November 2019

November 2019

SAINTS FOR LIFE See what our pro-life group led by Mr. Emmel does throughout the year | page 4

FALL CROSSWORD Can you solve it? | page 8

ROCK-tober Luau A quick look at our first ROCK of the year | page 10

ALL SAINTS DAY AND ALL SOULS DAY Two days honoring those who have died | page 11

St. Mary’s Central High School | 5802 Ridgeland Dr. Bismarck, ND 58503

November 2019

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader,

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pooky season is officially over and so are the endless marathons of Hocus Pocus. So grab some of your trick or treating candy and sit down to read your peers’ outstanding work! I know what you’re thinking, how are we supposed to switch over to the spirit of Thanksgiving? Don’t worry, the Messenger staff has you covered! This November edition is sure to get you in the mood for some pumpkin pie via silly fall related articles. However, this edition will also take you back a few weeks to remember some important milestones such as the blessing of the crucifixes. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Messenger and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Allyson Treiber Editor-in-Chief

OUR MISSION

OUR EDITORS ALLYSON TREIBER Editor-in-Chief

JULIA JARAMILLO Layout Editor

MEGHA BHARADWAJ Feature Editor

ALLISON BRAUN Opinion Editor

ANNA BRAUN Entertainment Editor

KENDALL TIBOR Religion Editor

RYAN BROWN Sports Editor

JEFFREY SAVADEL Photography

Here at the Messenger, we love to see the groups of people huddled around our paper, the proud smile when students read articles about themselves, and the slight laughs as students make fun of our bad attempts at jokes. Our mission at the Messenger is to produce a quality newsletter that provides insight into SMCHS by featuring our own students and their accomplishments and goals.

ON THE COVER Saints for Life prays outside the chapel at St. Mary’s Central High School. Photo by Lisa Koch

CONTACT US Instagram: SMMessenger Email: smmessenger@locstudents.org

READ IT ONLINE https://issuu.com/smmessenger

OUR WRITERS Teagan Bauer Kyle Burns Maja Dojs Emma Fleischaker Soraida Pichardo

Alyssa Fortney Hannah Gardner Lilyanne Haag Meg Hepper Jordan Jacobson

Margaret Kathol Hannah Koch Eva Krebsbach Julianna Lengowski Edmund Peliska

Eva Rykowsky Clare Tamisiea Ruby Tolstad Ainsley Westmoreland

Table of Contents 4 7 8 11 12

UNDER THE BIG TOP | pg. 3 SAINTS FOR LIFE The ROCK group that fights for the innocent!

Opportunities and Obstacles: Being a Freshman | pg. 5 Constitutional Crisis or Revenue of the Dems? | pg. 6 MOVIE REVIEWS Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Charlie’s Angels RACHEL RUSCH AND PERFORMING ARTS An inside look into a student’s acting experience Jumping Into Fall- Literally! | pg. 9 Saint of the Month: Saint Cecilia | pg. 10

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BECOMING CATHOLIC Sophomore Teagan Bauer recently got confirmed; read about her story getting there BLESSING OF THE CRUCIFIXES A brief overview of the new and blessed crucifixes that are now in every classroom How to Keep Christ in Your Life | pg. 12 Senior Spotlights | pg. 13

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What’s Happening this Month? | Ruby Tolstad

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Monday, November 4 - Tuesday, November 5 The Wind Orchestra will have their first performance of the year at the Bismarck Invitational at the Bismarck Public Schools.

Tuesday will be the Bismarck Invitational Combined Concert at 7:00 pm at Legacy High School. See you there!

Monday, November 18 The men of the SMCHS Singing Saints and Academy seventh and eighth grade choirs will be coming together to perform for the Let All Men Sing concert at 7:00 pm in the Saint Mary’s Academy main gym. Don’t miss it!

Friday, November 15 Are you ready for the 2019 high school football championships?

The 9-man games will start at 9:10 am, with Division A following. After those games will come Division AA, and then Division AAA at 6:40 pm. Stay tuned for the results!

Monday, November 21 - Wednesday, November 23 Come one, come all to the Under the Big Top play! When a broke circus is robbed, how will this dysfunctional but wacky family carry on? Find out by coming to one of the shows at 7:30 pm at the University of Mary in Arno Gustin Hall.

Wednesday, November 13 Get ready for the Fall Band Concert! You’ll get to hear the seventh grade band, eighth grade band, Symphonic Band, and the Wind Orchestra. Be there at 7:00 pm; location TBA.

You can’t miss these fun and exciting events! Be there or be square!

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FEATURE

The cast rehearses for their play on November 21st - 23rd at 7:30 PM

Under the Big Top

A play filled with wacky characters all trying to answer the same question: Who took the money? | Margaret Kathol

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he fall play this year is Under the Big Top, directed by Anne Balster and Marlee Seibold. The play is about the financially struggling Mr. Marlow’s Circus and its wacky assortment of circus performers. The money that Mr. Marlow had to repay his loan has been stolen, but nobody, including the thieves, can find it. It’s up to Mr. Marlow’s daughter Peggy, a mysterious clown named Michael, and many other eccentric characters to find the money in order to keep the circus open.

Behind the Scenes

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e are at the beginning stages where we are working more on character, so there is a lot of things that still need to happen, but it’s going to be a lot easier now that everyone knows what they are doing.” Ms. Balster said. Aubrey Roemmich, who plays Peggy, commented, “The play is going really well. This year we have a bigger cast and it’s more fun

“It’s coming along real well, especially with how much new talent is coming up; it’s nice to see that we’re all doing great. The play itself is a really fun script.”

Kendall Tibor

THE CAST Peggy.................Aubrey Roemmich Bryce..........................Kendall Tibor Mr. Marlow..................John Goettle Ms. Marlow.......Rebecca Burckhard Betsy...................Megha Bharadwaj Buster..........................Sean Hughes Andi....................Isabella Sletteland

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because you get to interact with more people. What I like about the play is creating a character, performing on stage, and hanging out my with friends.”

Kendall Tibor, playing Michael the clown, said, “It’s coming along real well, especially with how much new talent is coming up; it’s nice to see that we’re all doing great. The play itself is a really fun script.” They always need hair/makeup and stage people, so if you are interested, reach out to Ms. Balster or a cast member. The play will take place November 21-23 at 7:30 at the Arno Gustin Hall at U-Mary. See you there!

Leona......................Olivia Schlosser Wrinkles..................Madison Roehrl Crinkles.......................Ruby Tolstad Max........................Margaret Kathol Corky.........................Eva Rykowsky Slipsey .................Soraida Pichardo Dipsey..........................Liza Kirkeide

Annie...................Katherine Mcleod Zelda................Teresa Schaefbauer Magician.............Emma Fleishacker Slither..................Emma Fleishacker Detective 1.................Rachel Rusch Detective 2..............Caralie Letteer Hawkins.....................Layne Larson

Saints For Life

An overview of a group dedicated to protecting the lives of the innocent | Hannah Gardner

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or seven years, the Saint Mary’s Saints for Life students have been leading the school into the battle for life under the direction of Mr. Nick Emmel. Saints for Life is a Rock small group for high schoolers that are dedicated to the defense and preservation of human life. This year, the group has the most members they have ever had in the history of the organization.

Growing Numbers

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aints for Life takes part in many pro-life activities. The official start this year was in October when Mr. Emmel and the officers held a meeting for all pro-lifers during lunch. The fall kick-off meeting went well, but there was one small problem - there were so many students interested in this “small” group that the gym was overflowing with attendees! This is a wonderful problem to have, and the leaders of this organization feel blessed to have so many students who desire to preserve and protect the dignity and sanctity of life.

Throughout the Year...

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he next activity for this group will take place in November.

Saints for Life will join other pro-lifers across the state in an event called 40 Days for Life. During the event, Saints for Life offers members the opportunity to travel to downtown Fargo on a bus to pray in front of North Dakota’s only abortion facility. In order to celebrate life and raise awareness, Mr. Emmel and his officers are distributing lawn signs to members who want to help extend the pro-life cause to their community. The 40 Days for Life is a special time to reflect on the importance of every human life. Because this event is so important, every member is encouraged to celebrate life in a special way on their own. It is a time to celebrate what it means to be human and to be a child created in the image and likeness of God! After November’s big event, December rolls around and more festivities ensue. The members of Saints for Life are invited to decorate the school for the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas! The reason that December is so important is because it celebrates the lives of Jesus and Mary in two very special ways. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is on December 8th, which is when we honor Mary’s conception

Capital City Lawn Care The hottest lawn care company in Bismarck | Jeffrey Savadel and Kendall Tibor

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his month, the Messenger had the privilege of talking to Kyle Burns, the owner of Capital City Lawn Care. Keep on reading for a quick interview with the man himself.

MESSENGER: What is CCLC? KYLE: CCLC is a professional full-service lawn care company.

M: Why did you create CCLC? K: We were focused on providing unparalleled service that exceeds your expectations and results that help your company succeed.

M: When was CCLC founded?

K: Capital City Lawn Care was created in early 2017.

in the womb of her mother, Anne. The other day we celebrate is Christmas, the birth of our Savior. Both of these days are filled with life and joy. It is important to remember the significance of these days and make sure that we take time to reflect on the mystery of life which is God’s gift to each and every one of us!

After the festivities begin to slow down, January makes its appearance and upperclassmen are invited on a special pilgrimage across the country to the heart of the pro-life movement. In Washington D.C., hundreds of thousands of pilgrims march up the streets near the nation’s capitol to fight the injustice of abortion. The entire group of pilgrims who descend upon Washington is larger than the population of the entire state of North Dakota. It is proof that this issue cannot, and will not, be overlooked. For the Saints for Life juniors and seniors, it is an amazing opportunity to experience the battle first-hand and to realize how big the issue really is!

To wrap up the year, Mr. Emmel and his officers will host a party for all of the members of Saints for Life. This celebration helps us remember the importance of the pro-life cause and to recap the events that took place throughout year. In addition to the big celebration, in the past, there has been offered an opportunity for students to visit a nursing home and spend time with residents. This event should not be overlooked because euthanasia, similar to abortion, is an issue in today’s world. By visiting the nursing home, it is a way for students to see the beauty of life in all stages without rejecting any person. “...the Saints will never ignore the suffering of those who lose their right to life.”

Hannah Gardner

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hroughout the year, the Saints for Life members are invited to be part of the pro-life cause through the leadership of Mr. Emmel and his officers. The greatest gift each person possesses is their own life, and the Saints will never ignore the suffering of those who lose their right to life. There are so many ways to celebrate life, many are listed above, but the best way to celebrate is by glorifying God and thanking Him for the gift of life He offers each one of us.

M: What do you do for CCLC? K: As the president and CEO of Capital City Lawn Care, I handle responsibilities such as creating business plans and arranging finances, as well as reviewing sales, marketing and overseeing daily activities.

M: What is the future of CCLC? K: The future for CCLC is very bright. I would like to turn it into Capital City Companies, meaning indoor cleaning, landscaping, irrigation, snow removal, trucking, and dirt work. CCLC mows 65 lawns a week. Year-to-date CCLC has mowed over 1,900 lawns and completed over 25 landscaping jobs.

MESSENGER: Are you looking for workers for CCLC? KYLE: No employees.

There you have it folks. If have any questions or would like to request the expertise of CCLC, contact Kyle Burns at 701-400-3049 for more information.

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OPINION Opportunities and Obstacles: Being a Freshman | Eva Rykowsky

Two freshman talk about the pros and cons of being the newest class in school

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lthough being a student at the St. Mary’s Academy is a wonderful experience, by the time you reach the eighth grade, you feel ready to move on. This is where the new high school comes in. The new St. Mary’s Central High School is designed to be a social environment for students, teachers, and faculty. With the new St. Thomas Aquinas Center, students are able to hang out and socialize with one another while “trying” to study and do homework. What I especially notice about being in high school, is the variety of ages within the walls of this building. There are classes where freshmen and seniors are together, or juniors and sophomores. You may be a junior who is a good friend of a freshman, or a sophomore who likes to be around seniors. Although there is a difference in age, does it really matter? No. That’s one of the many things to love about the high school.

Students of all ages can get to know one another

better. Only briefly in middle school do we get to know the upperclassmen. Now that we’re in school with them and share some classes with them, it’s like getting to know them on a whole different level. Here is another thing. While I was at the Academy, there were plenty of activities, clubs, and sports to choose from. I thought that was as good as it got! Upon coming to the high school, I was amazed at how involved everyone was with their activities and sports. Students sign up for the activities, showing that they are devoted to participating with that club, sport, or activity. It’s as if the Academy is only a preparation for what is to come at the high school. It’s never been truer when said that there are many new and exciting things about the new St. Mary’s High School. Not only are we learning academically, but also learning from the many opportunities that await us at the high school.

Opportunities

hile there are many great things about moving from middle school to high school, there are also some downsides to being a freshman. You have to be more responsible and committed to the things you participate in, like electives and clubs. There is also the deal with the battle cry. Come on freshmen! But as expected, every year the freshmen aren’t heard very well over the boos and triumphant battle cries of the other classes. They have also moved from the top of the 5

food chain to the bottom. Now they have to start the process all over again. It can also be difficult to know what to expect when you become a high schooler. We all heard crazy things about highschool in grade school, like no recess! There are many things I heard from my friends who had older siblings in high school and many of them weren’t true. Overall, the most difficult thing is the higher demand of responsibility. Freshman year is the start of the path to being an adult.

| Margaret Kathol

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Obstacles

Constitutional Crisis or Revenue of the Dems?

A student’s opinion of the recent President Trump impeachment situation | Catherine Schlosser

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he 2016 Presidential Election brought a multitude of political debates as well as one of the largest political divisions in American history. President Donald Trump has now been in office for more than three years and is running again for political office in the 2020 Election. Many opposing politicians have stepped up to challenge the man, but as time goes on, America continues to shake their heads in disappointment as each party continues to fall into a hypocritical mess of opposing political views.

Currently, the reason that people want him to be impeached is the ordeal in Ukraine. It began when Former Vice President, Joe Biden was shown on tape bragging about with-holding aid from Ukraine, which can be considered a direct threat to the Eastern European country. So, President Trump called the Ukranian President asking whether he needed assistance in this issue. This event was leaked, and many politicians demanded that Trump release the transcripts of the call. He proceeded to do so, revealing the only intention was to investigate Biden´s threat.

This is basically what made so many people so angry. Democrats want to impeach Trump on this issue because they believe he was calling Ukraine to dig up dirt on his potential opponent for the 2020 election.

It’s ironic that the Democrats keep digging up dirt on themselves, but I am sure the reason why the Republicans are so quiet on this issue is because some of them are doing the same thing. Everyone is corrupt; trust no one.

Still, this is part of why they are calling for impeachment.

There are obviously previous actions by Trump that have angered many, but there lies a problem in this impeachment plan.

Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in House of Representatives

will try to persuade the House to start the impeachment process, but she will never do it because she knows that it will never get past the Senate (Republican controlled). People are ignorant enough to think that because of all these laws Trump has broken and all his controversial views, he can be impeached. By the way, can you please let me know what laws Trump has broken? I am starting to think they are imaginary.

People are only mad because their candidates and the Democrat party platform cannot win in a debate, much less the presidential election because they have nothing to run on.

Democrats have failed to form a political platform. It is looking like they are going to have to ¨settle¨ for a front-runner rather than enthusiastically nominate one like they did in the 2016 election. In contrast, Republicans fail to stand up to their opponents. The reason you hear about so many Democratic politicians is because they are not afraid to be outspoken.

Republicans are backing President Trump of course, but they are wimps when it comes to defending him. Where are the Senate Republicans and why aren´t they defending President Trump? I want to know.

In overall remembrance of Trump´s presidency, I believe he is doing well. Sure, he has done some questionable things in the past and probably will do more controversial things in the future, but his current overall approval rating is 51% and 94% in the Republican party. Unemployment ratings are at the lowest in history, hitting around 3.9% and the economy is booming. Being a businessman has proved to be an advantage. Of course, there are bad things about Trump, but let us not forget he is human, just like the rest of us.

November Poll

We asked 20 people on their favorite Thanksgiving dish | Allison Braun

| What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Mashed Potatoes

30%

Stuffing 25%

Pumpkin Pie Turkey

35%

10% 6

ENTERTAINMENT

Movie Reviews | Julianna Lengowski

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

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tarring Angelina Jolie as Maleficent and Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil brings many favorites from the film industry to produce another memorable Disney film. This sequel to Maleficent dives deeper into the relationship between Maleficent and Aurora. As seen in the trailer, Aurora and Maleficent clash over a proposed marriage between Aurora and the love of her life. Maleficent’s hatred toward King John (Robert Lindsay) and Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) dominate most of the movie, with scenes packed full of incredible CGI. The movie is rated PG and the release date is set for Friday, October 18, 2019.

Charlie’s Angels

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he next generation of female detectives, loaded with a large array of weapons and combat skills, fight crime in the new Charlie’s Angels movie written and directed by Elizabeth Banks. This continuation of the previous Charlie’s Angels films provides many action scenes for its viewers.

The team of “angels” work together to essentially save the world with their charm and skill, which is showcased in many memorable combat scenes throughout the film.

The cast is packed full of popular Hollywood stars such as Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Elizabeth Banks. There are even appearances from Sir Patrick Stewart and breakout star Noah Centineo. Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey also debut their new single, Don’t Call Me Angel, in this action packed movie. The new Charlies Angels is rated PG-13 and is set to appear in theaters Friday, November 15, 2019.

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Down 1. What’s a popular clothing item for fall?

purpose of jumping into?

6. What’s on the ground now in North Dakota?

7. What on trees starts to change color this time of year?

Across 4. What’s the spookiest holiday?

5. What do you eat on Thanksgiving?

8. What do people really love to watch on Thanksgiving?

Answers 5. Turkey 6. Snow 7. Leaves 8. Football

2. What do you trick-or-treat for?

3. What is made for the sole

1. Sweater 2. Candy 3. Leaf Pile 4. Halloween

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Fall Crossword

Crossword by Anna Braun 8

Rachel Rusch and Performing Arts An inside look into Junior Rachel Rusch’s acting experience | Alyssa Fortney

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lot of people find themselves through art. The subcategories of art seem to be endless, but throughout the high school setting, you will see people finding themselves by writing, dancing, acting, drawing, etc. Some people keep it a quiet talent, and others dedicate their life to it. Among those inspiring people is Rachel Rush. She is involved in many, and I mean many performing arts extra curriculars, including choir, band, jazz choir, jazz band, steel drum band, speech, and the drama program. Out of all the things on the list, acting is one of her greatest joys.

“This love of acting emerged one of her greatest passions that has inspired her for the future. She has a dream, in which I think she will be very successful, of becoming an actress.”

Alyssa Fortney Rachel has been acting for nine years now. Throughout those nine years she has been in one Dakota Stage show, two school shows, and eight Shade Tree shows. This last show she was in, Spamalot, was her first adult show, so the experience was very different, but a lot smoother to conduct. They rehearse two-three hours every Sunday through Thursday, and that’s on top of her other extracurricular practices. This would stress a lot of people out, but she remains strong with the help of her cast, who she says always have your back. Through her experience thus far, she says that she absolutely loves rehearsals and that she has learned from amazing role models at every one. She goes on two explain that she loves to be a part of the acting community because she gets to be with a group of encouraging, supportive people who love to laugh with each other. All of this hard work builds up to the performance nights! On performance nights, everyone shows up a few hours before the show and hangouts

Rachel with some of her cast mates from the most recent play she’s been in, Monty Python’s Spamalot while they get ready, then they perform, and after they go out to eat. She says that through this whole process everyone gets super close.

This love of acting emerged one of her greatest passions that has inspired her for the future. She has a dream, in which I think she will be very successful, of becoming an actress. She says that she is excited to keep acting, and even more excited to see where her abilities take her.

Jumping Into Fall- Literally!

Go outside and enjoy the fall season | Hannah Gardner

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f you don’t bake, don’t worry! Another way to have lots of fall fun is by enjoying the outdoor weather and being among nature’s beauty. Some ways that you can enjoy nature are going on hikes or bike ride or… jumping in leaf piles! Although it is commonly understood that the reason leaf piles exist are only to collect leaves and discard them, let me change your mind. A leaf pile, as I would like to define, is a pile of leaves collected in order to be jumped on and scattered across a perfect lawn.

I mean, let’s be real, who would want to rake leaves for the purpose of cleaning? In reality, leaf piles are solely made for the purpose of ruining them for fun. I recommend making a massive 9

pile of leaves and jumping right in! To make it look more aesthetic than it really is, you can take a boomerang and post it to your instagram!

“A leaf pile, as I would like to define, is a pile of leaves collected in order to be jumped on and scattered across a perfect lawn.”

Hannah Gardner

RELIGION

SAINT OF THE MONTH St. Cecilia

The patroness of musicians | Meg Hepper

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aint Cecilia is a name that most of us know, but few of us know a lot about.

St. Cecilia was a brave young woman who was forced into an arranged marriage with a Roman named Valerian. She had told him about her commitments to God and, being a Pagan, he asked her for proof of her faith. She told him he would understand the truth after he traveled to the third milestone on the Via Appia and be baptized by Pope Urbanus. When he returned, he met Cecilia along with an angel at her side. From then on, he was converted and they made it their duty to serve God. Valerian and his brother were arrested for their service of honoring and burying Christian martyrs and suffered execution after refusing to bring forth a sacrifice for the Roman gods. Soon after, Cecilia was also arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the flaming heat of the baths.

She was locked in for one night, but when the night was over they discovered Cecilia alive, not even breaking a sweat. She was then to be executed by decapitation, but the executioner was unable to decapitate her after three strikes to her neck. She was left to bleed to death for three days, and over the course of those three days she was visited by many. To those people, she preached until her last breath. St. Cecilia was a woman of great strength and a leader of the faith in a time where it was unacceptable to be such. She was interminably faithful and it is important that we recognize her courage in the month of November.

ROCK-tober Luau

Quick look at the first ROCK of the year | Anna Braun

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ather Bouck and the Assistant Chaplains started this year off with a bang at their first ROCK of the 2019-2020 school year. They had an amazing speaker with adoration, confession, and lots of pizza. The theme was Hawaiian Luau which was a fun break from the cold outside. They gave out prizes and had a blast. If you didn’t make it to the October ROCK, don’t fret - there will be plenty of more ROCKs to come. They will each have an amazing speaker with adoration and tons of fun games. We hope to see you there at the next ROCK for an amazingly fun time!

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Becoming Catholic Teagan Bauer’s Story | Megha Bharadwaj

MESSENGER: What inspired you to convert to Catholicism?

TEAGAN BAUER: The thing that made the most impact on my decision to become Catholic was the fact that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

M: Who helped you the most throughout the way?

T: Throughout my journey of becoming Catholic, my parents and family were very supportive.

Ms. Vetter and Fr. Bouck really helped me in getting ready for my confirmation.

M: What scared you the most about doing it?

T: The thing that scared me the most about getting confirmed was that I was making a huge decision that would change the rest of my life.

M: Is your family Protestant? What did they say when you told them?

T: My mom was raised Catholic, but faith was never really stressed in her household. My dad was raised Baptist but he, like my mom, didn’t have faith stressed at home. My parents got married in a Lutheran church, so the rest of my siblings and I were raised Lutheran. My parents were very supportive of me becoming Catholic. They were happy that I was taking my faith into my own hands. They believed that if this is what I felt I needed to grow in my faith life, then I should take that step.

Teagan with her Confirmation sponser Lisa Vatnsal. She recently was confirmed at a school mass!

All Souls Day and All Saints Day November 2nd and November 1st | Jeffrey Savadel

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oon, Catholics around the world will celebrate both All Souls Day and All Saints Day. They are two separate holy days that go hand in hand. All Souls Day is a day to honor those who have passed into the afterlife but have not yet reached Heaven, while All Saints Day is a day that is dedicated to the many saints of the church.

“All Souls Day is also called The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, the Feast of All Souls, or Day of the Dead.”

Jeffrey Savadel All Souls Day is a day to remember and honor those who have passed and are still in the state of purgatory. Purgatory is the intermediary between Heaven and Hell, a place for those to go who are free of mortal sin but are still tainted with venial sin.

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Their souls must be cleansed before they go to Heaven, which is what we pray for on All Souls Day. In order to celebrate All Souls Day, many Catholics will attend mass and then go to the burial sites of their loved ones to pray alongside them, and they await the cleansing of their soul in purgatory. This holiday takes place on November 2nd. All Souls Day is also called The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, the Feast of All Souls, or Day of the Dead.

All Saints Day takes place on November 1st. It is a day dedicated to all saints; those who have reached Heaven. While it is a day to celebrate all saints in Heaven, it is commonly focused on those saints that are canonized by the Church. All Saints Day is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, which means that all Catholics must attend mass. Other names for All Saints Day are All Hallows’ Day, the Feast of All Saints, or Solemnity of the Saints.

Blessing of the Crucifixes | Hannah Koch

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n the afternoon of September 25, St. Mary’s Central High School staff and students came together to watch as Fr. Bouck blessed 70 crucifixes, as well as the large crucifix in the Academic Center, all coming from Rome and hand carved.

These crucifixes were later placed in classrooms and offices.

When asked about the Cross, Fr. Bouck responded with this: “The Cross reminds us that we were purchased at a great price, that is, we are of great value to God. It is an invitation to join him where he came to meet us - in the midst of whatever messiness we are experiencing in our lives.”

“The crucifixes were blessed to be made holy so that the work we do here at school may also be holy.”

Mr. Ruggles

A beautiful icon of Mary was also placed on the table where many of the crucifixes were blessed. This piece of art plays a big part in SMCHS history, as it was used at most high school Masses and was also displayed in the front of the chapel.

Principal Ruggles spoke to everyone about keeping Christ at the center of your life, knowing you are a sinner and that your life isn’t about you. “The crucifixes were blessed to be made holy so that the work we do here at school may also be holy,” said Principal Ruggles. As every teacher and staff member held their crucifix, they were asked to place it at the center of their classroom or office as a reminder to keep Christ at the center of our lives.

How to Keep Christ in Your Life

Life gets crazy, so its important to remember to keep Christ in our life | Alexis Maher

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or where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:21. It is a big deal where you put your treasure. Without remaining vigilant to God’s calling, it can slip back and forth and then your focus is firmly fixed on worldly things. So how do you keep Christ in your life? The answer is to make Him an interest in your life and spend time with him.

We always make time for the things that we care about the most. Be honest with yourself and think about where your interest has been for the past day, week or month. You will see what you value the most. When I asked Saint Mary’s chaplain, Fr. Dominic Bouck, he said “don’t look at the quantity so much as JUST DO IT!” It is not so much about the amount of time you spend with Christ, it is more about if you do so or not. As a student at SMCHS, you have a lot of opportunities to keep Christ

in your daily life. One example is adoration during lunch. The assistant Chaplains hold it from 12:20 to 12:40. All you need to do is take 5 minutes out of you lunch and spend time with Christ.

In addition, the school holds the ROCK four times throughout the year. Fr. Bouck also brings up a good point by saying “when you start homework, take 30 seconds to breathe deeply and invite Jesus to be with you.” This can be done before, during, or after any activity. Whatever you’re doing you can always invite Christ to be with you in the moment. Doing this will make all the difference!

“Don’t look at the quantity so much as JUST DO IT!” Fr. Bouck 12

SPORTS 20 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT 20 An inside look into some of the athletic careers of our seniors.

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ELIZABETH PERYERL | VOLLEYBALL

MESSENGER: How long have you been playing volleyball?

ELIZABETH PERYERL: I have been playing volleyball since second grade. So about ten years.

M: What are your individual and team goals for the rest of the season?

E: My individual goal would be to have at least eight kills a game and my goal for the team is to make it to state.

M: Do you believe the team will make it to state?

E: I believe that we will make it to state!

M: Do you plan on continuing to play in college?

E: I am not playing in college, but that would be fun.

M: What is your favorite volleyball memory?

E: All of the overnight tournaments in Fargo with my teammates.

M: What is one word of advice that you would give freshmen?

E: Don’t settle for second best. You are capable of a lot more than you may think.

M: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

E: I would still live in the United States most likely, but Paris would be cool if I spoke French.

Interview by Allison Braun

ANDREA FRANK | SWIMMING

MESSENGER: When did you start swimming?

ANDREA FRANK: I started on the Aquastorm swim team when I was in the 4th grade, so I have been swimming year-round for 8 years.

M: What is your favorite thing about swimming?

A: My favorite thing about swimming is being able to be in the water and pushing myself to constantly improve with the help of my coaches.

M: What’s your most impressive swimming accomplishment?

A: I would have to say being state champions in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay along with a team record, making top 8 at state for the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle, and being apart of 4 team state championships.

M: What’s the most difficult thing about swimming?

A: The 5:30 in the morning practices are pretty hard to get up for. Along with hell week, which is three hour practices with a crazy amount of yardage- the peak being 10,000 yards.

M: Why have you continued to swim?

A: I have continued to swim because of my love for the sport. It is challenging and takes up a lot of time, but it is very rewarding and I love all the people I swim with.

Interview by Megha Bharadwaj 13

ANDREW INDOVINA | SOCCER

MESSENGER: How did the team prepare for state?

ANDREW INDOVINA: Well, we fixed some things from the last game that we didn’t do well. We also worked on possessing the ball in practice so we can possess the ball in the upcoming game.

M: Are there any traditions you do before a game?

A: Well this year and last year it sort of became a tradition to listen to the song Electric Love (Oliver Remix) by BØRNS. The players that were on varsity last year will all sing the song.

M: What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had so far this season?

A: Well I think it would be beating Jamestown 1-0 to go to state.

M: What do you typically eat before and after a game?

A: Well before I typically eat a half steak and cheese sandwich from Subway..

After a game I usually eat a grilled cheese sandwich.

M: What’s the most embarrassing thing you or the team has done during a game?

A: I’m not really sure about embarrassing things. I can’t really think of anything. Missing wide open shots is kind of one though because then they can roast you on the bench.

M: What ice cream flavor best describes your personality?

A: I’d say hot fudge Sundae because I get heated about some things but I’m also chill like the ice cream part of it.

M: Who do you look up to?

A: I look up to my dad because he’s pretty successful I think and he’s a pretty cool dude.

Interview by Allyson Treiber

CONNOR PUETZ | FOOTBALL

A

s the Saint’s football season continues, fans become more encouraged while the team continues to improve day by day. For senior number 30, Connor Puetz, this means working hard and having a determination to get better every day. Ever since he started football in 3rd grade, has worked hard to get to where he is now. When asked what he has learned throughout his years of playing football, Connor responded that what makes the sport enjoyable is his “friendship with his team mates.” He also added that friendship makes football easier because it helps with “communication and overall performance on the field.” Connor’s advice to young athletes is this: “Don’t take anything for granted and trust the process.” In his free time, Connor plays and watches football, and especially loves to play football with his brothers. He also loves to eat at A&B Pizza with his friends. Keep Connor in your prayers throughout the year as he keeps working hard in all of his sports to become the best version of himself every day!

Interview by Hannah Gardner

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THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS:

Our Corporate Sponsorship program provides tuition assistance for Light of Christ Catholic Schools students.

If you or your company are interested in this unique sponsorship opportunity, please call or text: Toby Schweitzer: 701-220-1507 tschweitzer@lightofchristschools.org Jon Herold: 701-955-0115 jonherold@lightofchristschools.org