Miege Matters October 2003
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Miege Matters November 2003 A Newsletter for Alumni, Parents of Alumni and Friends Miege Alumni Follow Their Callings One of the most important missions Mass, and then visit and listen to them of Bishop Miege High School is to instill for a few hours. This quiet time of lis- a love for the Catholic faith in all who pass tening really opens my heart up to be through our doors. With daily prayers, all school a better man of God.” Masses, a service program, religion classes, recon- Father Riley offered the following ciliation opportunities and retreats, much of student advice specifi cally for young gradu- life at Miege revolves around our faith. ates: “Don’t waste your college years It is always a special blessing when one of our falling away from the church. You students follows his or her calling into a life of service. received a good foundation at Miege, Father John Cordes ‘68 Recently, we caught up with three Miege alumni — two so don’t sacrifi ce that when you go to priests and one seminary student — to learn their per- college. College is not a vacation from spectives on their callings, their experiences at Miege church.” Father Cordes wants young and their advice for the young. people to not always think about what Father John Cordes ‘68 said that having such a they want to do with their lives, but strong Catholic infl uence at school helped him decide his what God wants them to do with their calling. “I had a steady infl uence of dedicated people lives. And Matt advises that “if there helping young people grow in their faith,” he said. Matt is a tiny inclination in the heart that Molnar ‘96, who is a seminary student, said, “Having priesthood or religious life may be the the freedom in school to attend Mass and really get to path that God has in store for you ... know about how to ‘lead’ people musically opened the GO FOR IT!” Father John Riley ‘80 door of Faith in my life.” Father John Riley ‘80 said that We asked each person if there his realization that he should enter the priesthood was was any one thing they would like to a gradual one that arose as he become increasingly communicate to the Miege community. involved in lay ministry. Father Cordes said “If we keep Jesus at All three men shared a few of their favorite experi- the center of our lives, everything else ences related to their calling. One of the joys of Father will fall into place.” Father Riley asked Cordes is reconnecting with someone who has fallen the community to pray for an increase away from the church, and bringing them back into the in vocations and to be open to God’s fold. Father Riley particularly enjoys being the chaplain call. Matt said “Mercy is everything at Hayden High School. “It’s been so rewarding and and the Mass is so important.” gratifying to be an instrument of the Lord at Hayden,” We thank Father Cordes, Father he said. Matt especially enjoys spending a few hours Riley and Matt Molnar for sharing their Matt Molnar ‘96 in a nursing home every Friday. “I bring elderly folks to thoughts with the Miege Community. Update Your Profi le on the New Alumni Website As you may have heard, Bishop Miege recently Your fi rst step should be to update your current launched a new alumni website so that all of our alumni information (address, education, employment and more) can keep in contact with each other and with the school. by clicking Edit Profi le. After you’ve entered your new The fi rst step toward making the new site the best it information and saved it, you need to click on Edit Profi le can be is for all of our alumni with web access to get View to choose how much of your information can be online to update their profi les. To log in to the site, go to seen by others. Just click in the boxes next to any item www.alumni.bishopmiege.com. Your username is your that you would like your classmates to be able to see. fi rst name, last name and class year combined (exam- If you have any trouble taking these steps, just ple: JonathonDoe1976). Your password is the number call Kirsten at 913.262.2701, ext. 252, or e-mail printed above your name on the back of this newsletter. [email protected]. A Letter from the President Dear Friends of Miege, “Now is the Time for the Great Catch” was the theme of the 120th Supreme Con- vention of the Knights of Columbus. In his letter to the Knights and in his Apostolic Letter at the close of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, Pope John Paul II wrote, “Our hearts ring out with words of Jesus when one day, after speaking to the crowds from Simon’s boat, He invited the apostle to ‘put out into the deep’ (“Duc in altum”) for a catch (Luke 5:4). When they had done this, they caught a great number of fi sh” (Luke 5:6). As you might recall, Luke’s Gospel “The Great Catch” was selected as the Dr. Joe Passantino source for the design of the new stained glass window for the nearly completed chapel renovation. This Gospel was chosen because it was the source of the theme for the 1957 design of the chapel window. Unfortunately, a shortage of funds at the time Miege was built prevented the installation of a stained glass window. In an effort to link the 1957 design to the current one, our stained glass artist, Michael Pilla, was asked to design an original work using the “The Great Catch” Gospel as the theme. Michael worked with students and faculty over several months processing and interpreting the passage. After getting feedback from many participants, he came up with a design that depicted Christ and the three disciples in the boat setting out in deep water. The scene depicts a point in time prior to the casting of the nets. When Archbishop Keleher viewed the design for the fi rst time, he quickly made the connection between Pope John Paul’s letters and the scene shown in the window. Without any intent, Michael had created a design that will be titled “Duc in Altum.” When completely fi nished, our newly reno- vated chapel will be a sacred space of which we all will be very proud. The beautiful new window will remind students and staff for decades to come of our call to follow Christ. As the Pope also wrote, “Now is the time to put out into the deep without fear or hesitation” and that Luke’s Gospel calls us to an “ever deeper trust in the Lord’s command.” God bless. Sincerely, Dr. Joe Passantino Artist Michael Pilla’s preliminary President design for the stained glass window in the Saint Angela Merici Chapel The Freshman Experience Alumnotes By: Jennifer Unruh, Bishop Miege Freshman 1963 As my eighth grade year came to an be a student here! end, I couldn’t wait to get out. I was so I finished up open house at Miege and • See the article on page 5 ready for high school. I was ready to I was blown away! I didn’t want to go to about your reunion this fall! start new again: new teachers, new any other school because I knew that this 1973 friends, and a new was the one. But, of course, my parents • Your reunion will be environment. wanted me to look at all my options so I held Feb. 21 in the Miege The only hard part went to a couple other schools and none, Commons with the about it was that only and I mean none, match up to Miege. classes of 1974 and 1975. three people from my Some, compared to Miege, could even For more information, school were going to make me fall asleep. So when I got home contact Kim Dean White, Bishop Miege. It was and I said to my parents, “I want to go to [email protected], hard at first, but as Miege,” I knew right then and there that 913-345-1709. the school year got I had made one of the biggest decisions 1974 Jennifer Unruh closer, I couldn’t wait. of my life and I knew that it was the right The first day of high one! • Your reunion will be school as a freshman was great! When Although I have only been a freshman held Feb. 21 in the Miege that first bell rang, a rush went through me for a few weeks, it feels like I have been Commons with the classes and I finally realized that it was here — I here for my whole entire education. Miege of 1973 and 1975. For was finally in high school! is an awesome school where I don’t have to more information, contact So there I was in first hour sitting there worry about what other people think about Janet Hosty Schlake, as a new freshman at Bishop Miege. Yeah, me. No matter who I am or where I came [email protected], it is kind of scary to think about, but once from, Miege is accepting of all people. The 913-642-4199. I got through the initial shock, I realized teachers here are great and everyone is so 1975 that I wasn’t ever scared, I was just really easy to get along with.