MCHS 50th Anniversaryy Celebration Plans Announced Great, consistent numbers for AP Scholars, Illinois State Scholars, college scholarships, and National Merit Recognition. Excellence across a brilliant college prep curriculum, including academics, athletics and fine arts. An unparalleled record for Service in the South Suburbs, as well as generous parent groups and a successful and storied alumni. It would be easy to come up with 50 reasons to celebrate the outstanding tradition at Marian Catholic High School. Instead, as the Southland’s finest academic institution turns 50 with the 2008-2009 school year, let’s take pride in a brilliant past and future with the Marian Catholic 50th Anniversary celebration! While plans begin unofficially with a Sept. 5 football showdown at rival Bloom Township and an Anniversary Mass with Cardinal George highlights the official September 6 Kickoff Celebration on campus, events are planned throughout the year to commemorate 50 outstanding years.
An afternoon carnival-type atmosphere, including events on Marian’s new stadium FieldTurf™, will precede the Anniversary Mass, while an adult social for Marian alumni, families and friends will follow. Many of the year’s events will focus on alumni and the past, honoring the pioneers cultivated a great tradition of Teaching Scholars with a Soul. Meanwhile, celebration activities will also center around current Marian students who will carry on the proud tradition as Marian embarks on its next successful half-century. The celebration year will culminate with a gala planned at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom in Chicago on April 25, while reunions, alumni gatherings and traditional Marian events will take on a flavor of the 50th Anniversary throughout the school year.
The Search is on to Find and Invite Sisters and Former MCHS Faculty – By Allen Marazas ’64
HELP Wanted! One of the goals of the 50th Anniversary Committees has been to involve the largest number of our Marian Community in this celebration as possible. This includes those teachers and staff who have retired or moved on from Marian to other positions or fields. When we began, it didn’t seem too formidable. After all, we had staff directories with addresses and phone numbers that went back thirty years or so and if that failed, we could fall back on the old reliable yearbook. Right? Guess again! Our first task was to assemble a list of all the former teachers and staff because there was no list with all their names. Mary Margaret Flanagan volunteered to assemble this list. If she’d known what she had started maybe she would have found something else to do. Sister Mary Blaise said she would track down all of the Dominicans who had
taught here over the years. This too, proved to be tougher than we anticipated. In the early years, the staff directories did not always include everybody. Yearbooks are great for pictures but short on other information like addresses and phone numbers, even lacking first names in some cases. You’d think the Dominicans would be easy because they all live in the same place: Springfield. Well, first of all, they don’t. They can, at times, be found in a number of locations, states, countries and continents. Some of the first sisters at Marian have passed away and some have left the order. After several weeks of digging we had our list – over 400 names! Add this to our current staff of over 120, and we had an invitation list of over 500 names. It’s amazing how far and wide our former teachers have traveled. Most have moved more than once, some have married, some have divorced. Mary Margaret turned to her
computer and began the search on-line. Next she turned to human sources and began asking, “Do you remember so and so, do you know where they are, do you know who might know?” Sister Judith Anne, former MCHS principal, enthusiastically joined the search and contributed several hard-to find addresses. Finally after much hard work, a mailing list was confirmed! But the list of those we are still seeking remains too long. So now we’re counting on you to help us. If you know the whereabouts of any of these people, please contact Mary Margret Flanagan mflanagan@marianchs. com. What a wonderful possibility: the opportunity to once again be with many of these people who have so profoundly influenced and inspired us. So please help us make it happen.
This is your invitation to our September 6, 50th Anniversary Celebration! PLEASE SAVE THIS SECTION
REUNIONS All of the reunions will have a special 50th flavor. Welcome back! Classes of 1968, 1973, 1978 and 1988 ~ September 5, 2008 Classes of 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 ~ Founding Four Reunion Weekend ~ September 12 & 13, 2008 Classes of 1983, 1993, 1998 and 2003 ~ September 27, 2008
SPRINGFIELD HERITAGE TRIP
TC2L Campaign Exceeds Prelim Goal… FieldTurf ™ Priority in the Works… At $5.8 million pledged The Courage to Lead Capital Campaign nears its public close and celebration on September 6, more than $550,000 ahead of its preliminary goal. Investor invitations will continue to help realize the extended $6 million goal. The school community and campaign leadership are grateful and confident. Beyond the diligence and extensive personal contacts a capital project of this magnitude demands, this campaign has become a powerful testimony to the vision and grit of our Dominican and lay leadership under the direction of Sr. Paul and to the hundreds of investors and workers who committed so generously to accomplish so much in three years. TC2L has brought the MCHS community: • A cutting edge Leadership Training Program entering its 4th year
• 20 new endowments for scholarships and programs • The ever-in-use Leadership Center/Student Union • New Spartan Field and resurfaced Track • Early implementation of aspects of the promised Broadcasting priority Mary Moffatt, Vice President and TC2L consultant, affirms that this major effort positions Marian Catholic for its future as an exceptional Catholic, college preparatory school of choice that successfully translates the vision contained in the Strategic Plan into a reality – programs, endowment and facilities – to ensure the mission of Teaching Scholars with a Soul. The installation of our Investors Wall will highlight the September 6 Campaign closing celebration.
Marian Catholic High School Black Tie Gala Mark your calendars now for a very special “Black Tie Invited” evening downtown! Saturday, April 25, 2009 Gala Evening at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom, Chicago • Cocktails and auction on the balcony • Dinner and dancing on the main floor • A celebration of the “pillars” of Marian Catholic and a toast to our future Please call 708.756.9404 for a formal invitation to be mailed in the Spring…and watch for further info in Marian Matters.
Return to our Springfield Dominican roots with a trip to the Motherhouse and beyond Option 1: Join us for Mass at the Dominican Motherhouse on Saturday, March 28, 2009, and a reception with the Sisters. Option 2: Join us on an adult Springfield tour beginning the morning of Saturday, March 28 and ending the afternoon of Sunday, March 29. to include the Mass and reception above, tours of the Old State Capital and the new Lincoln Library, an evening dinner with “Abraham Lincoln,” and overnight accommodations and transportation to/from Marian Catholic. Further information about the Springfield trip, watch future Marian Matters and www.marianchs.com
DO YOU COME FROM A LARGE FAMILY? The Multitudes of Marian represent families who have sent six or more children to MCHS over the years. Also included are multi-generational families with grandparent alumni, parent alumni and grads or current students on the roster. If your family tree has lots of Marian branches, be sure to let us know. Families responding and sharing their history will be featured in upcoming issues of Marian Matters and other publications. How about being our special guests at the September 6th kickoff to the 50th Anniversary Celebration? Contact the Alumni Office via email for group seating at the 5:00 p.m. Mass and join in the reception to follow, gyoung@marianchs.com.
Joe Orr Road
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Marian Catholic High School
Mass - West Gym Leadership Center Alumni Corner - East Gym Magician Bean Bag Toss Face Painting Moonwalk Run the Track
Refreshments
Punt, Pass, Kick Band Practice
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In case of inclement weather, please check the website for relocation of activities and/or cancellations.
September 6, 2008 ~ Schedule of Events FAMILY FUN FEST 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.: MCHS Field Area • MCHS Marching Band practice on field from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. • Fun Football Competition with great prizes: Visitors participate in punt, pass or kick contests on new field from 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. • Flag Football Exhibition featuring MCHS 1993 State Champion Team from 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Alum Cheerleaders invited to lead drills • Free refreshments: Hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn from Booster Concessions • Children’s games on grounds: Face painting, magician, moonwalk, bean bag toss • “Special Intention Notes” near “rock” for Mass presentation BABYSITTING SERVICES 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.: MCHS Training Room • Babysitting services will only be available for those who pre-register by August 15. Please contact Susan Przbylo at 708-756-9743 or sprzbylo@marianchs.com to register • MCHS will determine whether or not babysitting services will be offered based on the pre-registration response
EUCHARIST 5:00 p.m.: MCHS West Gymnasium (opened at 4:40 p.m.) • Concelebrants: Cardinal Francis George, OMI and Area and Alumni Priests • Mass offered for deceased of MCHS Community • Officially opens the 50th Celebration and closes TC2L Capital Campaign ADULT ONLY RECEPTION After 5:00 p.m. Mass until 10:00 p.m.: MCHS Leadership Center • Adult gathering (at least 21 years old) • Complimentary buffet, donation bar • Meet current and former teachers, alumni, friends • Jazz music in Center; Rock band in adjacent tent TOURS 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Open touring throughout School • Memorabilia in East Gym: Then and Now Presentations • History in the halls and open classrooms • Students available to answer questions
This is your invitation to our September 6, 2008 50th Anniversary Celebration! PLEASE SAVE THIS SECTION
50th Mass to Be Renewal and Memorial
Justin Thirstrup ’08, Kelly Butler ’08, Samantha Johnson ’10 and Jim Slawnikowski ’08 with Father O’Mara.
When I was assigned to Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Flossmoor after my ordination in 1958, little did I realize that I would have an immediate connection to Marian Catholic High School that would last on and off for 50 years! Like many of the young priests in the area parishes, I was asked to say Mass, or hear confessions, or even occasionally conduct a Theology class at this new school that opened its doors in September, 1958. We were also invited to the Mass of blessing and dedication celebrated by Archbishop Albert Meyer (later Cardinal), who himself was newly appointed as leader of the Archdiocese of Chicago that same September. It was at the Eucharist that the Archbishop thanked the Dominican Sisters of Springfield for the vision and courage to staff a new Catholic high school for the area; thanked the donors and parents of the new students for their support in making the school a reality; and thanked Msgr. Croarkin, pastor of St. Agnes in Chicago Heights, for having the foresight to purchase the large plot of land for the new school.
– By Fr. William O’Mara, Marian Catholic Chaplain
I am sure that Archbishop Meyer was delighted to be able to open a new Catholic High School at the beginning of his assignment here, because he himself was an educator and a highly respected theologian who had a strong voice at the Vatican II Council that soon followed in the early 1960s. On September 6, the present Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, will celebrate the 50th Anniversary Mass of Marian Catholic. Once again it is most appropriate that the Eucharist be the main focus of the celebration as we remember in ritual, readings and songs how the Spirit of God has been vitally active in the students, alumni parents and friends of Marian Catholic over these past 50 years. There are a couple of major differences between the 1958 and 2008 Masses, however. The Mass in 1958 was in Latin and the major liturgical roles – readers, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, etc. were filled by the clergy or a few male students. The Mass this September will not only be in English, as it has been since Vatican II, but the laity – adult and students, male and female – will participate as servers, readers and Eucharistic ministers. This truly represents the diversity of gifts that both the Eucharist and Marian Catholic is all about. Presently, a number of seniors are being trained to be Eucharistic Ministers for the 2008-2009 school year Masses, including the 50th Anniversay celebration. They represent three dioceses – Chicago, Gary and Joliet. The church has come a long way since 1958 in bringing the Mass back to the people, and we at Marian Catholic are proud that we have played a vital role in that transformation. “Ad multos annos” (May we have many years ahead!) NOTE: Though many generations of families stretch the entire 50 years of Marian Catholic’s presence, few individuals have provided an impact from the first day to today like Fr. O’Mara, Marian’s current chaplain. Along with the Campus Ministry Department, Fr. O’Mara will play a strong hand in planning the 50th Anniversary Mass on September 6.
Students Gear up to Host September 6 Event As Marian Catholic prepares to celebrate a half century of Teaching Scholars with a Soul, the school plans to have strong involvement from the group that will set the trend for another 50 years of serving the South Suburbs and Northwest Indiana. With Marian’s copyrighted Leadership Program (fourth year) scheduled to directly affect every student next year, it’s appropriate that Marian’s future plays a strong hand in celebrating and honoring the school’s past. “The 50th Anniversary celebration will offer a wonderful opportunity to celebrate both the past and future of Marian Catholic,” according to Principal Sr. Kathleen Anne Tait, O.P. “From its earliest beginnings, Marian has been a school of academic excellence and a strong faith community. Faculty, staff, parents, alumni and students have all contributed to the strength of Marian Catholic.” Linking the past, present and future, Marian will go well beyond the September 6 kickoff celebration and April 25 Gala by featuring an anniversary presence throughout the school year through students.
The agenda includes: • 50th year patches on athletic/band uniforms • “Birthday cake” during Catholic Schools week • Announcements recalling “this day in Marian History” • Photograph of the 50th year student body • Students participating in September 6th event • Yearbook theme highlighting 50th year A handful of Marian’s traditional annual events may take on a “50th Anniversary” theme as well. We have long realized that we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us,” Sr. Kathleen explained. “This will be a unique time for the students to meet and interact with those who set Marian Catholic on a path of solid Catholic education within the Dominican tradition. “We look forward to welcoming all ‘home’ for this celebration of 50 years of “Teaching Scholars with a Soul.”