WINTER 2018 VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 2 Illuminative Power: The Evolution of the “Canticle of the Sun” Solar Wall IN THIS ISSUE 4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 5 EVENTS: SELFe, PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY RECEPTION, & THANKFUL THURSDAY 8 VOCATIONS OF FAITH, EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE: SR. SHERAL MARSHALL ’65, LISA LUNGREN ’92, AND STEPHANIE VILLANUEVA ’98 PRESIDENT 18 TROUBIE NEWS Theresa Rodgers 22 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES 23 CHEERS TO A NEW CHAPTER Roxanne Elliott ’94, Chair 24 ILLUMINATIVE POWER Most Reverend Bishop Jaime Soto, Ex Officio 26 SPIRIT OF SAN DAMIANO AWARD Kathleen Deeringer Dr. Pam DiTomasso ’72 28 ALUMNAE COMMUNITY Mary Geary Ellingson ’67 35 CALENDAR Alison Morr ’89 Mary Norris Helen Manfredi Pierson ’74 Celia Puff Lincoln Snyder, ON THE COVER Director of Catholic Schools, Ex Officio Mr. Adan Romo unveiled the new mosaic update to our “Canticle of the Sun” Solar Wall which was “inspired by the concept of illumination - not only ADVANCEMENT DEPARTMENT the illuminative power of the sun, but the school’s mission to illuminate young minds.” Read more on page 24. Mary Anne Kelly Director of Advancement Leigh Hiers ’96 Assistant Director of Advancement, Communications Christina Canaday Evey ’05 Advancement Services Associate ThePax et Bonum magazine seeks to share with the reader the spirit of St. Francis Catholic High School. Stories and pictures of the activities and Ann Moritz Gregory ’89 accomplishments of students, alumnae, parents, and staff provide glimpses into the Advancement Associate ways in which the school’s mission is carried out and its legacy continued. St. Francis benefactors are gratefully acknowledged in the Annual Report of Donors. Raquel Namba St. Francis Catholic High School Communications & Social Media Associate 5900 Elvas Avenue • Sacramento, CA 95819 Phone: 916.452.3461 • Fax: 916.452.1591 Mari Parisi ’00 www.stfrancishs.org Special Events Associate St. Francis Catholic High School is fully accredited by the Dawn Winston ’91 Accrediting Commission for Schools, Alumnae & Constituent Relations Associate Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC.) 533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200 • Burlingame, CA 94010 • www.acswasc.org 18,616 POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED! Our students celebrated the kick-off of Spirit Week on October 29th by collecting 18,616 pounds of food for the Sacramento Food Bank, which will be shared with food banks and church pantries throughout the greater Sacramento area. In keeping with true SF tradition, the week’s festivities included Sports Day, Theme Day, the Homecoming Rally, and concluded with the Homecoming dance. WINTER 2018 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE DEAR ST. FRANCIS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, I am writing this during Homecoming Week, one of the most festive times on campus. Spirited Troubies across campus are sporting fun costumes, waving class flags and singing at the top of their lungs. It’s a great time to feel class and school unity, and it makes me happy to see the joy on our students’ faces as they plan their skits, build their sets and practice their cheers. In addition to Homecoming Week, the fall was a busy time as we hosted our St. Francis Community Celebration, Open House, and our inaugural SELFe Event (see opposite page) on October 28th. The SELFe event was created to bring women of all ages together to encourage them to be their best selves. SELF represents the four pillars of our school, those values that we want every young woman to leave here understanding, valuing and practicing: Service, Excellence, Leadership and Faith. The ‘e’ in SELFe stands for those actions that we want our sisters to do: embrace them- selves, empower others, and evolve together. Our inaugural SELFe Event featuring NY Times’ best-selling author, Rachel Hollis, was months in the making and brought more than 1,100 guests, 100 volunteers, 20 vendors, and scores of local news media to our beautiful campus. Created to celebrate, inspire and motivate women, we did just that! Our guests, many of whom had never been to our campus, commented on the gorgeous grounds, excellent organization and joyful hospitality. The spirit of sisterhood that all felt on our campus was palpable, and we look forward to next year’s SELFe Event. Stay tuned for another amazing speaker next year! We hope you enjoy this edition of the Pax magazine and are encouraged by our students, past and present, who are making a difference in our community. November has a special emphasis on vocations in the Catholic Church. We’re happy to share stories of the various ways our Troubies are living their faith in both religious and lay service. I am inspired by those who have shared their ministry with us! We are always grateful for your partnership in our sacred mission. You are receiving this edition right before the holiday season, and I wish you and yours a beautiful Thanksgiving and a holy Christmas season. May the birth of Jesus remind us that we are called to bring joy and peace to our world. Know that you are always in our thoughts and prayers. In the spirit of Pax et Bonum, Theresa Rodgers 4 SELFe SUCCESS! St. Francis’ first SELFe Event was a raving success sell- ing out in less than 72 hours! We welcomed more than 1,100 attendees, 100 volunteers and 20 vendors for an afternoon of inspiration and connection. Our students, alumnae, mothers, grandmothers and the greater com- munity are eager for opportunities to come together to inspire and celebrate each other. We’ll be back next year! Thank you to our generous sponsors for helping to make this event possible: EVOLVE SPONSORS Catalyst Mortgage The Gately Foundation iHeartMedia PorterCo EMPOWER SPONSORS Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Macy’s EMBRACE SPONSORS 2B Organized California Family Fitness The Niello Company Parc Studio Interior Design Seasons 52 WINTER 2018 5 KRISTIN STASSI VENEGAS ’83 & ART VENEGAS PAUL & DIANE HENDERSON CHRISTOPHER & AMY WATSON KRAUSE ’90 PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY RECEPTION AVA MARIE CONLIN & PETER KRAUSE President Theresa Rodgers and the St. Francis Board of Trustees hosted the President’s Society to a reception at the beautiful home of Board Member Kathleen Deeringer on September 13th. This warm gathering of lead benefactors was an opportunity to enjoy entertainment by St. Francis students and hear the heartfelt stories of young women who are benefiting from their generosity. Guests left feeling appreciated and energized for all the future holds for St. Francis Catholic High School and its current and future Troubadours. LORI & NESTOR FERNANDEZ JANA & JIM CUNEO A CAPELLA: “THE BLUE SKIRTS” THERESA RODGERS WITH BOARD MEMBERS KATHLEEN DEERINGER, ROXANNE ELLIOTT, & ALISON MORR THERESA RODGERS & JERRY TOKUNAGA WILL & NICOLE BAER KEITH DIEDERICH & CHRISTIAN & OGE OKOYE ’22, THERESA RODGERS, JENNIFER STOLO MATT & JENNIFER BACK MARYANNE KELLY, JENNIFER, MARILYN ’19, & JACK BISHOP 6 WE’RE THANKFUL FOR YOU! MORE THAN $217,000 RAISED FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ON THANKFUL THURSDAY We are overjoyed with the outpouring of support for our seventh annual Thankful Thursday on October 11. It was our best day of giving yet! The entire community - students, parents, alumnae, grandparents, past parents and countless others - came together in support of one goal: providing financial assistance that helps more than 30% of our young women receive a St. Francis education. Thanks to your many, many gifts, we raised $217,574 this year and the total continues to grow! It was fitting that on the International Day of the Girl, our students filled campus with girl power and the can-do spirit that reigns at St. Francis Catholic High School. They embraced the day, and their energy and enthusiasm were contagious. STUDENTS WENT ALL IN! • Students raised more than $4,300 for their fellow Troubadours! • More than 50% of students participated. • The Class of 2021 won the competition for Leatherby’s ice cream. NUMBERS TO BE PROUD OF • Parents contributed more than $58,800 • Alumna contributed more than $23,945 • Past parents contributed more than $24,250 • Our generous faculty and staff contributed $12,500 WINTER 2018 7 SR. SHERAL MARSHALL ’65 50 YEARS OF VOCATION: A LIFETIME OF FAITH, EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE May 28, 2018 wasn’t an ordinary Sunday at St. Robert’s Catholic Church in San Bruno, CA where they were celebrating the golden jubilee of Sr. Sheral Marshall ’65. Entering the packed church, Sr. Sheral radiated the warmth and joy she has become known for in her life of service to others. She was honored with words that spoke of her dedication to the message of Jesus, the smile and encouragement she spread, and her boundless energy, comparing her to the Energizer Bunny. With Sr. Sheral on staff, it is no wonder that St. Robert’s is one of the most active parishes in the San Francisco Archdiocese. Sr. Sheral always felt that God was with her and knew she was blessed to grow up in a religious family that attended Mass every Sunday and incorporated prayer into their daily lives. And while she had many wonderful influences, it was her sixth-grade teacher, Mercy Sister Maura Power, who was her early inspi- ration for religious life. “She made all of us feel loved and appreciated. I remember thinking if I could help people feel that they are valued, important and that God loves them, it would be something wonderful to do with my life,” Sr. Sheral recalls. Sr. Sheral’s high school years are reflective of the early history of St. Francis Catholic High School. She spent the first two years at the St. Francis elementary campus on K Street; during their Junior year, the class joined Bishop Armstrong. And her se- nior year was spent on the current campus, with the previous M Street entrance.