St. Peter’s

Family104 W. First Street • Mansfield, Ohio 44902 • 419-524-2572 February 2013 • Issue 17

Index

This publication will be mailed three times a year to alumni, friends and members of St. Peter’s Parish and St. Peter’s School. The magazine is created to connect alumni and friends of St. Peter’s to events, programs and activities taking place within the parish and school community. Any comments or responses to articles, requests to be added to the mailing list, as well as story ideas should be directed to:

Elaine Zarczynski, “Family” EditorSt. Peter’s Parish Center

104 W. First Street • Mansfield, OH 44902419-524-2572

Pastor/Superintendent Greeting.............................................................Page 2

Parish News .............................................................................................Page 3

School News ..........................................................................................Page 10

Alumni ..................................................................................................Page 19

Administration/StaffFr. Gregory Hite Pastor/Superintendent

Fr. Tom McQuillen Associate Pastor

Terry Philpott, John Reef Deacons

Bill Johnson Director of Music & Liturgy

Elizabeth Wurm Director of Religious Education

Lynne Lukach Adult Faith Coordinator

Jerry Straub Business Manager

Carla Eighinger Office Assistant

Tracey Williamson Tuition Manager

Vickie Palmer Parish Secretary

Audrey Ralph, Cindy Wrobleski Parish Center Secretaries

Cathy Stout Development Director

Sr. Bernard Marie Campbell Development Associate

Joan Gemzer Administrative Assistant to Develop-

ment & The Msgr. Dunn Foundation

Kathy Morris Marketing/Webmaster

Elaine Zarczynski Family Editor

Michelle Failor – Family Assistant

Tina Siegfried Montessori Preschool/ Kindergarten Director

Jim Smith – Elementary Principal

Bev Brook Elementary Assistant Principal

Tressa Reith Junior High/High School Principal

Melinda Milligan – Child Care Director

A complete list of parish and school staff is available on the website at www.mansfieldstpeters.org.

“Family” Graphic Design Anatra Graphic Art, Inc. web-site: anatragraphicart.com

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ON THE COVER

The Blessed Sacrament finds its home once more at the High Altar

Dear Friend(s) in Christ,

May the blessings of the New Year be with you and your loved ones! During this Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, may we join in prayer for an increase of faith in our world, our nation, our communities and our families.

The Christmas season officially ended with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 13, 2013); however, by the time you receive this edition of Family Magazine we will be preparing for the liturgical season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is February 13, 2013 this year.

Our country recently heard another “State of the Union.” These continue to be challenging times for our country. Let us continue to pray for those who suffer the effects of our economy and unemployment. Let us also pray for those whose lives are threatened (born and unborn); those unjustly deprived of liberty; those in prison; and those who courageously embrace redemptive suffering in hospitals, in care facilities, and in hospice.

This issue of Family also allows me the opportunity to offer a “State of the Parish.” Known as the Status Animarum (literally, “the State of Souls”), I offer the following:

According to the in-church annual “October count,” Mass attendance was slightly higher this year: average weekend attendance was 1254 (average attendance at four weekend Masses);

Total number of registered households was also higher: 1854 (compared to 1841 in 2011);

While adult, children, and infant baptisms were down (49 in 2012, compared to 68 in 2011), the number of infant baptisms increased - a total of 33 infant baptisms in 2012;

Eight became fully initiated members of the Catholic Church through the RCIA process;

Marriages in the Church decreased from 17 in 2011 to 13 in 2012;

79 funerals were celebrated; slightly down from last year (85);

From a financial perspective, we were able to finish the

2012 fiscal year in the positive, and were able to offer our employees a modest increase of 2% for the first time in four years. The parish debt to the diocese was reduced to $110,000, and we having been making our monthly pledges to the diocese on schedule. Obviously, the sooner we erase this outstanding amount, the more secure our finances will be. Moreover, the parish still has a responsibility to eliminate the debt associated with the Activities Building at Spartan Fields, currently at $120,000.

Operationally speaking, we depend in greatest measure on our weekly Offertory Collections (as well as Christmas and Easter collections). The weekly average increased 16.68% from the previous year ($22,084.78 from July to December, 2012, compared to $18,926.99 in 2011, same period). Operations – budgeted year to date – indicate a deficit of $75,795.72, however, as of 12/31/2012. Our Finance Council has determined that our parish requires an average Offertory income of $25,000 weekly to meet our expenses. Thank you to all parishioners who have helped to increase weekly Offertory by your sacrifice. Your support is very important and appreciated! Clearly, our parish is moving in a positive direction, and I am confident we are all committed to the future of our parish and its ministries!! If you have not financially supported the parish according to your means, I prayerfully ask you to share the responsibility of keeping our parish viable through your sacrificial Offertory gift.

The work of the Gospel continues in so many ways in our parish: through our educational system and religious education program; through extracurricular opportunities for our youth; through sacramental formation and liturgical celebration; through ministry to the poor, the hungry, and the sick. This is clearly not an exhaustive list. Many volunteers give of their time and service to countless forms of Christian service. We have so many generous and committed parish volunteers, and we cannot do without you!! Please consult our website for the various ministries that are supported by our parish. We need your time and talent to continue offering the love of Christ to others!

May the Lord bless you and keep you in the approaching Lenten season and may your prayers, sacrifices, and charity be pleasing in the Lord’s sight!

With gratitude for our blessings and continued prayers in this Year of Faith,

Rev. Gregory R. Hite, M.S., S.T.L.Pastor and Superintendent

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Greetings

So who are these men that are called Knights, and what do they do?

You might have asked this question at one time or another, and if so it is understandable. A lot of people think that the Knights of Columbus is an extremely secretive organization that is difficult to get into. Well, it really is none of that.

Let me introduce myself. I am Thomas Plaisted—first, a parishioner of Saint Peter’s and, second, I am a Knight of Columbus. I belong to Council #687 and I just happen to be the Grand Knight of the council. I wanted to write an article for this publication that would allow a better understanding of what the Council does.

The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 and is based upon four principles: Charity, Unity, Brotherhood and Patriotism. Everything that the Knights do is in support of one or multiples of these principles. Note that Charity is mentioned first. So what does Council #687 do to support this principle?

On December 15 and 16 of 2012, the Mansfield Toy Time workers delivered toys to the needy of our community. The Knights provided them with sloppy joes, shredded chicken and buns, so that all of the delivery people would have some hot food during and after their work.

Boy Scouts with special needs are able to attend summer camp because of the efforts of the Knights. We call it the “Measure Up Campaign” which usually happens at the end of May. The Knights can be found collecting money and selling 12” measuring sticks at various places of businesses so that money can be raised for the camp experience.

We support the annual Special Needs Free Throw Competition. If you want to have a real interesting afternoon, just come out and support this event! When

you do it the first time you will never say, “No,” to helping out

again. This is a real special day and more people

should take notice. These are just a

few of the events we do that support the Charity

principle. Notice, I did not go on about

the other principles. That is because I want the men of our parish to take notice. I want them to be curious about these other principles and have a desire to find out what they are about.

It really is quite easy! Become a Knight and learn.

How you say? Just contact me at my home 419-774-0231. I will tell you exactly how to become a Knight. I will assist you however I can.

There are many benefits to being a Knight of Columbus. You will always be surrounded by upstanding, quality, Catholic gentlemen who will do anything they can to help their brother Knights. You will have access to financial tools offered by the Knights. With our council you will have access to the Council Home and be able to take advantage of the meals and camaraderie that is offered at the lounge. By becoming a Knight you will have access to any Knights of Columbus Council by just showing your traveling card.

On the other hand, by not joining the Knights of Columbus, you will be missing out on a learning and service opportunity afforded by our Catholic faith. All good Catholic gentlemen should be Knights of Columbus.

You will be missing out in helping with the good deeds that the Knights do that usually are not highly visible. For instance, the Knights are responsible for the ramp that helps parishioners who have difficulty with stairs easily access the altar of our parish.

I have got to tell you, I understand what it is to be a Knight of Columbus and I challenge you to learn for yourself what it means to be a Knight. Call me!

Parish NewsA glimpse into the Knights of ColumbusBy Thomas R. Plaisted

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Editor’s NoteAs I was reviewing

this issue of Family and noting all the great arts info, it occurred to me that there was a lack of one important part of life at St. Peter’s: SPORTS!

I am a big believer in school sports and my husband and I spent 4 years as bleacher parents ourselves. School sports provide so many wonderful opportunities to our students; a sense of belonging (whether as participant or observer), fitness, team-building, individual achievement, time management skills. So, coaches and student athletes – how about contributing to our next issue and giving our readers a glimpse of what goes on as St. Peter’s Spartans?

Support our student athletes and support Spartan Fields.

Scan for St. Peter’s Parish/School website

The Missing LinkBy Elaine Zarczynski

Since 1980, Sr. Paula Bingert has been the self-appointed archivist for St. Peter’s Parish. Assembling all aspects of historical memorabilia, the collection is now housed in The Heritage Room, on the 1st floor of the high school. This area was the former projection booth for the ground floor VE room. Filling The Heritage Room are records, documents, photos, books, furniture and other assemblies of bric-a-brac from a century of Church history. In her constant efforts to organize the materials, every now and then Sr. Paula is at a loss to identify or classify an item. She asked if she might turn to Family as a resource to help her in her pursuits.

In one photo, there is an arched cabinet, which stands approximately 27” tall, 13” across and 10” deep. Sr. Paula would like to know if anyone can identify where this had been used in the church and for what purpose.

In another photo, we have a table known as a Flambeau or candlestick holder. The table is 14” tall, 28” wide and 13” deep. Sr. Paula is seeking old photos showing the use of this table in church services.

Lastly, there is a photo of Rev. Leo J. Brissel, born in Mansfield, ordained May 17, 1913 and celebrating his first Mass at St. Peter’s on May 18, 1913. Included in the photo are a number of local children that Sr. Paula would love to identify. In the back row from left to right are: Gerald Voegele; unknown server, Rev. Brissel, Rev. Karl Brand, and unknown server. In the bottom row we have left to right: Anna Hertz, Evangeline Dorian (?), Robert Lee, unknown boy, unknown girl, George Wintersteen, unknown girl and unknown girl. If you can help identify any of the persons in this photo, please contact Sr. Paula with the information. Thank you!

Parish News

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Rev. Leo J. Brissel celebrating his First Mass at St. Peter’s on May 17, 1913

Arched cabinet

Flambeau holder

Save the Date! April 19, 2013

Renaissance Theatre

Wine, food, friends, family and Annual Auction … AN ART AFFAIR!

If you’ve been to Mass at St. Peter’s in the past few months, you may have noticed that the Blessed Sacrament is once again being reserved in the tabernacle on the high altar in the sanctuary. The restoration of the main tabernacle took place over the summer of 2012 and the solemn transfer of the Sacrament took place on the Solemnity of Christ the King – November 25, 2012.

Since approximately 1970 the Blessed Sacrament had been reserved in the tabernacle at the altar of St. Joseph on the northern side of the Church. At that time the mechanism inside the tabernacle on the high altar failed and it was impossible to open the tabernacle any longer, according to St. Peter’s retired Pastor, the late Monsignor Edward C. Dunn. (When the tabernacle was removed to be repaired, an old linen

corporal (altar linen) was found inside. It may well have been there for forty years or more!)

After receiving permission from Toledo Diocesan Bishop Leonard P. Blair, St. Peter’s Pastor, Father Gregory Hite, determined that the tabernacle restoration project would begin over the summer, assuming funding can be obtained.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, the entire cost of the restoration was underwritten by last June and during the last week of June, stone masons from the Venetian Marble Company in Tiffin, Ohio, came and removed the tabernacle from its housing inside the high altar. During the

following months, a covering of white satin protected the appearance of the altar and the opening in front.

The tabernacle repair and refinishing took place over the next few months and was facilitated by Matt Letzelter, representative of the Root Candle Company. Matt has assisted us with the restoration of our Monstrance, several chalices and some other altar wares. A new key and lock mechanism were installed and the entire exterior of the tabernacle was refinished

and polished.The tabernacle itself was returned at the

beginning of October and was reinstalled by Venetian Marble during the first week of October. At the same time, the altar was cleaned and repaired and numerous rust stains in the stone were removed. The clamps used to hold the altar cloth in place were replaced on all three altars in the sanctuary by Deacon Terry Philpott, assisted by parishioner Louis Gaul. (A brass hand rail will soon be installed to allow people to climb the steps to the altar without falling.)

Before the tabernacle was returned to the altar, our Pastor, Father Hite, gathered together several items, including the letter of permission from Bishop Blair, a letter signed and sealed by Father Hite certifying that the restoration had been completed properly, a medallion of Pope Benedict XVI, a rosary from our diocesan center and a copy of the Parish Centennial Book. He stored these inside a metal time capsule and placed it inside the niche before the tabernacle was cemented into place.

The blessing and rededication of the tabernacle and the solemn translation of the Blessed Sacrament took place during Solemn Evening Prayer with exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the Feast of the Christ the King on November

Parish News

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The Blessed Sacrament finds its home once more at the High AltarBy Bill Johnson

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The following information from Fr. Hite ran in the bulletin for several weeks following the relocation of the tabernacle and addressing the proper reverence acknowledging this change.

As of the Solemnity of Christ the King (Nov. 25), the reserved Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is now located on the “High Altar” in our church. A red hurricane light, signifying the continued presence of the Blessed Sacrament, is located to the left of the High Altar. The Blessed Sacrament was formerly located at the St. Joseph Altar. It is Catholic custom, upon entering church, to bless ourselves with Holy Water, making the Sign of the Cross. To honor the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in church, it is also appropriate to make a reverence before entering our pews for prayer and worship. For those who are able, a genuflection on the right knee, making the Sign of the Cross, is appropriate. For those who cannot genuflect, a reverent bow to the center of our sanctuary is also an appropriate reverence -recognizing that the Blessed Sacrament is present. Parents, please take a moment to instruct your child(ren) in this practice. Thank you, and God continue to bless you!

25, 2012. Father Hite presided at the liturgy, assisted by Associate Pastor Father Tom McQuillen, Father Anthony Recker, Seminarian Andrew Wellmann, and servers and lectors from St. Peter’s. The St. Peter’s Choir performed the anthem “Cantate Domino” during the liturgy and sang all the psalms of Evening Prayer under the direction of Bill Johnson, St. Peter’s Principal Organist and Music Director.

Once the next phase of the project is fully funded, it is hoped that the tabernacle at the St. Joseph altar can be renovated to become the ambry for the Parish’s holy oils. An ambry is a cabinet or storage place for the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the Sacred Chrism, kept in the sanctuary of the Church. Some funding for the project has already been received and we have high hopes that the project can be completed soon. Contact Father Hite or Bill Johnson if you would like more information or would like to donate to the project.

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St. Peter’s Parish & School Report of Financial OperationsParish News

The following information was shared by Jerry Straub, Business Manager, during the October 20-21, 2012 Masses.

The left side of St. Peter’s Parish and School Report of Financial Operations is your Balance Sheet (what I like to refer to as a financial snapshot of our Parish and Schools at a specific time – in this case - the end of our fiscal year – June30th). The right side is your Statement of Operations (in essence a movie or a financial reproduction of what happened throughout the fiscal year ending June30th).

Today, I would like to briefly focus on what’s behind some of those numbers.The balance sheet indicates our total assets are $447K (more than twice as much as the year

before) and our total liabilities are $1.2M. Of that $1.2 million, we owe $1.1M to the Diocese of Toledo. We have $354K in outstanding tuition receivables. Most of that will be collected during the school year. That is one of our essential objectives this year. Collection of tuition receivables is critical so we can have the cash to meet payroll and other operating expenses.

The statement of operations shows we had net income of $216K this year versus $68K last year. It is important that we generate a net income to support our need to fund capital improvements for the Parish and School.

A closer look at the statement of operations shows that both our income and expenses were less this year compared to last year.

Statements of Operations for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012 and 2011

Jul ‘11-Jun ‘12 Jul ‘10-Jun ‘11Ordinary Income Parish Receipts Sunday & Holy Day Collections $926,168 $958,516 Christmas & Easter Collections 89,699 91,539 Other 76,664 91,685 Total Parish Receipts 1,092,531 1,141,740 School Related Receipts Tuition 2,038,527 2,168,067 Annual Scholarship Drive 118,879 108,242 Msgr Edward C Dunn Endowment 113,128 96,510 Mandated Service Revenue 178,815 180,844 Student Services 515,642 542,882 Other 211,696 109,153 Total School Related Receipts 3,176,687 3,205,698 Parish Fundraising Activities 129,691 131,511 Total Income 4,398,909 4,478,949 Ordinary Expense Employee Compensation & Benefits 3,272,376 3,549,527 Parish Expenses 62,960 42,235 Office & Administrative Expenses 171,506 157,052 Diocesan Assessments 90,688 88,063 School/Student Related Expenses 227,871 252,118 Parish Fundraising Activities Expenses 50,061 63,363 Plant Operations 405,106 394,610 Total Expense 4,280,568 4,546,968 Net Ordinary Income/(Loss) 118,341 (68,019) Other Income/(Expense) Parish Debt Relief 91,309 77,527 Parish Capital Campaign 9,313 11,878 Cancellation of Loan - Msgr Dunn Foundation – 46,807 Spartan Field Debt Reduction (Expense) (3,000) –Total Other Income/(Expense) 97,622 136,212 Net Income/(Loss) $215,963 $68,193

The following information was provided by John Kastelic, Finance Council Chair, during the October 20-21, 2012 Masses.

Now let’s take a brief walk through our current budget for the year ended June 30, 2013.In the budget ending June 30, 2013, we are projecting a net income of $150K. The budget

included wage and salary increases for the teachers and parish staff; a $100K payment towards Diocesan debt and $20,000 for future capital improvements. Some key assumptions we made included Sunday offerings of $21K per week designated for the Parish and $4K per week designated for the School. Tuition receipts were estimated at $2.2M. Total income was projected to be $4.5M.

Total expenses were budgeted at $4.4M. Of that amount $3.3M represents employee compensation and benefits; $82K diocesan assessment; $45K for instructional supplies; $87K for food purchases in cafeteria; $150K for repairs and maintenance; $54K for janitorial services; $48K for plant operation supplies; $91K for electric and $87K for gas. These are the larger amounts. There are also other expenditure over $10K each.

As you can see, St. Peter’s Parish and School is a large operation approaching $5M in operating expenses. We appreciate and need your financial support and prayers so we can continue to be vital part of this community.

My heartfelt thanks to all who serve on the Finance Council, Budget Committee and Properties Committee. Their contributions of time and talent are so important to our continued success.

Balance SheetsJune 30, 2012 and 2011

June 30, 2012 June 30, 2011Assets Current Assets Checking/Savings $595,173 $233,296 Restricted Funds (502,609) (358,378) Accounts Receivable 354,265 337,036 Other Current Assets 550 1,605 Total Current Assets 447,379 213,559 Total Assets $447,379 $213,559 Liabilities & Equity Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $50,521 $100,380 Diocesan Payables 451,974 414,599 Diocesan Collections 5,216 9,142 Parish Designated Special Gifts 66,359 37,416 Payroll Liabilities 31,117 31,636 Other Current Liabilities 1,668 779 Deferred Income 8,300 3,346 Total Current Liabilities 615,155 597,297 Long Term Liabilities Diocese of Toledo - LOC 650,320 650,320 Total Long Term Liabilities 650,320 650,320 Total Liabilities 1,265,475 1,247,617 Equity Retained Earnings (1,034,060) (1,102,251) Net Income/(Loss) 215,963 68,193 Total Equity (818,097) (1,034,058) Total Liabilities & Equity $447,378 $213,559

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Remembering Sister Grace StraubNovember 10, 1934 – October 22, 1912

Parish News

The following is an excerpt from Sr. Grace’s Alleluia Letter. According to Sr. Bernard Marie Campbell, when a Franciscan Sister dies, someone, most often a member of the congregation administration, writes the letter for the departed Sister. It is then read at the prayer service in Joliet. At the funeral Mass, one of the Sisters, usually a close friend, gives a reflection (homily) connecting the readings to the life of the Sister.

On the afternoon of October 22, 2012, our Sister Grace Straub found herself counted among those blessed servants whom the Master found waiting upon his arrival (Lk: 12:37). Returning to God with graciousness all that she had graciously received, and died as she had lived, welcoming the gift of God, revealing his handiwork, and entering more deeply into the mystery of what it means to be created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Eph 2:9-10).

Born to her loving parents Edwin and Alta (Kirkpatrick) Straub, on November 10, 1934, Grace was the fourth of five children. Baptized and educated at St. Peter’s Parish in Mansfield, Ohio, she came under the influence of the Joliet Franciscan spirit as a child. From an early age, Grace, together with her sisters Rita and Helen, was mindful of the fragility and vulnerability of life. The death of her infant brother, Philip, and the special needs of her beloved sister, Patty, made her particularly sensitive to the preciousness of each person entrusted to her care.

Moved by the desire to be an educator and a Franciscan sister, Grace’s vocational paths converged as she ventured forward into adulthood with her characteristic sense of simplicity and joy. Entering the Postulancy of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in January of 1953, she was received into the Novitiate in August of the same year and given the religious name of Gretchen. Making her first profession of vows on August 12, 1955, she was assigned soon thereafter

to the wonderful world of first and third graders, a treasured world that she would weave her way in and out of for many years to come. Professing her final vows on August 13, 1958, Sister Gretchen continued to grow in her own convictions about the spirit-filled dynamics of teaching and learning as she herself completed studies in Sociology at the then College of St. Francis. Engaged by the challenges and opportunities of a world and a Church in the process of unprecedented change and renewal, she responded single-mindedly and courageously to her missionary calling with an unwavering heart full of love, solitude, gentle humor and humility. In a 1963 letter to her classmates, she reflected upon her experience of being a “slow learner” in language school and the difficulties she faced when required on a weekly basis to tell a story in Portuguese to her fellow students. “Boy, does the language ever get murdered then! I usually end up winning the prize for the most errors – but – someone has to be the others’ consolation!!”

As one of the founding Franciscan missionaries in Santa Helena de Goias, Irma Gretchen planted many seeds during her decade of ministry in Brazil. Until this day in Santa Helena, a vestige of Irma Gretchen’s lasting influence is still evidenced in the noteworthy Palmer method hand-writing of her former students as well as their children and grandchildren.

Always inclined to trust in God’s “holy manner of working,” our “Gracie” – as she was affectionately called – possessed a seemingly inexhaustible generosity of spirit even in the midst of those heart-rending experiences when God begged back from her the preciously bestowed gifts of beloved family members, of cherished friends and classmates, of a missionary calling and an envisioned future, of a generative ministry of teaching and a lovingly devoted ministry of care-giving and, ultimate the countless

remembrances and memories of a lifetime. Unfaltering in her Franciscan conviction, that “it is in giving that we receive” our sister Grace leaves to us a parting gift, a fundamental lesson to be learned from the legacy of her life, an insight which is perfectly captured in a passage from Annie Lamott’s book Traveling Mercies: I do not understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.1

Holding fast to this insight and confidently sharing in the belief that it is in dying that we are born to eternal life, let us return to God the gift of our Sister Grace, saying with grateful hearts full of joy: Obrigada, Senhor! Alleluia, Alleluia!

1 As quoted in “Becoming Catholic Again” (Loyola Press, 2012) by Catherine Wiecher Brunell, a ’95 graduate of St. Peter’s, Mansfield, and a devoted former third grader of Sr. Grace.

Scan for St. Peter’s Parish/School website

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Children’s Liturgy of the Word has a slightly new look this year. Previously called Kids’ Word, this is a program for our young people in kindergarten through grade four which is offered at our 9:30 and 11:30 Masses during the school year (September through May). Each weekend about 60 of our young people are involved. Volunteer leaders work with the children to help them hear and understand the Liturgy of the Word at their level. The children are dismissed to the church basement before Mass begins, which gives the leaders about 30 minutes with the children. During that time, they read/hear the first reading and the gospel usually from a translation from the approved Children’s Lectionary. They may act out the Scripture, sing a song or talk about the main points. Then the children take time to offer prayer petitions and take up a children’s collection which is brought upstairs by an altar server to be added to the adult collection. The program follows the liturgical year helping the children celebrate Advent and Christmas Season, Lent and Easter Season and Ordinary Time. The children are given a handout to take home called Good News For Children published by Pflaum Publishing. This handout allows them to

connect the Scripture to their own lives through real life stories, coloring and drawing.

This year there are ten leaders; five of them are new to the program. Leaders must attend the Protecting Youth Program offered by the Diocese of Toledo for all adults who work with children as catechists, coaches, or have any interaction with children.

This is a rewarding ministry to our young people. Several of our leaders no longer have children in the program but have chosen to stay involved. New leaders are always needed. Call Bill Johnson if you are interested or Elizabeth Wurm for further details on the Protecting Youth program.

***News for February - all young people (grades 1-12) in our parish will be offered the opportunity to practice stewardship by using collection envelopes specifically for them.

Revised Children’s’ Liturgy Programby Angie Dillon

Parish News

St. Peter’s Music Series UpdateBy Elaine Zarczynski

The 2012-2013 St. Peter’s Music Series started with a bang and has seen continued success. Following the opening concert with pianist Richard Ridenour and trumpeter son, Brandon Ridenour of the Canadian Brass, the October concert featured parishioners tenor, Joel Vega, sopranos, Heidi Kirschenheiter Vega and her sister, Abigail Kirschenheiter Harshbarger, all accompanied by Dr. Gulimina Mahamuti. The audience was treated to classical and contemporary selections; the concert ended with Heidi and Abby performing the Flower Duet from the opera Lakme. Joel and Heidi recently returned to Mansfield (be sure to read the article Joel has authored in this issue) and St. Peter’s is truly lucky to have all three vocalists as part of the traditional choir.

The November concert was part of a nation-wide Saint Cecilia Sing organized by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. St. Cecilia, whose feast day is November 22, is the long-honored Patron Saint of Musicians and Church Music. Unlike the School Concert in January, this concert featured

mostly adults, all having a connection to St. Peter’s traditional choir. In addition to a variety of vocalists, the audience was treated to performances by music director, Bill Johnson, his assistant organist, Ginny Corso and the St. Peter’s Traditional Choir.

Coming February 24, 2013 is the performance of Rossini’s Stabat Mater, featuring the traditional choir, soloists and instrumentalists. On Sunday, March 17, the concert series proudly presents The Toledo Masterworks Chorale. Be sure to mark your calendar for these exceptional opportunities and be sure to bring along someone to share the experience!

Dr. Mahamuti, Joel Vega, Abigail Harshbarger, Heidi Vega

Laura Schupbach

Kristie Smith and Michelle Failor and Marc Beasley

Sweet MemoriesBy Lynne Lukach

The St. Peter’s family lost someone special this past year. The In Memoriam section of this issue identifies Gerald “Jed” Mulherin as a father, grandfather, and brother. To many St. Peter’s students and parishioners, he will forever be remembered as a terrific boss.

Countless students have worked for Jed (and now his adult children) at the Dairy Queen. Sharing our stories of working for him brought many warm thoughts and smiles. Angie Dillon (’71) started working at the Dairy Queen in high school and continued to work there for 11 years, through college as well as school vacations while teaching at St. Mary’s and her first couple years at St. Peter’s. “I was always amazed at how Jed could make the schedule work around our requests for time off for plays, basketball tournaments, and family vacations,” Angie recalled. She also had a special memory of Jed taking his employees to dinner each December – and giving each a Christmas bonus. “I will always remember Jed for his fairness to his workers,” she continued, and for his generosity. “I remember a man coming to the DQ, whose wife had just had

a baby at Mansfield General Hospital. He wanted the biggest banana split possible. Jed made a HUGE banana split in a half-gallon container!”

Jane (Fritz) Versaw (’69) lovingly shared this description: “Jed was my first employer and was such a positive influence on an impressionable high school girl. He was very precise and expected the same of his employees whether they were his kids or others. I always felt the Dairy Queen was so successful because of the high standards set by him. Jed taught the importance of good customer service (even before it was a buzz word). If a product was not to the customer’s expectation, he taught us to make it right. The customer was always right (even if they were not!). Jed was also generous. I remember weekends when a large box of sundaes, banana splits, and other goodies

would go to the convent for the sisters.”Jackie (Forwith) Kulka (’69) had

vivid memories of all that Jed taught us, including making fresh chocolate DQ, reminding us always to call our product Dairy Queen (never ice cream!), teaching us to make perfect curly Q’s on top of cones, and making sure we got out of his way when he brought out a new container of hot fudge! Jackie spoke for many of us when she recalled, “I enjoyed my many

years working for Jed. He always found a place for me during college breaks. It’s like he knew we needed the money to get through the school year.”

My memories echo those of my former co-workers above. I will always remember Jed’s generosity and kindness – and the life-long lessons he taught me. To this day I can hear him say, “Lynne, you can always put more milk in (making a milkshake), but you can’t take it out.” That lesson had much more to do with planning ahead, being careful, and following directions precisely than it had to do with “just” making a milkshake! Thank you, Jed Mulherin, for your positive contribution to so many lives…and for showing us how to make that perfect curly Q!

10

In Memoriam by Sister Bernard Marie Campbell

Sister Grace Straub ’52, sister of Helen Sevits ’51.

John C. Leibfritz ’40, father of William ’74, Mark ’76 and John A. ’79.

Dolores Powenski Allen ’48, sister of Marie Keller ’49.

Ruby Steinmetz Freiheit ’42, mother of Sandi Lesch ‘66, Karin Sharrock ‘69, Susan Messmore ’71 and Cathy Squires ‘75, sister of Virgil Steinmetz ‘41.

Mary Curran, mother of Patrick P. ‘97.

Charles Conry, father of Tom ‘69, Bill ‘70, Terry ’72, Jack ‘73, Bart ‘74, Pat ‘76.

Joseph “Joe” Martin Scherer, father of August ’13, brother of Judith Crowl ’66 and Ronald ’68.

Agnes Ganea, mother of Nancy Voelp ’62.

Scott A. Gallaway ’91, brother of Jennifer A. ’93 and Jonathan A. ’97.

Joseph Hahn ’80, brother of Barbara Duncan ‘65, William ’67, Charles ’70, Patricia Thompson ’77, John ’79 and James ’80.

Elvia Pfeifer ’44, wife of Richard L. ’41, mother of

Richard ’66, Audrey Sikula ’68, sister of Betty Spognardi ’46, Claire Dupler ’52 and Muriel Anderson ’55.

Adolph Frazzini, husband of Jean Smith Frazzini ’63.

Kelsey Myking ’07, stepdaughter of Joseph Schokatz ’67 and Bonnie Smith Myking ’70.

Gregory John Weidig, son of Joyce Mulherin Weidig ’52.

Ruth Ann Hardman, mother of Colin ’91.

Gerald “Jed” Mulherin, father of Pat ‘73 , Mike ’74, Maureen Gotterbarm ’75, Peg ’77, Tim ‘79 , and Kate Longley ‘88 , sister of Joyce Weidig ’52.

John R. Smith ‘59.

Frances Mutsch Besch ’35, mother of Madeleine Thomas ’60, Dr. Nicholas, Jr. ’62, and Joseph ‘65 .

Juliana “Julia” Humm, mother of Helena Cook ’67.

Ida Joan Koehler ‘54, mother of Ted ‘76, sister of Beth Ann Baker ‘56.

Richard Winston, brother of Stephen ‘72, Michael ‘74, Robert ‘76, Donald ‘77, David ‘83, Nancy ‘85, Paul ‘87, and Peter ‘89.

Margie Weiland Szaroleta ‘50, sister of Patricia Dillon ‘51.

Donald E. Smith ‘47, father of Kenneth ‘69, Linda Workman ‘72, Debra ‘75 and Dr. Steve ‘87, stepfather of Kathy Anderson ‘77 and Darlene Schmidt ‘81, brother of Norbert ‘50, Helen Augustine ‘51, Rita Rospert ‘56, Jean Frazzini ‘63 and Jerry ‘71.

Elaine S. Voegele, mother of Therese Marie Remy ‘65, Victoria Mills ‘66, Dr. Francis ‘81, and Maura Geiser ‘83.

Linda Joyce Oakes Lemon ‘53.

Bernard “Bernie” Zimmerman, father of Marti Mizer ‘70, Ted ‘73, Greg ‘74, and Antonia Watson ‘77.

Leonard Woerth ‘49.

Rita Joan Newlon Hoeffler ‘47,

Dr. Janet Tarino, mother of Michael Tarino ‘85.

Anthony ‘Tony; Buzenski ‘43, father of Belinda Chiu ‘66, Cynthia Meenach ‘70 and Valerie Todd McKelvey ‘72, brother of Jenny Wala ‘42, Eileen Bozymski ‘46, Valentine Bozymski ‘48, and Dr. Eugene Bozymski ‘53

PRIDE IN OUR GRADUATESover 90% to college

$44,935 average per student in scholarships/grants*strive to model the teachings of Jesus

1,391 quarter hours of college credit earned*National Merit Scholarship Program

*last five years

We view Catholic schools as the complete package. The schools provide an excellent academic experience, but more importantly, the foundation on which they are based is a living faith in Jesus Christ. Our children’s entire beings, their minds, emotions, and souls, are nourished by Catholic schools. Paying for a Catholic education is not cheap. But if you believe that your children are your most important asset, and we certainly do, the money you spend on a Catholic education is the best investment you’ll ever make.

Jim Phinney and Ginny CorsoParents of Eli ’06, Micah ’12, Isaiah ’15

Through the Post-Secondary Options program, I was able to take classes at Ohio State, fully paid for by the state. In addition, I took Advanced Placement tests (both through classes and on my own initiative) and earned credit through those. In the end, I had accumulated enough credit hours to be just two hours shy of being a junior in college. The best part of this was the opportunities it afforded. I was able to spend time in several foreign countries and graduate with two bachelor degrees - in four years. The preparation I received and the encouragement I was given while at St. Peter’s made that possible.

Peter Chengelis ’00

The St. Peter’s High School education is the opportunity of a lifetime. While there, I made wonderful friends who I continue to hold dear. The classroom challenges presented by the dedicated teachers helped prepare me for graduate and post-graduate degrees, plus a career where I could make a difference. Best wishes with your decision to choose St. Peter’s.

Kathy Mitchell Esbenshade ’73

St. Peter’s helped me build a solid foundation in my belief in God and confidence in my abilities as a young person. This, along with the educational experience of an advanced, college preparatory curriculum, helped prepare me for the challenges of adulthood. Thanks to St. Peter’s School.

Chris Wilson ’85

We chose St. Peter’s High School for what the school offers, not convenience. Personal attention, honors classes and the opportunity to be involved in numerous extracurriculars help each student reach their potential. A bus makes traveling from Ashland easier but it is the people that make it worthwhile. We felt blessed to be a part of the St. Peter’s community.

Christopher and Maryanne Chengelis Parents of Peter ’00, Demetra ’98, Damon ’03, Alex ‘09

Being an alumna from St. Peter’s and having three daughters also graduate from there, I am still around as the Athletic Booster president because I believe in the school and the students there. Academics are first and most important but the athletic traditions that I experienced there and passed on to my daughters is a very special thing that we have. The athletic students there have a special place in my heart. I hope to be around still supporting those young athletes as they pass through the halls and get older. There is no FAMILY stronger than the St. Peter’s family.

Laura Mion Lindsay, ’86Parent of Whitney ’07, Krysten ’08, Ann-marie ’12

In addition to providing the opportunity to learn in the academic arena, St. Peter’s challenges the emerging young adult to think on what they want their lives to be in the moral, spiritual, and ethical sense. This opportunity is unique to parochial education.

Commander Daniel P. Moloney ’91

11

ACCOMPLISHED and INVOLVED STUDENTSmarching band and pep band

65% high school students in sportsStudent Council

over 30 extracurriculars availablechoir, Minisingers, solo/ensembleover 40 sports teams grades K-12

variety showBoy Scouts and Girl Scouts

STRONG CURRICULUMAdvanced Placement and honors courses

iPads everywherecomputer literacy preschool-thru grade 12

high OGT and Scantron test scoresCredit FlexIEPs (ISPs)

Spanish begins in KindergartenProject Think

Montessori “works”talented and gifted program

differentiated lesson plans

ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

1:00-3:00 p.m.Daycare, Montessori Preschool/Kindergarten,

Traditional KindergartenKindergarten Enrichment, Elementary (Grades 1-6)

If you know someone who is interested in learning more about St. Peter’s Catholic School,

please email or call us and we will contact them!morris.kathy@myspartans.org, 419-524-2572 x2110

Open House & Registration • Sunday, March 3, 2013

ACCOMPLISHED and INVOLVED STUDENTSmarching band and pep band

65% high school students in sportsStudent Council

over 30 extracurriculars availablechoir, Minisingers, solo/ensembleover 40 sports teams grades K-12

variety showBoy Scouts and Girl Scouts

12www.mansfieldstpeters.org

As I reflect on my high school days at St. Peter’s, two thoughts come to mind. First my interest in science, particularly in biology was fostered by a rigorous curriculum that forced me to become a “self-learner” and take an active role in the educational process. It wasn’t sufficient to just sit in class and listen to the teacher - I had to learn how to find information on my own and then apply it to what was being presented in class. Second, I learned to respect the teacher as a professional educator and as an individual who served as the leader in the classroom. As a “teacher” of medical students, I am fortunate not to have behavioral problems in the classroom like many of my colleagues in the high schools and colleges who are frequently forced to deal with these issues.

Gregory A. Mihailoff, Ph.D. ’63

We, like many others, had to and continue to sacrifice to have our children graduate from St. Peter’s. We also saw first-hand how this translated into real advantages, both academically and in terms of dollars and cents when our older two went off to college. Both of them have graduated college at the top of their respective classes and with comparatively little debt (it is important to note, that the small debt was not a result of our contributions, but of the awards and scholarships the kids earned). We expect the same will be true for the two now in the Junior High.

Michael R.WintersParent of Chris ’01, Emily ’05, Sophia ’17, Alexis ’18

Because of the generosity of St. Peter’s parishioners and alumni, we are preparing to graduate the last of our children from this wonderful institution. Although we have struggled financially, my husband and I have always prided ourselves on providing the very best situation for our children. The St. Peter’s community has been a terrific component of this plan. Three of our children have gone on to college and have been very successful. Not only were they prepared academically, but they were also socially aware, spiritually open and confident in their talents and abilities. Like many of their classmates, they attribute a large portion of their success to the excellent preparation that they received here.

We are very grateful to this community for being so welcoming, inclusive and generous. The success of our children is due in no small part to the faith-filled atmosphere that surrounds St. Peter’s. It is my sincere hope that we will be able to repay this magnanimous gift and enable other families to experience the warmth, the love and the commitment to excellence that make St. Peter’s the very best choice.

Anne and Clayton RhodesParents of Taylor ’07, Curran ’09, Evan ’12, Will ’13

As a St. Peter’s alum and having received an atheltic scholarship to attend a university, I always felt that I was prepared for any classroom in my future. Among my teammates, I felt the most organized and prepared with the necessary study skills. My academic advisors made an example out of my study skills. These skills came naturally to me and I have St. Peter’s School to thank. From the traditions of the athletics and the support from the entire Spartan family, I will always be proud to have been a student athlete at St. Peter’s.

Whitney Lindsay, ‘07

LIVING THE FAITHweekly Massdaily prayer

Theology classesretreats

Virtues in Practice programcommunity service program

Peace JamRegina’s Kids Service Program

community food drivesSpiritual Life Team

Christmas Adopt-a-FamilyKey Club

STRONG CURRICULUMAdvanced Placement and honors courses

iPads everywherecomputer literacy preschool-thru grade 12

high OGT and Scantron test scoresCredit FlexIEPs (ISPs)

Spanish begins in KindergartenProject Think

Montessori “works”talented and gifted program

differentiated lesson plans

ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

PARISH-SCHOOL COMMUNITYparish support makes Catholic education possible

75% school parents volunteerAnnual Tuition Drive assists 33% of school students

parishioners volunteer in school buildings

Open House & Registration • Sunday, March 3, 20132:00-4:00 p.m.

Junior High and High SchoolImportant information meeting at 3:00 in the

high school gymnasium

Come and see us! Interested in a “visitation day” for you and/or your child?

Call the school principal to schedule your visit. 419-524-2572

School News

13

“A community without art is a community in decline,” observed St. Peter’s Father Gregory Hite in comments following the wonderful St. Peter’s Music Series concert by Canadian Brass trumpeter Brandon Ridenour and his father, pianist Rich Ridenour. By that measure, St. Peter’s School and Parish are positively overflowing with cultural events and blooming with opportunities for people of all ages to become involved. Group opportunities include concert band, student choir, church choir, bell choir, musicals and plays. High school classes are offered in visual arts, instrument, voice and drama. Students and parishioners can participate in solo and ensemble competitions, cantor in church, play in brass or orchestral ensembles, and act on in a theater production. The annual High School Variety Show provides a great opportunity for several students to perform!

But, why theater in particular? What are the unique qualities of theater that make it accessible and vital to performers and audience alike?

Wilson and Goldfarb assert: “We call theatre the lively art not only because it is exciting, suspenseful, and amusing, but also because it is alive..[and] makes it so durable and so indispensable.” (Theater: The Lively Art, 8th ed., McGraw-Hill). The performing arts share many common characteristics including movement through time, creators and interpreters of the art, and audience presence. Theater in particular, and perhaps uniquely, creates an immediate, personal

and powerful performer-audience relationship. It also challenges us to examine the human condition through entertainment and the delivery of profound, provocative and timeless observations. “In other words, theatre is an art form with its own characteristics: its own quality, coherence, and integrity.” (ibid).

A Dynamic and Growing ProgramAn observer of theater at St. Peter’s over the past couple years

would see an explosion of creative talent ranging from students in elementary school to adults in the parish with widely-varied backgrounds and professions. Scores of students and adults have contributed to the growth of the St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts through acting, working technical components, performing music, and assisting with make-up, costume and construction. The list of exciting recent productions continues to grow: Godspell, Carnival!, Nunsense, The Education of Angels, South Pacific, The Unbearable Liteness of Being Teen. This spring’s parish-wide production of Oklahoma! will engage the greatest number of adults and collaborators yet to stage the beloved musical.

Excitingly, the growing interest in the St. Peter’s theater program has led to several new and energized programs over the past couple years:

• Theater trips to Charleston, WV and Memphis, TN• Creation of a high school drama/theater curriculum• Chartering of an International Thespian Society chapter• Growth of the elementary school drama club• Creation of classroom space for theater instruction• Youth retreats to Cincinnati and Peninsula, Ohio (rock climbing!)

Our PhilosophyEarly on, leaders of the Department deliberately chose a

philosophy of conduct that is inclusive, supportive and positive. Ask anybody involved with theater at St. Peter’s to state the first “rule” of the Department and they will respond: “Have Fun!” While most theater students will not enter into theater as a profession, the specific skills they learn as a result are applicable in any vocation and life-long serving. The Department utilizes a “5C” approach to its work: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Confidence. Whether rehearsing, building sets, working tech or participating in class, the 5C’s are used as a focus. Students and adults learn context of the plays they are performing, and application of lessons that can be drawn. The Department embraces its students and provides an opportunity to grow, learn, make friends, be encouraged and feel safe. All participants in the Department, whether actors, tech or support, are continually encouraged in introduce new ideas, solve problems and improvise as needed.

The Value and Values of Theater at St. Peter’s by Jim Cox

14

Elevating students and adults through a positive belief system has resulted in remarkable performances – in some instances where students have no prior acting experience! Collaborations with OSU Theater Department, The Renaissance Theater, Mansfield Playhouse, Ashland Regional Ballet and Opus II Studio, and the Richland Academy have expanded student’s awareness of arts in the region, as well as inspired them to achieve higher standards. Phenomenal support from several adults and area businesses has been wonderful and vital to the growth of the Department.

From the StreetThe following responses, obtained through a brief survey of

students and adults at a recent Oklahoma! rehearsal, are reflective of the Department’s beliefs.

Why do you enjoy theater?- It gives me an opportunity to be creative, express myself and work with many amazing people!

-Theater is a great way to branch out and experience new things.- It brings me joy. Seriously, I just like the whole aspect of theater at St. Peter’s.

- I enjoy acting in general. I love fooling around with my friends and that helps my acting.

- It’s fun time with others that enjoy similar things and it boosts confidence.

-Because I have been singing about all my life – also acting too.-I can be myself but totally different.-It is as place where I can dance without looking like a fool.- Because it makes me happy and proud I can do things adults can do.

-I love the symbiosis between actor and audience.- It is a way to become someone whom you would never expect to be.

-It gives me something to do and I can meet new people.

How has your experience in theater affected other aspects of your life?

-It has given me more confidence in social interactions.-Has made me be able to get up and speak in front of groups.-It has helped me develop skills I didn’t know I had.- It has led me to create and work toward my dreams of starring on Broadway.

- It has taught me how to work with people, even people I may not like or get along with.

- It makes me rethink things I may have tossed aside, disinterested, before.-It has given me more self-discipline.-Well, it really helps me by trying by myself.-It has given me confidence to face other challenges.-Acting has given me a reason to get better grades.

Why do you think theater is important for people?-To see a different view, perspective.-To be able to put a smile on someone’s face and make them happy.-So they know what to do.-It can teach people serious and/or not serious lessons in life.-It is a good way to expand your horizons and culture.- Gives people a chance to interact with people they may not have otherwise.

-Theatre can take a person’s mind off of the stress or life.- I think elders love to see us teens/youngin’s continuing with this tradition.

- I t allows people to explore sensitive and even controversial issues in a relatively safe context.- It’s important for people to get involved and for others to get inspired.

-It can sometimes remind people of the past.

Involvement in theater performance or as part of the audience can have dramatic influence on a person’s life. It is an opportunity where all can become involved. The St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts welcomes all individuals regardless of their acting or performance background. Catch us on Facebook at St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts!

More than 20 years have elapsed since the last national report on the status of educating gifted and talented students was issued. Much has changed since that report alerted Americans to the pressing needs of these children and challenged policymakers to provide them with better education. Americans can celebrate improvements over the last two decades in how we educate gifted and talented students. The public is more aware that these students have special needs that must be met. Model programs for gifted and talented students have confronted educators to improve curriculum and teaching strategies and encouraged them to raise expectations for all students. As the floor is raised, so is the ceiling. It has become critical that we aim for excellence rather than adequacy. St. Peter’s Elementary School has responded to the challenge of striving for excellence in gifted education by establishing specific criteria for the determination of giftedness, using approved assessment tools for identification, and strengthening programs and expanding opportunities to accommodate those students identified as gifted.

The Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15 defines the term “gifted” as a student who performs or shows potential to perform at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of similar age, experience, or environment. St. Peter’s Elementary School identifies gifted students in several ways. A child shall be identified as exhibiting “superior cognitive ability” if the child scored at least two standard deviations above the mean (i.e. an IQ of 130), minus the standard error of measurement, on an approved individual standardized intelligence test administered by certified school personnel. A child shall be identified as exhibiting “specific academic ability” superior to that of children of similar age in a specific academic field (i.e. math or language arts), if, within the preceding 24 months the child performs at or above the 95th percentile at the national level on an individual or group standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field. A child may be identified as gifted in more than one specific academic ability field.

In keeping with our school mission statement to assist each student “to achieve academic excellence” and “make a difference in the world,” St. Peter’s Elementary School is committed to providing educational experiences designed to challenge academically talented students to work to their full potential. Accordingly, a program titled “Project Think” was initiated a number of years ago to challenge students, develop critical thinking skills, encourage complex problem solving, and stimulate creativity. In addition, classroom teachers at all grade levels have had extensive professional development in differentiating the curriculum for various subjects within the normal classroom setting to provide challenging instruction for the gifted student. On any given school day, differentiated lessons are taking place throughout the elementary classrooms in order to offer instruction designed to meet individual needs rather than “one size fits all.”

Occasionally a student exhibiting exceptional abilities in math or language arts requires additional gifted intervention strategies. St. Peter’s Elementary School offers a flexible acceleration policy for those students who qualify. Acceleration is an educational intervention that moves students through an educational program at a faster than usual rate or younger than the typical age. Deciding whether or not to accelerate in a subject area is a complex decision. St. Peter’s Elementary School has incorporated the use of the Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS), as a proven systematic way to generate recommendations and guidelines for acceleration.

St. Peter’s Elementary School is also pleased to offer an after-school enrichment program designed to provide advanced and exciting activities such as National Geographic Bee, Spelling Bee, Power of the Pencil/ Mindsprouts, Elementary Quiz Bowl, Math Club, Art Club, Multicultural Club and Drama Club. Reading and technology enrichment activities are also part of this program. Explore, create, think, and be challenged at St. Peter’s Elementary School!

School NewsExplore, create and be challenged at St. Peter’s ElementaryBy Jenny Pennell

Annual Tuition Drive

2013 - 2014Goal - $150,000

Amount Collected - $121,004

Thank you so much for your generosity -

We only need $33,000 to reach our goal!

$150,000.00

$121,004.00

$0

Contributions to the 2013-2014 Annual

Tuition Drive will be accepted until April 15, 2013, to be applied to

the next school year.

(Budgeting the ATD dollars, we are working a year in advance.

The 2014-2015 ATD will begin in July of ’13 until

April of ’14.)

15

Mansfield is my home. I want to live here. I have chosen to move back and do not consider myself stuck. I love the very bones of this city. I have lived in a lot of cities in a lot of diverse parts of the country over the last 15 years; yet I always choose to come back to Mansfield. The people here have a unique combination of stoic work ethic, uncomplaining optimism, and friendly neighborly relationships, even with strangers. These positive attitudes are reflected in a lot of the buildings I see on my drives through the city. Cheerfully warm, neatly-kept bungalows interspersed with large sprawling buildings from our industrial heyday. Our creativity and civic spirit also shows up in the numerous arts organizations that train and perform for a large percentage of us. We have many grand old houses, grand old buildings, and grand old organizations. I see many of the larger houses starting to be torn down after years of neglect. I also see many of the social, educational, and religious organizations shrinking and suffering from neglect and decline. I reject the idea that we must sit back and watch this happen. Let’s build!

I am a builder and I believe that Mansfield and the surrounding area is full of builders. I think we can choose what grand old structures and institutions we value, roll up our sleeves, build them up again and also build new opportunities for our work and play. This will not only add to our economy in a tangible way, but will add to the total package, our image that we project to ourselves and to everyone else who may be thinking of moving a business, or family here. If we save and build on our legacy, we are building for the future of business and arts in our area.

My area of expertise is in the performing arts, specifically classical music. I owe a lot to people who still work tirelessly in Mansfield on behalf of youth music and theater. Arts training and youth involvement in the arts has been and still is very strong here. Organizations like the Mansfield Playhouse, the Renaissance Theater, The Mansfield Symphony and Symphony Chorus, the Richland Academy of the Arts, The Mansfield Art Center, our public and private schools, and many more, have been plugging away for many years. They have created a community that is well versed in the arts-- a community where most have, or will, study the arts and where hundreds perform music and drama at some point in their lives. I have even been given the privilege of teaching singers at the Richland Academy and privately. One of the highlights of my year was giving a presentation about opera, along with my wife, Heidi, to the elementary school students at St. Peter’s elementary school. The children’s questions and answers were simply brilliant. We have a pool of amazing kids in Mansfield!

This youth training has born a lot of professional fruit. I have numerous friends from Mansfield that are now working in major cities doing large scale work in the arts. St. Peter’s own Robert Attenweiler just gave us a taste of his critically-acclaimed play, “Our Greatest Year.” John Weaver (Mansfield Christian) has worked as a carpenter and electrician at Lincoln Center and Sante Fe Opera. Robin Henry (Madison) stage managed a production of “The Importance of Being Ernest” that I saw on Broadway last year just one block from Times Square. Tim Debo

(Mansfield Sr.) was the road manager for numerous Broadway musicals touring the country. My brother, Aaron Vega, and my friend, Jenny Barber, are professional actors in New York. Jenny was just on the new hit TV show, Elementary. Aaron runs his own Shakespeare festival in Aspen CO. We are also home to Metropolitan Opera veteran, J. Dalton Derr. The international opera star Sylvia McNair frequently stops by services at the local church she grew up in, First Congregational. The list goes on and on of locals who have gone on to the national and international stage. With such amazing training, what is stopping us from becoming a place that not only keeps its artists here at home, but draws more artists and entrepreneurs to come live and create in our community?

I had a conversation with the director of NEOS dance theater, Bobby Wessner, a few months ago. He is the classic entrepreneur. His professional ballet company is based here in Mansfield and has been incubated and supported by Renaissance Performing Arts. He moved here to raise his family and has never stopped creating. He has a definite vision of where he wants to grow and how he is going to accomplish it. He is not the only one. We also have another fledgling dance company headed by Marden Ramos, trained by the famous Cuban Ballet de Camaguey. These dancers have found a foothold in the community and are creating opportunities for higher level professional arts right here in Mansfield! What are we doing to foster and encourage artist entrepreneurs like them? It is an economic fact that people who see ballet and other professional performing arts also support high level service and culinary businesses. We can become the center for Northern Ohio arts! We can make it easier and more attractive for professional arts companies to form here, stay here, draw tourism, and bring business with them!

Everyone I speak to is surprised that we have the luxury of a professional symphony outside of Cleveland, or another large metropolitan area. The new Maestro, Thomas Hong, is forward-looking and ambitious. How can we help support this valuable symphony? We have choruses and arts schools! We have a large scale art center and a beautiful large theater, with many smaller prospects, and many small galleries. We are even centrally-located on a major highway crossroads. Routes 30, 13, 71, and 42 run right through our town providing access from all parts of the state! We have the perfect primordial soup for a total turnaround from industrial economy to service and tourism based in the arts! What is stopping us?

We would do well to take cues from the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. Playhouse square was 96 hours from becoming a parking lot. The downtown was deserted and riddled with crime. It now boasts three major theaters and numerous restaurants and supporting businesses. It pumps over $40 million (direct, indirect, and induced) into the local economy per year and there are hundreds of jobs directly attached to the complex. The arguments against revitalization and renovation were strong and compelling. There was a constant shortage of cash, the progress was slow and ups and downs occurred. The critics asked why people would come to shows when their cars would likely be broken into and the heat would

not work in the theater? The doubters even pointed out that Cleveland had no urban audience for large scale arts. Perseverance paid off and the can-do attitudes of the planners and audience members were proven correct. I can imagine this happening here in Mansfield. We can do that here! We sold out concerts presented by Asheville Lyric Opera when they toured, using our Symphony as accompaniment. We have all of the dots and now must connect them and coordinate their revitalization!

To start this revitalization, I think we must more ardently support the live arts we have here already. We must tear ourselves and our children away from the TV and the countless mind-numbing entertainments on the Internet. YouTube and commercial television do not create any jobs, or community spirit locally. Enroll your children and yourself in music, dance and fine art classes. Attend our local galleries and then go out and eat local food, or drink local coffee! Maybe you’ll be the one inspired enough to start a Mansfield micro-brewery, or some other venture! Get out in our amazing community and visit our huge city parks! (Maybe volunteer to mow, or rebuild them!) Start dreaming of ways to make this place the place you want it to be for you, your friends, and your family!

We have to get rid of the idea that we only consume our arts and entertainment in Columbus and Cleveland. If we make the art, or attend it here, there will be a lot more of it here. Cleveland has given up its Opera. Columbus is cutting back its arts. We can fill that vacuum easily. The curve no longer exists in the large established cities. If we create the new curve, we could be the centrally-located arts and tourism draw of the state! If we can dream big enough, we may even get new neighbors who have moved in to enjoy our town, too!

You, yourself, may have ideas on how to build things up. I hear countless stories of what we used to be able to do in Mansfield. Get involved again, or anew, and be vocal about your ideas and efforts! I am starting a professional opera company to produce major operatic works in the original languages right here in downtown starting this summer! Towns like Asheville, NC, Brevard NC, and Vienna, Va. (Wolftrap Opera and Music Festival) are now vibrant and thriving because of arts-based expansion. We can do the same. It can only happen if we all take the effort to be the change we want to see in our community!

We cannot risk losing the two professional dance companies, the Symphony we have residing in this city, the arts galleries and schools. We cannot allow the Mansfield spirit and arts legacy to atrophy. We have the tangible and intangible assets here to not only preserve, but to grow! If we revitalize our outlook and refresh our own take on our city, the advantages and possibilities show themselves. A lot of hard work has been done and continues to be done. We need to reinvest ourselves and make it grow. I have never seen this town as a punch line for a joke. Mansfield is my home. I want to live here. I have chosen to live here. I am not stuck. I love this town. You’ve read my ideas. Let’s get to building!

Let’s build; revitalizing the arts in Mansfield by Joel Vega

www.mansfieldstpeters.org 16

Annual Tuition Drive

by Jim Cox

St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts took on two exciting and challenging productions for the 2012 – 2013 academic year: The Unbearable Liteness of Being Teen (by Angela Hill) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

Presented on the St. Peter’s VE stage in October, “Liteness,” set in present day, showed us the world of being a teen through 25 short interwoven vignettes. Eighteen St. Peter’s senior high and junior high students portrayed characters dealing with dating, unreasonable teacher expectations, unrequited love, stylish dress, popularity, friendship and the inner sanctum of nerds. While offering numerous laughs, the play tackled some challenging subjects as well such as depression, abuse, bullying, divorce, and post-graduation fears. “Liteness” spurred the audience to remember their own teen years, and to laugh at themselves as parents, teachers, and students.

Delightfully, several newcomers to St. Peter’s theater joined the cast including St. Peter’s students Mekenzie Brown, Morgan Depinet, Hayden Eighinger, Thais Henriques, Anthony Schlitt and Thomas Schlitt. The entire ensemble performed remarkably to three very responsive audiences in the intimate high school VE Theater.

“Oh what a beautiful mornin’ – Oh what a beautiful day” will echo in the halls of St. Peter’s School come spring. Nearly 70 folks will present the Parish-wide production of Oklahoma! March 8, 9, 15 and 16 in the

Robert Fry Auditorium. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. A secondary, but no less feisty romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs.

To fully engage the wonderful St. Peter’s talent, several roles have been double cast. Laurey Williams is played by Madeline Carter and Ryanne Roley. Curly McLain is played by Hayden Eighinger and Taylor Schlupp. The role of Ado Annie is portrayed by Beth Clark and Morgan Depinet, while Taylor Dauterman and Cole Phillips take on the roll of Will Parker. Peddler Ali Hakim is played by Christian Hall and the maligned character Jud Fry is delivered by Ale Brunetti. Carla Eighinger leads the cowboys and farmers as the sage Aunt Eller, while Bill Johnson portrays Andrew Carnes – the protective father of Ado Annie.

St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts is honored and pleased to present Oklahoma! in collaboration with the Ashland Regional Ballet and Opus II Dance Studio, providing artistic and compelling choreography for Laurey’s dream sequence.

School NewsTheatre productions this season offer teen perspective and beloved, Oklahoma!

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High School actors inspired by Attenweiler’s workshop By Jim Cox

The greater Mansfield area and St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts enjoyed a tremendous opportunity to interact with one of its own this past October when Bob Attenweiler returned to Mansfield for the staging of his critically praised New York show Our Greatest Year.

The son of Joyce Hunt, Bob is a 1993 graduate of St. Peter’s. Graduating from John Carroll University in 1997, Bob pursued further education and received a Masters of Arts in English from The Ohio State University in 2001, and a Masters in Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from New York University in 2004. A playwright, screenwriter and independent producer living in New York City, Bob is the founder and

Producing Director of Disgraced Productions. His numerous plays and artistic work has been well received and prompted Kansas City Or Along the Way reviewer Emily Otto (nytheatre.com) to write: “Attenweiler’s golden ear for dialogue and poetic imagination conspire to produce lines that are at once metaphorically rich and completely speakable.…”

Written by Bob and close friend Scott Henkle, Our Greatest Year “is an

innovative blend of live stage action and projected motion comics that follows Harvey Pruit, and his new wife, Elton, as they return to Cleveland, OH to care for his ailing father, watch another tortured year of Cleveland professional sports and learn about loss, losing, and the myths we create to make sense of both.” Harvey Pruit is richly performed by Eric Slater. Elton is quite delightfully played by Rebecca Benhayon as she struggles to understand and accommodate her husband’s deeply rooted fascination with the Cleveland teams. Anna Brenner is the Director of the play, which was performed at the Renaissance Theater in October.

The St. Peter’s community will be delighted to know that Bob and Rebecca are engaged and furthered some planning for their 2013 wedding while back in town!

St. Peter’s Department of Theater and Performing Arts and The Renaissance Theater collaborated to host a special evening event for Bob and company. Actor Eric Slater performed a monologue from Our Greatest Year in which character Harvey Pruit extols baseball’s deep imprinting (literally as well as figuratively) on Cleveland boys. Bob’s comments centered on how much of his professional drive and ability was grounded in values of his family and small town Mansfield.

The following day, Bob and his colleagues conducted a Playwright and Acting Methods workshop for St. Peter’s, Pioneer and Ontario students. With the fall play (Unbearable Liteness of Being Teen) rehearsals well underway, St. Peter’s School actors performed several vignettes and received very valuable insight on story interpretation, line delivery and interaction with one another from Bob, Rebecca, Eric, Anna and Scott. The actors benefited from hearing comments from several perspectives: playwright, director, and actor. Students received signed workshop certificates for participating.

Truly inspiring, Bob’s continuing journey is exciting to learn about and experience. Bob, Rebecca, Anna, Eric and Scott are most certainly welcome back any time!

Left to right: Anna Brenner (director); Eric Slater (Harvey); Rebecca Benhayon

(Elton); Bob Attenweiler (playwright); Scott Henkle (comic writer & illustrator)

Income for St. Peter’sSt. Peter’s is a registered “user” of GoodSearch.

com and GoodShop.com. A check is mailed by GoodSearch to every registered non-profit at the end of November each year based on the number of people who have selected Mansfield St. Peter’s when using the search engine (goodsearch.com) or shopping online (goodshop.com). Even though a small amount, by using goodsearch.com and goodshop.com, you can help us increase the earnings for St. Peter’s!

GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates 50% of its revenue, (about a penny per search), to listed American charities and schools designated by its users. The money donated comes from the site’s advertisers. According to the company’s website, as of January 2011, more than 96,000 non-profits are participating in the program and 100 new organizations register daily.Users can designate which of the selected charities their searches benefit and also see how much money and how many searches have been performed on behalf of each charity.

After logging on to GoodSearch.com, if you type St. Peter’s Mansfield, Ohio, our non-profit will appear in the list for your selection. From the main page of GoodSearch.com, there is a link to GoodShop.com., an online shopping mall that includes more than 2,500 retailers ranging from Amazon to Macy’s. This online marketplace donates a percentage (up to 20%) of your purchase to the nonprofit of your choice (St. Peter’s Mansfield, Ohio). The experience of shopping through GoodShop is exactly the same as going to the retailer’s websites directly.

Thank you for considering the option of making goodsearch.com your home-page search engine.

Thank you for considering the option of “shopping” on goodshop.com!

Sister Paula holds the form that she will submit to collect the $1,200+ St. Peter’s School will receive for Box Tops collected over the last six months or so. Sister Paula would like to thank all those who help with this project that enables her to purchase extra items for the school not otherwise provided for in the budget. Her message: “Thank you and keep collecting!”

For those of you who read this from far away, you can still help St. Peter’s by participating in Goodsense as described below If you are so inclined you can also collect “Boxtops for Education” found on many consumer products and mail them to Sr. Paula. Local readers are reminded that the school gets paid for recyclables brought to the SCRAP Trailer collections.

Easy Ways to help make a difference for St. Peter’s

Save, spend and share! A worthwhile lesson for elementary students and all of us

By Michelle Failor, ‘94

As fifth-grader, Grace Maurer, put it, “money is hard to make but easy to spend!” Participating in this year’s Moonjar Project allowed her and other elementary students at St. Peter’s to discover the difference between wants and needs and how important it is to spend money wisely. Sponsored by the Monsignor Dunn Foundation, students took home Moonjars over the summer and, this fall, shared their challenges with saving, spending and sharing.

Moonjars are “piggy banks” with three sections—one for money saved, one for money to spend and the other for money that will be shared with others. Teaching children these important concepts is hoped to make them more fiscally aware and financially-responsible as adults. In its second year at St. Peter’s, the project is making its mark! Impressively, some decided to save money for future goals such as buying a car or college tuition. Most of their Moonjar money was earned by doing extra chores or opening their own small businesses, like lemonade stands. First-grader Zoe Daniels opted for a cookie stand and even made brochures to help attract customers.

Third-grader Jacob Failor acquired some of his Moonjar money by saving his birthday and First Communion cash gifts-- this meant over three months of waiting for just the right purchase. This was not easy, but he said it taught him to, “save up for something I really want instead of spending it as soon as I got it.” Sixth-grader Erika Myrwold, who was saving up for a Kindle Fire, also talked about how beneficial waiting to spend can be. “I put 40% in save because, if I spend all my money, then what will I have left if a new electronic device comes out that I want?”

They learned more than financial lessons, however. Many essays described values such as pride (for setting goals and achieving them), working together (or getting along) with siblings, how “going without” isn’t so bad and how making a change in your life, and the lives of others, is often priceless. Third-grader Isabelle Annis earned some of her money each time she was able to avoid TV and video games for two days!

More stories like this came out in the stories about sharing. Many chose to share with St. Peter’s Church or local charities, such as the Humane Society. Zoe shared some of her cookie-stand proceeds by purchasing forks and napkins for the Sammy Tridico benefit breakfast. Fifth-grader Sophie Tridico donated money toward her brother, Sammy Tridico’s Scholarship Fund, which will be shared with families who need help receiving the same benefit of a St. Peter’s education that has been so important to her family.

Some of the students shared with family members, showing gratitude and kindness—Grace shared some of her earnings by purchasing Christmas gifts for her family, Erika shared with her Grandma, “for everything she does for me” and Jacob bought a Lego set for his little brother so the two could play together.

First-grader Harrison Hamilton spent his summer helping the environment. He put half of his Moonjar money in his savings account for college and spent the rest of it for supplies to help make and share bat houses with his family.

“These new bat habitats will help our family keep bats safe, raise their babies and help the earth,” Harrison told St. Peter’s students at the Moonjar assembly in November. “Bat Conservation is important for our environment. One bat eats about 2,000 to 6,000 insects each night and bats also help pollinate flowers and vegetables!”

Harrison and his uncle Dave (Funk, SPS Class of ’92) worked together to build the houses and Harrison decorated them with his favorite character, Batman!

As the students read their essays aloud at the awards assembly, it was clear that they learned a great deal, but also had a lot of fun!

“I loved doing this project because, even if I got one penny a week, I’m still making a change and that is my goal, to make a change,” Erika said. “I enjoyed doing this project and can’t wait to do it again next year and save more money!”

Sophie said she thought Moonjar was a good way to “teach kids to handle money wisely. This is an ongoing thing for me,” she added. “Next year I am going to spend, save and share differently.”

The Monsignor Dunn Foundation is excited to continue building on the students’ enthusiasm.“It’s such a worthwhile project,” said Elizabeth Daniels, a St. Peter’s alumnae (Class of ’94), parent and

member of the Monsignor Dunn Foundation Moonjar Committee. “The Dunn Foundation is grateful for, and encouraged by, the participation of the students. We’re in the process of identifying new ways to engage even more students and teachers in the Moonjar Project. Look for more in Spring 2013!”

This year’s Moonjar Project winners were (from left to right): Jacob Failor (1ST place in 3rd - 4th grade), Harrison Hamilton (1st place in 1st -2nd grade), Sophie Tridico (2nd place in 5th - 6th grade), Isabelle Annis (2nd place in 3rd - 4th grade), Erika Myrwold (3rd place in 5th - 6th grade), Zoe Daniels (2nd place in 1st - 2nd grade) and Grace Maurer (1st place in 5th- 6th grade).

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SPHS Alumni Visitation Day

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Alumni News

It was a morning of talking college. At the sixth annual “Alumni Visitation Day” event on December 19, twenty-nine SPHS alumni again walked the halls of the high school building to meet with high school students in small group sessions. Conversations focused on preparing for college, college choices, adjustments in college, and coursework and study habits at the high school level that were helpful along with a host of other grade-level appropriate topics.

For the past five years, alumni have visited with seniors in Assisi Hall with the discussion facilitated by Mr. Mike Mulherin, senior class Theology teacher. New to the program schedule this year were short sessions with freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Several teachers facilitated those discussions and a small group of alumni shared their thoughts and answered questions from the underclassmen. The purpose was to prompt thinking about college choices and, especially, those things they can do in their early years of high school to help prepare them best for their college career.

Development Department staff also visited with seniors and alum to explain the purpose and goals of Development Department projects and mailings—keeping in touch, providing assistance for class reunion contact information, and helping to sustain Catholic education at St. Peter’s.

Each year, a special thank you gift is given to the alumni who visit us. This year, they received a potica made especially for them by the famous St. Peter’s baking ladies. They also received a small pack of the delicious chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria staff.

As always, it was simply wonderful to have the alumni back in the SPHS building. Great to see them. Great to talk with them. Great to hear their thoughts. Thank you, alumni! Stay in touch and come back soon! Go Spartans!

SPHS Alumni

Three alumni meeting with freshman Four alumni meeting with juniors in Robert Frye Gym

Sister Bernie directs the alumni group photo

SPHS alumni visiting sophomores in the VE room.SPHS seniors meet with Alumni and Mr. Mulherin in Assisi Hall

By Kathy Morris ‘71

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ReunionsThe class of 1962 celebrated its 50th class reunion with a five-day weekend at

the end of September. All events-- which included a Mass at St. Peter’s, an Ice Breaker at the Franciscan Center, a golf outing, a visit to the Heritage Room and short tour of the High School with Sr. Paula as the tour guide, a catered dinner at the Knights of Columbus, and meals at the Old Bag of Nails, Coney Island, Asian Buffet, Golden Corral, Deer Ridge, and Der Dutchman-- were well attended! There were 42 classmates plus guests from across the country that took part in one or several activities.

“Although there was an abundance of time to reminisce and bring others up-to-date on what was happening in our lives, it never seemed like enough,” said Kathy Yockey. “One of the highlights of the evening was a short video taken by Frank Noser, with a special message from our favorite teacher, Rita Graves. Everyone was disappointed that her health prevented her from joining us again this year, but we all know that she was with us in spirit. She will always have a special place in the hearts of all members of the class of 1962. The bittersweet part of the weekend was remembering deceased classmates and teachers whose pictures appeared on the memory board. It was especially nice to see some new faces and hope that others will be able to join us in 2017.”

St. Peter’s Class of 1963

50th Class Reunion Will be held the weekend of

Sept. 20 - 22, 2013Please mark your calendar.

Plans are in process. Hoping for a BIG turnout.

More information will be provided at a later date.

REUNION COMMITTEEKathy Notter Gross, Judy Stimmler

Rissover, Norma Schnelker Metz

The Class of 1962 celebrated its 50th reunion this fall! Did you know that this was the 1st class to attend all four years in the current High School?

Mike Bair, Steve Nelson, Mike DeNero, and John Friend are pictured here at the Class of ’67 Reunion luncheon in December, 2012. In 1964, this “Fab Four” performed as “The Beatles” during an assembly, wrote Ray Curatti.

SPHS alumni in Columbus, Ohio ...

we’re coming to see you on May 17!

Details to be sent soon!

SEND US YOUR NEWS!

SEND US YOUR REUNION NOTICES!Hello Alumni! If you have any news about you and/or your family to share with your fellow

alumni, please send information along with a jpeg photo if you like to: failor.michelle@myspartans.org or mail to: Alumni Office, St. Peter’s Parish Center, 104 W. First Street,

Mansfield, OH 44902.

Does your class have a reunion planned? If so, and if you would like us to publicize in our June issue, send us the details and we’ll be happy to give your classmates a heads up

on the plans! Mail to: Alumni Office, St. Peter’s Parish Center 104 W. First Street, Mansfield, OH 44902 or email: failor.michelle@

myspartans.org.www.mansfieldstpeters.org

SPHS Class of 1998Demetra (Chengelis) Czegan

and Melissa Manning are planning a 15th reunion for the weekend of August 10th. Be sure to send St. Peter’s your updated contact information so you will receive

more information on the reunion!

Class of 195360 year reunion August 17, 2013

Oak Park TavernFor information contact

Shirley Schummer (Schnitzer) 419-884-1471

“Family” submitted photo

Please make sure submitted photos for the Family magazine are high resolution.We can not guarantee photo clarity.

Alumni UpdatesBy Michelle Failor ’94

’65, ’66 … Stephanie (Warndorf ) Lehman, Class of ’66, and Ken Lehman, Class of ’65, write from Ft. Myers, Florida where they are currently living and are retired.

’53 … Eugene M. Bozymski MD is currently a Professor of Medicine at The University of NC Medical Center and an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. As a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Eugene was elected to give the annual Alpha Omega Alpha Lecture at The Medical College of Wisconsin earlier this year.

’88 … Andy Stoy is currently working as a Senior Practice Manager for a consulting firm in Nashville, TN. Andy and his wife and their 13-year-old son moved from Raleigh, NC to Nashville in April of this year and he writes that they have fallen in love with Music City, USA. They enjoy spending time traveling, raising an English Bulldog puppy and settling into life in Nashville. “My 1968 Mustang GT Convertible is now restored and ready for a new owner, if anyone is interested,” he added!

’76 … Greg Keller and his wife, Leah, currently reside in Groveport, Ohio where Greg is a docent at Motts Military Museum. Previously, Greg retired (Jan. 31, 2012) from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency as Chief Disaster Recovery Branch, where he served the state for 32 years. He also retired (Oct. 3, 1997) from the 179th Tactical Airlift Wing (Mansfield Lahm Airport) Ohio Air Guard as Captain, Chief of Intelligence 164 Airlift Squadron and served with the 179th from 1977 to 1997.

’01 … Jennifer Gregory married Robert Gibson on Oct. 4, 2012. The wedding took place at the beach on Edisto Island, in South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson reside in Mansfield.

’00 ... Matt Failor, is currently training for his second Iditarod! Currently living in Big Lake, Alaska, Matt is a dog handler for Kelly Maixner at Mad Stork Kennel. Matt will be racing with a team of Maixner’s slightly older dogs this year but his goal is still the same-- to train the dogs and get as many of them to Nome as possible! This year, he will have also competed in the Yukon Quest (held Feb. 2), logging in just over 1,000 miles from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska. Looking to gain more experience for himself and his dogs, Matt said the Yukon Quest is just as hard, if not harder than the Iditarod-- mostly due to trail conditions. “We haven’t had a lot of snow yet and it’s been warm so there will be rough spots and standing water,” he said. Still, he is optimistic that he and his team will do just fine and is looking forward to coming home to tell us all about his adventures this April! Be sure to follow Matt and this year’s Iditarod online, we all wish you well Matt!!!!

Turkey Bowl XLIVBy Mark Forster ‘93

The air was crisp, the sun was shining, and the footballs were flying. It was the Friday after Thanksgiving and, as with the previous 43 years, a motley crew of Spartan alums gathered at Maple Lake Park for food, fun, and football. Turkey Bowl executives and grizzled veterans Mark Forster, Frank Stout, and Patrick Bitar were joined by 17

other participants spanning four decades of Spartan excellence. It’s always a treat to have first-time participants join the affair, renewing the spirit and competition of this wonderful event. Turkey hangovers notwithstanding, the gang had an energetic and exciting day!

As always, the game itself was a well-played and skillful affair. The tradition thunders on like a freight train with no sign of slowing down; the next game will mark the 45th anniversary of the event. Hope to see everyone again next fall!

The game is open to anyone. To get in on the action, please contact Mark Forster (mm.forster@yahoo.com) or Frank Stout (frank.stout@yahoo.com), or just show up!

Jennifer Gregory and Robert Gibson

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Leaving a Legacy How will you be remembered? Make a difference and leave a legacy for the ones you love…truly the gift that keeps on giving.

IRAs and Retirement PlansAvoid double taxation on an IRA or Retirement Plan assets in your estate.

Income for LifeGive yourself or someone you love income for life that may be more than your current investments are providing.

Stock, Bonds and Mutual Fund SharesGiving appreciated assets is one of the most tax-efficient ways to make charitable donations.

Your Financial Advisor can help you craft an Estate Plan that provides for you and your family and your favorite charity.

Please remember St. Peter’s Parish and School in your will.

Did You Know?The IRA Charitable Rollover has been reinstated for all of 2013 and will now expire at the end of this year, on December 31, 2013.

Suggested Language for a Bequest“I bequeath the sum of $______or ______% (or all) of the residue of my estate to St. Peter’s Parish/The Monsignor Edward C. Dunn Foundation, a not-for-profit, 501(c) (3) tax exempt corporation located at 104 West First Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902 for its general purposes.”

St. Peter’s Development Office,104 West First Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902

419.524.2572 – ext. 2125 or 2130

Why make a Planned Gift to St. Peter’s Parish or The Monsignor Dunn Foundation for Education?

Becoming Catholic … Again, is a personal narrative about Class of ’95 alumnae Catherine (Wiecher) Brunell’s journey through the Catholic faith. “Life is about finding sacred moments, making religion a part of your normal life and giving your life meaning,” she said, and her book provides a great conversation for people who are willing to talk about what it means to be Catholic. Caty has a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College, is a mother of four (ages 7 to 10 months old) and lives with her husband in the Boston area.

She will be in Ohio this April, speaking to students at Walsh Jesuit and Xavier University about her book and how to maintain a connection to the Church in a postmodern world.

Plans are also in the works for her to visit and speak to the St. Peter’s community, where her story began.

“St. Peter’s was such a gift, and I would like to find a way to give back,” she said. “I would not be Catholic today if I hadn’t

grown up in such a wonderful Catholic community that felt so much like a family.”

Published by Loyola Press, Caty’s book, “invites us to find solace in her story—and to realize that faith can be approached as a route to personal discovery that can lead to spiritual growth.” (http://www.loyolapress.com/becoming-catholic-again.htm).

St. Peter’s High School principal Tressa Reith remembers Caty fondly and said she is hoping to coordinate time for Caty to speak to Religion and Language Arts classes and is looking forward to learning more about her incredible accomplishments.

Be sure to follow the Church bulletin and www.mansfieldstpeters.org for details on this upcoming event!

Alumni NewsAlum to share her insight on being CatholicBy Michelle Failor ’94

ALUMNI UPDATE(Please help us update our files with any name, address, or telephone number changes)

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