SAINT
ADALBERT’S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC.
The School Re-union and 20th
Anniversary held on Saturday, November 8, 2003, was certainly a night of
celebrating and reminiscing and I am sure a lot of memories came back to us as
we viewed our school days on the “Memory Lane” Power Point Program. It is amazing to see how so many of us have
changed and yet there are some who never change.
Over 300 Alumni attended
the Dinner Dance. We were so glad to
see all of you and were especially thrilled to see so many who traveled to
Pittsburgh from across the United States coming from California, Las Vegas,
Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Florida and New Jersey.
Our day of celebrating
began with a Mass honoring the living and deceased members of Saint Adalbert’s Alumni at Prince of Peace
Parish, St. Adalbert’s Worship Site.
Father Mike Harcarik, Pastor and celebrant of our Mass was kind enough
to allow me the opportunity to address the congregation. Several people asked me if I would send them
a copy of my comments and I would like to share them with all of you now.
I am so pleased to welcome you as we honor the living and deceased members of Saint Adalbert’s Alumni.
This
is a day for celebrating and a time of reminiscing and what better way to start
than by taking a few moments to reflect on what this building has meant to so
many of us.
From
our humble beginnings, we were welcomed into the Lord’s Family when we were
baptized; for most of us, our first 3 years of school were a time of
preparation for our First Confession and Holy Communion and then as young
adults we were confirmed.
Each
morning we would report to school, wait for the bell to ring and then line up
girls on one side and boys on the other and then march up the street to attend
daily Mass. As we entered the Church we
would stand and wait and once we heard (clicker) we would all genuflect and
wait once more for (clicker) and then stand.
It was unthinkable to fidget, turn around or talk. We must not forget the May Crownings,
processing up the street, singing “Immaculate Mary” and the beautiful ceremony
crowning the Blessed Mother. Graduation
day was also a memorable day. Once
again, we would meet at the School and process up the street, undergraduates in
red caps and gowns and the Seniors in white and gray.
We
have seen so many changes in our lifetime, remember when Mass was said in Latin
and the priest did not face the congregation; how we were taught that no one
but the priest touched Holy Communion; only boys were permitted to be altar
servers; there was no Mass on Saturday evenings but let us not forget the 5:15
A.M. Mass on Sunday mornings just to
name a few. We saw Saint Adalbert’s
School close and merge to become South Side Catholic. We witnessed the closing of some churches and the merging of
others to become Prince of Peace, the school becoming Prince of Peace School
and now the closing of that school.
Times change and circumstances change but we will always have wonderful
memories of our youth and the times we spent at Saint Adalbert’s.
I
want to thank Fr. Mike for celebrating our Mass, the “New Day Singers” and Geri
Walters for the beautiful music.
An event like this takes months and months of planning and I know everyone will agree that all those plans were successful. The I.B.E.W. Convention Center was beautifully decorated, the food superb and the entertainment by Johnny Angel and the Halos awesome. All those who attended received a Program Book (proceeds which will benefit our Scholarship Fund), a Saint Adalbert’s School Christmas Ornament and a souvenir bag containing 2 miniature bottles of Lukosowa Vodka donated by ADAMBA IMPORTS.
No organization can
survive for 20 years without the leadership and commitment of its officers and
the continued support of its members and I want to personally thank each and
every one of you.
Our annual Christmas Party will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 6:30 P.M. at the Prince of Peace Parish Center. Our holiday entertainment will be performed by the “Good Shepherd Children’s Bell Choir” at 7:00 P.M. Light snacks, desserts and refreshments will be served.
Anyone wishing to donate
baked goods or desserts can call Dolly Mogan at (412) 431-4730 or Irene Manko
at (412) 481-3598.
We will also have the
Saint Adalbert School Christmas Ornaments available for $9 (they make a great
gift or stocking stuffer).
Come and enjoy the Holiday
Spirit!
ESPECIALLY AT THANKSGIVING,
THE GLOW OF FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SURROUNDS US AND CHEERS
US...AND
MAKES US FEEL SO BLESSED THAT WE
HAVE EACH
OTHER.
Our President’s Day Trip to Casino Niagara has been planned for February 15-16, 2004 and will include a stop at the Seneca Casino.
Bus will depart from the
Prince of Peace Parish Center at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, February 15th (you should be
there no later than 6:30 a.m.). Your
stay in Canada will be at the connecting Brock Hotel and includes $25 in coins,
dinner on Sunday and a buffet breakfast on Monday. Once we check out of Casino Niagara on Monday, we will stop at
the Duty Free Shop and then onto the Seneca Casino where you will receive $10
in coins and a $15 food voucher. Seneca
Casino has a fabulous buffet and food booths around the perimeter of the
Casino. Your food voucher will cover
the cost of your meal.
Total cost of the trip is
$125 and in addition to the above it also includes your hotel room, bus and tip
for the driver. Bus will return to
Pittsburgh on Monday night, February 16th. A deposit of $25 is due on or before December 15, 2003. Checks should be made payable and
mailed to Marie Mogan, 98 South 14th
Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
For more information call
Dolly Mogan at (412) 431-4730 or Sue Booritch at (412) 481-8620.
Plans are underway for a Cash Bash Fundraiser, which will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2004 at the Prince of Peace Parish Center. A total of $3,500 will be given away. Cost of each ticket is $30 and includes food, beer and refreshments. Only 200 tickets will be sold and they will be available after January 1, 2004. Mark your calendars now – more details will follow.
Happy 30th
Wedding Anniversary to Ed & Betty Cetnarowski
Deepest sympathy to:
Margaret Wood on the death of her sister, Catherine Johe
Gerri
& Ron Stachevich & Ralph & Mary Grabowski on the
death
of their mother and Alumni member, Eleanor Grabowski
David
Borkoski on the death of his mother, Dorothy Zielinski
DATES TO
REMEMBER:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2003 * CHRISTMAS PARTY * 6:30 P.M.
PRINCE OF PEACE PARISH CENTER
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2004
* 5:30 P.M. * GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING * PRINCE OF PEACE PARISH CENTER
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28,
2004 * CASH BASH FUNDRAISER * PRINCE
OF PEACE PARISH CENTER * DETAILS TO FOLLOW
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MAY ALL THAT IS BEAUTIFUL FILL YOUR WORLD
MAY ALL THAT IS HAPPY ENRICH YOUR LIFE!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
