SUMMER
EDITION 2018
The Golden Burrs
Events Committee members are pleased to bring you this 37th edition of the
Class of 1958's newsletter.
In this issue
under the "West Catholic Prep Banner" you will find
the following: A report on the 97th Annual Alumni
Communion Breakfast; a report on the success of the 60th ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION OF THE GOLDEN BURRS OF 1958; thank you letters
to the Boys Class of 1958 from Brother Dennis Lee, Visitor/Provincial
of the Christian Brothers, and from Andrew Brady, Director of
Institutional Advancement at West Catholic Prep; correction to the living
members of the Class of 1958; a report on the Lady Burrs PIAA championship
game; a report on the Engineering School at WCP; a report on Top
Honors won by WCP in the Rising Starters Competition;
information about the Class of 2018; and information about the 31st Annual Burrs at the Beach Reunion.
In the "News
Features" section you will find the following
reports: An update by Frank Metzler on St. Francis de
Sales School; and the last in a series of articles by Frank Metzler and
Frank Adolf about the histories of the orders of nuns who taught in our
respective elementary schools, featuring The Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth.
Sadly, we learned
of the passing of our classmate Jim Immendorf who was from
Good Shepherd Parish. Jim died in Largo, Florida on May 16,
2017. Jim was one of our MIA's, and the report in the Spring Newsletter
prompted Frank Cubbage to track down Jim's
obituary in the Tampa Bay Times.
On Easter Sunday,
April 1, 2018, our classmate Vince Leonetti passed away. Vince was a regular attendee
at our annual luncheons and both the 50th and 55th anniversary dinners.
He planned to attend our 60th anniversary dinner.
His
viewing and Requiem Mass were held at St. Vincent de Paul Church
in Mays Landing, New Jersey on April 5th. The West Catholic Boys
Class of 1958 were represented by: George Light,
Charlie W. and Kathy Johnson, Frank O'Keefe, Angelo Sivieri,
Jim Lynch, Frank Adolf and Tom Henry.
Over the past
couple of years we have lost track of Rich Egan. He was a
regular at Burrs at the Beach and no one remembered seeing him lately.
Just before publishing this newsletter, Jim Lynch reported that all phone
contacts for Rich have been disconnected and that he was
not living at the street address that we had for him.
Frank Adolf searched the obituary records for South Jersey Funeral
Homes and found that Rich died on February 2, 2016.
While searching
for Rich Egan's obits, Frank Adolf found an obituary for our classmate Roger J. Zaffarano who came from Transfiguration Parish.
Roger passed away on February 14, 2018.
The four
obituaries are available on our website at: www.goldenburrs-1958.com
We conclude
this edition with Mail received from our Classmates and Friends; a "Remember
When".... picture submitted by Frank Adolf of The 1948 Transfiguration Altar Boys; Bob Dowd's
and Gerry Vernot's remembrances of The Robin Roberts
Sports Club; and Rich Buzza's "Final
Thought".
EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH WEST CATHOLIC
PREP
97th ANNUAL ALUMNI
COMMUNION BREAKFAST
SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2018
Clarion Hotel, Essington,
PA
submitted by: FRANK
ADOLF
This year the
Communion Breakfast was moved to the Clarion Hotel & Conference
Center in Essington, PA, the site for many West Catholic related
events.
The Mass
was con-celebrated by Rev. Maximillian Maxwell, OSB, Class of 1992 and
Msgr. Donald E. Leighton Class of 1952. Musical accompaniment was
provided by West Catholic Prep Students, directed by Larry Toft.
Opening remarks
at breakfast were made by Master of Ceremonies Fran Crowley '77, and the
opening prayer was offer by Msgr. Leighton.
Aaron Spence '03,
President of the Alumni Association, spoke about the spirit of the
Association.
Stephen Tulli '84, Chairman of the Board of West Catholic Prep,
spoke on behalf of Paul Colistra, who was on
vacation. Stephen
spoke about the
progress that has made since the time West Catholic's
closing was announced.
Some of the
highlights focused on the enrollment which is at 425 students up from 220, with
a plan to remain small, with 600 students being the most they plan to
serve. Stephen stated that finances are on solid ground.
Today, West Prep
has a $3,500,000 endowment fund! The plan is to build on this
endowment by welcoming the support of the alumni community to help West grow this rapidly.
After the
breakfast, the Presentation of Awards took place. Fran Crowley presented
the awards as follows: Edward P. Carey,
Esquire '52 - Brother G.
John Owens Award; Rev. Robert F. Crawford, M.M., '52 - Brother Edwin
Anselm Award; Maria Petolicchio '62 - Margaret Porter
Blue and Gold Award; William P. Conway '68 - 50th
Anniversary Golden Burr Award; Johnnie Walker,
Jr., USMC Ret. '86 - Brother Martin Strickroth
Award; David F. Joslin '88 - Brother
Aloysius Award; Lori Ward Braden '93 - 25th
Anniversary Silver Burr Award; and Michael E. Cathers, CPA '93 - 25th
Anniversary Silver Burr Award. In a first for the Alumni Communion
Breakfast, Father Crawford who could not attend the breakfast,
accepted his award via a cell phone call to his classmate Msgr. Leighton,
which was heard loud and clear by all attendees.
Approximately 220
loyal Burrs attended this year's event.
REPORT ON THE 60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE
GOLDEN BURRS OF 1958
submitted by: FRANK
ADOLF
May 5th, 2018
was a beautiful but slightly overcast spring day with
temperatures in the low 70's, adding to the enjoyment of the 60th
Anniversary celebration of the Class of 1958's graduation from
West Catholic Boys.
A total
of 40 classmates and 23 wives or significant others and
Brother Kevin Stanton were in attendance at the celebration held
at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Essington,
PA. Denny Brennan and Joe Myers planned to attend but had
to cancel because of extenuating circumstances.
Rich
Buzza & Frank Metzler
Every classmate
received the below pictured folder, which some thought was a homework
assignment, only kidding. The folder contained the Dinner Program, a
suitable for framing photograph of "The West Philadelphia
Catholic High School for Boys", an alphabetical listing of our
166 honored deceased, and the names of the thirty-one classmates who made a
patron donation.
Our long distance travelers were Jim and Becky McManaman from Arlington, Virginia, Larry Signora
and Karen Tunnell from Germantown, Maryland, and
Jim and Ann O'Malley from Houston, Texas.
The event began at 3:30 PM with cocktails and Hors
D'oeuvres.
Fran
Lynch, Sheila Buzza, Penny Adolf, Jeri Staiber
Frank
O'Keefe, Jim Gallagher, Tom Hughes
During cocktails a Pictorial "Slide" Presentation of the History of
West Catholic Boys from 1916 to 1989 was shown. The original
product consisting of 140 pictures was produced by Rich Buzza, Jim Lynch and Frank Adolf by
copying pictures from the Blue and White yearbooks from 1920 to
1989. A team at La Salle University created a DVD using the Boys' School pictures and pictures from the history of
the Girls School covering the years 1927 to 1989, and the combined
co-ed School from 1989 to 2016. The DVD was shown at the 100th
Anniversary Luncheon in 2017.
In preparation for our 60th
Anniversary, Frank Adolf reworked the Boys' School production
by adding back all the pictures that didn't make the original cut,
along with extra pictures from the Class of 1958. Using I-Movie
software, Frank created a presentation consisting of 192
pictures that runs a little over 13 minutes.
After
the "slide" presentation George Light, who once again was
the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, advised all
that Paul Colistra, President of West Catholic
Prep, could not attend because of another commitment. George spoke
in Paul's place about events at West Catholic Prep including the extensive
upgrades to the Gym, Library, Weight Room and Cafeteria. Also, the
Lourdes Grotto was recent rebuild using stones that were saved from the
original West Boys' Grotto.
George closed with the
good news that plans are in the works for the return of Christian
Brothers to West with the assignment of five Brothers.
George announced that
on behalf of the Class of 1958, Frank Adolf will mail a $600.00
check to Paul Colistra in support of the West
Catholic Educational Mission. Another check for $600.00 will be sent to
the Christian Brothers in support of retired
Brothers. These checks represent the sum total of patron
donations made by 31 classmates.
Prior to dinner being served,
George introduced our classmate Brother Steven Casale
who offered the invocation and read out the names of our
classmates whose passing we became aware of since our luncheon
in May of 2017.
Dinner
service included a delicious three entree buffet, followed by an
excellent selection of Italian desserts.
Seated:
Loretta and Tom Henry, John & Rita Gillespie, Jeri Staiber
Standing:
John Staiber & Tom Kavanagh
Seated: Jim
Lynch, Frank Metzler, Brother Kevin Stanton, George Light
Standing:
Fran Lynch, Penny & Frank Adolf, Barbara Light
\Seated:
Trish Bresnahan, Anne & Bob Dowd, Angelo Sivieri
Standing:
Mike Bresnahan, Jim Cahill & Dolores DeBaecke
Seated: Bob
Houlihan & Elizabeth Sterley,
Alma Boyle, Joe and Valerie Bradley
Standing:
Joe Storniolo, Dick Boyle, Bob & Cathy Ward
Dutch
and Ann O'Malley, Duke Gallagher, Jack O'Connell
Seated:
Joe Gavaghan, Larry Signora & Karen Tunnell
Standing:
Tom Hughes, Sam McGhie, Tom Sweeney, Frank McDonnell
Seated:
Valerie Butler, Charlie McClelland, Jack & Kathy Caputo, Brother
Steven Casale
Standing:
Des Butler
Seated: Ed
Alioto, Marguerite & Anthony Evangelista, Lois Castaldi
Standing:
Charlie Brett, Tom Castaldi
After dinner George and Rich Buzza diverted from the program and presented Frank
Adolf with a Certificate of Appreciation for his tireless efforts as Managing
Editor of the Golden Burrs Newsletter and for his work in organizing the Annual
Class Reunions.
Rich
Buzza, Frank Adolf & George Light
The time just flew by and
before we knew it we all joined in singing the West Catholic
Boys' School Song. But, that was not the end of the event. George
announced that the room was available until 8:00 PM and everyone took advantage
of the extra time to socialize with their friends and to view Frank Metzler's
poster displays dedicated to the Christian Brothers. Frank Adolf reran
the "slide" presentation, pausing at each Class of 1958 picture
so all could see each one in detail. Many attendees took pictures of
class of 1958 pictures that were projected on the screen.
The Golden Burrs
Events Committee members extends a warm
thank you to all the attendees who helped make this special
anniversary celebration a success. A special thank you
goes to all those who donated to the Patron Fund and to Frank O'Keefe,
Charlie W. Johnson and Larry Signora who made extra contributions to
offset related expenses.
The pictures in this article
were taken by Bill Marella, Jim Lynch and John Staiber. Many more pictures are available on our
website at: www.goldenburrs-1958.com
THANK YOU LETTER FROM BROTHER DENNIS LEE, FSC
THANK YOU LETTER FROM ANDREW BRADY
CORRECTIONS TO THE LIVING MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF
1958 REPORT
submitted by: FRANK ADOLF
Frank Metzler and Bob
Dowd questioned the count for the living members of St. Carthage featured
in the Spring Newsletter. Upon review there were two errors.
Joe Alves was counted in error as MBS and Bob Dowd was listed
under Our Lady of Victory. Bob attended Our Lady of Victory from grades 1
to 4 and St. Carthage from grades 5 through 8. Both Joe and Bob
graduated from St. Carthage.
Also, in a conversation with
Charlie McClelland, he confirmed that he graduated from Transfiguration,
but I had him listed in error under Good Shepherd. Charlie's
family moved to Good Shepherd after he graduated from Transy.
In fact, since he was already approved to attend West Catholic from
Transfiguration, he didn't have to attend his Freshman
year at Good Shepherd which all Good Shepherd grads had to do at the time.
We learned early on that the
yearbook is not a good source to determine the parish
of our classmates. The parish listed under each picture
was the one that was paying for the high school tuition. Some
of our classmates were parishioners at the "yearbook parish" for only
a short period of time and originally graduated from another parish
school. Therefore, in compiling the report, the
designated
parish for each classmate is
the one "they most identify with", which usually is
the parish school in which they spent the most time or from where
they graduated.
The revised counts of living
classmates are as follows:
St. Carthage 8 - Joe
Alves, Mike Bresnahan, Bob Dowd, Frank Metzler,
Tom W. Mullen, John Salvey, John Sgro,
and Gerry Vernot.
Our Lady of Victory 6
- Don Blees, Ed Butler, Tom Kavanagh, Anthony DiGuiesppe, Charles J. Johnson, and John Staiber.
Sorry for the errors and
thanks to all for their input.
WEST CATHOLIC GIRLS PLACE SECOND IN STATE HOOPS
FINAL
Gleaned from report by John Knebels
on CatholicPhilly.com
submitted by:
FRANK ADOLF
West Catholics Daja Hosendorf, Tamiah Robinson, and
Jaelyn Durrett pose with second-place trophy
following a 45-42 loss to Bellwood-Antis in the PIAA Class 2A
championship March 26 in Hershey, Pa.
West Catholics race to a PIAA Class
2A girls state basketball title was derailed in a thriller Monday afternoon,
March 26, at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.
Despite 12 points apiece from sophomore Tamiah Robinson and freshman DestineyMcPhaul, the District XII champion Lady Burrs lost to District
VI third-place finisher Bellwood-Antis, 45-42, in Wests first-ever trip to the state final.
I dont think its really hit me,
said West coach Beulah Osueke. When asked if the loss was bittersweet because of how
far her team had come, Osueke was honest. "The bitter, she said, is a lot more present
than the sweet right now.
Arguably worse was Wests
lack of marksmanship. The Lady Burrs shot only 18 for 56 from the floor,
4 for 16 from three-point land, and 2-5 from the foul line. When you shoot 18 for 56, thats a pretty
tough percentage to beat a good team, said Osueke. Im surprised we only
lost by three.
Led by junior Kyliah Singletarys 10 and McPhauls eight, West Catholic outrebounded
B-A by 35-29, snaring 15 boards to three on the offensive end. Robinson dished
five of Wests eight assists in a full 32 minutes of
action. The Burrs played eight players, all of whom provided double
digits in minutes played, a complete contrast to the
Blue Devils, whose five starters played the entire game.
Im
disappointed in myself kinda, said Jaelyn Durrett, West Catholics lone senior. Im sad. We prepared so much
for this game, like the whole season. Its kindaheartbreaking.
The Lady Burrs trailed by as many as nine (16-7
with 6:44 left in the second quarter) but took the lead at 21-20 in a
back-and-forth third quarter that saw Campbell score all of B-As 14 points
compared to six different Lady Burrs countering with a composite 15, ending
with West trailing by 34-32.
A smooth, acrobatic layup by McPhaul gave the Lady Burrs a 39-37 edge with 3:15 remaining in
regulation, sending Wests faithful into overdrive.
Unfortunately, the Blue Devils seized control and used an 8-0 run to make
futile a three-pointer by Robinson four seconds from the final buzzer.
I think a lot of our
inconsistencies have to do with youth, said Osueke. We did not do enough to finish them off. We kept making
mistakes that hurt us. They do a lot of harm to your momentum. Osueke
was told she had a look of pride.
I wanted more, though, she said. I am proud of them, but I will always want more.
John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com.
ENGINEERING
SCHOOL WITHIN WEST CATHOLIC INSPIRES A LOVE OF SCIENCE
Gleaned
from CatholicPhilly.com report by Lou Baldwin
submitted by:
FRANK METZLER
At West Catholic Prep High School there is a
school within a school, called the Engineering and Design Academy, and the engineering and physic classes are taught by
Dr. Ryan Baxter.
The program wants students to pursue a hands-on career, geared to the
manufacturing industries, learning how things are made, what tools they need
and the kind of thinking and skills they would need. In addition to learning
some of the theory behind the engineering field, there are practical
applications in using some of the basic tools of the trade, as well as fun
projects.
Photo
by Sarah Webb
Within the Engineering and Design Academy there is, on a college
level, a High School Chapter of National Society of Black Engineers, which is
appropriate since West Catholic has a very high African-American enrollment.
The NSBE Club works closely with the college level club at nearby Drexel
University. Six present seniors will be heading to local Universities to
continue their education in computer engineering, bioengineering, mechanics of physical science, business, and marketing.
STUDENTS
REPRESENTING THREE ARCHDIOCESAN HIGH SCHOOLS WIN TOP HONORS IN RISING STARTERS
COMPETITION SPONSORED BY DREXEL UNIVERSITY'S CHARLES D. CLOSE SCHOOL OF
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Gleaned
from CatholicPhilly.com
submitted by:
FRANK METZLER
On Wednesday May 16, 2018 students representing all 17 High
Schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia participated in the above mentioned program.
The Rising Starters Program culminated with a judging competition at Drexel
University.
Each team, who presented in the final round, had four minutes to
pitch their idea for profit and not for profit business concepts. The
pitch was followed by an intense sixty-second question and answer session by
the judges, consisting of many corporate and financial leaders in the area.
Prize money was presented by the Charles D. Close School of
Entrepreneurship.
The first place winner was Bishop Shanahan High
School, receiving $2,500.00.
The second place winner was WEST CATHOLIC
PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL, receiving $1,500.00 and the school was represented by
Tamiya Spraggins, Nylla
Johnson, and Ayanna Williams. Their submission, called Oggo, is a system of electronic organization and storage
for Home, Work, and On-The-Go.
The third place winner was Little Flower High
School, receiving $1,000.00.
CLASS
OF 2018 ANNOUNCES COLLEGE DECISIONS
Gleaned
from June 2018 West Notes E-Newsletter
submitted by:
FRANK ADOLF
The West Catholic Preparatory High School Class
of 2018 has announced their college decisions. This class has 100%
college acceptance with more then $13,000,000 in
college academic scholarships. The graduates have been accepted at more
than 200 schools.
Congratulations to these recent
graduates for all they have accomplished.
Below are some facts about the Class
of 2018.
Colleges Accepted to: 221
Colleges Attending: 46
Students planning to enlist in the armed
services: 3
Total College Academic Scholarships: $13,218,798
WEST CATHOLIC CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 24,
2018 - 31st Annual Burrs at the Beach Reunion at "The Inlet on Olde"
(formerly Westy's Irish Pub)
North
Wildwood, N.J. starting at 1:00 PM
Tickets to the event are
$25 at the door. Included in the cost of
your ticket is a free buffet, reduced drink prices,
and a DJ for your listening and dancing pleasure. The goal is to reach 1,000 attendees.
Proceeds generated from Burrs at the Beach provide financial
support to West Catholic. Since Burrs at
the Beach began it has raised almost $750,000 for the school. Thanks to the Alumni Association and Burrs at
the Beach Committee for all their hard work!
Looking for more information?
Contact Tom Dorrian at 484-4310781 or email at
thomasdorrian@comcast.net.
Fall of 2018 - Sports Hall of Fame Dinner - details pending
NEWS
FEATURES
ST, FRANCIS DE
SALES SCHOOL UPDATE
FEWER NUNS, BUT STILL A STRONG PRESENCE
submitted by:
FRANK METZLER
In a recent
article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, St. Francis de Sales
School was cited as one of the Catholic Schools
changing. The I.H.M. nuns are few in number and aging, yet the
Sisters maintain a Catholic character in education. There are
just seven Sisters among the teaching and administration staff of 40 at
St. Francis.
On a recent day,
St. Francis de Sales School with 500 students hummed with activity.
Sister Christine Lamb worked with a foreign student learning English, Sister
Francis Michael Finsterbush played cheerleader with a
third grade class working on an online math game, while Sister James Anne Feerick delighted a small group of second graders reading a
story, and Sister Mary Hickey taught reading to her students.
Sister Mary
McNulty is the Principal, Sister Jane McFadden, sister of the late Bishop
Joseph McFadden, is the Vice Principal and Sister Alice Marie Daly is
the Director of Religious Education, preparing students to receive the
sacraments. "We love our ministry, and we wish there were more women
coming to join us," said Sister Mary NcNulty.
Nuns filled a
critical need for teachers when Catholic education began in the 1900's and they
helped shape the religious environment in our lives. The strength of
the Catholic Schools was built on Sisters who educated kids in the '40's, '50's
and '60's. We surely owe a lot to them. Thank you Sisters!
SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH (CSFN)
submitted
by: FRANK
METZLER & FRANK ADOLF
In 1875 the
Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was founded in
Rome, Italy by Maria Franciszka Siedliska,
a Polish noblewoman born on November 12, 1842 in Roszkowa
Wola, Rzeczyca, Poland.
In her religious life she was known as Mother Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd.
Maria Franciszka
Siedliska
In 1873, Franciszka received the
blessing of Pope Pius IX to organize a new religious institute in Rome
modeled on the life of the Holy Family of Nazareth to care for the sick, the elderly, and orphaned children throughout the world.
The congregation spread rapidly throughout Europe, including
her homeland of Poland. The order was officially established in
1875.
Blessed Mary of Jesus the
Good Shepherd
1842 - 1902
Ten years after their foundation, Mother Mary of Jesus the
Good Shepherd and 11 sisters journeyed to America arriving in
New York on July 4, 1885, and two days later they arrived in
Chicago to begin their ministry. Within two months they were staffing two
schools and an orphanage. The Provincial House for the Eastern
Province of the order is located in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd died in
Rome on November 21, 1902 and her tomb is located in the chapel of the
Motherhouse, Via Nazareth, In Rome, Italy. At
the time of her death, 27 communities had been established in the 27 years of
the young Congregation's history.
The Sisters came to Philadelphia in 1911, staffing St.
Mary's Orphanage for Boys in Conshohocken, PA. The orphanage moved to an
old estate on Bethlehem Pike in Ambler, PA in 1935.
On December 6, 1920, the deed to a twenty-three acres
estate from the Middleton Family was signed by Mother M. Valentine. Four
years later the Sisters acquired the adjoining property. Planning
began for a building that would serve as a provincial home, a novitiate and a
high school.
On August 15, 1928, the first Eucharistic Liturgy was
celebrated in the new Chapel. On August 21, 1928 fifty postulants
were invested and the novitiate was canonically established. Thirty
novices from the Chicago province arrived to complete the second year of their
novitiate.
In the fall of 1928, Nazareth Academy High School was
established by the Sisters to educate young women.
In 1934, the Sisters opened Holy Family Teacher Training
School.
On March 9, 1940, in order to
meet the healthcare needs of Northeast Philadelphia,
the Congregation founded and opened Nazareth Hospital at a cost
of $800,000.
In 1941, the Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth opened the doors of Nazareth Academy Grade
School. Built on the Middleton property acquired in 1920, the original
school building was housed in a renovated barn at the corner of Grant and
Frankford Avenues.
Renovated Nazareth Academy Grade School
In 1952, Sister M. Neomisia Rutkowska, Provincial
Superior of the Province, received approval to found a Women's College in
the Torresdale Section of Northeast
Philadelphia.
In 1953, Sister obtained from the Pennsylvania State Council
on Education the endorsement of the name Holy Family College and, on
February 11, 1954 the legal charter was received. Ground
breaking took place for Holy Family Hall in March of that year.
On September 2, 1954, Holy Family College commenced its
first academic year.
On September 10, 1967, the
cornerstone for the new Nazareth Academy Grade School at 4701 Grant Avenue
was blessed.
Blessing of Nazareth Academy Grade School Cornerstone
On March 1, 1995, the Congregation transferred ownership
of Nazareth hospital to the Franciscan Health System.
In 2001, Nazareth Hospital became a member of the Mercy
Health System.
Today, Nazareth Hospital continues to be a vital part of
Northeast Philadelphia, and is dedicated to providing the community with needed
access to health care, delivered with compassion and respect.
On December 12, 2002, Holy Family College received approval
from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for a change of status to
University.
Also, in 2002 a Capital Campaign was initiated at Nazareth
Academy Grade School to raise fund for a
new addition. In 2006 the addition was opened.
2006 Addition to Nazareth
Academy Grade School
The Congregation established a cemetery for their
order adjacent to Nazareth Academy High School.
Sisters of The Holy Family of Nazareth Cemetery
in
Philadelphia, St. Mary of Czestochowa School, located at 59th Street and
Elmwood Avenue, was staffed by the order from 1927 until the school closed in
2000.
On the morning of October 11, 2017 the Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth said a final goodbye to Infant Jesus Convent in Philadelphia
and helped welcome new residents to their former home. Many sisters were
in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony as Inglis
Housing Corporation and Conifer Realty, LLC celebrated
the completion of 44 new apartments for individuals 55 or older, or people with
disabilities regardless of age. The $12.5 million development consists of
state-of-the-art, affordable one-bedroom apartment homes constructed within the
former convent.
Currently, the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth are stationed in the following convents in Philadelphia: St.
Michael the Archangel in Levittown, Mary of Nazareth on Holme Avenue, Jesus of Nazareth also on Holme Avenue, Our Lady of Calvary and St. Katherine of
Siena.
As of 2015, there are over 1,300 members in Australia, Belarus, England, France, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, and the United States. There
are five provinces in the United States that provide ministry to 20 States
and Puerto Rico. The Sisters serve in schools, in child care
services, care of the elderly, retreat work, and in parish, prison and youth
ministry.
The Congregation includes 10 Sisters who were martyred on
August 1, 1943 In Nowogrodek, Poland (now
Belarus). They gave up their lives in exchange for the release of people
who had families. On March 5, 2000 they were beatified by Pope John
Paul II.
A cause for the canonization of Mother Mary of
Jesus the Good Shepherd was introduced under Pope Pius XII in 1941, and
she became titled as Servant of God. Pope John Paul II confirmed her life
of heroic virtue and named her Venerable on April 29, 1980. On April 23,
1989, Pope John Paul II declared her beatified and she is now known as Blessed
Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
Anyone who has had an
interesting experience with the Sisters of the Holy
Family and wishes to share it, please
email your story to Frank Adolf at: fjapfa1539@comcast.net
MAIL FROM CLASSMATES AND
FRIENDS
Joe "Bing" McGrory:
Thanks for all the
info and Golden Burrs 58 data. You and the others do a great job. I
will not be able to attend.
Frank Miller: Hi Frank; I won't be
attending the Reunion this year. Thanks for all the work that you do!
Andy Don
Thompson:
Thank you Frank for the reminder. Unfortunately, I will not be able to
participate this year. I really do
appreciate all the work you and the committee have put into this event and all
the year-long activities, especially the newsletters,
Gerry Vernot: I won't be able to attend the 60th
anniversary dinner. We are booked on a cruise with our family which
causes a conflict the anniversary dinner. Take care, Gerry
John Heron: Sorry won't be able to make
it. Great job on the newsletter; appreciate the dedication of you and
your team.
Tom Koch:
Hi Frank, I am sorry but I will not be able to make the reunion. I
hope everyone has a good time. I hope I can make the 61st.
Charlie W. Johnson: Frank,
Sorry to convey to you that Kathy, my wife, and I will not be able to attend
our 60th Anniversary affair.
The event conflicts with our grandson's
First
Holy Communion. Our family is planning a family
luncheon and dinner on that day. Was sorry to find out about this
conflict, please give my best wishes to those in attendance. Hope it is a
great success, the way you and your committee work I
am sure it will be. Charlie J.
PS: Please use the attached
donation to help a little with the expenses.
Frank O'Keefe Jr.: Frankie, If I attend this function, I will only stay for a drink or
two. Your the boss,
use the money the best way possible, try not to waste it. I might have a
RSVP invitation to the DERBY. Thanks for all that do for this class.
Andy Jaskolka: Thanks for
the reminder. You always cover all bases. At the present I am
unlikely to attend the once in a lifetime event. I hope those who do
attend enjoy it greatly. All the best to all of you,
especially the organizers who have been such stalwart reps of the class of '58.
Larry Doran: FYI - neo-catechumens are using St.
Louis rectory and convent - also using BVM (Darby) hall two days a week to
spread their message - also their priests are saying Sunday Mass at St. Louis
at least twice a month.
Lou Penge: Sorry for the reply delay. I wanted to
attend, but I cannot make it. I hope to go to Burrs on the Beach in June.
Take good care.
Tom W. Mullen: Sorry, Barb and I will not be able to attend.
We have a family function that weekend. Have fun and give the guys
my regards.
Frank O'Keefe Jr.: Frank, I will make the trip to
attend Vince's Funeral Mass and Burial. Thanks for your effort
advising all his classmates from West Catholic High School for Boys.
Joe Myers: Frank, Sad to hear of the death of
Vince. I was in several classes with him at West, and although he was one
of the more popular guys on the football team, he was always a soft spoken, and approachable guy who commanded a lot of respect
by his dignified demeanor, a real class act.
Andy Don Thompson: Thank you Frank for the reminder. Unfortunately, I
will not be able to participate this year. I really do appreciate all the
work you and the committee have put into this event and all the year-long
activities, especially the newsletters,
Andy Don Thompson: Thank you Frank for putting together and sharing the sad news of Vince's passing on Easter
Sunday, when so many celebrate resurrection.
Bob Dougherty: Thanks Frank, what horrible news. We were very
close high school friends with his wife Marie, or Bitsy, as we knew her and
would like to send a Mass card etc. to their home. We remained friends
thorough the years.
Andy Marino: Thank for letting me know
Frank (about Vince's passing).
Dorothy Crines: Frank, Dave asked me to reply back to you thanking
you for keeping the class updated with good news and sad news. He was
very sorry to hear about Vince's passing. It did bring out many memories
of the past with some past conversations Dave had with Vince. It made him
smile and laugh at some of the memories he recalled.
It is so funny with Dave's stroke how he can clearly
remember what happened to him in the 50's, but yet can't remember my telling
him something in the morning. I am happy though that he does have
that recall of the good old days.
He asked me to send his regrets that he won't be able to attend
the 60th Reunion because of his health. he said
can you please forward his good wishes to all the classmates there. he wishes he could be there too. Thanks so much for keeping him informed. Have a good
weekend.
Joe Myers: Frank, I'm sorry to have to inform you that I will be
unable to attend our 60th Reunion Dinner. I'm having some issues with my
back, chronic situation, that make the 4 1/2 drive down to Philly a most
difficult proposition. I'm very disappointed because I looked so forward
to this event, having really enjoyed the 50th.
I've already canceled my reservation at the Clarion. Just wanted to thank you and the Committee for all your good work
over the years for all the members of West Catholic Alumni.
With best wishes for a happy reunion. Joe Myers, West Catholic Class of 1958
Jack Neuschel: Frank, Sorry that I did not respond
earlier. I will not be able to join you all at our 60th reunion.
Please give my regards to our classmates. I will make a donation to West
Catholic in honor of the class of 58. I will be heading to the college of
the Ozarks to be with my stepdaughter as her son graduates from the school of
the Ozarks as a high school senior on Thursday. Enjoy the evening.
Peace.
Gerry Vernot -
April 5, 2018: Playing golf today and "ran" into one of our
neighbors on the 6th hole as I was going to my ball. This is mating
season for gators, so I guess he was looking for his mate.
Frank
O'Keefe Jr.: Frankie and your staff, thanks again for a
great event. When you and your group start something you do it
right. The classmates who attended this function were all talking about
the time and effort it takes to put on a function like this ANNIVERSARY
EVENT. I just want you to know that I appreciate every minute of your
time. I just HOPE West Catholic appreciates your effort and one of these
days they HONOR you and your staff. Thanks again.
Jim Gallagher: Great time!!!! Thanks for all you do
for the Burrs of 58.
Thanks you from Marie
Leonetti:
EARLIEST MEMORIES FROM
THE 1940's and 1950's
submitted by: FRANK ADOLF
During the school year of 1947-48 at Transfiguration, I was
a "Little Pope" aka Ceremonial Altar Boy. The below picture shows all the full-fledged Altar Boys and
the "Little Popes" with Sister Isabel Mary.
Jim Prendergast numbered the Boys, and with the
assistance of Al Chadwick and his class of 1953 friends, and several class of 1954 grads, we have identified the following:
|
1948 TRANSFIGURATION ALTAR
BOYS with SISTER ISABEL MARY - Died 3/10/2012
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1 - Al(fie) Chadwick 53
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32 -
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64 -
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2 - Gerald LeVasseur
'53
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33 -
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65 - Jerry Hough '53
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2a. - Philip Killian 54
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34 -
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66 -
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3 -
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35- Bill During '53
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67 - Tom Roche
?
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4 -
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36 -
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68 -
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5 - Frank Adolf '54
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37 -
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69 -
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6 -
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38 -
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70 -
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7 - Frank Randolph '54 MBS
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39 -
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71 -
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8 -
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40 -
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72 -
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9 - Bill Olphert '53
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41 -
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73 -
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10 - Ed Bennan
'53
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42 -
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11 -
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43 -
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12 - Ed Timmons 54
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44 -
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Man in Hat Mike Manning - Sexton - lived at 62nd and Cedar
Ave.
WWI Vet - his wife was a niece of
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13 - Bill Hone 54
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45 -
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Msgr. McGettigan (2nd
Pastor) -
his son was Fr. Manning of Phila.
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14 -
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46 -
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Girl - unknown
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15 - Bob Kefer 54 Dec'd
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47 -
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16 -
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48 - Bob Dickey '53
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17 - Lou Meshon 54
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49 -
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18 -
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50 -
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19 -
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51 -
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20 -
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52 -
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21 -
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53 -
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22 -
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54 -
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23 - Ernie Pelliccotti '53
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55 - Tom Sexton '53
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24 -
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56 -
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25 -
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57 -
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26 - Lou Criscillo 54
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58 -
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27 - Joe Carroll '53
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59 -
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28 -
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60 -
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29 -
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61 -
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30 -
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62 -
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31 - John Donohue '53
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63 -
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later priest Arch. of Phila. Dec'd
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|
If you can identify anyone else in the
picture let me know. I can email you a larger version of the picture
where you can see the numbers more clearly. Contact me at:
fjapfa1539@comcast.net
ROBIN ROBERTS SPORTS
CLUB
submitted by; BOB DOWD AND GERRY VERNOT
.....1953 was 65 years ago! I had read the Phila. Bulletin's sports page in Sept. 1953 announcing the
new Robin Roberts show. They asked for kids to send in five friends names that would form a team to compete against
other same age teams. Most of us were just turning 13 years of age.
We just entered 8th grade. I mailed the information back the same day and
was told later that week that our team was selected to appear in October.
We all made our TV debt on the Robin Roberts sports show
Oct. 1953---We went to City Line Ave. to CBS owned WCAU TV 10....It is now TV
10 but NBC, and we went against another team of 8th graders---we won the
pitching contest and won a white basketball that sort of glowed in the
dark---so you could play outdoors---(note) in that
year more households did not have a TV in the city. We were either on the
1st or 2nd show---making us Charter members. It was an hour show and we
were on for about 15 minutes.
Another West Catholic person on that show who was
interviewed was Bob Devine who was a senior at WC and had just earned a
basketball scholarship to Notre Dame.
Bob Dowd, John Sgro, Tom Mullen and Gerry
Vernot - all members of the West Catholic Class
of 1958
We were all from St. Carthage. Our 5th member, Andy was
also a parishioner but went to public school. Note Gerry's first
name and Mullen are spelled incorrectly on the certificate---gotta start throwing some of this stuff away---! What
a great school---St. Carthage was!
Years later
I had contacted WCAU to see if there was a tape, but was told they just didn't
do that back in the early years of TVdom. I
don't remember anyone ever mentioning---"hey I saw you guys on
television." Bob Dowd 3/6/18
Bob, since
you shared the certificate of the Robin Roberts Sports Club, I have some
follow-up information.
Robin Roberts Sport Club Membership Card
Back in
2008, I came across some information about Robin Roberts, basically, that
he lived here in Florida in a twin near where I live, Temple Terrace. I
wrote him a letter about the sports club and participating in it, and he
responded.
Just
thought you might find it interesting. Sadly, he died in
2010, but it was thoughtful of him to write me. Gerry Vernot
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
WE REMEMBER and
ask for your prayers for those who are ill, especially Dave Crines who is recovering from a stroke, Jim Prendergast who is
recovering from shoulder surgery, Tom Henry who is fighting
Hodgkin Lymphoma, Bob DiRita who has been
sidelined for the past few years with health issues, Vince Reynolds who is suffering
from Parkinson's disease, Ed Alioto who has
congestive heart failure, and John Staiber who will undergo surgery on June
15.
WE REMEMBER and
pray for all of our deceased classmates, especially Rich Egan, Jim Immendorf, Roger Zaffarano and
Vince Leonetti.
Richard L. Egan - February 2, 2016
James J. Immendorf -
May 16, 2017
Roger J. Zaffarano
- February 14, 2018
Vincent L. Leonetti Sr.
- April 1, 2018
May Rich, Jim, Roger and
Vince Rest In Peace.
FINAL THOUGHT
submitted by:
RICH BUZZA
A BIG THANK YOU
Ed, I received the
paper version of the Emissary last week and I was overjoyed to see it in print
again. Last year at one of our Golden Burr meetings, George Light spoke
about starting the paper version of the Emissary up again and I immediately
said to him "If you are serious about doing this and you want it to have
half of a chance at success, I would suggest that you enlist Ed Kerr in this
endeavor."
George assured me
that he was going to contact you the next day, and by your stellar articles, I
see that he did just that. It was good to take a trip down memory lane in
reading some of your sports articles. The younger alumni might never
understand the spirit that is contained in these articles but rest assured we
"old guy's" love them.
Thanks again for coming out of alumni retirement and putting your
heart and soul into the Emissary.
RICH,
BACK AT YOU...FRIEND!
Thanks for Kind words...
All the Best to you and All Men from The great Class of
1958! Take Special Care and hope to see you soon.
Go BURRS!
Ed Kerr
God Bless WEST CATHOLIC! Live Jesus
in our Hearts. Forever.
KEEP
THE SPIRIT ALIVE!
THIS E-MAIL IS
BEING SENT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE WEST CATHOLIC BOYS' CLASS OF 1958 AND FRIENDS
OF THE CLASS. IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO RECEIVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS OR IF YOU
ARE RECEIVING UNSOLICITED E-MAILS FROM ANYONE PERTAINING TO THE CLASS OF
1958, PLEASE NOTIFY FRANK ADOLF AT: FJAPFA1539@COMCAST.NET
