Table of Contents Ursuline Sisters .......................................... 3 Guatemala .................................................. 4 Extravaganza ............................................... 6 Alumni Profile ........................................... 8 Highlights ..................................................10 Saints Marrying Saints ...............................10 2010 Mirocke Golf Classic ..........................11 Education is about discovery and shared experiences. At Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, students are challenged 2009-2010 Annual Report ..........................12 every day to develop their God-given spiritual, intellectual, Reunions .................................................. 24 social and physical potential. All Years Reunion ..................................... 32 The core values that guide Saint Thomas Aquinas High Homecoming 2010 ................................... 33 School are based on shared responsibility and enrichment. In Memoriam ........................................... 34 Our faculty and staff are passionate about their professions and committed to enriching the lives of students entrusted Saints Masses ............................................ 35 to them. Our parents become partners by investing in an Class Notes ............................................... 36 educational vision that develops responsible leaders guided Teachers ................................................... 39 by Catholic values. Spring & Fall Sports ................................. 40 Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, an educational ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Events ....................................................... 42 invites and challenges young people to make their faith Calendar of Events .................................... 43 living, conscious and active by developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a love for His Church. Our Catholic Faith Community is called to grow together in service to others and through the sacraments that bind us to Jesus Christ – thus, we are a “Communion of Saints!” The Saints Spirit magazine is a publication of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Advancement Office. We welcome your comments or questions. Call or write: Bryan Thrasher Director of Communications Front Cover [email protected] In November, the Performing Arts Department under Saint Thomas Aquinas High School the direction of drama teacher Kim Harrison presented the 11411 Pflumm Road musical West Side Story to sold-out crowds. The love story Overland Park, Kansas 66215-4816 which is set in the 60’s was also playing on Broadway at the 913.319.2425 same time - a rare occurrence to have the rights to do so. Pictured on the cover: William Ford, Ed.D. Anthony Fortino and Dominique Vestal played the roles of President Tony and Maria. Teresa Ahrens Left-Top photo: Matthew Martin, Kevin Whiteside, Joe Director of Special Events Kennedy, Scott Davis, Jordan Calovich, Jack Luther, Max Wilber, and Andrew Walberg. Mary Bridget Kratofil Middle photo: Casey Craig, Courtney Bollig, Mead D’Amore, Director of Media Relations and Katie Martin, and Noelle McDonald in the background. Michon Quick Bottom photo: Katy Concannon, John Wooten, Katelyn Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Wallace, Mary Grace Duethman, Sarah Gabriel, Jack Luther, Annie Lind, Joe Kennedy, Katie Lind, Anthony Fortino, Cindy Winkler Courtney Kern, and Andrew Walberg. Advancement Office Manager Photos by Megan Gampper. 2 TEACHERS Where Are They Now? Sr. Kathleen Condry, OSU Principal (1988-1996), and President (1996-1998) Saint Thomas Aquinas High School Though her congregation, the Ursuline Sisters of Paola, merged in 2008 with the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph in Maple Mount, Kentucky, Sister Kathleen Condry is happy to continue her ministry in the Kansas City area, at Church of the Nativity where she is Pastoral Minister. “I love my work at Nativity Parish and feel blessed to have the chance courtesy of Sisters Photo of the Ursuline Joseph. Mount St. to renew my friendship with so many Sister Kathleen Condry (third from left) – former Principal and President at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, and members of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph were recognized families from Saint Thomas Aquinas. at the eighth annual CEF Gaudeamus Dinner (meaning “Let Us Rejoice”) for their dedication to Many of my former students are Catholic Education. settling in the area with their own young families. I am so proud of their commitment and service to the fronts, and work with the elderly and greatest prosperity, the Ursuline Order Church.” underprivileged by ministering in embraced some 20 congregations, hospitals, resettling immigrants and with 350 convents and from 15,000 to In October 2010, the Ursuline working with abused women and their 20,000 nuns. Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph children. were one of three religious orders Sr. Kathleen’s new congregation honored by the Catholic Education The Ursuline Sisters, whose patron in Kentucky was established in 1874 Foundation (CEF) at the eighth saint is Saint Ursula, were the first by the Ursulines of Louisville as annual Guademaus dinner for their Catholic nuns to land in the New an academy for girls. The Ursuline long-time work for Catholic education World: in Canada in 1639. In 1727, Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph became in the Archdiocese of Kansas City other Ursuline nuns from France a separate congregation in 1912, in Kansas. Also honored were the landed in New Orleans, the first and currently have 165 members Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth nuns to reach what is now the United ministering in nine states and Chile, and the Benedictine Sisters of Mount States. Towards the beginning of South America. St. Scholastica. Thirteen Ursuline the 18th century, the period of its Sisters attended the event, seven of whom continue to minister in the Kansas City area. In 2008, the Leaven Saints and CEF newspaper estimated that the Ursuline The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) raises money to provide Sisters of Paola collectively taught over children in need with scholarships to attend Catholic schools in the 50,000 children in and around the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. archdiocese. Since 2002, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and its students have The Ursuline Sisters, a Roman contributed $94,694 to the CEF mission through the annual student Penny Catholic religious order founded Drive and other activities. That figure is expected to exceed $100,000 during at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela the 2010-2011 school year. Merici in November 1535, teach in pre-schools, grade schools, high “Keep up the great work, Saints, and always be assured of my schools and colleges, serve on parish prayers for you!” and diocesan staffs, work for peace - Sr. Kathleen Condry, OSU and social justice on a variety of www.aquinascommunity.com 3 GUateMALA Saints learn and grow from trip to Guatemala Sarah Cretors, ‘96, shares a hug with Daisy, a child sponsored by STA. In July 2010, nine Saint Thomas Aquinas alumni and three students accompanied a group from Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, Kansas, on The Mayan girls enjoy a lively game of soccer. a trip to the San Lucas Mission in Guatemala. Their purpose was to Sean Reilly, boys basketball coach, Sarah Cretors, ‘96, Stacy Cretors, ‘00, bring educational programs, medical teacher and community service Candace Hays, ‘99, Leah Scott, ‘05, services and other support to the director at Saint Thomas Aquinas, Jordan Sparrow, ‘08, Christian residents there. Volunteers from all made the trip with his family: wife Sparrow, ‘10, Melissa Wasserman, ‘08, over the United States travel regularly Teresa, daughters Molly, ‘10, and Nicole Wasserman, ‘10, and Miriam to Central America to share their skills Moira, ‘13, and son Brendan, ‘05. Wasserman, ‘14. Other members of the Saint Thomas with the Mayan people. Most say upon Coach Reilly conducted a basketball Aquinas community who traveled returning home that they are the ones clinic for children in 3rd – 8th grades with the Reillys were: who benefit and are inspired to help while Teresa, a pediatric nurse, others in need, just as Jesus would. assisted with medical mission efforts. “Holy Trinity built the basketball court for the mission at San Lucas,” Sean said. “Dago, the athletic director there, wanted the students to have exposure to many sports. They received donations of basketballs from Jerry’s Sports and jerseys from the Indiana Pacers. The children worked hard and had a great time.” Teresa’s duties allowed her to experience the communities surrounding San Lucas. Despite the treacherous travel across ravaged roads caused by rain, hurricanes and mudslides, people flocked to Coach Reilly and other volunteers lead a basketball clinic at the mission school. 4 GUateMALA the medical clinic. “Traveling to the infirmary really becomes a social event for the community. It also may Q & A with Alumni Missionary be the only health care they receive Sarah Cretors, ‘96 for six months or a year,” she says. Sarah Cretors, fifth grade teacher at Holy Trinity for 10 years and Saints Teresa was surprised at the various volleyball coach for 13 years, shared her thoughts about the San Lucas ailments for which patients sought Mission Trip sponsored by Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, Kansas: treatment: from sore throats to bots fly infestation, scabies, and fever to Who organized the trip? cortisone injections for arthritis or The Wasserman family has been going to San Lucas for many years.