Volume 22 • Fall 2018 •
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PIUSConnectionsvolume 22 • fall 2018 • www.piusx.net A publication for Alumni, Parents & Friends of Pius X High School PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL 6000 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510 402.488.0931 • 402.488.1061 fax www.piusx.net PIUSConnections Board of Advisors volume 22 • fall 2018 • www.piusx.net piusx.net/about/board-of-advisors Chief Administrative Officer Rev. James J. Meysenburg Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Rev. Lee Jirovsky Principal Tom Korta On the cover Assistant Principals The Pius X High School Terry Kathol • Greg Lesiak Marching Band found the conditions perfect Guidance Director for a morning practice Jan Frayser in September, with blue skies, puffy clouds and a PIUS X FOUNDATION beaming sun. 402.488.1046 • 402.488.1061 fax A publication for Alumni, Parents & Friends of Board of Directors piusx.net/foundation Pius X High School Advancement Director Courtney Johnson Assistant Advancement Director Emily Moore features Foundation Staff Old Gym, New Stage - In their own words Zachary Baehr • Pam Beiermann 4 Kathryn Bergen • PJ Book 6 Softball team visits Villa Marie for fun, PIUS X & CATHEDRAL ALUMNI fellowship, and perspective 402.488.0931 • 402.488.1061 fax AcaDeca learns about 1960s from near and far Alumni Director 7 Kristin (Edwards) Heath ’91 Pius Connections Published semi-annually for alumni, parents and friends of Pius X High School. If you Welcome ............................................................................. 3 would like additional copies or to be removed from our mailing list, please call 402-488-1046 School Notes ................................................................. 8-11 or e-mail [email protected]. Current Enrollment alumni today 1,200+ students (Catholic: 97% Other: 3%) Thunderbolt Bash ............................................................ 12 Mission Statement Athletic Hall of Fame Highlights .................................... 13 To enrich the mind, heart, and soul of each student through a Christ-centered Thunderbolt Weddings ................................................... 15 Catholic environment that provides In Remembrance......................................................... 14-15 academic excellence and preparation to achieve a meaningful, faith-filled life. Future Thunderbolts ....................................................... 17 Bits & Pieces ............................................................... 16-18 Pius X Foundation Annual Report ..................................19 Change of Address To notify Pius X of address changes or personal updates, please fill out the online form at piusx.net/alumni or contact the Foundation at 402-488-1046. Pius X Welcome Dear Pius X High School Alumni, Cathedral High support that our parents, alumni and friends give to Pius X through School Alumni, Parents and Friends, the Fund for Pius Annual Appeal, BOLT, and so many more other As we begin this grace-filled season of Advent and Christmas, fund-raising opportunities. I pray that you and yours may know the gift of joy and gratitude for all the blessings and treasures in Additionally, through the generosity of 25 individuals, private your life. These last few months, foundations and hundreds of others through their BOLT giving, Pius my heart has been heavy with the X is halfway finished with building of the $5.5 million classroom sexual abuse crisis in the church, addition. AND, it is completely funded. This will relieve the class- as well as other natural disasters, room space crunch for our students and teachers. Furthermore, by shootings, and the horrible fires in not having a full-fledged campaign for this project, we hope to be California. Yet, I know that God is setting the stage in the not-to-distant future for a campaign to build good … all the time. The greatest a new performing arts center, to renovate and add onto our existing example of His goodness is sending locker rooms and to add to our existing Pius X Foundation fund. his only Son. Jesus was born a vul- Currently, this fund distributes an amount equal to 10% of the school nerable infant child in a barn, totally operations budget. Many exciting initiatives and plans are underway dependent on Joseph, Mary and God to keep our school affordable. the Father. Christ knows our strug- gles in this world and in our spiritual Further, Pius X continues to thrive as a mission-driven Catholic journeys. He walks with us; if we school with a strong Catholic identity. We have 27 alumni who are let Him, He carries us. currently in the seminary or in religious formation. Last year, our Paul’s letter to the Philippians poignantly reminds me of this. He seniors had an average ACT score of 24.5, which is 4.4 points higher is with us in our times of rejoicing, when we feel contentment and than the Nebraska average. We also have 5 national merit scholar- peace. He is with us, as well, during our most difficult and trying ship semifinalists. Our girls’ cross-country team and boys’ tennis times. He brings a peace that cannot be stolen from us. While incar- team each won Class B state titles this fall and our girls’ volleyball cerated, mistreated, hungry and lonely in Ephesus, Paul wrote, team was Class A state runner-up. All other teams competed well with great class. Our unbelievably talented vocal and instrumental Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer music groups and theatre department were once again excellent. I for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the could go on and on with praise; I am very proud of our students, first day until now…Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: teachers, parents and families. rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with With humble gratitude, I thank you for generously supporting thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace Pius X through your prayers, works and giving. May you and your of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and family know how graced you are, regardless how wonderful or trying minds in Christ Jesus. life might seem. May you thank our Lord for your blessings and may He allow you to be His light shining for others. I remember you in These words from Paul, at a time when he could have been filled my daily prayers and in a particular way in my Christmas Masses. with gloom, give us hope and reassurance. If we rejoice in the Lord always, our hearts will be ever filled with His joy, wisdom and peace. Let us continue to pray for one another! Indeed, I offer prayers of thanks and appreciation for Pius X’s Sincerely Yours in Christ, 1,212 students. With tuition averaging $2,200 per student, we are one of the best deals for great Catholic school education in the coun- try. The national average for Catholic high school tuition is over $10,000. At Pius X, tuition pays about 38% of the actual cost to educate a student. The remainder comes from the generosity of the Father Jim Meysenburg 19 parish communities that support Pius X (38%) and the continuous Chief Administrative Officer Old Gym, New ‘Stage’ How it happened in their own words The first three performances of the Fall The Power We don’t know if we will be able to have Play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, on Martinez: “Everyone was already the show.” stage in the LPAC at Pius X High School, ready; we were in costume, had stage The Old Gym were a success. The fourth one, however, makeup on, and we’re sitting there and the Frayser: “So Fr. Meysenburg and I may be the most memorable. A snow storm power goes out.” talked, I said, ‘Why don’t we think about rolled in on Sunday morning, the day of Pepino: “The lights keep flickering on moving it to the gym.’ The reason is it’s the matinee, dropping heavy snow on tree and off, and then they go out for good.” that kind of play: few props, few set pieces, branches. Eventually, branches gave way, Moser: “It’s Christmas outside, I’m adaptable.” knocking down power lines and disrupting driving downtown, at 1 p.m. my phone Moser: “A few people suggested the power through parts of Lincoln. Here’s a rings. Lowery calls. ‘Power is out, hap- old gym, including Mrs. Frayser. She’s an breakdown of the events, based on inter- pened just a little bit ago.’” old theater nerd, Mrs. Frayser. Fr. Meysen- views from students Rosie Lang, Reicher Martinez: “I mean my initial attitude burg was already plowing snow because Martinez, and Raphael Pepino, guidance was like, ‘Can we just schedule this for he likes to do that, as an old farm boy from director Jan Frayser, and Pius X theater another day?’” David City.” director Joseph Moser. (AJ Lowery, Tech Frayser: “When we arrive it was cold in Lang: “The show was supposed to be at Theater Director, and Adam Zastrow ‘17 the building, and no electricity on the west 2 p.m., and then we found out at 1 that it got were scheduled to direct the play while end.” postponed to 3. So me and a few other kids Moser was away at his own rehearsal.) Moser: “The east side of the building just sat and watched Netflix a bit, and that’s power came back up, but the west did not. not something you usually get to do because 4 U piusx.net there is such a tight schedule, and so it was nice to be able to enjoy time with them.” Pepino: “I was disappointed but the night previously we did really good so if Old Gym, New ‘Stage’ that was the last show, I wouldn’t have been too upset because I thought we had shown people our top game.