Vol. 9, No. 2 2009 Is there $500,000.00 in STP’s future ANONYMOUS DONORS ISSUE BCACS ALSO INSIDE ALF ILLION OLLAR haLLENGE • 2009 Reunions including A H -M D C the heartwarming? Atha/ Gift contingent on raising $500,000.00 of new Marriott Wedding • BCACS Today featuring Spirit of Community donations by Dec. 1, 2009 new Tiger football coach, he Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools have been instrumental in the success of our John Hume, the return of TFoundation announces a challenge capital campaign,” said Gallagher. “This Fr. Bob Creagan, and STP pledge honoring the leadership of Reverend challenge pledge is a tribute to Father John’s Campus Ministry John D. Fleckenstein, Former Pastor of St. pastoral and school leadership and his overall • Alumni Commentary by Joseph Parish and Pastor Administrator for commitment to our community. We are ap- the Battle Creek Area Catho- preciative for all that he has Patti (Schoder) Emmerson, lic Schools. Once this challenge is done to advance our schools Class of 1973, and Paul Kathy Gallagher, Devel- reached, we will be able and especially this project. Newman, Class of 2009 opment Director of the Battle to move forward with We invite the community’s • Meet our 2009 Distin- Creek Area Catholic Schools support of our In the Spirit guished Alumni & Hall of Foundation, noted that we the project at St. Philip. of Community Capital Cam- must raise $500,000 by De- paign.” Fame Recipients cember 1 in order for the donor(s) to contrib- Potential donors can contact Kathy Gal- • Upcoming STP Alumni ute their matching gift to the campaign. lagher, Development Director at the BCACS Events, Nomination Dead- Once this challenge is reached, we will Foundation, at 963-4771 for information lines, Keeping in Touch, be able to move forward with the project at about the challenge pledge. St. Philip. Look inside for more details and how and so much more! “Father John’s vision and leadership you can help BCACS answer this call. Have STP Alumni News to Share? Call 269.963.4771 or email [email protected] page 1 Alumni’s Guide to Who, What, Where, When & Why TAKE A LOOK WitH YOUR CALENDAR BOOK 14th Annual Alumni Homecoming Reunion All Proceeds Support BCACS Scholarships ll alumni and friends tinues at St. Philip Church, nasium. The 2010 Distin- Aare invited Saturday, where all alumni will be guished Alumni will be October 2, 2010, for a full honored at the 4:30 p.m. honored and the school will Sheila Guerra day of nostalgia, food and mass. We will also recog- be opened for all alumni fun. nize the Class of 1960 as to explore. Reconnect and The reunion begins they celebrate their 50 year reminisce while wander- Memorial Golf Outing Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at C. reunion. ing the hallways and class- W. Post Field for Big RED Festivities conclude rooms of your alma mater. Sunday, September 19, 2010 Football. During the game, with a hors d’ouvres and Don’t miss a moment the Athletic Hall of Fame cocktail reception held of the fun. Mark your cal- Allwyn Downs Inductees will be honored. from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at endars today! The celebrating con- the Sheila Guerra Gym- Contact Vicky Groat 2010 Hall of Fame & Distinguished Alumni [email protected] or 269.963-4503 Nomination Forms due March 31, 2010 We invite your nominations for the St. Deadlines for both forms are March Philip Athletic Hall of Fame and the Dis- 31, 2010. tinguished Alumni Awards. Hall of Fame recipients will be hon- Michael J. Hume Nomination forms can be download- ored at the 2010 Homecoming Football ed at www.bcacs.org or you can receive Game. The Distinguished Alumni Awards a form by contacting Kathy Gallagher at ceremony will take place at the Alumni (269) 963-4771 or by email at kgallagh- Homecoming Reception that same day. 20th Annual [email protected]. BIG RED OPEN SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010 CALLING ALL MEMBERS OF THE CLASSES OF 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, RIVERSIDE COUNTRY CLUB 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, Contact Mary Rabbitt for more information or to register 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, & 2005 [email protected] CELEBRATE YOUR MILESTONE YEAR HOMECOMING WEEKEND 269.963.4503 Please join our Battle Creek Catholic Community for our 4th Annual UGUST PLANNING A REUNION? Community Wide Mass A 13, 2010 November 22, 2009 STP Alumni HAVE STP ALUMNI NEWS TO 10:30 am W. K. Kellogg Auditorium SHARE? Celebrant: Summer Block Party The Most Reverend Paul J. Bradley, Bishop WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SAVE THE DATE... Watch bcacs.org, Bauman Softball Tourney the STP Alumni Facebook page at Alumni News “saintphilip”, and your mailbox for April 17, 2010 269.963.4771 more details [email protected] ...DETAILS TO FOLLOW Have STP Alumni News to Share? Call 269.963.4771 or email [email protected] page 2 SweetheartLET ME CALL YOU BY: FATHER CHUCK FisHER, PAstOR OF ST. PHILip CHURCH wo St. Philip High School classmates were mar- ceremonies. Most of the Tried on May 30th this year. Not unusual, you remaining members of the say? They were classmates in the graduating class of famous Class of 1944 were 1944. Now that’s unusual! present. Many family mem- Mary Lou (Dowd) Atha of California and Jo- bers took an active role seph Marriott of Colorado decided to come back to in the Mass. A priest Lou St. Philip Church in Battle Creek to celebrate their knew well from Ireland, Fr. marriage, 65 years after graduating. After graduat- Myles O’Reilly, SJ, came ing 65 years ago, Lou and Joe went their separate to preside at the Mass. He ways. Each was married for 56 years. Each has been was assisted by Fr. Anthony widowed. Each has four living children, and more Bitchapogu from India, by grandchildren than anyone bothered to count. way of Kalamazoo, and my- A phone call connected them about 13 months self. It was fitting that such a ago, when Joe while visiting Battle Creek dropped wedding would require three in on the usual Wednesday evening gathering of the priests from three different con- Class of ’44 and decided to check on Lou at her Cali- tinents. fornia office. This led to several dates in California A festive luncheon for about 90 and a trip to Ireland and then the decision last Decem- guests was held in the St. Philip cafe- New- ber to marry. (Some of these seniors move quickly, teria, a relic from long before 1944. Two lyweds, IK DZW even at age 83.) days later the bride and groom were to stop PHOTO BY: CAS Mary Lou The wedding Mass was lovely. Lou had her off for Joe’s college reunion at Notre Dame before (Dowd) Atha, Class of maid of honor and Joe had his best man (his brother) flying back to California, where Lou was planning to 1944, and Joseph Marriott, from their first marriage present again at St. Philip be “back to work” by the following week. Class of 1944, share a kiss to reprise their roles, about 60 years after the prior Yes, indeed, love is ever full of surprises. at their 65th Class Reunion ilestones M &M emories Celebrating 65 years Celebrating 30 years Celebrating 50 years OF SS SS OF SS OF A A A CL CL 1944 1979CL 1958 Have STP Alumni News to Share? Call 269.963.4771 or email [email protected] page 3 Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools Fr. Bob Creagan named BCACS Pictured left to Pastor Administrator right: The Most BY ELIZABETH WiLLis, COURTESY OF THE BAttLE CREEK ENQUIRER Reverend Paul J. he Rev. Robert Crea- priestly presence at the Bradley, Bishop, Tgan, the recently ap- school as well as pas- STP Principal, Kathy pointed pastor of St. Jo- tor of St. Joseph Catholic Grosso, and BCACS seph Catholic Church, has Church. Pastor been chosen to serve as “It just made sense to Administrator, Fr. pastor administrator of the accept the appointment,” Bob Creagan Battle Creek Area Catho- Creagan said. lic Schools. Fleckenstein became Bishop Paul Bradley, pastor of St. Catherine of the new head of the Dio- Siena Catholic Church in cese of Kalamazoo, made Portage on Aug. 24. The Bridge between Reunions and Homecoming the announcement to stu- He said he has known BY KATHY GROssO, ST. PHILip HigH SCHOOL PRINCipAL dents at school Mass on Creagan since before they ne of my favor- by our alumni. provide substance and Friday. were ordained and knows Oite things to do With each story foundation and a sense Creagan, 48, who he is passionate about as principal is to give told by these alumni, of pride for today’s stu- grew up in Decatur, said Catholic school education. tours of St. Philip to my understanding of dents. he feels as if he is com- “He’s a big sup- groups of alumni. This the spirit of St. Philip Following the ing back home to Battle porter of Catholic schools is a ‘walk down mem- deepens and I value the Homecoming Alumni Creek. It was here that and Catholic education,” ory lane’ and a great important link between Reunion, our current he attended seminary and Fleckenstein said. way for me to learn the past and the pres- students gathered in the was ordained in 1998. His In a previous role as the stories of the past. ent. The connection gym for their Home- first appointment was at pastor of St. Charles Bor- Usually, there is not is more cerebral than coming Dance.