TThhee SSJJAA EEaaggllee Volume 18 ST. JOHN’S ACADEMY, JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA FALL 2014 Number 2 Class of 1964 50th Reunion Back Row: Joanne Doctor, Angie Greenwood, Marilyn Ginther, Connie Albright, Toni Pokorny. Front Row: Miki Artz, Ann Leines, Ellen Musgraves, Joan Johnson. Monsignor Wald Pastor at St. James Basilica I was raised on the family ever influence my life. In addition to my service as Pastor farm 10 ½ miles northeast of of Holy Spirit Catholic Church I was also on the Board of Napoleon. I am the seventh Directors for the St. John Paul Catholic School Network in child in a family of 10. My Fargo, Vice Chancellor for the Diocese of Fargo and mother and father are Joseph served as the Grand (National) Chaplain for the and Pauline Wald. My father Benevolent and Protective order of Elks for six years. On passed away in January of October 7th of 2006 I was named a Chaplain of His 2010. My mother recently Holiness with the title of Monsignor and this past April moved to Jamestown. received the Distinguished Pastor Award from the National I graduated from High Catholic Education Association. But the most important School in 1982 and started col - title and honor in my life continues to be that of son, broth - lege at NDSU that summer. I er, Father and Pastor. Monsignor Wald studied Agricultural Education As I reflect on God’s goodness in my life, and the great until I entered Cardinal Muench honor of being named now Pastor/Rector of the Basilica of Seminary to begin my studies for the priesthood. I graduat - St. James with its outlying parishes in Windsor, Buchanan ed from CMS and NDSU in the spring of 1988. Bishop and Pingree I can only be filled with gratitude. Thank you Sullivan assigned me to do my graduate studies at the to the many people who have touched my life, beginning Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. with Mom and Dad, giving me their prayers and support. I I was ordained a priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral on June am touched by the welcome I have received by our staff 6th, 1992. My first assignment was as Parochial Vicar under and the good people of our parishes. Be assured of my Fr. William Sherman at St. Michael’s in Grand Forks. I truly continued prayers, love, support and dedication as I contin - enjoyed my two years of service at St. Michael’s. I worked a ue to serve among you. Please keep me and all priests in great deal with the school, religious education and the youth your daily prayers. programs. The highlight of my time in Grand Forks was a Blessings, youth trip to Denver for World Youth Day. Seeing Sr. Pope Msgr. Jeffrey Wald John Paul II was a dream come true. In July of 1994 I was assigned to St. Bernard in Oriska and Holy Trinity in Fingal, as well as Vocation Director for the Diocese of Development Corner Fargo. In July 1996 Bishop Sullivan appointed me Pastor of St. Joseph in Devils Lake, Assumption of Mary in What a pleasure it was for me to Starkweather and St. Benedict in rural Crary. I also contin - host the Class of 1964 at St. John’s ued as Vocation Director for one more year. After three Academy. Wow 21 classmates years Assumption of Mary was aligned with Munich as a came for the tour and lunch and mission and I remained Pastor of St. Joseph and St. Benedict shared their memories of SJA! I for three more years. In May of 2002 Bishop Aquila hope you enjoy the pictures from appointed me Pastor of Holy Spirit in Fargo. the reunion. If you are planning a In my years of priestly service I have been blessed in St. John’s Academy reunion, feel many ways. God in his infinite goodness has placed in my free to call or email me and I will life people who have helped to mold me into the priest I help you with your special week - am today. Each challenge that has come my way I tried to end planning! We love having our embrace with confidence in God’s love and gifts in my Peggy Etzold alumni come back for a visit! St. John’s Academy/ Thank you for continuing to sup - life. My great loves in parish ministry are Catholic St. James Basilica Schools, youth and adult religious education, assisting peo - port St. John’s Academy and shar - ple when the struggles of life weigh them down and cele - ing in our journey at St. John’s Academy. May your days brating the sacraments. One of the great blessings in my be filled with the graces of God as you grow closer in your priestly life was the opportunity to welcome our former relationship to God! Bishop, James S. Sullivan, into Holy Spirit rectory in May “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one 2002 until his death in June of 2006. Bishop Sullivan was another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” my inspiration and strength. To have the opportunity to 1 Peter 4:10 give back to him, in some small way, the goodness he so freely shared with me I will always consider one of God’s Watch for our St. John’s Academy greatest gifts. In 2005 I was able to work with and come to outreach for our Annual Fund know a young priest that would impact my life forever. Fr. coming in December! Darin Didier served as my Parochial Vicar for 77 days YOUR Gift does make a difference until his death, from cancer, on September 6th, in the lives of our Students! 2005. Father and I walked Calvary’s road together. Fr. God Bless YOU! The Staff and Didier’s gentle Priestly Soul and our relationship will for - Students at St. John’s Academy! Principal’s Corner What an exciting time at St. ChildCare program, directed by Robin Kramlich. We had John’s Academy (SJA) as the 35 children attend during the summer and have close to 70 2014-15 school year is under children using our ChildCare services during the school way. This is now my fifth year year. We are very excited about the program as it offers our as principal and my experience families a reliable and trustworthy service. Feel free to continues to be so rewarding. contact Robin or myself if you would like to learn more My family and I are so blessed about the program. to be a part of this special com - The fall is always such a bustling and exciting time at munity. My oldest son is now in SJA. The SJA PTO has been busy selling key tags and 8th grade at the Jamestown magazines for their annual fall fundraiser. The majority of Middle School and last spring I the money raised by the PTO will directly benefit our had to say good-bye to my teachers and students. Last year the PTO gave over Mark Wiest other son who is now in 7th $19,000 back to the school which is so nice. If you would grade at the JMS. Needless to like to purchase a key tag, please contact the school office. say it’s been quite strange not having my two sons at SJA All of us at SJA were also extremely busy preparing for any longer. Fortunately third grade daughter is attending the 24th Annual HOPE (Help Offer Private Education) SJA. My two sons are still very involved with the school which was held on October 4th. This year’s theme was and spend quite a bit of time here. “Pearl of the Pacific.” It was once again a great night with SJA welcomed three new teachers to our staff. Morgan everyone enjoying themselves and many unique items auc - Dale will be joining us as a kindergarten teacher. Morgan tioned off. Please visit the school web site for more infor - is a Jamestown native and St. John’s Academy alum. mation. http://stjamesbasilica.org/st-johns-academy/hope- Morgan is a recent graduate of the College of Saint dinner-and-auction/ Not only is this our largest fundraiser Benedict in St. Joseph, MN. Our new second grade but a wonderful community builder. Thanks to all of you teacher will be Kara Wahl, also a Jamestown native and for attending and supporting SJA. recent graduate of the University of Jamestown. SJA will As we continue to grow at SJA, we realize the impor - also have a new library media specialist, Linda Dammel. tance of providing the best education possible to our stu - Linda has worked as the library assistant at Mandan dents. We are currently in the process of continuing with Middle School for the past 4 years. Linda is a graduate of our Technology Challenge. We are closing in on our goal Valley City State University. Please welcome Morgan, of raising $140,000 to go towards revamping all of the Kara and Linda to our staff. technology in the school. If you are interested in donating We have 13 teachers returning with experience in the to this challenge, please contact the school at classroom ranging from 1 year to 34 years. We are current - 701-252-3397 or Peggy Etzold at 701-252-0119. ly averaging 11 years of experience with our staff. Our students continue to utilize the 23 Simple Touch Marlys Fix, who has served as a second grade teacher Nooks with Glowlights for the library/media center.