Volume 6, Issue 3 April, 2010

A Newsletter for Alumni & Friends of St. John Eudes School

Visit us at www.sjeschool.net Inside this Issue: Children’s Choir 2 Alumni & Friends Invited to Performs with L.A. Celebrate the Spirit at St. John Eudes! Focus on the Fac- 2 Parish Set for Weekend ulty: Sr. Guadalupe The Pulse: News 3 About SJE Alumni & Friends Free Admission! In a Lighter Vein 3 Free Entertainment! SJE Student Ranks 3 Free Parking! Internationally Rides • Food • Games! Quick News 3 A Special Message 4 Lots of Fun! from the Principal Visit www.sjecarnival.org Highlights: May 21~22~23 for complete details! • Parish Spirit to be on Display at Carnival; As the weather starts warming up you gotta May 23 that will end with a and Alumni & Friends know that summer’s not far behind. And we’re ethnic entertainment in the tent. Guaranteed Fun SJE Students Act Out getting ready to celebrate a really fun And don’t forget the fabulous Grand Prize • with the St. John Eudes Summer Carnival! in Cathedral; Rec- Drawing where you can win $5,000 in Cash, a ognized in Tidings 52” Sony LCD Hi-Def TV, or an HP Windows All of our alumni, friends, and their families • Teacher Builds Suc- are invited to join us in this really fun event. 7 Netbook Computer! Grand Prize Drawing cessful Philosophy There’ll be really great food, exciting rides, tickets are available in the parish plaza after on Trust, Love top-notch entertainment, our refreshing Beer & weekend masses ˗ where you can also get pre- • Former Pastor Receives Margarita Garden, and thrilling carnival games. sale ride tickets at a special 50% discount! Papal Honor; Gets We’re also celebrating our cultural heritages You can have even more fun by volunteering Award from Local Temple with a special Pentecost at 10:45 pm on for the carnival to help in our food, ticket, or • Alumna Lands TV Roll game booths. And with Royal Connection volunteers get a chance • SJE Student Holds to purchase special World Math Ranking; unlimited ride wrist- Calculates How to Stay bands (which will only on Top be sold to volunteers • SJE Students Pass ˗ visit our website at Hats for www.sjecarnival.org Earthquake Relief for complete details). • Beanie Baby Collection Aids Peace Effort; So why travel all that Builds Good Will way to those expensive • 50th Jubilees High- theme parks. Enjoy light Personal Mile- the Summer Carnival stones; St. Paula’s right here in your own Mission Alive at SJE backyard. See you at • Golf Tournament Carnival visitors enjoy a wild variety of rides and exciting carnival games. After the Carnival! Scores with School; taking in the excitement, guests can relax, enjoy food and goodies, and take in Leader Board Traded the great entertainment on the Main Stage under our huge Entertainment Tent. for Smart Boards St. John Eudes Children’s Choir Performs with L.A. Opera Company Choir Featured in Tidings Article The SJE Children’s Choir, which includes many school students, performed along with the Adult Choir and the L.A. Opera Company in the Play of Daniel. The performance took place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Feb. 27. The Choir was featured in a Tidings article in the Mar. 26 issue.. Richard Medrano, SJE Music Ministry Director, worked with L.A. Opera’s Music Director, James Conlon, to stage the performance. The production also included several other choirs from the Los Angeles area and is part of the outreach program of the L.A. Opera to include community groups in productions of this caliber. The SJE Choirs have previously worked with the L.A. Opera in productions of Noye’s Fludde and hope to continue the relationship. Mr. Medrano (left) and the SJE Children’s Choir pose with Maestro James Conlon The full text of The Tidings article can be found on their website at (right), Musical Director of the L.A. Opera Co. Mr. Conlon directed “The Festival Play of Daniel” at the Cathedral which included the SJE Children and Adult www.the-tidings.com. Choirs - several of their members also playing key acting rolls in the production. Focus on the Faculty: Sr. Guadalupe - The Philosophy of Trust From Spain ~ to ~ to Chatsworth with Love “I love God.” When she was fi ve or six Montal as she quietly cared for the Sisters Eucharistic minister, Vice-Provincial, years old, Guadalupe Gonzalez, of the in the ranch house on Lassen Street. Hu- Mother Superior: Sr. Guadalupe has relied small Spanish town, El Arenal (in Avila) mility, hard work, simplicity, friendliness, on God no matter what her duties. knew one thing for sure: she wanted to be joy marked her fi rst years at SJE,” recalls By trusting God, she is free to concentrate a saint. Soon enough she also knew that in Sr. Rosemary, Sch.P., former principal. on loving everyone she meets. Sr. Geor- order to strive toward this goal, she would “I love the children.” Every morning gina Gutierez, SJE religion coordinator “have to become a religious”. Her parents she is in position: station #1 of the car and longtime friend, shares, “She is very were farmers, relying on providence as drop-off line, as the students arrive – tall, generous [and] gives herself to the people much as hard work, tilling their own and small, drowsy, perky, grimacing, grinning through her work. She has a happy others’ land. But never – and are deposited into nature. When I am grumbling, worried was work more impor- another day of educa- about something, she tells me to relax tant than Sunday mass tional calisthenics. This because it will be OK.” or praying the , perfunctory is her This year, as aide to the “wonderful” Mrs. where each afternoon morning act of love, as Rice in 2nd Grade, Sr. Guadalupe helps she held the middle spot Sr. Guadalupe accepts the students in all subjects and especially among fi ve sisters and each one with a smile to prepare for their First Eucharist. That two brothers. and a brief accounting is her “day job”. In the evening she is a When her mother had a of what they need - a driving force of the Spanish Ministry; with long illness, and another helpful tug out of the 270 children total, and about 100 of them brother died young, car, a little hug, a sim- planning to receive the Eucharist this year. they trusted and prayed ple word of welcome. “I want to be happy.” Sr. Guadalupe harder. When Guadal- Parents drive into their recalls when each year the 7th Graders cre- upe was old enough to daily grind with ethe- atively planned and presented the farewell begin her vocation, at real receipts: a hopeful mass for the graduating 8th Graders. One age fi fteen, she en- “Have a great day,” year she convinced Mark Hollingsworth tered the order of the Sisters of the Pious loving nod, and quick wave of a faithful to play his guitar as the music accompa- Schools, infl uenced by a local , Fr. hand. Justly appraised by current princi- nist. “He really didn’t want to do it. But Santos, Escolapias. pal, Barbara Danowitz, “It is so wonderful I told him he should. And it turned out In 1955, the novice sister followed her to see Sr. Guadalupe on the car line as the beautiful.” Another year the Valyermo love to Cuba, and fi nally vowed complete fi rst staff member to greet the students dancers taught students a of the faithfulness to God in 1960. A year later, each morning.” “Our Father”. As she remembers, a fond Cuba fell to communism, bringing the “I trust God to help me with every- smile appears, along with a quiet chuckle, Pious Sisters to the U.S. and California. thing.” Community cook, school a sparkle of appreciation in her eyes. It’s “She helped to prepare the fertile soil of secretary, college graduate, teacher, cat- quite simple, Sr. Guadalupe’s philosophy Chatsworth for the spirit of Mother Paula echist, coordinator of Hispanic ministries, for happiness: Children, Trust, God! Page 2 The HeartBeat The Pulse: News About SJE Alumni & Friends Congratulations to former St. John Eudes School in Reseda. She plans to continue Pastor, Fr. Robert McNamara. Fr. her studies and obtain a Master’s Degree SJE Student Ranking McNamara was recently accorded the in Education in the near future. In her free Among Top in International papal honor of Chaplain of His Holiness time she enjoys travelling. Math Competition by Benedict XVI. The honor carries Tiffany Kurpuweit (Susan) ’00 - Congratulations to John Francis, the title of Monsignor. Msgr. McNamara (Update / HeartBeat April, 2009) has been current SJE 5th Grader. John is is currently the pastor of St. Bernadine of chosen to be 1 of 3 girl mechanics on a presently rated 4th in the world in Sienna Church in Woodland Hills. He is new reality TV show called Well Oiled. the First in Math international math also being honored at a special dinner on The show will tape in Hollywood and competition! First in Math is an May 16 by Temple Aliyah as recipient of will also star Emma Parker Bowles (yes, on-line competition which includes the Koach Award. the one who’s the niece of Camilla, the students and schools from the United Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Marianna Orsini ’98 attended States and other countries. For more Charles). Tiffany says she went through a Chatsworth High School where she information on the contest visit maze of auditions (ala American Idol), but participated on the girl’s softball and vol- www.fi rstinmath.com. leyball teams. She then earned an A.A. was fi nally chosen for the show. Congrat- Degree at Pierce College and transferred ulations Tiffany! to California University, Northridge, to major in Child Development. She is Quick News . . . planning to graduate CSUN this . She has been working her way through The Annual / Casino Night Fundraiser, college as a waitress and is also a special sponsored by the PTSO, raised education assistant at Melvin Elementary $50,000 which will be applied to the family fundraising com- In a Lighter Vein . . . mitment so that tuition can stay Three boys are in the school yard affordable for many school fami- talking about their uncles. The fi rst lies. Thanks to all our alumni boy says, “My uncle’s a poet - he and friends who supported the scribbles a few words on a piece of event. And thanks also to all the paper, he calls it a poem, they give volunteers who worked so hard. him $50.” Capt. Steve Ruda, of the St. John Eudes students raised nearly $800 through the “Hats for Haiti” The second boy says, “That’s nothing. Los Angeles Fire Dept. campaign for earthquake victims of the Haiti Earthquake. Overall, My uncle writes songs - he scribbles a and an alumni parent, gave an children in the Los Angeles Archdiocese raised over $291,000 to help few words on a piece of paper, he calls inspiring presentation during those affected by the quake. it a song, they give him $100.” Catholic Schools Week. He SJE Families and Students Collected stressed the importance of receiving the Beanie Babies for Operation Gratitude The third boy says, “I got you both dividends from a Catholic education – that will be sent to our soldiers in Iraq and beat. My uncle’s a priest - he scribbles faith, knowledge, discipline, and morals. Afghanistan. The soldiers will be able to dis- a few words on a piece of paper, he tribute them to local children calls it a sermon, and it takes eight to help build good will. people to collect all the money!” SJE 8th Graders Served Please consider scribbling a donation as Ambassadors/Greeters on a check and sending it to St. at the recent Archdiocesan John Eudes School. Donations are Deacons Meeting called by tax deductible and help the worthy Cardinal Mahoney and hosted cause of providing a quality Catholic by St. John Eudes on Mar. 7. education to deserving children. Your A Special Collection for donation to the Annual Fund, Adopt- the School was taken at A-Student Program, Endowment, the weekend masses during or other general or specifi c gifts is Catholic Schools Week. The greatly appreciated. To donate please school received over $1,700 contact the School Offi ce (818) 341- Bryan Suttles (right), an SJE alumnus and chairperson of the “2009 SJE for the Endowment and for 1451 or visit our website at www.- Golf Classic”, presented a check for $11,000 to Fred Perez (PTSO Offi cer), classroom technology im- Msgr. Nugent, and Mrs. Danowitz. The money was used to help purchase sjeschool.net. Thank you! (Continued on page 4) “Smart Boards” for the school classrooms. Bryan is also a member of the Parish School Board. Volume 6, Issue 3 Page 3 St. John Eudes School A Special Message from the Principal St. Paula Montal’s Mission Is Alive Today at SJE 9925 Mason Avenue Chatsworth, CA 91311 Earlier this year, on February 26, we St. John Eudes School embraces the Phone: (818) 341-1454 celebrated the feast day of St. Paula Mon- mission of St. Paula Montal, teaching Fax: (818) 341-3093 tal, who is the of the family and inspiring our students to be life-long www.school.stjohneudes.org and education, and the learners who live their faith founder of the Sisters of and grow in their personal, Msgr. Peter Nugent “Her teaching paradigm Pastor the Pious Schools. moral,social, spiritual, and was to create a civilization intellectual development. Mrs. Barbara Danowitz St. Paula’s mission was of love and service through Principal This paradigm is very the education of young the education of our youth, evident here at SJE; we women and their role producing future leaders of believe our School-Wide A Community of Faith in society. St. Paula tomorrow.” is a community of learners worked to establish a Learning Expectations who recognize and nourish wide range of educa- (SLEs) help our boys and God-given gifts. tional programs for girls that were meant to girls become life-long learners and leaders counteract the existing legislative discrimi- in their chosen fi elds, while embracing the nation of girls in the nineteenth century school’s mission. in Spain. Her teaching paradigm was to One of our own teachers, Sr. Encarnación create a civilization of love and service Alvarez, recently celebrated her 50th/ through the education of our youth, produc- Golden Jubilee as a Sister of the Pious ing future leaders of tomorrow. Presently, Schools. She entered the convent as a her educational work continues through the young teenager and has devoted most of education of almost 30,000 boys and girls her life to working here at St. John Eudes. in 20 nations on four continents. We congratulate her on this milestone in The HeartBeat her ministry and thank her for the dedication to her vo- A publication of the cation and the love she has St. John Eudes School shown to our students and Development Offi ce families. She truly has been Ernie Star, Director an example to us the spirit of Contributors: St. Paula Montal. Ellen Abbene Barbara Danowitz Sheryl Reyes, Eva Star Top - Sr. Encarnación (center) is joined by Sr. Josefa Epifana (left) Quick News . . . and Msgr. Peter Nugent (right) dur- (Continued from page 3) ing the celebration of her Golden Jubilee as a Sister of the Pious provements. Thank you to all our alumni Schools. Sr. Josefa also celebrated and friends who donated to the collec- her Golden Jubilee that day. The tion and continue to support our Endow- celebration was held at the North- ment, Annual Fund and Adopt-a-Student ridge house of the Sisters and was attended by a large group of fellow programs. Sisters, as well as invited friends The SJE365.com Facebook Page has and guests. Msgr. Nugent con- Grown to 55 Members and we hope celebrated a mass, followed by an outdoor reception which featured that you will join us too (if you haven’t yet Cuban food and desserts (Cuba is already). SJE365.com is a great place to where the Sisters came from prior share your pictures and stories about SJE to coming to Los Angeles). sporting events, concerts, and other school Bottom - Joining in the celebra- activities - and we’d like to hear about the tion (left to right) were former SJE “good old days” if you’re an alumnus or School Secretary, Maria Margolis, and current teachers, Mrs. Dona alumnus parent! If you haven’t visited our Thies, Sr. Guadalupe, Ms. Cathy site lately, we hope you’ll go there soon. Stula, and Sr. Georgina. Mrs. There are already some great pictures of Danowtiz, and many other friends our kids and school events posted. And of SJE School, also attended. Sr. Encarnación and Sr. Josefa each it you have some pictures you’d like to received a proclamation from Pope share, please e-mail them in today! Benedict XVI in recognition of their Jubilees. Page 4 The HeartBeat