Newsmagazine Bringing the Good News to the Diocese of Fort Worth Vol. 27 No. 8 September 2011 Nolan Vikings kick off golden year 1961-2011—Nolan Catholic High School students have a good reason to start off the new academic year with cheers, shouts and applause. Founded in 1961 by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur and the Marianists, the Catholic secondary school is celebrating 50 years of growth and innovation with tailgate parties, special projects and class reunions. Exhibiting some of the school’s festive mood are (top row left to right) David laPointe, Brianna Grimmett, Jaycee Weber, Cierra Guerin, Julius Powell, Stefan Puente, Maggie Kleiser. (bottom row left to right)- AnnElise Corpany, Maggie Puente, Abby Cook, Zoe Pfi fer, Jenna Hagan, and Julie Spurlock. Nolan's halls (fewer than today's vastly enlarged campus) first filled with students in 1961, spurred by the prayers and work of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur and the Marianists Story and Photos M. Nolan Catholic High School in 1963 by by Joan Kurkowski-Gillen hen you go back to your parishes and communities, you'll the Bishop of Dallas-Fort Worth Th omas K. Gorman. Same sex classrooms and separate be ambassadors of Nolan Catholic High School and our administrations were maintained until 1969 “W when the school became fully co-educational. ‘It’s a golden time celebration of 50 years of Viking tradition'" Today, Nolan Catholic is a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth and to be a Viking’ — Nolan Catholic Principal Cathy Buckingham continues to fl ourish under the direction of the Society of Mary (the Marianists). ust ask the Nolan Catholic students Th e college preparatory high school has who packed the gym on Aug. 15 “When you go back to your parishes and Namur, decided to launch a new era of maintained a faith-based curriculum and high to kick-off the high school’s 50th communities, you’ll be ambassadors of Nolan Catholic secondary education in Tarrant academic standards throughout its history anniversary celebration with a pep Catholic High School and our celebration County. Built on property donated by the but has changed in size and appearance. Pat rally. Th e teens, dressed in of 50 years of Viking tradition,” she said, Amon G. Carter Foundation, the venture Pierret, director of alumni relations and a J Nolan’s trademark blue and grey challenging the already enthusiastic student combined Our Lady of Victory Academy 1978 alumna, surprised her young listeners uniforms, stood and cheered from the body. “It’s going to be a fantastic year!” for girls with Laneri High School for boys. when she described a time when the school bleachers as Principal Cathy Buckingham Th e school’s colorful heritage dates For a short time, the newly organized had no air conditioning or football fi eld. Th e announced some of the activities that will back to 1961 when the Marianist Brothers, secondary school was known as Our Lady showcase the school’s fi ve decades of history. together with the Sisters of St. Mary of of Victory but was renamed Msgr. Robert SEE NOLAN, P. 18 PAGE 2 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC, SEPTEMBER, 2011 ShepherdOur Speaks We are all the result of a thought of God, willed, loved, and necessary Dear Brothers and necessary, is also the theme of this year’s of Jesus Christ should feel excused from Bishop’s Annual Catholic Pro-Life Banquet receiving catechesis” (Catechesi Tradendae, Sisters in Christ, which will be held Sept. 24 at the DFW 45). Airport Hyatt Regency Hotel. I would like to One of the great opportunities we have ne of the great take this opportunity as we refl ect together in North Texas for ongoing faith formation highlights during on the great dignity of the human person and ministry training is the annual revealed in Mary’s Assumption to invite you University of Dallas Ministry Conference the month of August to this very important event in the life of which will be off ered Oct. 28-29 at the O our Diocese. Th e Bishop’s Annual Catholic Dallas Convention Center. Sponsored by in the life and liturgy of the Pro-Life Banquet is the main fundraiser the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Dallas, the Church is the solemnity of the for our Diocesan Catholics Respect Life University of Dallas Ministry Conference is Offi ce and the Banquet helps to fund and an outstanding opportunity for all Catholics Assumption of Mary on Aug. 15. continue many of the outstanding Respect to come and join other local Catholics in Life programs in our Diocese such as respect learning more about their Catholic faith. Th e Assumption of Mary is a very important life education, assistance, and personal Th is year, the Conference has as its keynote event in salvation history because it not only mentoring to mothers in crisis pregnancies speaker the Archbishop of Chicago, Francis reveals to us some important truths about through Gabriel Project “angels,” critical Cardinal George, who is also the author who Mary is as Mother and Model of the post-abortion healing retreats off ered of two excellent books that are very much Church, but Mary’s Assumption also reveals Bishop Kevin Vann through Rachel’s Ministries, and education, worth reading: Th e Diff erence God Makes: a great deal about ourselves and the great formation, and leadership training off ered A Catholic Vision of Faith, Communion, and destiny to which we are called in Christ. the bodies of even the just are corrupted through our Youth for Life programs. Not Culture and God in Action: How Faith in First, the Assumption of Mary reveals after death, and only on the last day will only will your presence at the Pro-Life God Can Address the Challenges of the World. that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, they be joined, each to its own glorious Banquet be a powerful witness to the Gospel Th e Conference will off er breakout sessions is assumed by Christ body and soul into soul. of Life, but your generous support will also featuring many other dynamic nationally heaven and it is one of the four Marian allow us to continue the tireless work for known speakers and some of our popular dogmas solemnly defi ned by Pope Pius XII Now God has willed that the Blessed life through our Catholics Respect Life local talent as well for ministry formation for in 1950. In other words, Mary enjoys the Virgin Mary should be exempted from Offi ce. We are especially blessed this year a wide variety of ministries such as RCIA, full fruits of the Resurrection immediately this general rule. She, by an entirely to have as our keynote presenter Catholic Youth Ministry, Religious Education, and at the end of her earthly life. Th is is because unique privilege, completely overcame writer and scholar George Weigel who is Marriage and Family, as well as numerous Mary, from the moment of her Immaculate sin by her Immaculate Conception, and best known as the author of the biography sessions off ered for ongoing adult faith Conception until the end of her life on earth, as a result she was not subject to the of Pope John Paul II Witness to Hope and formation such as apologetics, liturgy was free from the stain of Original Sin and law of remaining in the corruption of is one of the more infl uential and popular and sacraments, prayer and spirituality, never chose to cooperate with sin and evil all the grave, and she did not have to wait Catholic scholars and writers in the Church and parenting and Catholic family life. throughout her life. Th erefore, since Mary until the end of time for the redemption today. Please join me and many others I encourage both parish ministers and never sinned, she was to never suff er the of her body. from all around our Diocese to support the parishioners alike to register and to come and fruits of sin: death or corruption of the body. — Munifi centissimus Deus, 4-5 Catholics Respect Life Offi ce and to affi rm take advantage of this unique faith formation As St. Paul proclaims, and celebrate the great gift of life! To register opportunity. Th ere is more information in Where, O death, is your victory? Where, Th us, the Assumption, along with for the Banquet, visit the Diocesan website at this issue of the North Texas Catholic and O death, is your sting? Th e sting of death and closely connected to the Immaculate www.fwdioc.org and click on the "Pro-Life you can also fi nd more information on the is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Conception, is in the person of Mary a Banquet" icon. Conference website at www.udallas.edu/ But thanks be to God who gives us the shining testimony to the dignity of the Th ese summer days are also the time udmc for English and www.udallas.edu/ victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. human person and the destiny to which each when many of us are returning to school udmc/espanol for Spanish. — 1 Corinthians: 55-57 and every person is called in Christ. Mary as either students or teachers. I want to May God continue to bless you and reveals to us that only in Christ is the true take this opportunity especially to thank your families as we begin another school Instead, Mary is the fi rst to experience meaning of life revealed, and only in Him all of the principals, teachers, and staff in year, and may we especially in this month the fullness of the Resurrection of the body do we fi nd fullness of life and love.