Spring 2011 - St. Joseph's Academy

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leaders...mothers...professionals Honors Convocation Roses Are a Family’s Special Tradition As part of the Academy’s annual Honors Convocation, each senior is given a red rose by the Alumnae Association to symbolize her union with the 8,000-plus graduates who are proud to call the Academy their alma mater. Elizabeth Batchelor McKowen, a 1972 graduate, and her mother, Audrey Batchelor, donate the roses each year in memory of Liz’s dad and Audrey’s husband, the late Aylmer Price Batchelor. Mother and daughter shared a special moment as they watched McKowen’s daughter, Bonnie, participate in the 2001 4 • Spring 2011 Hayley Arceneaux is escorted by her father, Howard Arceneaux, at the start of the 2010 Honors Convocation. She carries a traditional red rose. Honors Convocation. The idea for providing the roses each year was born. “My mother said that donating the roses in honor of my father would be a worthy idea,” said McKowen, who attended SJA for grades 1-12. “He loved the color red, and he loved roses. It made sense to me to donate the roses in his memory when my mother suggested it.” McKowen said that even though her father was not Catholic, he realized the value of an Academy education. After graduating from LSU and as her daughter grew older, McKowen said she shared her father’s appreciation. “It was because of my parents that I knew I needed to send my own daughter to SJA,” she said. McKowen said her family’s tradition of donating the roses is heartfelt. “It is hard to think of a better way to repay SJA for all they have done for me,” she Graduate Shares Story of Faith Journey Ainsley Fagan, a 2010 SJA graduate, is participating in RCIA classes and is a candidate awaiting confirmation to be in full communion with the Catholic Church. Fagan, who attended SJA for her 11th and 12th grade years, said the decision to convert to Catholicism was the result of her faith-filled experiences at the Academy. Fagan said during Senior Mass, when she received a blessing from Father Michael Allelo, she felt something begin to change within her. “I had this strong desire to become Catholic,” she said. “Then, it was graduation. During my final mass with my graduating class, I was finally hit fully. I regretted that I was not Catholic at my graduation mass, and I regretted that I could not receive the Eucharist.” She enrolled at Tulane University and was soon immersed in her studies. But something was missing. “I felt I didn’t have the spiritual bond with my school I needed,” she said. Ainsley Fagan In September, Fagan began the RCIA process. “I feel like I am finally finding my place in the world,” she said. “Soon, on the Easter Vigil at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans, I will finally be able to say that I, Ainsley Davidson Fagan, am a Catholic and that I couldn’t have done it without the love and support that I received from my SJA community.” said. “How do you repay someone for giving you a great education and a strong religious foundation?” McKowen will place provisions in her will so her daughter can continue the tradition. “My father would be very proud of what we have done and what SJA has provided for our family,” she said. “It is my goal that my daughter will carry on this tradition in honor of her grandfather and pass it down to her children.” Volunteer Spotlight Debbie Kleinpeter Gelpi As a child, Debbie Kleinpeter Gelpi admired her mother’s strength. Raising six children, her mother managed to do things without being asked Debbie Gelpi and without complaint. Her humility and work ethic were easy for Gelpi to follow. Gelpi is a 1977 graduate. Her two daughters are sixth-generation graduates. Gelpi is no stranger to volunteering. She has been involved with the SJA Mission Advancement Committee and Partners in Excellence Breakfast. She now serves as an operational chair for the Always the Academy Capital Campaign. “The Sisters gave back to the students, and it made it easy to want to serve,” she said. Gelpi said she is blessed to pass on the traditions of the Academy to her daughters and to generations to come. She offers this advice to current Academy students: “Keep your eyes wide open. Appreciate everything around you. Don’t take anything for granted, and seize opportunities.”
scholars...volunteers...friends Plans Under Way for Milestone Reunions The following St. Joseph’s Academy classes will celebrate special reunions this spring and summer. For further information, please contact the class representatives or reunion planners listed. You may also contact Alumnae Director Emily May Kline at (225) 388-2244 or klinee@ sjabr.org. Class of 1961 50-Year Reunion: Friday, April 29, at St. Joseph’s Academy. Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. in the Chapel at SJA. A reception will follow. Contact Susie Comeaux Hotard at (225) 383-1314 or schotard99@aol.com. Class of 1981 30-Year Reunion: Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18. Girls Night Out on Friday night; details TBA. On Saturday, there will be a joint party with CHS at Avoyelles Cafe on Third Street, 7-10 p.m., and an after party at Boudreaux & Thidodeaux’s (second floor) starting at 10:30 p.m. Group hotel reservations at Hotel Indigo. For more information, visit our Facebook page: SJA/CHS Class of 1981. Or contact Lisa Westmoreland Collier at lisa.westmoreland@yahoo.com or Julie Ducote Young at jyoung@crfla.org. Class of 1986 25-Year Reunion: Dates and details TBA. Contact Beth Dupre Burleigh at bethchef1@aol.com. Class of 1991 20-Year Reunion: Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16. Friday evening event is TBA. Saturday night event will be held at the Rural Life Museum. Both events will be held in conjunction with the CHS class of 1991. Contact Toni Domma Jones at tntjones@eatel. net or visit www.sjachs20year.com or on Facebook under Catholic High and St. Joseph’s Class of 91/20 Year Reuion. Class of 2001 10-Year Reunion: Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23. Girls Night Out on Friday evening at The Bulldog. On Saturday, the class will have a picnic lunch at SJA, followed by a joint event with CHS on Saturday evening at Lyceum Dean. Contact April Palombo Setliff at (225) 921-7235 or april.palombo@gmail.com. Members of the SJA class of 1956 held their monthly luncheon on December 14 and gathered in the Commons of Mother Alice Hall. The potluck luncheon was provided by the 12 graduates who attended dressed in holiday attire. Christmas table decorations were provided by class representative Sara Campagna Jacobs. SJA President Sister Adele Lambert, CSJ, and Mission Advancement Director Molly Sanchez joined the graduates for lunch. Afterwards, Sanchez led the group on a tour of the renovated areas of Mother Alice Hall and other areas of campus, ending at the site of the class’ composite photograph in St. Joseph Hall. Pictured here, left to right, are (front row) Rose Saia Piper, Yvonne Borne Thompson, Janeth McCarron Moresi, (back row) Lorraine Gautreaux Ragusa, Jeanelle Bercegeay Saia and Mary Ann Prejean Antrobus. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH! Send us your news. We would love your photo, too! We would also like to keep your record up to date. Please let us know if you have a change in address, phone number, email address or occupation. Name: ______________________________________________________________ First Middle/Maiden Last Address:_____________________________________________________________ City:_________________________________State:__________ Zip:______________ Class of:_____________ Husband’s first name:_______________________________ Occupation/Title:_____________________ Employer:_______________________ Mary MacGowen Gaudin ’79 and Deneen Tullier Richard ’97 were among the nearly 40 graduates who spoke to SJA sophomores and juniors during Career Day 2011, held March 16. The annual event is sponsored by the Alumnae Association and Academic Counseling Center to expose students to opportunities in a wide range of professional careers. Phone:_______________________________Email:__________________________ News to share:________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Send to: SJA Connections, 3015 Broussard Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 or email your news to connections@sjabr.org Spring 2011 • 5
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Spring 2011 - St. Joseph's Academy

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