Current Newsletter - Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows Alumni Newsletter
Fall / Winter 2014
Volume 11, Issue 1
Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 5020 Rhodes Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63109
Spotlight on ...
by Richard Messmer and Jane Westermeyer Knobbe
which he took a rotating internship at St.
John’s Mercy Hospital in 1963. In 1967, he
graduated form St. Louis University’s school
A graduate of the of Medicine in Orthopedics and joined the
OLS Class of ‘50, Associated Orthopedic Surgeons, Ltd. in
Tom played on the Belleville, IL from which he retired in 1999.
basketball
team Over the years he has received many awards
and on the runner as an outstanding board certified orthopedic
up for city champi- surgeon. He served as a clinical instructor at
onship soccer team. St. Louis University and assistant professor
He also played gui- at Southern Illinois University. In addition,
tar in a dance band he was a Fellow of the American College of
with fellow class- Surgeons and Fellow of the International
mates, Bill McHugh, Gene Ehrhart, John College of Surgeons and served on the Board
Nolan, John Epstein, and Eddie Schlitt.
of Councilors of the American Academy of
Thomas Meirink, M.D.
In his freshman year at Our Lady of the
Ozarks Seminary he was class president. He
transferred to St. Louis U. High School
where he was All-District all-prep in football,
graduating in 1954 with honors with a Latin
diploma.
In 1958 he graduated from the University of
Notre Dame with honors. While there he
competed nationally on their Judo team. He
next attended Loyola University Medical
School in Chicago, graduating in 1962 after
Orthopedic Surgeons from 1988 to 1993. In
1981, he was the president of the St. Clair
Medical Society.
In retirement, he is not idle but volunteers
weekly at The Resurrection House of Sarasota, Florida which treats thousands of
homeless people. Tom is a prime example of
the excellent foundation in education provided by the Our Lady of Sorrows school, then
and now. Job well done, Tom!
Rosati Dramatic Club
In the last newsletter, we asked for more names of
these ladies; Per Sharon Brockmeyer (Thank you!),
the individuals outlined in white are (from left):
Sharon Nolan Brockmeyer (OLS ‘51), Audrey Nolan
Meinhardt (OLS ‘34), and Laverne Blanke Van Pelt
(OLS ‘36)
ADOPT A STUDENT
Because of the economy, many parents
struggle to meet their tuition obligations. A
donation to our “Adopt A Student” program
would be greatly appreciated. Send your tax
deductible donation to “Our Lady of Sorrows Adopt A Student” to 5020 Rhodes
Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows—
OLS Parish Mission
Potluck Dinner — September 13th
September 14-17, 2014
Join us for 5:00 p.m. Mass and a pot-luck dinner afterwards
in Faenger Hall. The parish will provide hamburgers and
brats and we are asking you to bring a dish to share. Food
can be dropped oﬀ in the gym before Mass.
We hope you can join us for a wonderful celebration to
honor Our Lady of Sorrows! Please RSVP before September 8th by calling the rectory at 351-1600 or email us at
[email protected]
Redemptorist Fathers Tony Judge & Greg Schmitt
will present each evening at 7pm in church.
Watch the parish website (www.olsorrows.org)
for a possible afternoon opportunity for Mass with
the school children and Frs Judge and Schmitt!
Check out the Our Lady of Sorrows School website at www.olschool.org !
Be sure to check out the Alumni page!
From the Pastor’s Desk
I want to say a word of
thanks to our wonderful
OLS Alumni who attended this year’s Picnic
on June 3rd. Despite a
blistering hot day, we
had a great day. It was
good to meet many of
you. This year’s Grand Marshall of the parade was OLS Alum, Fr. Andrew Sigmund,
who many of you know retired in June of
2013 and came home to be in residence
here at Sorrows. He and I were privileged
to join several members of the graduating
Class of 1952 for lunch that day at Pietros.
It is always a pleasure to meet former
members of OLS, and some who discovered the great convenience of living in
South City. On June 15th I celebrated 5
years as Pastor of this great parish and
continue to feel I have been truly blessed to
serve here.
by Rev. Peter M. Blake
As we gear up for another year at OLS
School, I am happy to announce that, for
the first time in 10 years, the enrollment is
on the rise. Part of this is due to gaining
several families from St. John the Baptist
whom we welcome to our school community and hope they will feel a part of the
great spirit here. We are also seeing the
fruits of beginning a Pre-School just three
years ago. Many of the youngsters attending our “One Little Seed” program are continuing on into Kindergarten. We have a
wonderful Pre-School staﬀ and are beginning plans to possibly expand our program.
We are also hoping to break ground this
coming year on a new play yard for the PreSchool. All of our faculty and staﬀ are returning in the Day School, under the leadership of Mrs. Kath Liermann. What a
blessing she has been throughout my five
years here. Together, we are seeing a new
spirit, and new energy to keep up the challenge of providing quality, aﬀordable,
Catholic education for this part of South
Picnic 2014 Recap
OLS Athletics
We are happy to share with you today that
after all bills have been paid, it looks like this
year’s Annual Picnic was a great success.
Despite a blistering hot day, our proceeds
were just a tad down from last year. One very
generous benefactor to OLS, gave a gift of
$10,000 to be added to this year’s proceeds.
Our total then for Picnic 2014 is $36,473.24.
Many thanks to all who labored to make this a
great day for the Parish. Everyone who had a hand in the day
are to be commended for a job
well done. The Parish is deeply
grateful to one and all.
City. (Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for us!)
Each year at the end of their 7th Grade year,
I have asked the students to choose a
theme for their 8th Grade year that will help
us focus our eﬀorts on living the Gospel.
This coming year, we have chosen a scripture from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)
Throughout the year we will strive to focus
on the strength we receive from Grace as
living as disciples of Jesus. This is one of my
favorite passages and is such a great reminder that with Christ empowering us,
there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.
Thanks for all your prayers and support for
this wonderful parish. I hope you will always look on Sorrows as home and know
you’re always welcome
here.
God bless,
Fr. Peter Blake, Pastor
by Richard Messmer OLS ‘48
Over the last 100 plus years of its existence OLS has been active in sports. Early on these
consisted of games and sports held at the picnics. In the mid 20’s the Rosati Dramatic Club
organized softball games in the lower half of the schoolyard..on a clay field. Although long
gone, they erected a large three sided backstop and a scoreboard. They even had a concession stand in a wooden storage building behind the backstop.
In the early 40’s, with the establishment of the CYC Parochial Soccer for the boys began.
Originally primarily only 7 and 8th grade boys participated but gradually it was expanded
to older and younger groups. Softball and Volleyball for girls emerged as well as basketball
for both and baseball for the boys. Many championships, Citywide, were won. No record
of them exists but here pictured are two of the winning teams..
Vacation Bible School
Thank you to Dr. Chris Sanders and the volunteers who did an outstanding job of providing
a fun week, July 14th to 18th with the Vacation
Bible School. There were 42 participants in
the week-long program of learning about
Saints and our rich Catholic tradition. We look
forward to this being an annual event for our
young parishioners.
Volume 9, Issue 1
Soccer 1947-48
Volleyball 1963
We will attempt to develop a list of all the winning teams but since the CYC does not have
records back before 1990, we will need your help to do so. If you were a member of such a
team, let us know the year and sport. If you have a picture, please send us a copy. Include
the names of the team members and we will show them in future issues.
Page 2
The Principal’s Oﬃce
Another year has come
to an end. It was a
great year and I enjoyed it very much. The
graduating eighth graders are headed for a
new chapter in their
lives at the high schools
of their choice.
Our
students will be at St. Louis University, Cor
Jesu, Rosati Kain, Notre Dame, St. Mary’s and
Bishop DuBourg. We are all very proud of
them.
Each year the seventh grade class picks a
bible verse for the theme of their eighth
grade year. This year the theme will be “I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens
me. Philippians 4:13
I want to thank all the alumni and donors that
contributed to the wish list fund for school.
This summer three more classrooms will be
painted and the main floor hall. New solar
shades will be placed in all the classrooms. A
generous donation allowed the school to buy
5 new computers. Thanks to all who save Box
tops and Labels for Education through that
program the school has obtained all the
equipment needed for P.E. classes and playground equipment for the year, absolutely
free.
This summer four of our teachers will be participating in a program sponsored by Monsanto. This program concentrates on Math, Science, Engineering and Technology. This is an
One Little Seed Preschool
Our Lady of Sorrows
early childhood program,
One Little Seed, had a
wonderful
2013-14
school year. In just our
third year, our student
body grew to 40. Our
staﬀ grew to four. We
furnished another new
classroom. Eleven of our
twenty "graduates" will be entering kindergarten at OLS in the fall. We are all grateful for
another successful year! We are also grateful
for the help of our wonderful OLS alumnus
volunteer, Mrs. Jane Knobbe. The children
love "Grandma Jane's" visits!
Page 3
by Mrs. Kath Liermann
opportunity for Our Lady of Sorrows to receive free resources to enhance our curriculum. In May a S.T.E.M. night was held for
students and parents. The groups were given
certain materials and criteria to build a structure. It was fascinating to watch the parents
and students work together building their
ideas. This also allowed some of our students in Kindergarten, First, Second, and
Fourth grade to attend a weeklong camp free.
This camp gave the students with hands on
experiments with activities to problem solve,
build and reevaluate their products. (The
camp was featured in the St. Louis Review in
July)
Looking forward to the new school year, we
are hoping that our enrollment will be near
170. This number is 20 up from last year. It is
the first student increase since 2004. There
will be 17 new Kindergarteners to begin their
school career at OLS. . Just proves we are
growing. The incoming Kindergartners will
have an Open House on August 25th. Our
Lady of Sorrows is still able to oﬀer PE, Art,
Music, Band and Computer classes in conjunction with the core curriculum. Honors
math and English is also still in our curriculum
as is ability grouping in math and reading for
our primary.
Some of the events we are looking forward to
are the Meet and Greet Night/Ice Cream Social to welcome back our returning students
on Aug. 18th in the classrooms and in the gym.
The Winter Concert in December and the
by Lisa Piasecki Villhard OLS ‘90
Spring Concert in May is always a treat, come
join us. The Spring Concert this past year was
exceptional. Our new music teacher, Mr.
Vizer, made the choral part of the show outstanding.
Some of the free programs that will be
oﬀered after school next year from a grant of
$20,000 are Homework Helper, Speech, our
students received many ribbons last year, I’m
sure it will continue. Other programs and
activities coming this year are, Chess Class
and Club, Ambassadors, Yearbook Club and
Mission Club. The mission club raised over
$800 last year. The students support two
adopted children in Belize monthly, sent donations to St. Patrick’s Center, and supported
a monthly soup kitchen at St. Peter and Paul’s
downtown. This year we would like to expand and start a robotics club. These programs are available free to the students from
an afterschool program through Latch Key.
This program also provides free latch key
supervision to parents when a heat schedule
is necessary. Exciting things are always going
on at OLS during and after school.
I ask for all to continue to pray for our school
community. I hope you enjoyed a wonderful
summer.
School Wish List
The school has a “Wish List”; of various
needed items. If you are interested, call
the school oﬃce at 314-353-1451 for further details. Anything you give is appreciated.
ploring the subjects of Science, Mathematics,
Dramatic Play, Art, and Language & Literacy.
The children have the opportunity to work
individually, in small groups, and as a class.
The children are discovering the Catholic faith
and developing a relationship with the Blessed
Mother. They are also receiving the social and
Our preschool pro- emotional foundation needed for future
gram oﬀers part-time school success.
and full-time care to Enrollment is currently open. If you think One
three and four-year- Little Seed is the place for your child or grandold children. The program operates on the child, please contact Ms. Lisa at
ground floor of the school building and is look- [email protected] for registration inforing forward to adding outdoor play equipment mation. Thank you for your prayers and supto the school grounds. The children work daily port of this ministry to the very young.
in learning centers within the classroom exOne Little Seed will
open the doors for its
fourth year on Monday, August 25, 2014.
Presently, 36 children
are registered for the
class of 2013-14.
Our Lady of Sorrows Alumni Newsletter
Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Attn: Alumni Committee
5020 Rhodes Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63109
Celebrating Over 100 Years of Faithfulness
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Phone: 314-351-1600
Fax: 314-351-1602
Parish Website: www.olsorrows.org
E-mail your memories and address changes:
[email protected]
Any and all comments or suggestions will
be appreciated and considered. This is
‘your” newsletter and we welcome your
participation.
Coming Events You Won’t Want to Miss!
Parish Feast—Mass and Potluck Dinner ........ Sept 13, 2014
Parish Mission .............................. Sept 14,15,16,17, 2014
Women’s Guild Harvest Social ............... October 26, 2014
Winter Concert .................................. December 11, 2014
Black & Gold Tournament..................... January 3-23,2015
Pro-Life Square Dance ............................ February 7, 2015
Adult Pinewood Derby ......................... February 21, 2015
Home & School Trivia Night ...................... March 21, 2015
Spring Quilt Social ..................................... April 12, 2015
OLS Fish Fry ................. Feb 18, 27, Mar 6, 13, 20, 27 Apr 3
Check our website for more information www.olsorrows.org
Reunions Photos…..
At Right Members of the Class of 1958 at their 55th reunion!
Top Row: (Left to Right), Mary Lou Walsh Dyn, Joni Schmidt Arb, Carole
Leyland Grimm, Gloria Toenjes Farrar, Susan Hespen Palucci, Shirley Supianoski Edwards; Third Row: Tibor Nagy, James Ramsey, Mike Shannon,
Tom Consiglio, David Keuss, Gary Selby, Bill McGuire, Gene Wootten;
Second Row: Kathy Burkel Orson, Sharon Nary Waldmann, Rita Moehl, Rita
Albert Jacobsmeyer, Carol Schisler Steﬀen, Judy Ebert Carey, Jeanine Bubash Pelikan, Pat McCarthy Cusumano, Ginny Ewerz Hughes;
First Row (seated L to R): Elaine Zeni Grace, Pat Semchee Seeber, Ruth Ann
Witte Wilms, Barbara Anderson, Edith Zumpft Devine
How About a Reunion?
Remember, if you are planning a Reunion to check with the
Church oﬃce. They may be able to help you with names, addresses, etc. We are interested in any class who has a reunion
and will include comments about their success along with a
group picture if available..
1990=25 yrs 1965=50 yrs 1955=60 yrs
How many years has it been for your class?
At Left, members of the Class of 1964 at their 50th reunion
This newsletter is a project independent of the parish, supported only by voluntary donations of Alumni.

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