Hall of Fame - Marian Catholic High School

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Hall of Fame y 2013 y Proudly we present the 2013 Marian Catholic Hall of Fame Awardees SPIRIT OF MARIAN Sister Marion Sitkiewitz, O.P. If there’s an important task or an odd job at Marian Catholic High School, call on Sister Marion Sitkiewitz, O.P., and the job will get done! For the past nine years, she is at home in every department and office. While stuffing envelopes, folding programs, or preparing a mailing, of which all have fallen into her job description, Sister Marion has molded her vocation into one with extended creativity and an impact on hundreds of students, families, and co-workers. One role she has taken on is becoming the biggest cheerleader of the Fine Arts Department and the Marian Catholic Speech Team, one of the best Speech programs in the state. Sitkiewitz said, “The students and coaches do all the work and I am delighted to carry the trophy to the convent.” Since Marian Catholic celebrated its 50 th anniversary, Sister Marion has been preserving the school’s history as she archives school photos, 52 years of Megaphone newspapers, and documents. In 1951, soon after her first vows, then Sister Peter Claver, O.P. taught at St. Mary’s Grade School in East St. Louis. In the 1970’s, she returned to her baptismal name, Marion, and in the late 1990’s returned to East St. Louis as librarian at Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Grade School. With an inquisitive mind and active imagination, Sister Marion has made a difference while at Marian Catholic High School. If not toiling with another task, she’ll create t-shirts or signs with slogans on them, which she wears or carries to give students friendly reminders of significant events. Sister Marion assists with the Associate Program of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield of Illinois by coordinating the group from the South Suburbs. The Dominican Associate Program was formed in 1990 as a means for lay people to participate in the congregation’s ministry. Dominican Associates are men and women who embrace the Dominican traditions of prayer, study, common life, and service. They are called to share the Gospel with others and “preach with their lives.” They participate in various spiritual, social, and ministerial experiences as well as congregational events. Perhaps it was no mistake that Sister Marion wound up at Marian Catholic. Her 8 th grade teacher was Sister Mary Mannes, the first principal of Marian. When assigned to St. Victor Parish in Calumet City, Sister Marion made the Marian Convent her home. She was always very close to Notre Dame High School classmate, the now deceased Sister Margaret Rose Aultz, O.P., another former faculty member at Marian. “I believe the Dominican Spirit I found in the Sisters at Our Lady of Grace Grade School in Chicago, shaped my prayer life,” Sister Marion said. “I found their Dominican community life attractive. I believe that Sister Margaret Rose was important to my vocation. Her decision to enter the order gave me the courage and information I needed to follow my Dominican dream.” Marian Catholic looks forward to celebrating the 85 th birthday of Sister Marion whose enthusiasm for the Mission has never waned. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Sister Agnes Ann Pisel, O.P. While many would take pride in having one successful career at Marian Catholic, Sister Agnes Ann Pisel, O.P. has had the good fortune to enjoy two successful tenures on the Marian Catholic faculty. As Theology Department Chair for 18 years, Sister Agnes Ann took on numerous roles beyond the classroom in her inaugural visit to Marian from 1973 to 1979 and then again during her current tenure that began in 1986. As a key contributor to so many special events at the school, Sister Agnes Ann’s 1970’s tenure included service as theology teacher, freshman class moderator, member of the Faculty Council and education committee for the Courage to Lead Campaign, and moderator of the Sodality, the pioneer version of Marian Catholic’s Service Club. Along with Theology Department Chair, Sister’s return to Marian called her to serve as a Kairos Retreat leader, sacristan in the Convent, and participant on several school committees. Throughout her 32 years at Marian Catholic she has ministered as an outstanding Theology teacher who is dedicated to her students. “I think of three simple phrases when I think of Sister Agnes Ann; a beautiful faithful spirit, an open heart, and pure kindness,” according to alum Nancy Lynch Virene ’81. “I was blessed to have Sister Agnes Ann as my religion teacher way back when, and I always felt very welcomed by her and understood. She has a knack for accepting all people, even the sometimes challenging teenager, and with utter compassion! She is always ready with a welcome smile whenever you are in her presence. In our world of fast movement, it is a pleasure that such a warm individual still exists, and in Sister’s case, above, and beyond.” Despite wearing many hats, Sister’s philosophy is quite simple. “Use your gifts, study, stay focused, set realistic goals, and work to achieve them,” said the Granite City native. “Be the best that you can with the gifts that you have been given by God. Look forward to each new day and develop relationships with your family, friends, and those with whom you work. Make the most of the present moment without dwelling on the past or dreaming only of tomorrow.” Sister Agnes Ann was certainly prepared well by her studies at St. Ambrose College and DePaul University with degrees from St. Joseph in Rensselaer, IN and Providence College in Providence, RI. She has continued her studies and enrichment by attending workshops and conferences along with her personal study. Sister Agnes Ann has enjoyed her teaching career, molding generations of students at Marian Catholic. “An amazing thing about Marian is the family spirit we have,” Sister Agnes Ann explained. “Students and staff come together from different areas and backgrounds and we always seem to blend into a Marian Family. The staff is caring and supportive of one another and we are all dedicated to the students. I continue to study, learn, and seek a better way to reach students and to add spark and interest to the class. Today, Sister Agnes Ann serves as a moderator in the Think Tank, a tutorial center for students, and continues her involvement on the Faculty Council. “I feel privileged to have influenced thousands of young people and colleagues over the years and I have been influenced by them. All of us have grown in the process.” 4
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pictured: Marian Catholic Board of Directors attended a retreat with Sacred Heart Griffin High School, Springfield, IL, and Rosary Highschool, Aurora, IL The Marian Catholic Board of Directors participated in a daylong retreat with Directors from Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield and Rosary High School in Aurora. The three high schools are sponsored institutions of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield and had transitioned within the same timeframe from Advisory Boards to Boards of Directors. A variety of activities was planned for the day, including Eucharist in the Motherhouse chapel, brunch with the sisters, and a history of Dominican mission and education coordinated by Sister Dominica Brennan, O.P., the Director of Mission Integration for the Congregation. Clarification of the distinction between governance and management was offered in a presentation by Dr. Donald O’Neal, Professor of Management in the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Emphasizing the revitalizing power of transformation within institutions, Dr. O’Neal stressed the need for governance and management to understand the roles and responsibilities of each and to focus together on every aspect of quality improvement undertaken in support of the Mission. THE ENTRANCE EXAM SCHOLARSHIP Creating an environment of excellence is a priority at Marian Catholic. In an effort to maintain a student body of academic distinction, Marian Catholic offers scholarships to incoming freshmen who score at the 90 th percentile or above on the Entrance Exam. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $8,000, depending on the student’s score. Students who receive Entrance Exam Scholarships are still eligible to apply for additional scholarship opportunities conditional on student need. In the spring of 2012, Marian Catholic awarded $143,000 to 36 students for outstanding scores on the entrance exam. THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WERE AWARDED THE ENTRANCE EXAM SCHOLARSHIP DURING THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR: Kyle Elam, St. John George Funk, St. Joseph Julie Javorka, St. Thomas More Madeleine Kelly, Infant Jesus of Prague John LaVelle, Grimmer Middle School Hannah Martin, Mother Theresa Catholic Academy Zak Piekarski, St. Ann, Lansing Staci Roesch, St. Agnes Isabella Navarro, St. Thomas More Kyle Walker, St. John Lutheran School Tristan Augustine, St. Walter Timothy Lusk, Forest Ridge Academy Chimaobi Ndukwe, O.W. Huth Upper Grade Center Kira Oparah, Trinity Lutheran Ethan Osuch, Mother Teresa Catholic Academy Josephine An, St. Thomas More Alexander Fagan, St. Agnes Tyler Kryszyn, St. Joseph John Loxas, Forest Ridge Academy Laura Trebe, Homer Junior High Krista Bozacki, St. Michael Alex Cruz, St. George Elizabeth Johnson, Cardinal Bernardine School Kristopher Menghi, Forest Ridge Academy Gabariella Knorr, St. John the Evangelist Nicholas Bell, St. John Lutheran School Trevor Evans, O.W. Huth Upper Grade Center Sean Gallagher, James Hart Junior High Madison Kapers, Grimmer Middle School Aleksandar Labovic, Forest Ridge Academy Liam Quinn, Infant Jesus of Prague Jarred Rusin, St. Michael Jalyn Eaton, St. Lawrence O’Toole Ethan Kelly, Infant Jesus of Prague Brendan Marz, Home Schooled Julia Milazzo, St. Lawrence O’Toole Providing an elite college prep Catholic education for students requires financial sacrifice. In order to assist parents in this endeavor, Marian Catholic has been committed for over 30 years to providing scholarship opportunities to incredible students who excel in various areas of school life. Marian Catholic offers a variety of scholarships to assist its students and their families with tuition. For further information regarding MCHS Scholarship Program, please contact Sister Judine Hilbing, O.P., President of Marian Catholic, at 708-756-9403 or sjh@marianchs.com. 5
Page 1 and 2: MARIAN Matters A Newsletter for Mar
Page 3: Hall of Fame y 2013 y Proudly we pr
Page 7 and 8: The Marian Catholic Endowment Golf
Page 9 and 10: LEADERSHIP CIRCLE CURRENT PARENTS P
Page 11 and 12: MARIAN BAND EARNS FIFTH PLACE OVERA
Page 13 and 14: Edward Brown ’62 and Julianne Fin
Page 15 and 16: MCHS ALUMNI HOMECOMING GATHERING AN
Page 17 and 18: Liam Kelly ’90 & Annette Ruth ’
Page 19 and 20: IN MEMORY OF... The Dominican Siste

Hall of Fame - Marian Catholic High School

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