advancement newsletter pope john paul ii catholic high school · pope john paul ii from the...

Advancement NewsletterPope John Paul II Catholic High School

V O L U M E I I , I S S U E 1 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

From the Principal Master Plan

From the Chaplain Special EventNews Dates to Note

ADVANCEMENT NEWSLETTER | 7301 Old Madison Pike, Huntsville, Alabama 35806 | 256.430.1760 | www.jp2falcons.org

By Connie Gerlach, Director of Advancement

In June 2007, Father Kevin Bazzel submitted this prayer to all of you affiliated with Catholic High School. Father Bazzel was seeking the intercession of Pope John Paul ll to perpetuate the success in building a new campus for us. Father knew that his prayers would be answered “through the work of God” but little did he know at the time that our school would come to be named after Pope John Paul ll. Because God has blessed us with a generous Catholic community, we were able to borrow the remaining monies needed to build a new facility. We moved into our beautiful new school in October 2010. Pope John Paul ll Catholic High School is now a reality. It is a wonderful blessing for our children. Thank you. We do have plans for expansion, as we will share with you in the Campus Master Plan on page 3, but we must continue our focus to pay off the loan on our newly constructed school. Once this debt is paid in full, the diocese will grant us permission to raise funds for Athletic Fields and buildings for academic expansion. To refresh the memories of anyone who may not recall our debt situation, our status is as follows: One year ago we were $2 Million short of paying off a $13 Million commitment for our school. During the past year, THREE APPEALS have gone out to our community of supporters to help pay off this shortfall. We received $308,000 in gifts and pledges, leaving us with a remaining shortfall of $ 1.7 Million. Thanks so much to all of you who responded with generosity. For those of you who could not, please consider it now. So many of you have expressed an insatiable desire for campus expansion, and we all want to go forward. It all begins and ends with each of you. It depends on each of you to continue your giving as you have so generously done in the past. As we approach the feast day of our name sake, Pope John Paul ll, on October 22, I ask that you seek his intercession to help you with your decision in helping us to finish our work. Enclosed is your opportunity card to make your gift or pledge. What we can accomplish together will be appreciated by the students of today and create a legacy for the students of years to come. Let us all look to God’s grace and blessing as we work together to the finish.

God bless you.

Prayer for Intercession of Pope John Paul II

O Blessed Trinity,

We thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your

Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.

Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a l iving image of

Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian l ife and is

the way of achieving eternal communion with you.

Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will , the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered

among your saints.

Amen †Intercession


1

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Ms. Fierro emerged as the leader of the group. Needless to say, it is very meaningful for an alum of the school to return and share her gifts and talents as a teacher for the students of today. She follows Ms. Johanna Kirsch as the second alumni to come back to their high school to teach. We are blessed to have a new facility that offers opportunities for our alums to teach at their high school.

We are blessed to have our facility and grateful to all who have supported the financial appeals to raise the $11.3 Million we have in cash and pledges toward our $13 Million requirement. We must continue to bring in the remaining $1.7 Million in cash and pledges to meet the shortfall. Please use the pledge form below to help us meet this goal — working together will accomplish this goal!

Vince AquilaPrincipal

Dear Friends,

Every start of the school year is filled with anticipation for both students and faculty. Students begin with new courses and new teachers that will lead them to academic success in the classroom each day. This year, students in 10th grade and 11th grade English have met a new teacher that is actually not new at all to Pope John Paul II. Ms. Emma Fierro graduated from Catholic High School in 2008 as one of the finest students in her class. She graduated summa cum laude in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Mississippi State University. During her last year of studies at MSU, Ms. Fierro completed internships at four schools as a requirement of the Education program at the university.

There were many fine applicants for the English position that was advertised last spring and

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Our future vision... although we do have plans for expansion, we must continue our focus to pay off the loan on our newly constructed school.

Once this debt is paid in full... the diocese will grant us permission to raise funds for Athletic Fields and buildings for academic expansion.

Together we can make a difference... and build a full campus supporting spirituality, academics, athletics and the arts. The Master Plan

is on view in the JPII Hall of Faith.


Win a 2012 Subaru Forester! MSRP $21,045!

¥ Winner is responsible for tax, tag, and insurance.

¥ Must be 18 years or older to enter.

¥ Drawing to be held at Gala on November 3, 2012.

¥ You do not need to be present to win.

Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City: _________________ Zip Code: _________________ Phone: _________________ Cell: _________________ Email: ______________________________________________ Car Raffle Tickets: Quantity ____ x $100 per ticket = $______________

Enclosed check made payable to JPII Catholic High School $_________ Please mail or deliver this form and payment to JPII Catholic High School at P. O. Box 11968, Huntsville, AL 35814

Contact Diane Rivenburgh at 256-536-4811 if you have any questions about the car raffle. Or more information can be found online at www.jp2falcons.org

Car raffle tickets are $100 each.

To request Gala invitations go to www.jp2falcons.org or pick up in school office

Please join us for our 16th annual fundraiser and enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing, auctions, casino games building up to the grand prize

drawing for the Subaru Forester! This is a night you won’t want to miss!

Pope John Paul II Catholic High School

7301 Old Madison Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35806 (256) 430-1760

“Life is a talent (cf. Mt 25:14-30) entrusted to us so that we can transform it and increase it, making it a gift to others. No man is an iceberg drifting on the ocean of history. Each one of us belongs to a great family, in which he has his own place and his own role to play. “

— Pope John Paul II (World Youth Day 1996)

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

the fall of 2013. This is a much-needed position as the demands for more and more faith-life activities increases with the number of students. As our school grows, it is vital to have someone here full time to help coordinate the various activities that are associated with faith formation. This includes coordinating with the Chaplain as well as other faculty and students in preparing retreats, special liturgies, service opportunities, etc. Also, the campus minister will work closely with the students in helping them develop their own personal relationship with Christ. The Bishop envisions this role as vital and the principal and I completely agree. Please pray that our high school finds the right person to fill this spot!

May God pour out his blessings upon each of you and your endeavors, and may he continue to bless Pope John Paul II Catholic High School!

Father Vincent BresowarChaplain

Dear Friends in Christ,

I am pleased to report to you how God is moving in our school! For the first time in a few years, we are able to have a school Mass every week here at Pope John Paul II Catholic High School. It is a great blessing and a benefit to the school to be able to celebrate the Eucharistic liturgy each week with our students and staff. The Eucharist is the heart of the Church, and it is at the center of our school. It receives top priority amidst a very busy schedule because of the reality that it feeds everything that we do here.

It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as the Chaplain for the time I’ve been here. I am currently in my second year and each day I am growing more and more comfortable in this role. I feel a personal connection with many of the students and faculty and I hope to continue to build on a solid foundation.

As to the future plans, we are currently seeking to add a full time campus minister starting in

Thoughts for Reflection

Win a 2012 Subaru Forester! MSRP $21,045!

¥ Winner is responsible for tax, tag, and insurance.

¥ Must be 18 years or older to enter.

¥ Drawing to be held at Gala on November 3, 2012.

¥ You do not need to be present to win.

Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City: _________________ Zip Code: _________________ Phone: _________________ Cell: _________________ Email: ______________________________________________ Car Raffle Tickets: Quantity ____ x $100 per ticket = $______________

Enclosed check made payable to JPII Catholic High School $_________ Please mail or deliver this form and payment to JPII Catholic High School at P. O. Box 11968, Huntsville, AL 35814

Contact Diane Rivenburgh at 256-536-4811 if you have any questions about the car raffle. Or more information can be found online at www.jp2falcons.org

Car raffle tickets are $100 each.

To request Gala invitations go to www.jp2falcons.org or pick up in school office

Please join us for our 16th annual fundraiser and enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing, auctions, casino games building up to the grand prize

drawing for the Subaru Forester! This is a night you won’t want to miss!

Pope John Paul II Catholic High School

7301 Old Madison Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35806 (256) 430-1760

New Societies ... Common Goals

Our Lady of Wisdom Society in Honor of Bishop Emeritus David E. Foley

Our Lady of Wisdom Society members gathered on July 26 for fellowship and a presentation of giving and benefits by chairman Ed Manlove (pictured at right with his wife, Judy Manlove). Other attendees included Wilma Barraza, Rudy Barraza, Marge Feist, Oreste Castillo and Ela Castillo (left to right, above). Our Lady of Wisdom Society is open to all who give $3,000 or more over three years. Benefits of membership include a VIP card for JPII home athletics & arts and drama events, and an annual reception with Bishop Foley.


Alumni SpotlightMeagan Kusek, Class of 2008

Meagan Kusek, Class of 2008, graduated from Converse College

in May 2012 and has been selected as a Fulbright English Teaching

Assistant. The Fulbright Program is the premier cultural exchange program sponsored

by the U.S. State Department. Meagan will spend one year in Germany working on a

novel based on Norse and Germanic mythology. She hopes to use her novel to enlighten

Americans about the cultural beginnings of Germania. Meagan is looking forward to

teaching and immersing herself in German language and culture.

The Advancement Office Newsletter is now electronic! If you or someone you know is interested in having the latest news sent electronically, send your e-mail address to Connie Gerlach: [email protected] or call (256) 430-1760, ext. 150.

Founders SocietyThe original founders of Catholic High School gathered on August 23 to create the Founders Society. The goal of the new Founders Society is to perpetuate the Catholic heritage, future growth, and legacy of the school. The Founders Society is co-chaired by Carol and Frank Chapuran (top, left and top, right). Georg von Tiesenhausen, original faculty member, Alice Hession, founding principal, Kathie Meikus, and Principal Vince Aquila (pictured from left to right, above) visited with one another before the vespers prayer service that opened the event.

Eagle Scout Project

Chris Foeller, Class of 2013, recently completed work on the garden near the Administrative Entrance as part of his Eagle Scout project. His design efforts included new plantings, mulch and repositioning of two statues.

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Thank You!

Pope John Paul II Catholic High School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, and/or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its education policies, admission policies, student aid programs and athletic programs. Pope John Paul II Catholic High School understands the content of this newsletter to be accurate, as of printing date.

For any corrections, please call 256.430.1760. © Pope John Paul II Catholic High School. Printed in the U.S.A.

Dates to Note ...Some upcoming events are listed below.For details, please visit www.jp2falcons.org.

Challenge Gift Plaque Reception October 11Class of 2002 Alumni Reunion October 13

JPII Feast Day Mass October 22GALA November 3Christmas Concert December 10

Connie Gerlach Director of Advancement

256/430.1760, Ext. 150 [email protected]

Non-profitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PaidHuntsville, AL

Permit No. 133

Pope John Paul II Catholic High School7301 Old Madison PikeHuntsville, AL 35806

advancement newsletter pope john paul ii catholic high school · pope john paul ii from the...

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