LOURDES LOURDES ALUMNI ALUMNI AND AND FRIENDS FRIENDS FALL-WINTER FALL-WINTER 2019 2019
FA L L H I G H L I G H T S
WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY! Lourdes is pleased to welcome new faculty! (L-R) Fr. Ryan Kaup (Theology), Mrs. Elise (Heng) ‘11 Buck (Social Studies), Fr. Timothy Danek (Theology), Mrs. Nikki Feilmeier (1st Grade), Fr. Ryan Salisbury (Theology)
VOLLEYBALL Lourdes Central Catholic Volleyball went 23-11 for the 2019 season. After winning their sub-district, the Knights were defeated in their District Final match against Grand Island Central Catholic. While the Knights didn’t quite meet their goal of making a state appearance, no one can question the success they had this season. Ainsley Esser broke a school record with 83 Ace Serves in a single season. She is currently ranked 4th in the state for the number of aces in a single season. Ainsley led her team in digs with 226.
FOOTBALL The 2019 football season had its share of ups and downs for the Knights. After beginning the season 1-4 against five state playoff participating teams, the Knights finished the regular season by winning their last three games and qualifying for the state playoffs for the 5th season in a row. In the playoffs, the Knights lost in the final seconds against Lutheran High Northeast 56-52 and finished the season with a record of 4-5. The Lourdes Central Catholic Football team senior members were Will Eppert, Damon Honeysuckle, Sean Klein, Tanner Kochanowicz, Colby Howard, Ethan Roberts, and Tyler Tellez. Knights are coached by Clayton Carlton, Gabe Rhode, and Matt Beccard ‘08. Current College Football Players Colton Davis (2017 Graduate) – Nebraska Wesleyan Dylan Paap (2017 Graduate) – Concordia James Mason (2018 Graduate) – University of Mary
Elaina Madison led the Knights with 212 kills this year, hitting +0.275. She added 68 blocks. Ivye Meyer added 614 assists and Addie DeFreece had a top serving percentage of 92.6%, with 37 ace serves Also largely contributing to team success: Gina McGowen, Libby Baumert, Emma Heng, Aspen Meyer, and Gracie Ragland. The Knights are coached by Kylie Hein, Taylor McGinnis, and Jon Borer. The LCC volleyball team thanks all of our amazing fans and parents for their support this season, and every season! We also want to acknowledge our awesome bookkeeper, Elizabeth Schnitzer, and our water girls Josie, Seren, Emily, and Brooklyn.
On the cover: Alumni, Jordan Martinosky ‘04 Shadwick received a “Ruby Award” for Best Supporting Actress for her role as “Sophie” in the Roubidoux Resident Theater production of Mama Mia.
FA L L H I G H L I G H T S NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS Congratulations to Luke Partsch on being named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and to Cathy Shawhan on being a National Merit Commended Scholar. Over 1.6 million students who took the PSAT/NMSQT test as a junior, in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. Congratulations to Brooke Chaney on her new role as Advancement Director for Lourdes Central Catholic. With this move, Patrice Wulf will assume the role of Alumni Coordinator. Feel free to email her at patrice-wulf@cdolinc.net with any updates or questions you may have.
Lourdes Cheerleaders gather for a picture on “Pink Out� night during a recent volleyball game.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT NEWS The music department has been busy. The high school and middle school band performed recently performed their field shows. Middle school band has 55 members this year and the high school band has a RECORD 72 members! Paul Shawhan was accepted to the Nebraska Music Education Association (NMEA) All-State Choir and Luke Partsch was accepted to the NMEA All-State Band. Luke was also accepted to the Doane Fall Festival of Winds Honor Band.
KNIGHTS IN THEIR “ELEMENT”
Lourdes High School students were in their “element” as they celebrated Homecoming 2019. High school classes competed in dress-up days, a dodgeball tournament, a live-action “Mario Cart” race, trivia competition, the great cheer-off, and, of course, hallway decorating. Hall decorations took the theme of the elements air (Freshmen), water (Sophomores), fire (Juniors), and earth (Seniors). Competition was fierce, but the for second year in a row the Class of 2020 (current Senior class) won the overall competition. It was a beautiful evening for the annual Alumni Homecoming Tailgate. Alumni and their families gathered for dinner and fellowship prior to the football game.
HOMECOMING 2019 You may know these two as the voice of Knights football. Thank you to Scott Miller and Jeff Funke, both from the class of 1987, for their continued dedication to LCC. GO KNIGHTS!
The Knights fought the good fight but fell just short of beating the Exeter-Milligan-Friend Timberwolves with a final score of 42-40.
Homecoming History (L-R) 1989, Kim (Durr) Grosse-Rhode and Jeremy Stukenholtz 1999, Melanie (Jimeson) Schnitzer and Nathan Wigington 2009, Kelsey (Kreifels) Oldenkamp and Garrett Hoyle
2019 HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN
James Kearney and Elaina Madison
Congratulations to seniors James Kearney, son of Mike and Jenny Kearney, and Elaina Madison, daughter of Mark and Jennifer Madison, on being crowned the 2019 Homecoming King and Queen!
2 0 19 -2 0 20 ANNUAL APPE AL Giving to our annual appeal once a year makes a difference every day! As a member of the St. Bernard’s Academy/Lourdes Central Catholic Alumni, you have the opportunity to participate in the spirit of giving that has sustained Lourdes Central Catholic for over 150 years. As an alumni, you have treasured memories from your time and benefited from the opportunities provided by an education at St. Bernard’s Academy/Lourdes Central Catholic. You can help the next generation of Lourdes students share in these experiences by considering a gift to the Annual Appeal! The Annual Appeal provides essential support for virtually every aspect of our school and allows us to continue to make Catholic education accessible and affordable for our families. No matter how large or small, each gift is valued. The more people who choose to give, the greater the collective impact is.
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF $200,000! Yo u c a n d o n a t e i n o n e o f m a n y w a y s . . . Mail your donation to the school! NEW this year! TEXT TO DONATE! Text LCC to 74121 and follow the instruction on your phone.
Visit the school website and Click the “DONATE NOW” button www.lourdescentralcatholic.org
Double or Triple Your Gift! Your employer may offer a matching gift option, meaning they will double or even triple your gift to Lourdes Central Catholic! Check with your Human Resources Department to see if your employer participates in employer matching funds. THE FOLLOWING CLASSES ARE CELEBRATING REUNIONS THIS YEAR! 2010 - 2000 - 1990 - 1980 - 1970 1960 - 1955 - 1950 - 1940
We challenge our alumni to make a special gift commemorating their graduation from Lourdes Central Catholic in honor of their reunion! Whether you joined the tradition of giving years ago through our Alumni Phone-A-Thon or will be making your first Reunion Class Gift this year, we invite you to join your fellow alumni and give back to Lourdes!
ON THE HORIZON Good things are happening in our chapel! Mrs. Beth Box, 6th grade teacher at Lourdes, shared a recent experience. “I was in adoration with Fr. Danek and his class, and several senior students, and the most beautiful thing happened. The sun moved across the right side of the monstrance and the Blessed Sacrament started glowing. Right before Father put Jesus away the top of the monstrance was shining like a star and the host had a huge glowing spot. I had to take a picture when it started because it was so moving and powerful. I was too busy enjoying it at the end to capture it, but a picture wouldn’t have done it justice. Good things are happening in that chapel!” We are so blessed to have a chapel in our school where students and faculty can spend quiet time in prayer with our Lord! On Sunday, October 13th, the T4:12 Campus Ministry group from Lourdes took a vocations field trip. 9-12th grade students started their day visiting seminarians and Fr. Matthew Rolling at St. Gregory the Great Seminary then went to the convent of the Marion sisters to listen to some of the sisters and postulates talk about their spiritual journey. In the afternoon the group attended mass at the Newman Center on UNL’s campus then had supper with our very own alumni, Father Steven Mills ‘01, and 5 of his college-age parishioners who talked to the group about how they are finding their faith on campus. The group was so blessed to have 6 priests lead them on our journey throughout the day. Fr. Ryan Kaup, Fr. Timothy Danek, and Fr. Ryan Salisbury, current teachers at Lourdes, joined the group. Fr. James Morin, past Lourdes teacher, was able to join the group. Students were exposed to all of the different vocations that God may have in mind for their lives!
Library Dedication On November 15, 2019, the newly renovated Library and Media Center was dedicated in Memory of Thomas and Dorothy Funke. The renovation of the library was made possible through generous memorial gifts and is a continuation of Tom and Dorothy’s impact at Lourdes Central Catholic School.
A L U M N I U P D AT E S
Cathy Kempkes Martinez ’89 received the 2019 Excellence In Nonprofit Inspire Award. Congratulations to Lynn Heng ‘84 on his promotion to Brigadier General in the Army National Guard. Lynn has been a member of the military for 32 years and served 5 tours of duty in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Egypt, and Bosnia. Lynn was joined by his wife, Sharon, and their daughters, Elise Heng ‘11 Buck, Lauren Heng ‘12 Bennett, Samantha Heng ‘15, and Emma Heng, currently a junior at Lourdes Congratulations to Colby McGinley ‘12 on his recent graduation from Air Force Pilot Training. Colby has been assigned to Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina where he will fly F15E fighter jets. Upon graduation he received 3 of the top 5 awards: Top 10% of his class, the Officership Excellence Award, and the top award overall, the Commander’s Trophy. Colby graduated from the Air Force Academy and then received his master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.
Cathy has been the president of the Autism Family Network since 2008. After her son Jake was diagnosed with autism in 2005, she wanted to do something to improve the lives of those affected by autism spectrum disorder. Cathy wanted to help parents and caregivers find resources, and provide a place where others understood their struggles without judgement. She wanted to eliminate the feeling of isolation that autism can create for parents. Cathy has volunteered her time on multiple boards and committees for the special needs community. Some of these include ARC, Autism Society, Governor’s DD Advisory committee, Autism Speaks Nebraska state ambassador. She served as president of APPSN for three years. She has won Autism Speaks national autism advocate of the year in 2014 for her work passing insurance mandates for autism therapy coverage in Nebraska. She was also instrumental in the passage of ENABLE. She won ARC of Lincoln advocate of the year in 2016 and ARC of Nebraska advocate of the year in 2017. Mr. Roger Eitzmann, retired biology teacher and assistant football coach at Lourdes, celebrated his 75th birthday on November 12th! If you would like to honor him by sending a card, his address is: Roger Eitzmann Whispering Winds Cottage 628 N 33rd St., Room 14 Beatrice, NE 68310
A L U M N I U P D AT E S Sr. Diana Rawlings ’70 One favorite tee-shirt that I wear on game days – Go Big Red – has this statement: “My life took me to Kansas but I’ll always be a Husker.” I like it because it reminds me that my 46 years as a member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (A.S.C.) took me to Wichita, KS and my ties to Nebraska City and especially to Lourdes High School remain strong. My faith was strengthened while attending both St. Mary’s Grade School and then Lourdes, graduating in 1970. The Ursuline Sisters from Maple Mount, KY influenced me thru my 12 years of Catholic education. Diocesan priests like Frs. Jack McCabe and Mel Rempe were wonderful examples of what it means to be of service to the People of God.
Catholic education also included participating in meaningful Church devotions and rituals that fortified my faith formation. I have fond memories of the May Crowning when we started at the Grotto and processed to St. Mary’s Church for the actual crowning of the stature of Mary. Other activities such as the 40 hours devotion, opportunity for daily Mass helped me grow in my response to God’s call to religious life. Forty-six years later my religious community, the convent where I live, has opened its rooms to work with people from the Congo who are seeking asylum in the United States. Ministry with five families, 12 kids including 2 babies under the age of six months, is one of my current involvements. I am trying to faithfully pass on our faith as many parishioners at St. Mary’s Church did for me. I have not had the chance to say thank you to those who prayed for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life many years ago. I am one who received strength from your prayers. My education at Lourdes planted deep seeds of helping God’s people no matter who they are. I am grateful for the religious formation I received at Lourdes.
Mike Wheeler ‘93 My opportunity to attend Lourdes growing up is something that has grown in meaning as I have grown in years. When you are in school it is not completely apparent how special the ability to attend Lourdes really is. You do realize at that time you have academic opportunity in the classroom not afforded other places but there is so much more. Over time when I look back, especially in contrast to the world around me, the teachers and students that surrounded me at Lourdes provided the foundation that put my wife and I where we are today. The difference
Lourdes made will continue to be a benefit for the rest of my life. With hard work and God’s grace my wife and I are in a place where we can show appreciation and in thanks contribute so others can have a similar opportunity. That culture of faith and community is what makes Lourdes special, making an impact on students that will last a lifetime. The faculty and staff provided me a spiritual foundation in Jesus, teaching and showing us that our obligation in life is bigger than ourselves. The faith instilled by Lourdes has provided a base from which my wife and I have weathered many storms, figuratively and literally!! Our small group in high
school grew close and became like a family. In college many of us shared a house together. After college we have remained close being at, or in, each other’s weddings and now attending the graduations of the next generation. While we are spread out across the country we have kept in touch getting together when we can - taking advantage of Lourdes alumni activities. It is an amazing bond that is hard to describe. This faith and friends provide a level of comfort and support that I cannot imagine going through life without. The Lourdes culture is something unique and special - worth perpetuating for future generations. LEGACY SOCIETY The Legacy Society is our way to celebrate and say thank you to generous donors of future gifts through estate plans that benefit our students and our community. If you would like to support Lourdes Central Catholic or have already made a future gift intention, please contact Brooke Chaney, Advancement Director, at 402-873-6154 or brooke-chaney@cdolinc.net.
A L U M N I U P DAT E S When Josie Kassube ’18 starts something, she finishes it. As a LIFE runner, she runs in remebrance of the unborn. She signed up for the Papillion Mayor’s Triathlon to cross-train for a half marathon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in September and only had three weeks to train. She began running during her first semester of college, but has been swimming since she was five years old. After another cyclist clipped the back of her bike, sending her flying into the pavement, Josie said her arms were extremely painful, but she got up and finished the race. It turns out the half-marathon was put on hold while she recovered from two broken arms! Leah DeFreece ’16 spoke to local parishes about her study abroad in Poland. Leah participated in the John Paul II study abroad, which is aimed at young people becoming “builders of a civilization of love and truth,” through programs that enable them to live in the example of Pope St. John Paul II. The experience combines academics, adventure, community and faith. Piper Monson ’19 has been busy pursuing her career in the fine arts at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. She has been cast in three productions, “48th Street Fall Cabaret,” “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Children of Eden.”
HAD A CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
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Marriages Karley Kreifels ‘15 and Tyler Fehringer, July 27, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Church in Lincoln. Lauren Heng ‘12 and Taylor Bennett, June 22, 2019. Births Tyler ‘08 and Elizabeth Whitten welcomed a baby boy Thomas Merritt Whitten on July 21, 2019. He weighed 7lbs 2oz and was 21 inches long. Tyler and Jessica (Easter) ‘11 Fleischman welcomed daughter Riley Rose on June 7, 2019.
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen Kathleen McGowen Wirth Passed away on August 10, 2019 at her home in Salinas, CA. Kathleen taught art and home economics at Lourdes in the early 1970’s. Kathleen is survived by her children; Janet Poley ‘63; Eileen Wirth, ‘65; Patricia Wirth ‘68, Michael Wirth ‘69, Bernie Wirth ’71, and Mark ’73 Wirth. Her late husband, Austin Wirth was a St. Bernard’s alum with the class of 1936.
Mildred Kreifels Schreiter, Class of 1943 Passed away on July 25, 2019. Survivors are her children; Rev Robert Schreiter, Thomas and wife Susan Schreiter, Mary ‘72 and husband Thomas Liesemeyer, Jean Taylor, James ‘76 and wife Marta Schreiter, John ‘82 and wife Diane Schreiter, twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grand children, and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Vernon Kreifels and James & Patricia Kreifels; and inlaws Alvin Czeschin, Pauline Kreifels, Darlene Kreifels, Rosita Kreifels, and Patricia Kreifels.
Ernest C. Volkmer, Jr., Class of 1963 Passed away on October 1, 2019. Survivors are his sons; Jordan Volkmer and Patrick Volkmer, brothers Mark ’67 & wife Kathy, Frank ’69 & wife Julie Heng ’75 Volkmer, William ’72 & wife Carolyn Volkmer.
Jane Madsen Pereski, Class of 1968 Passed away on September 16, 2019
A L U M N I U P DAT E S
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