Catholic Schools Save State Nearly $7,000,000 Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations Enrollment Increase of 1,771 Contents Copyright by the Catholic Press Society, Inc., 1953— Permission to Reproduce, Except on Articles Otherwise Marked, Given After 12 M. Friday Following Issue Shown in Report for 1952-53 B y J a c k H eh er These totals are contained in ment will top the 3,000 mark, Catholic schools o f the state of the annual report being issued by and by 1958 will be"close to DENVER CATHOLIC Colorado, "developing character the office of the Rev. Edward A. 4,000. and citizenship for time and eter­ Leyden, Denver archdiocesan In 1952-’53 the cost per pupil nity,’’ enrolled 25,325 students superintendent of schools. The for public schooling in the state in the 1952-’53 school year. The bulletin examines the Catholic was $237. According to the State figure represents an increase of school situation in the Denver Department o f Education, a 10 1,771 over the previous year’s Archdiocese and the pueblo Dio­ per-cent increase per year is expe­ pupil population. cese. rienced in the composite cost of REGISTER In a forevl'ord to the report. education in Colorado. V O L XLIX. No. 4. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1953 DENVER, COLORADO Archbishop Urban J. Vehr notes (Additional Detail* Page 3) Regional Rallies that the Catholic schools repre­ sent a saving to state taxpayers of $6,889,155. "But we prefer,’’ Are Planned in he said, "to emphasize the positive 61 Seminarians religious blessings that have come to so many students through the Seminary Drive consecrated lives of hundreds of priests and sisters and lay teach­ Another series of regional ers, developing character and cit­ Of Archdiocese f meetings as a follow-uj) of izenship for time and eternity.’’ ^he Archdiocesan Seminary In Colorado, 70 elementary and Missions Campaign was an­ and 22 secondary Catholic schools nounced by Archbishop Urban J. are staffed by 856 religious and Vehr this week. Details of the Making Studies meeting, the first of which will 52 lay teachers. The report points She Prayed and W aited ^lame BeUmger, the wife be held at Blessed Sacrament out that "this total of 908 full B y R e v . R obert K e k e is e n of Maj. Stephen L. Bettinger, School, Denver, Sunday, Sept. 20, and part-time teachers marks an Fifty-six seminarians—representing one-fourth of first Denver war ace, shows their son, Karl, a letter from a chap are given in the following letter: lain concerning the flyer. Major Bettinger was shot down by a increase of 54 religious anci 26 the enrollment at St. Thomas’ Seminary, Denver, at the MIG on his 95th mission, was captured, and released fi»e weeks Archdiocese of Denver lay instructors in a one-year start of the 1953-1954 scholastic year— are studying for later. Both Major Bettinger and his wife credit prayer for bring­ Chancery Office period.’’ the priesthood in the Denver Archdiocese. The seminary ing him home safely. Mrs. Bettinger is a registered nurse and is 1536 Logan Street N o relief from the pressilre of opened Sept. 9, and registration is being held Thursday, 'a convert.- The major is a devout Catholic, and has been a daily Denver 5, Colorado communicant. He earned the title of ace by downing his fifth MIG expanding enrollments is seen in Sept. 10. in the same fracas in which he himself was shot down.— (Photo Sept. 8, 1953 Besides its Denver group, the Thomas Stone, and John Le- the report. The present student Penske; by Turilli) archdiocese has four students Reverend Dear Father; population has "taxed all avail­ First theology, Thomas Willet, + + + + + in Rome: Daniel Kelleher, Ray It has been deemed advisable able physical facilities," as Arch­ Hamilton, Leonard Urban, and William Coming, John Slattery, Emmanuel Gabel, John Perito, to hold another series of regional bishop Vehr pointed out. "U nfor­ John Cotter; and one at the Catholic University of America Robert Dunlap, Joseph Elevens, meetings as a follow-up of our tunately, at this time we have Denver's First Air Ace Archdiocesan Seminary and Mis­ in Washington, D. C .: Charles and Ray Hutchinson; sions Campaign. The purpose of not been able to build sufficient Brown. This makes a total of 61 Second philosophy, Peter Ur­ these several meetings is to in­ additional schools for many seminarians. ban, James Overman, Arlen Gal­ lagher, Edward Day, Joseph form priests and laymen of the newer and developing areas. But Two new faculty members are Meznar, Martin McNulty, Charles Proud of Catholic Faith current status of the campaign, on the staff that greeted the sem­ schools will be built in these local­ Wasinger, William Vollmer, John our strengths and our weak­ inary’s 222 students this year". By Frank Morris ities as soon as finances permit.” Molitor, Richard Hanifin, and nesses, so that the campaign They are the Rev. Harold Persich, Major Stephen L. Bettinger, Denver’s first air ace Robert Harrington; might result as successfully as "One of the major problems C.M., a newly ordained priest First philosophy, Lawrence St. and the last U.S. flyer downed in Korea, wears his Cath­ possible. Sister Mary Eraiin, a Sister of Charity of from New Orleans, and the Rev. confronting the Archdiocese of Nurse-Nun (Peter, Clement DeWall, John Leavenworth, receives a diploma from Archbishop Robert Stack, C.M. Father Per­ olic faith even more proudly than he does his fiery handle­ The first meeting will be held Denver," the education report Rae, Maurice Mclnemey, Leo Urban J. Vehr in the joint graduation ceremonies for the schools sich, who holds a master’s degree bar moustache. in ' Blessed Sacrament School Kennedy, Raymond Jones, and said, is that of providing Cath­ of nursing of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital. The cere­ in science, will teach science and Hall, Denver, on Sunday after­ Mervin Lell; That is apparent from the comment a ifon-Catholic olic secondary school education monies, in which 35 students from St. Joseph’s and 18 from Mercy mathematics. Father Stack, with noon. Sept. 20, beginning at 5 Second college, Harold White, buddy made when he heard the o’clock. Coffee and sandwiches Hospital received diplomas, were conducted in the Denver Cathe­ a degree in library science, will fire and had to ditch his plane in for graduates of Catholic ele­ Robert Cavarra, Robert Mezner, major had been downed; “ I will be served afterward. dral Tuesday evening, Sept. 8. Looking on are the Rev. Theodore have charge of the library and the sea has had one happy result mentary schools. Gerald Cusack, and Thomas wouldn’t be surprised to see Steve On the following evenings, a Haas, chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Monsignor Bernard teach history. — Elaine’s mother, Mrs. Lucille Mitchell; walking back one of these days meeting will follow the luncheon: The 486 students graduated Cullen, Assistant Chancellor. Also assisting was the Rev. James Though the mammoth building in solemn procession escorted Gardner of Trinidad, is return Hamblin, chaplain of Mercy Hospital. First college, William O’Brien, a. On Monday . evening. Sept. from the six Denver Catholic high project financed by the Arch­ Leo Horrigan, Richard Ling, by 24 monks— all with lighted-dng to the faith. Mrs. Gardner, bishop’s Seminary Fund Cam­ 21, at 7 o’clock in St. Mary’s Regis Milan, Frank Peck, Donald tapers and processional cross.” although born a Catholic, had not schools in June, 1953, numbered paign is still in the planning School cafeteria, Colorado Prose, Leo Schumacher, Thomas And walk back Steve did, Sept. practiced her religion in decades. less than half the total of ele­ stage, the seminarians will have Springs; Slattery, Denis Slaven, Fred 4, through the freedom gate at Her daughter’s faith and devo­ b. On Tuesday evening, Sept. mentary school graduates in the Increase of 1,000 one additional classroom this tion when Steve was missing— Vina, and James Woodward. Panmunjom. His pretty wife, 22, at 6:30 o’clock, in St. An­ same month. year. The movie hall in “ Old Red Elaine, a member of St. James’ a faith that was rewarded—has Brick,” the seminary’s initial Six archdioceses and 19 dio­ thony’s School cafeteria. Ster­ ceses are represented at the sem­ Parish, Denver, is confident that, led her back to the sacraments. ling; Tribute is paid to pastors, sis­ structure, has been converted, inary this year. They are the if he was not brought back by an Another convert connected ters, and people'for the fact that through division, into a large c. On Thursday evening. Sept. Archdioceses of Denver, Kansas escort of monks, he certainly was with the Bettinger .sgga., js Noted in Schools classroom and additional sleep­ 24, at 7 o’clock, in the basement about 64 per cent of the Catho­ City, Kaps.; Santa Fe, Portland, brought through safely by her (Turn to Page 2 — Column S) of St. Stephen’s Church, Glen- ing quarters for, students. The lic elementary school potential in B y B ill K il k e n n y Ore.; Dubuque, and Omaha; and prayers to the Blessed Virgin. change was made possible by the wood Springs. the Dioceses oL. Pueblo, Chey­ the city of Denver is in Catholic Catholic schools in the Denver metropolitan area ap­ completion of the new assembly The first wire Elaine had Pastors and assistants are enne, Oklahoma Clty-Tulsa, Salt Nuns- Picnic Sept. 12, pear headed for another record year enrollment-wise on building at the east end of the from Steve after his capture asked to attend the meeting in schools.