joseph will always be there. Our Joseph will retire from St. Leo School and sisters have become members of our charism, the hospitality and the warmth Bishop McGuinness High School at the end families, taught thousands of students, will always be there.” of June. Sister Tate came to Bishop

Sister Anne Thomas Taylor, Sister McGuinness in 2001. She taught John Christopher “JC” Tate and Sister chemistry full-time for many years, then Emma Yondura have been called to served as a substitute teacher in the return to the Sisters of St. Joseph’s science department and as attendance motherhouse in Chestnut Hill, Pa., coordinator. near Philadelphia, the religious order’s “I’ve really enjoyed teaching, and leader announced “with both sadness I love Bishop,” she said, but after 57 and gratitude” in a recent letter to years in education, she added wryly, Bishop Peter Jugis. “I figured it was time to hang up my Noting their years of service – and the Sisters of St. Joseph’s central Taylor Tate Yondura school shoes and go on to something different.” role in founding both schools – In the announcement from the Sisters Congregational President Sister Maureen of St. Joseph, Sister Erdlen said the Erdlen, SSJ, told the bishop it was with mentored fellow teachers, and exemplified order does not have anyone available to “both sadness and gratitude” that she Christian discipleship.” replace the three sisters. School leaders shared this decision. “It seems that once Sister Yondura has taught in the Diocese said they “are exploring ways to continue they arrive in North Carolina, our sisters of Charlotte for four decades, first at St. our relationship through periodic visits never want to leave – a sentiment I know Ann School in Charlotte from 1973 to and special projects.” you can well appreciate.” 1978. She then taught at St. Leo School Other Sisters of St. Joseph continue to

Sister Erdlen said the retirement is from 1981 to 1987, and returned in 1992. serve in the diocese: Sister Joan William necessary so the religious community can First-graders have been her love since she Pearson, a former student of both St. attend to the sisters’ long-term care needs. began teaching, and multiple generations Leo and Bishop McGuinness who has

“We are grateful for the kindness and of students have passed through her served the Hispanic community in North care these sisters, and their predecessors, classroom. In 2015, she retired from Carolina since 1996; Sister Janis McQuade, have provided for generations of students,” teaching first grade and since then has run pastoral associate at St. Stephen Church parish and school leaders said in a joint the afterschool program. in Elkin since 2006; and Sister Geri Rogers, announcement March 5. “Since their “It is with tears in my eyes that I prepare who taught at Our Lady of Mercy School arrival to the diocese in 1943, the Sisters to leave,” Sister Yondura told the Catholic in Winston-Salem for 17 years before of St. Joseph have been integral to the News Herald. She said she would keep becoming the principal in 2007. founding and flourishing of our schools: praying for students, and hopes for their Villa Maria Anna Academy in 1949, St. Leo prayers in return. “I want them to do the School in 1953 and Bishop McGuinness best that they can do, as God is calling High School in 1959.” them to do,” she said.

“The sisters have been role models for Sister Taylor came to Bishop what it means to give oneself to others McGuinness in 1996, serving first as a through a vocation to religious life,” said music teacher, then for 20 years as dean the joint announcement, signed by Bishop of students. She also helped build up the McGuinness’ chaplain Father Noah Carter school’s theater arts offerings from an and Interim Principal George Boschini, extracurricular program into its own and St. Leo’s pastor Father Christopher department.

Endowment being established

Bishop McGuinness High School is establishing a “Sisters of St. Joseph Endowment.” If you are interested in contributing to this fund in honor of the Sisters of St. Joseph, please contact Katie Williams, the school’s director of advancement, at 336-564-1009 or kwilliams@bmhs.us for more information.

‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’

ASHEVILLE — Students at Asheville Catholic School celebrated Dr. Seuss during National Read Across America Day March 2. Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, was born on March 2, 1904, and in 1998 the National Education Association designated every March 2 as “Read Across America Day” to encourage children to read.

KNIGHT

FROM PAGE 6

marshal, traveling all over North Carolina. “He would drive around with the state deputy, going from the mountains to the coast, to promote the Knights,” says Sergio Miranda, current state treasurer and grand knight of Council 770. “We don’t think that’s unusual today, but a black man and white man driving around from place to place raised some eyebrows in the ’60s and ’70s.”

Hunt was tireless in his efforts to serve the Church and his community as a Eucharistic minister, a leader of the parish Men’s Group and as a Boy Scout troop leader – all while caring for his family, including his wife Mary, who suffered serious health problems, and their two children, Cheryle and Jeff. He and Mary celebrated 46 years of marriage before her death in 2004.

The close-knit fraternity and principles of charity and unity promoted by the Knights of Columbus greatly appealed to Hunt. He occupied all of the Knights’ council and assembly roles, including grand knight from 1997 to 1999 – earning the tongue-in-cheek title of “Worthy Past Everything” and winning the North Carolina Golden Knight of the Year Award in 2018.

Though he was honored to receive the recognition, it wasn’t what motivated him. “Accolades are nice, but he didn’t live for those things,” says Jeff, who was knighted by his father when he received his own Fourth Degree.

Hunt lived to serve others, and his talents for cooking and conversation are remembered by all those who knew him.

He especially loved organizing and catering events and fundraisers for the residents of Holy Angels in Belmont, N.C., a home run by the Sisters of Mercy for people with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions.

When he grew too frail to command the

kitchen during Holy Angels’ Christmas dinner with Santa, everyone still wanted him there. He was a comfort and an expert for all their questions, but he couldn’t just sit there; he did a little cutting and chopping, too.

“My father didn’t see color, financial or economic status, he just treated everyone the same, and he wanted everyone to feel the same,” says Jeff. “Even after he retired, our clients would say, ‘Bring your father; we just want him there.’ They wanted his presence.”

PHOTO PROVIDED Fellow Knights gathered for a wake and funeral Mass Feb. 20 for Joseph Hunt Sr., the first African American member of the Knights of Columbus in North Carolina.

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