Fall 2007 - St. Joseph's Academy

support...family...working togetherFontbonne Prayer Garden DedicatedThe Fontbonne Prayer Garden, locatedon the east side of the SJA Chapel,was dedicated following mass on Sunday,November 25. SJAstudents participatedin a prayer servicein the garden duringtheir religion classeson Monday, November26.The year 2007marks the 200thanniversary of therefounding of theCongregation ofSaint Joseph in Lyon,France, by MotherSt. John Fontbonne,who was sent onAugust 14, 1807, to“regather the daughters”following theFrench Revolution. The anti-Catholicclimate of the French Revolution causedthe closing of most convents and monasteries,including all the houses of theSisters of Saint Joseph in the central regionof France.With the return of peace, Mother St.John spent the next year restarting theSisters of Saint Joseph with a group ofwomen who desired to dedicate their livesto prayer and service.On July 14, 1808,the newly trainedSisters were formallyinvested. The Congregationof SaintJoseph was reborn.Within 30 years,there were more than100 communities ofSisters ministering tothe sick, the elderly,school children andorphans in France.In 1836, the Bishopof St. Louis, Missouri,asked MotherSt. John to send sixSisters to the UnitedStates. They arrivedin New Orleans, then traveled up theMississippi River to St. Louis, foundingSt. Joseph Academy in that city. Eventually,Sisters would be sent to settle in BaySt. Louis, New Orleans and then BatonRouge.Mother St. John Fontbonne died onNovember 22, 1843.Christmas PoinsettiasRemember friends and help the SJA Foundation at the same time.Still looking for a Christmas gift for someone special? Order Christmas giftpoinsettias (for local delivery or pick up only) from Fred Heroman’s Florist inBaton Rouge.Place your order in the name of the SJA Foundation, and50% of the cost will be donated to the SJA Foundation.Call Heroman’s directly at (225) 927-6070.Prices are $25, $40 and $50, plus tax and delivery.Thank you for helping build the SJA Foundation.Alumnae AssociationTo Host BreakfastThe SJA Alumnae Association will hostits second-annual Partners in ExcellenceBreakfast on Tuesday, January 22, at 8:30a.m. in the SJA Dining Hall.The theme for this year’s alum gatheringis Great-Hearted Love: Serving the Dear Neighbor.Senior Lauren Crapanzano, president of theStudent Council, will serve as the emceefor the event. Her mother, Dr. KathleenAtkinson Crapanzano ’80, will be amongthe presenters.Alumnae will enjoy the opportunity tolearn about some of the many exciting activitieson campus as well as the accomplishmentsof Academy students.Planning committee members are GraceAnderson ’69, chair, Peggy Stuart ’52, pastchair, Debbie Gelpi ’77, Elaine Ellis ’65,Rose Fife ’72, Re DiVincenti ’71, ReneeBrian ’86, Dorothy Ewen ’94, Lauren Griffin’01, Wendy Ragan, Molly Sanchez and SisterJoan Laplace.For more information, contact LaurenGriffin, SJA alumnae coordinator, at (225)388-2246 or griffinl@sjabr.org.Callers Needed forAlumnae Annual GivingThe SJA Alumnae Association willhost Alumnae Annual Giving Call Nights2008 on Tuesday through Thursday, February26-28, from 5:45 until 8:45 p.m.each evening. The event will take placein Medaille Hall.This year’s Alumnae Annual Givingco-chairs are Renee Thibodeaux Brian’86 and Dorothy Aertker Ewen ’94.We invite interested alumnae tocome enjoy an evening of calling formerclassmates and visiting with other alumnae.If you are interested in participating,please contact Lauren Griffin, SJAalumnae coordinator, at (225) 388-2246or griffinl@sjabr.org.8 • Fall 2007