Monastery News

Honoring the 60th Anniversary of the First Mass

by Al Zappelli

On November 11, 1956, Father Egon Javor, OSB, founder of the Woodside Priory and the King Saint Stephen Monastery, in the company of six Medical mission sisters from Cupertino, celebrated the Priory’s first Mass in the ranch house of the former Gillson Ranch in Portola Valley. In commemoration of the founding sixty years ago, on Sunday, November 13th, over 400 members of the Priory community came together for a Mass of Thanksgiving to honor the Priory founders. Representing the Priory’s mother abbeys were Father Mathias Durette, OSB from Saint Anselm Abbey in New Hampshire and Father Keleman Sarai Szabo, OSB from Saint Martin Abbey in Pannonhalma, Hungary. They were joined by the three members of the Priory monastic community, Fathers Martin Mager, OSB, Pius Horvath, OSB and Maurus Nemeth, OSB. A celebratory Benedictine medal was given to each person in attendance to remember the special occasion.

Sixtieth anniversary events will continue for the Priory throughout the next two years, noting the founding of the monastery in 1956 and the Woodside Priory School in 1957.

versary of the First Mass

GALA

Thirty-six years ago the tradition started. And it continues to this day. This year, the Woodside Priory Gala, The Enchanted Forest, is scheduled for April 1, 2017 at the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. We have over forty parent volunteers planning the event. It promises to be a most enchanted evening with cocktails, a seated dinner and live and silent auctions. Mark your calendar, find your fairy wings or flowy dress, and get ready for the Priory’s biggest fundraising and social event of the year.

The Priory Gala is special because faculty, staff, parents and students alike all contribute to the items up for bid. This year, you can look forward to Father Martin’s Tall Clock made out of beautiful black walnut wood. Or, perhaps you want to bid on either Father Maurus’ famous duck dinner or Father Martin’s lobster feast for twenty-four lucky friends. Maybe you’ve been dying to see Hamilton but getting tickets has proven difficult. Or, you’d like to take the family to Puerta Vallarta for a week. These and many other items will be part of the offering this year.

Tickets will go on sale in January. We encourage you to create a table of ten with friends. If you don’t want to create a table of ten, we will do our best to seat you with a parent of a child in your child’s class. It’s a great opportunity to see friends and make some new friends.

This year, all items up for auction will be available through the online auction, except for Live and FundA-Future (this year’s Fund-A-Need auction benefitting Woodside Priory’s financial aid program). The online auction opens Monday, March 27th. If you want to participate in Fund-A-Future or Live Auctions but can’t make the event, please contact dchandra@prioryca.org.

Important Enchanted Forest Gala Dates January 13th: Donation Day. Bring your donation–art, wine or other donation to our Donation Day event the evening of January 13th. Look for details in the Priory Bulletin. January 20th: Donations Close. March 27th: Online Auction Opens. April 1: Enchanted Forest Gala at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club and online auction closes.

Stay Connected

Friend us on our Facebook page where you can keep up to date with the latest Priory events. www.facebook.com/woodside.priory.5

See photos on Flickr of past and current events. www.fl ickr.com/photos/paxpanther/

Follow us on Instagram @woodsidepriorypanthers. People love our Throwback Thursday photos from the archives. You never know, you might be in one!

View past performances, slideshows and other various videos on our YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/user/paxpanther

ALUMNI!

Let us know what you are up to. We love learning about the interesting things you are doing! Send an email with any address updates or news to alumni@prioryca.org

Like and Friend us on our Alumni Facebook page “Woodside Priory Alumni Association” www.facebook. com/groups/22629168008

Connect and network on the Priory Alumni Association LinkedIn page.

Thanks to all who shared photos with us on Instagram! We got into the school spirit with this photo by wps_dorms. Tag your Priory related Instagram photos with #priorypanthers and you may see your photo here as one of our favorites!

Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839

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Protect and Preserve How are you willing to plan for the Priory’s future for coming generations?

• Through estate planning • With gifts of real estate or other assets • Using charitable trusts • Including Priory in your life insurance and retirement plans These are ways you can make sure Benedictine values live on at the Priory. Contact our Gift Planning offi ce to investigate ways you can insure your investment in Priory’s future. Al Zappelli, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives 650-851-6101 (offi ce) azappelli@PrioryCA.org