CHARACTER
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FAITH
DONS
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KNOWLEDGE
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RESPONSIBILITY
WINTER 2023
THE DONS DIFFERENCE: FAITH IN ACTION
DONS Dons Magazine Editor Sophie (Lillis) Yaeger
Creative Director Sophie (Lillis) Yaeger
Editorial Advisors
John Paul De Vera, Director of Marketing and Branding Pamela Poe, Director of Communications
Writers
Rocco Balistreri ‘24 Jack Breen ‘23 Matthew Korniczky ‘24 Nicole Moore ‘23 Adriel Reomales ‘25 Andy Sotelo ‘26 Peter Stapleton ‘27 Ava Zamora ‘26 Julieta Zavala-Lemarroy ‘26
Contributors
Kevin J. Calkins, Ph.D., President Michelle Carroll P ‘26, Assistant to the Dean of Counseling and Wellness Elsa Jones P ‘18 ‘20 ‘26, Database Coordinator Matthew Korniczky ‘24 Matthew Nguyen ‘16, Director of AVL Tech Production Corie Straub P ‘16 ‘17, Director of Special Events Jackie Turpin, Director of Sports Information Elizabeth Tysor, Vice President of Enrollment Beatriz Wallace P ‘24 ‘27, Coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Outreach Hannah Yen, Registrar
Printer
Acacia Print Group, Inc.
Change of Address
Please send address changes to admin@cathedralcatholic.org.
Nick Hurt
Dear Dons, A focus on faith makes Catholic education unique and different from public schools and universities, independent schools and charter schools. At the center of faith is a commitment to prayer. St. Thérèse Chapel is Cathedral Catholic’s iconic prayer space where students, parents and employees gather for Mass, prayer services and quiet reflection. Our entire student body prays our community prayer during school announcements each Friday morning: Lord Jesus Christ, Let my gifts change the world. Help us live the call, Build the Kingdom. Veni Sancte Spiritus. When I think about our community prayer, I think of three core components. First, there’s an acknowledgment that all of us have God-given gifts, and as scripture says, those gifts are varied and important and should be used to make God’s love known (1 Corinthians 12). A second element is a call to action. Among the many ways we should use our gifts, the most important include using our gifts to serve the poor, teach others and help the oppressed. Finally, there’s the recognition that we need God and the saints to direct us toward all that is good and true. God is teaching us to be humble, righteous and faithful. This edition of the Dons Magazine is dedicated to highlighting how our Catholic faith is lived out in the Cathedral Catholic community. I pray that through Our Lady’s intercession, you know, experience and pass on God’s love to others. In the spirit of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, God’s peace and joy be with you. Sincerely,
Kevin J. Calkins, Ph.D. President
CONTENTS 6
THANK YOU, FR. MARTIN
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TO GOD THROUGH MUSIC
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COACH GLENN IRVINE
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BEYOND BORDERS
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DONS FAMILIA
Thirteen Years of Accompanying Dons on the Road to Heaven
A Reflection on Putting My Faith Into Action
Forming Young Men and Women of Faith and Character Through Dons Rugby
Dons Service Outreach in Costa Rica
Supporting Hispanic/Latino Families at Cathedral Catholic Apoyando a Las Familias Hispanas/ Latinas en Cathedral Catholic
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MAPPING OUR FAITH ACROSS
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TRANSITIONS
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THE CLASS OF 2023
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WHAT I LEARNED AS A DON
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THE CLASS OF 2023’S NEW
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SETON SCHOLARS
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2022-2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
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CAMPUS DIGEST
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THANK YOU TO OUR 32ND
CAMPUS
Exciting Changes in Mission and Ministry
My Favorite Memory at Cathedral Catholic High School Was...
Faith Foundations, Lifelong Friendships and Identity Formation
HOMES
Making a Difference in the Name of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
FOR DONS ATHLETICS
ANNUAL WINE & MICROBREW SPONSORS!
THANK YOU, FR. MARTIN THIRTEEN YEARS OF ACCOMPANYING DONS ON THE ROAD TO HEAVEN By Jack Breen ‘23
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hose who know Fr. Martin Latiff, MC, know how much he cares about those around him and his love for the Dons community! Fr. Martin is a priest in the Miles Christi Religious Order, and for the past thirteen years, he has served Cathedral Catholic High School as a chaplain. Fr. Martin has now embarked on a new stage of his journey as he has moved to Colorado to help form and minister to college students in the Denver area. I was lucky enough to attend a World Youth Day pilgrimage led by Father this summer in Portugal, where I had the chance to 6
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interview him about his time at Cathedral Catholic. The Miles Christi priests’ focus is, as Fr. Martin puts it, “the sanctification of the lay faithful, particularly college students and young people in general, through the means of retreats, spiritual direction and Catholic intellectual formation. We try to form young people so that they themselves may evangelize and reach out to others as well.” Their mission is to reach out and spread the faith among the youth. In 2010, Fr. Martin visited Cathedral Catholic for the first time with
Fr. Richard Castro, MC, (who moved to Denver last year) in order to lead a Lenten penance service with other priests from the greater San Diego area. Afterward, the Principal of Cathedral Catholic at that time, Mike Deely, invited the Miles Christi priests to start coming to the school a few days a week in order to provide spiritual direction and other services to the student body. When asked about the thing that stood out to him the most upon arriving at Cathedral Catholic, Fr. Martin said, “I was quite impressed by the joy that the students expressed
opportunity, which was always optional, making it available for any student who was interested. Since 2010, the priests have had about 200-300 students in spiritual direction on a regular basis every year.
because they got to be on campus and be part of the school community. Also, the welcoming spirit from the students, faculty and staff was wonderful.” From then on, Fr. Martin and the Miles Christi priests became familiar faces on Cathedral Catholic’s campus. They started providing spiritual direction to students, giving them an opportunity to receive spiritual accompaniment and formation from the priests. The priests would stop by all of the first religion classes of the year to promote this
Fr. Martin would also host weekly lunch meetings for the boys on campus. It was a place of faith, fellowship and, of course, pizza. Each week, Father would have one person volunteer to take home a book called Compete Inside, which was a compilation of one to two-page readings on different disciplines and life skills. The student would then speak about one of the topics at the next meeting. Fr. Martin said that these presentations were the highlight of the meetings for him because he got to see the boys talk about improving themselves as leaders and men of God. As someone who presented at the boys lunch meetings multiple times, I can attest to it being a great experience. On one occasion, I volunteered and then was sick during the next meeting and lost the book - again, I’m sorry about that, Fr. Martin! The faith foundations and relationships formed due to Fr. Martin’s impact have stuck with our Dons long after graduation. Many alumni have even come back again as guest speakers to provide testimonies to current Dons. Casey Toohill ‘15 (Stanford University ‘19, current Washington Commanders defensive end), for example,
has kept in touch with Fr. Martin over the years and returned to campus in January of 2022 to share more about his faith journey with our Dons during one of the faith formation lunches. Casey shares, “I am forever grateful to Fr. Martin for his impact on my faith. He has been an excellent mentor, advisor and friend over the years. I will always have fond memories of our after-school small group meetings and want to thank him for his years of service to the Cathedral Catholic community.” Casey’s classmate, Julia Lovaas ‘15 (University of Arizona ‘19), has also kept in touch with Fr. Martin over the years and even traveled with him and several other Dons alumni to World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal this past August as part of a pilgrimage organized by the Miles Christi Religious Order. She shares a similar sentiment: “Fr. Martin has profoundly impacted my faith journey in numerous ways, beginning during my time as a Don and continuing to this day. He is an excellent spiritual guide and the ultimate example of the joy our faith can bring.” Sam LiMandri ‘19 (University of Dallas ‘23) attests to the impact Fr. Martin’s faith lunches have had on him to this day: “I have known Fr. Martin for a very long time. I actually had the privilege of receiving my first Holy Communion from him when I was younger. Having him as a presence during my time at Cathedral Catholic was an absolute blessing. He would host Gospel reflections every DONS MAGAZINE
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Wednesday during lunch for any guy who wanted to attend. It kept us all grounded in our faith. I still treasure many of the conversations and times we all spent together in those lunches. I built friendships from it that will last a lifetime. Those particular years are very formative for younger men, and if it wasn’t for Fr. Martin’s influence, we all would have likely been worse off in the long run. I carried much of what we cultivated in those meetings into college and still live out the faith daily today. He was an irreplaceable spiritual leader for many of us in the class of 2019 during the entirety of our four years at Cathedral Catholic for that reason.” Fr. Martin’s relationship with many Dons continues after their graduation, so much so that several Dons alumni have been married by Fr. Martin!
During his thirteen years serving the Dons, Father was available for almost anything the school needed, whether it be saying Mass, offering spiritual direction or helping out on a retreat. He was always giving back to the school. He shared that his favorite memory was attending the Kairos retreats. When asked what he is going to miss the most about the school, he said, “The students - I will miss serving our students through the sacraments with retreats and simple, casual conversations at break or at lunch. I’ll also miss participating at sports events and cheering on the Dons along with their peers.” If you went to Cathedral Catholic, you surely knew Fr. Martin. Fr. Martin is continuing his formation of youth in
Colorado, where he is now serving over 35,000 college students between the three campuses of University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Community College of Denver. He is really looking forward to spending some great times with college students, serving them through the sacraments and providing them with Catholic faith formation as well as “some great hikes in the Rockies, attending football games at Mile High Stadium and baseball games at Coors Field.” Like Sam LiMandri ‘19, I have had the privilege of knowing Fr. Martin for most of my life. I met him at a young age due to his leading my parent’s Bible studies and through my two older brothers, Thomas ‘18 (Point Loma Nazarene
So many memories 8
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University 2019-2020) and Patrick ‘19 (University of Dallas ‘23). Not only has he helped me grow in my knowledge of the faith, but he has also helped me grow as a man of God and has shown me how to apply what I know about my faith and my relationship with God into my everyday life. While in Portugal for World Youth Day this summer, my friend, Thomas Fleming ‘23 (University of Dallas ‘27), and I half-jokingly asked Father if he would ever want to become the Pope, to which he responded, “What for? If I ever tried to become the Pope, it would take me years to achieve, and the whole time I would be working for something I might not even get.” Then he looked at us and said, “Tomorrow is not guaranteed. The only time you can truly be with God is in the present. I’d much rather be
here right now with you guys making a difference. Nothing is better than right here and now.” What a statement! When I asked the question, I didn’t expect such a profound response, but that’s Fr. Martin for you. There are many great things about Fr. Martin, but I think what makes him stand out as such an amazing priest, person and role model is his steadfast trust in God’s plan for his life. It doesn’t matter where Fr. Martin is or what he is doing, he is always present and approaches each moment with maximum energy and effort, never without a smile on his face. This servant of God radiates joy, and it makes you feel good just to be around him. Fr. Martin has dedicated his whole life to doing the will of his Heavenly Father through
serving others. It seems that he spends every waking moment of his life trying to bring people closer to the Lord. He is selfless with his time and energy, always giving it to the people around him, and because of this, he has made a lasting impact on the Cathedral Catholic family. Fr. Martin has brought countless people to the Lord, and I’m sure he will continue to do so in Colorado. At the end of our lives, many of us will wonder if we truly made an impact on this world and whether we left it better than we found it. I think it’s safe to say Fr. Martin will never have to question this. Good luck with the new assignment in Colorado and thanks for everything, Father! You are already greatly missed by the Dons family, but Once a Don, Always a Don!
over the years ! DONS MAGAZINE
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TO GOD THROUGH MUSIC A REFLECTION ON PUTTING MY FAITH INTO ACTION By Adriel Reomales ‘25
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LORD JESUS CHRIST, LET MY GIFTS CHANGE THE WORLD, HELP US LIVE THE CALL, BUILD THE KINGDOM, VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS.
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he community prayer of Cathedral Catholic High School centers itself around asking our Lord to assist us in using our God-given talents to bring forth the Heavenly Kingdom on earth, assisted by the divine countenance of the Holy Spirit. For many years, I have made this same prayer. Perhaps not in the exact text of the community prayer, but still praying that He will make me worthy to give Him glory, primarily through my service in the ministry of music. To many Dons, I may be a familiar face on campus as I frequently assist with the music at school Masses. As a musician, I focus on performance and composing. I began sharing my gifts at numerous liturgies around five years ago, during my time at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School. The parish had a music director who would always pray that her gifts and the gifts of the choristers, myself included, would be used not for our own glory but for the glory of God. At the time, me being so naive, this prayer was eye-opening, and it taught me an important lesson: we are vessels which God uses to communicate His glory in creation. There is a phrase attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, which would later become the motto of the Jesuit Order: “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam,” which means “for
the greater glory of God.” This message and that of my former music director became instilled in me. I would no longer perform during the liturgy, but instead I would offer up my gifts to serve for the further glorification of my Creator. In 2018, composer Frank La Rocca, in collaboration with His Grace, Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, composed the Mass of the Americas. This Mass setting was used in the solemn celebration of the Mass in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form, and all of these Masses were broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). I remember watching the 2019 broadcast of the Mass of the Americas in the Extraordinary Form and being, frankly, awestruck by its beauty. During the Second Vatican Council, a document titled Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was written as a revision of the former liturgical rites. Chapter VI of this document states, “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this preeminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 112). With that in mind, it was extremely evident that La Rocca and Archbishop Cordileone wanted a Mass written DONS MAGAZINE
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with utmost reverence for the sacrifice being made at the celebration. Inspired by their work, I began to compose my own liturgical music with the same goal in mind. Presently, I have composed five hymns and two major works: the Missa Christus Rex (Mass of Christ the King) and Lauda Sion (Laud, O Zion), a collection of hymns used for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Upon my arrival at Cathedral Catholic, I wondered what I had to offer the community. It seemed as if the school was already faith-filled and vibrant as it could be even before I came. But three of my teachers changed my perspective on the impact I could make by living my faith on campus. Mrs. Jessica Swift Lambrou, the school’s music director, has provided me with so many opportunities to serve the school through my musical gifts. By encouraging me to be one of the musicians at school Masses, she helped remind me of why I do what I do. I was also granted a deeper understanding of why we, as Christians, must do everything for God through the lessons learned
in my Catholic Innovations 10 class taught by Ms. Diana Valentini. This class served as an exploration of the fundamentals of our faith and the beauty that can come from living by its principles. It is through Ms. Christine LaPorte’s constant witness to the faith that I have been inspired to do all things in fulfillment of the will of God. Ms. LaPorte has been a guiding force since the beginning of my time at Cathedral Catholic with her compassion both in and out of the classroom and with her fidelity to Church teachings as founder of Dons for Life, where she truly models putting her faith into action. Through the guidance of these three great educators, I have become more open to putting my faith into action both on campus and in the greater community. I find it very fulfilling leading the congregation in worship both in a school and parish setting, as it reminds me that I am assisting the presider in elevating peoples’ hearts and spirits to their Creator. I pray that they, too, may see the glory of God present in the music I play and in the sacred liturgy where it is employed.
An integral part of our faith as Catholics, as Christians, is acknowledging that we are obliged to show the glory of God through our actions. We are obliged to lead others to He who has given us so much and to use that which He has given us to give Him, in return, thanks and praise. We must do all that we do for the greater glory of God. So whether on the field, on the stage or at the pulpit, remember who has given you the ability to perform the way you do. Be a living testimony of the power that God has, and give Him credit for what you do through Him. “For ‘In him we live and move and have our being...’” (Acts of the Apostles 17:28). Now back to the words of our community prayer: “…Let my gifts change the world, Help us live the call, Build the Kingdom.” Our Lord calls us to use the gifts given to us to build up the Kingdom of His Father. It is my sincere and humble hope that through my answering of this call, through my service in the ministry of music, I am able to build up His Kingdom on earth and that my fellow Dons will also use the talents God has given them to give Him His due glory.
ZAK Myers Memorial Park Zak Myers ‘11 was a beloved teacher, cherished alumnus, loyal friend, devoted son and caring husband. His sudden passing at a young age has left a profound void in the hearts of all those who knew him. Named after Zak, ZAK Myers Memorial Park, “The ZAK,” is now open! The ZAK provides a place dedicated to doing what Zak Myers ‘11 loved to do: laugh, socialize and spread God’s abundant joy, love and mercy. In addition to the current gathering place, the park will also include The ZAK Myers Food Pantry and Service-Learning Center, a place where God’s love and mercy will be put into action with students learning what it means to be of service to others. The Myers family’s contribution ensures that Zak’s impact on the world will continue to be felt for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for their support and for the opportunity to honor Zak in such a meaningful way. We are delighted to share with you the opportunity to leave your mark on this special place. Opportunities to support ZAK Myers Memorial Park include purchasing an engraved brick, a stool nameplate or a stadium seat. All proceeds will support the Zak Myers Memorial Scholarship, which was established by James and Josie Myers in 2021 to support students interested in attending Cathedral Catholic. To learn more about naming opportunities in ZAK Myers Memorial Park, visit www.cathedralcatholic. org/thezak or scan the QR code. DONS MAGAZINE 13
COACH GLENN IRVINE
FORMING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF FAITH AND CHARACTER THROUGH DONS RUGBY By Rocco Balistreri ‘24
Photos by John Fraser
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n 2009, Cathedral Catholic established its rugby team. A sport many students had never even heard of at the time, the Dons rugby program came from a very slow beginning, struggling to initially find players as well as competition. In 2014, the program won its first SoCal Youth Rugby (SCYR) Championship and rostered its first would-be professional players, Drew Gaffney ‘13 (University of California, Berkeley ‘17 and former San Diego Legion openside flanker), Ryan James ‘17 (current Cathedral Catholic rugby coach, USA Eagle and current San Diego Legion wing) and Aaron Mitchell ‘14 (Fresno State University ‘18, former San Diego Legion tighthead prop). From then on, the program only continued to grow. The Dons would reconfigure and, with the expansion of rugby, joined and helped develop a new league called Southern California Interscholastic Rugby Federation (SCIRF). In 2021, despite playing a season shortened due to COVID-19, the Dons won their second championship and first in seven years. Since then, the Dons have added two more championships, making it three in a row (‘21, ‘22 and ‘23), and they now play over ten games in a season, including teams from other states. The Dons now have well over forty rugby players each year and in games against their rival, St. Augustine (in which they are 4-1 since ‘21), have hundreds of fans in attendance. The team has sent numerous players off to play rugby in
college and at the professional level, and they have the most all-league players in all of SCIRF in recent years. But were it not for head coach of the Dons rugby program, Glenn Irvine P ‘14, none of this would be possible. A Boston native, Coach Glenn began playing rugby in 1975 at Boston University. After graduating from Northeastern University in 1980, he received his commission in the Navy as an officer. Coach Glenn spent twenty-one years in the Navy and was the Captain of three warships. Glenn successfully led troops all across the globe for many years, including in Panama, where he met his wife, so starting a high school rugby team was nothing he couldn’t handle. He moved to San Diego in 2001 to work as a Department of Defense contractor. In 2012, Glenn started his own U.S. Navy ship engineering company, Irvine Enterprises. Upon moving to San Diego, Glenn had become involved as a volunteer at Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC)
Rugby Football Club, where his son, Patrick ‘14, played and where he met EJ Campbell, who was then a social science teacher and football coach at Cathedral Catholic. It was due to this connection that Glenn eventually learned of Cathedral Catholic’s intent to start a rugby program, for which he served as a volunteer from the beginning. Although the Dons rugby program has hosted some phenomenal players, many whom were encouraged by head football coach Sean Doyle ‘80 P ‘14 ‘17 to give it a try, without Coach Glenn, the Dons rugby program would never have experienced the ongoing success it has today. His title might be “Coach Glenn,” but really he’s far more than just a coach. He’s a leader who also has a good business sense and knows what it takes to be the best. He has brought in several other coaches to help the team because he understands the importance of diverse perspectives and that you can never learn enough. Coach
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Glenn has also supported new practice styles and play calls because he understands the importance of growth and moving forward. One of the ways he does this is through his coaching staff, including former player Xavier Ulutu ‘14, known as “Coach X,” who has returned to the program to coach. Former player Ryan James ‘17 has also returned to coach starting this season. His players returning to lead the program are a perfect example of the trust Coach Glenn instills within his program’s former and current players. Coach Glenn has also helped other schools across San Diego develop 16 DONS MAGAZINE
their own rugby teams. Along with this, he is one of the few coaches to be open to playing teams from other states and countries (Ireland and Australia). He is a model of leadership and faith through the many ways he dedicates himself to the program and believes in his players. Even more so, Coach Glenn understands the importance of faith. Since my very first day of practice, Coach Glenn has integrated faith in certainly every aspect of the program. Before and after every single practice and game, we pray as a team. Before some games, we even go to Mass as a team. This
year, we are participating in a California Catholic high school tournament, which Coach Glenn is personally organizing because he believes in the importance of uniting rugby and faith as well as helping to spread it. Something most people don’t know is that even though Coach Glenn is not a priest, he served as a lay leader during his time as a Navy officer. Every Sunday on deployment, Glenn would lead Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest on board. He serves as a model of faith in extrinsic ways by incorporating Christ in the program as well as intrinsically in how he lives out the Gospel.
Coach Glenn is a model and supporter in the Dons community off the field as well. Most sports teams on campus have a team manager. Ours is a junior named Alex Polifka ‘25. Alex is battling cancer and cannot play the sport, but Coach Glenn has welcomed him into the Dons rugby community with open arms. He makes sure Alex is welcomed and accepted at every game and practice. Adam Hank ‘24, a student in the Options Program and a huge rugby fan, has also become a part of the Dons rugby community. Every time he comes to a game, Glenn welcomes him on the sideline and gives him a jersey to wear. To quote former Dons rugby player Nate Nash ‘20 (University of Notre Dame ‘24): “Coach Glenn continues to be a mentor of mine, even many years after I graduated from Cathedral Catholic. As a retired career Naval officer,
he has a large repository of leadership skills and advice that he shares with me and will be critical to the success of my upcoming career as an officer on our nation’s nuclear submarines. It is always worthwhile to reconnect with Coach Glenn, a man of strong faith and bold personality.” Nate and his twin brother, Cam ‘20 (University of Notre Dame ‘24), have continued their love of the sport instilled in them by Coach Glenn as players on the Notre Dame club rugby team. Nate will be commissioned in the Navy as a Submarine Warfare Officer in May of 2024, a decision that was influenced by Glenn’s mentorship. It is through Coach Glenn’s Christlike example and his dedication to forming Dons with a strong team mindset, moral values and sense of inclusion that the program has thrived and produced men and women of such high caliber.
I have been blessed to be a starting varsity rugby player since my freshman year. This has given me four years to train with Coach Glenn, play in over thirty games and work with him and my teammates to win three championships. One of my favorite Coach Glenn quotes is, “Sometimes you just gotta take a bite out of the elephant.” Although its meaning was not immediately apparent over our time together, I’ve learned that it means to take advantage of your opportunities, even if you don’t recognize where they will lead you. Coach Glenn has been such a positive role model in my life and in the lives of many other players, Dons and Sailors. When I grow up, I hope I can come close to being the man, role model, leader, husband, father and mentor Coach Glenn Irvine is.
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BEYOND BORDERS DONS SERVICE OUTREACH IN COSTA RICA By Ava Zamora ‘26
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had never flown outside of the U.S. until recently, and I am blessed that my first time was with Cathedral Catholic’s Mission and Ministry service trip to Costa Rica. It began at the San Diego airport where Mrs. Wells P ‘20 ‘23 and Mr. Gramme P ‘26 assembled us into small groups. We all came from the same school, but we were strangers. We came from different grades and different friend groups. After a day of waiting and flying, we arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica. We met Isabelle, our EF tour guide, that night. She would spend the next eight days with us, leading us and teaching us about the country.
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The day after our arrival in San Jose, we traveled down to the Central Pacific Coast, where we would work the next few days on the mangrove conservation project. In the evening, we met the leaders of the project, Geiner and his son, Jarret, who then led us from our hotel to two boats on a nearby river enclosed by mangroves. On our boat ride, Geiner told us how the tides affect the river, and by evening, the river would empty back into the ocean with low tides, which would influence our working times the next day. He explained that the mangroves are home to thousands of species, housing the breeding of crocodiles,
crabs, iguanas and much more wildlife. Their joined roots protect the lands from erosion. The density itself protects the people who live there from the catastrophic waves and storms that occur weekly. I thought about the complexity of God’s creation. He made everything with a designated purpose to support life of all kinds. Geiner continued to talk about the plants themselves, describing each plant and seed, in awe of their beauty. Geiner and Jarret then directed each of us to collect five seeds hanging from the edge of the mangroves for us to plant the next day. We reached out of the boats and collected 200 seeds total.
They drove us down to another dock. After we exited the boats, we walked along a dirt road to a neighborhood along the coast. Stray dogs roamed around the homes constructed of thin sheets of metal and wood. The kids playing on the road were running barefoot through the dirt. We walked through and arrived at home, where a woman, the mother of the home, awaited us. She walked past her house and stopped at a long line of piled sandbags, which led down to the beach right below us. We followed. A young boy crept beside the group to the woman. Geiner introduced them as the family we would be assisting. A few days prior, the high tides had come flooding into their home and the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. The plan was to create a large enough pile of sandbags between the beach and the house to protect the house from high tides. The next morning, we drove a few minutes along the coast to the neighborhood we had visited the day before. We worked in groups to add to the long pile of sandbags along the shore. We switched off shoveling sand and holding the bag within our groups. For two hours, our school group worked together to fill 200 sandbags to add to the pile of the other people who came before us to help this family. Within those two hours, I connected with more people from school and got
to know more about them. One moment that touched me personally was when the son, a quiet young boy about 10-years-old, came down to the sandbags with a phone. He began to speak to a girl from our group in Spanish. She gently responded also in Spanish. He pulled out the phone, showing her pictures, and they spoke for a while. Even though both young people came from entirely different backgrounds and walks of life, they were able to connect through a shared language. After we had lunch, we regrouped with Geiner and Jarret. We walked from our hotel to what they called “the nursery,” located next to the river. We walked past more than a hundred plastic bottles filled with soil and mangrove seeds and a massive ravine full of more bottles. Geiner split us up in two groups. The first group was directed to cut up plastic bottles used to hold soil and the plant growing inside of it. I, being part of the second group, was led to the edge of the large ravine we had noticed earlier. We made a human chain passing the soil-filled bottles down to the bottom of the ravine. During high tide, the ravine filled with water, providing necessary hydration to these seedlings. As a group, we were able to cover the bottom of the ravine with almost 200 seedlings, talking and connecting with each other at the same time. I was able
to see God working through everyone, as our Cathedral Catholic community unified and worked as God’s hands, reaching beyond borders to serve those in Costa Rica. As soon as both groups finished, a few of us began planting the mature plants by the river while the others filled empty bottles with soil and mangrove seeds. We got to know every step in planting and developing mangroves; all that was needed was time for growth! Before departing from Geiner and Jarret, we divided into two groups to create presentations about everything we had learned about the mangroves. We were so thankful for everything Geiner and Jarret did for our school’s group. We were so blessed to have such kind and humble people teach us about Costa Rica’s biodiversity. That night, Fr. Paul de Soza, MC, led us in celebrating Mass on the hotel patio. Surrounded by God’s stunning creation, we were able to receive the Eucharist. After a day of hard work, we all felt we had been His hands doing His work in caring for our neighbors and environment. Fr. Paul also offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation to us. For the remainder of the trip, we were able to enjoy and explore the country through sightseeing and tourist spots. The day after our work in the mangroves, we took DONS MAGAZINE 19
the bus down to a beach. We spent the day swimming and enjoying the alluring view of forests. We snacked on fresh coconuts and met a family of monkeys playing by our bags. We also visited the waterfall in La Fortuna, where we swam and took pictures of magnificent natural falls and later spent time at La Fortuna hot springs. We were able to swim and relax in waters up to 109°F, which benefits the body in many ways. We took a night tour in the forests, finding and learning about frogs, toads, crocodiles, snakes and much more. We toured coffee and cocoa plantations, learning how they are grown, processed and sold. We kayaked through Arenal Lake with a perfect view of a nearby volcano. Locals taught us how to salsa dance during our cultural exchange. Toward the end of the trip, we were taken on a canopy tour of the forest. We zip-lined through the trees in the rain, where we marveled at the forest surrounding us. It was something I never thought I would experience and probably will never experience again. Although I loved zip-lining through the jungle, I treasured our guides the most. Each guide talked to us and wanted get to know us in the short time we had between zip lines. They seemed joyful, enjoying their jobs and embracing everyone they met. They were the light for me in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our last day in La Fortuna, Fr. Paul concelebrated Mass in a local church. Seeing Catholicism alive throughout the world, especially in a third world country, was inspiring to me as a young Catholic. Isabelle 20 DONS MAGAZINE
took us to a farewell dinner at Tiquicia. It had the most extraordinary view of San Jose, a view like I’d never seen. We took plenty of pictures to capture these final memories with the friends we had made. We dined with our small groups. All the stiffness from the beginning of the trip had faded, and we enjoyed being with one another for the last time. We ate, then went downstairs for a surprise. We enjoyed watching Tico dancers perform for us until they pulled us in and invited us to dance with them. It was the last moment we all enjoyed together. On the bus, we said goodbye to Andrés, our very skilled bus driver, and Isabelle. Our group had developed a connection to Isabelle. She brought us everywhere and taught us everything about the country. She memorized all thirty-nine of our names, and we had developed a friendship with her. We shared our favorite parts about our time with her. She became emotional and told us how much we meant to her. After only nine days of travel, it was amazing to see how connected we had all become. We were so thankful to have had Isabelle and Andrés guide us on this trip. We returned home the next day. Those nine days in Costa Rica allowed me to step back from myself and my own worries and immerse myself into service as Cathedral Catholic teaches us to do. As Mrs. Wells would remind us every night, we must step back to find God’s presence within our lives through nature, through encounters with strangers and through times with friends. DONS MAGAZINE 21
THIS YEAR’S FOCUS
Upgrading teacher break rooms and stadium seating
GOAL $160,000 TO LEARN MORE
Please visit www.cathedralcatholic.org/annualappeal or scan the QR code below.
TO MAKE A GIFT
Please visit www.cathedralcatholic.org/makeagift or scan the QR code below.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
SUPPORTING HISPANIC/LATINO FAMILIES AT CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC APOYANDO A LAS FAMILIAS HISPANAS/LATINAS EN CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC By/Por Andy Sotelo ‘26 & Peter Stapleton ‘27
D
ons Familia was founded in the fall of 2022, after Dr. Kevin Calkins and Beatriz Wallace P ‘24 ‘27 identified a strong need to support Hispanic families at Cathedral Catholic. Through the leadership of Mrs. Wallace, dedicated staff and parent volunteers, Dons Familia was formed. The group aims to support Latino families by providing a platform to communicate with the school administration and other families, inform participants about events on campus and assist with the academic process. As the Coordinator for Hispanic/Latino Outreach and the founder of Dons Familia, Mrs. Wallace meets with parents monthly to discuss school happenings and brainstorm further community involvement. During one of the initial meetings, parents voiced a strong desire to give back to Cathedral Catholic in order to demonstrate their gratitude to the school. Thus, a decision was made to raise money in support of families to offset the cost of receiving 24 DONS MAGAZINE
a Catholic education, and the Dons Familia Fund was established. The Dons Familia Fund will support families in need of assistance with student fees. The monthly Dons Familia meetings also produce wonderful ideas that mature into well-executed fundraisers. The first event, held in October 2022, was the “Kermés,” a celebration similar to a carnival or festival. The Kermés was a phenomenal event that celebrated a variety of Hispanic cultures. This family-friendly event featured an 11-piece mariachi band, singers, dancers and special performances from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. In light of its success, Dons Familia joyfully hosted the second annual Kermés on October 7, 2023. The Kermés increased community-wide awareness of Dons Familia, boosting parental involvement and recognition across the school. “It was a beautiful collaboration of families working together to build
community while displaying our heritage,” says Esmeralda Valverde, mother to Yoselin ‘22 and Emily ‘25. Valverde and her family helped with the event and also performed with their local dance troupe. Dons Familia has hosted other fundraisers as well. Volunteer Arlene Gonzalez, parent of Lukas ‘26, spearheaded a spring event at Three Hills Winery in Ramona. Gonzalez worked with local sponsors, including musicians and paella chefs, to create a funfilled event to raise money while gathering to celebrate the diverse heritage within our Dons community. This was another opportunity to build community and create memories. Before Dons Familia was formed, Hispanic families lacked the ability to connect and create a community. They encountered many challenges, such as language barriers, the absence of a Spanish-speaking coordinator and feeling disconnected from the school community. Esmeralda Valverde recalls
D
ons Familia se fundó en el otoño de 2022 después que el Dr. Kevin Calkins y la Sra. Beatriz Wallace P ‘24 ‘27 identificaron la gran necesidad de apoyar e integrar a las familias hispanas en Cathedral Catholic. Bajo el liderazgo de la Sra. Wallace, el personal y padres identificados con la causa, se creó Dons Familia. El grupo tiene como objetivo apoyar a las familias latinas proporcionándoles una plataforma para comunicarse con las autoridades escolares y otras familias, mantenerlos informados sobre los eventos en la escuela y ayudar con el proceso académico. Como Coordinadora de Alcance Hispano/Latino y fundadora de Dons Familia, la Sra. Wallace se reúne mensualmente con los padres para discutir lo que sucede en la escuela y para idear más formas de apoyar
a la comunidad. Durante una de las primeras reuniones, los padres expresaron un fuerte deseo de devolver algo a Cathedral Catholic para así demostrar su gratitud. Por ello, se tomó la decisión de recaudar dinero en apoyo a los estudiantes que esperan recibir una educación católica, y por eso se instituyó el Fondo Dons Familia. El Fondo Dons Familia apoyará a familias que necesitan asistencia con gastos escolares adicionales. Las reuniones mensuales de Dons Familia también generan ideas maravillosas que se convierten en eventos de recaudación de fondos exitosos. El primer evento, celebrado en octubre de 2022, fue la “Kermés,” una celebración similar a un carnaval o festival. La Kermés fue un evento fenomenal que celebró una diversa variedad de culturas hispanas. Este evento familiar contó con un
mariachi de 11 integrantes, cantantes, bailarines y actuaciones especiales de una amplia gama de orígenes culturales. Debido a su éxito, Dons Familia con alegría organizó la segunda Kermés anual el 7 de octubre de 2023. La Kermés aumentó la conciencia de Dons Familia en toda la comunidad, impulsando la participación y el reconocimiento de los padres en la escuela. “Fue una hermosa colaboración de familias que trabajaron juntas para construir comunidad mientras mostrábamos nuestra herencia,” dice Esmeralda Valverde, madre de Yoselin ‘22 y Emily ‘25. Valverde y su familia ayudaron con la realización del evento y también participaron con su grupo de baile local. Dons Familia también ha organizado otros eventos de recaudación de fondos. La voluntaria Arlene
campus life before Dons Familia and shares, “Before Mrs. Wallace began her work at Cathedral Catholic High School, I felt alone and had difficulties helping my daughter navigate her campus life and college preparedness. Now, I feel a part of a family that provides us with the guidance and answers I need to help my children succeed.” On her experience with Dons Familia, Marisol Sotelo, parent of Andy ‘26, says, “I felt welcomed and empowered during the application process, which translated into gaining confidence to become more involved on campus and encouraging my son to join sports and other extracurricular activities.” Sotelo has since guided families in her parish through the Cathedral Catholic enrollment process. 26 DONS MAGAZINE
In addition to unifying and supporting families, Dr. Calkins and Mrs. Wallace sought to integrate families into the larger Cathedral Catholic High School community through volunteerism and participation. Parents involved in Dons Familia eagerly dedicated their time to help with the annual Wine & Microbrew fundraiser this spring, and dozens worked tirelessly to set up on the day of the event. “This was the first time we went to the Wine & Microbrew. I never felt like I knew anyone that was attending, and I was intimidated. It was wonderful to share in the school-wide celebration,” shares Valverde. Dons Familia has created a hub for so many families on campus. Mrs. Wallace collaborates with parents, employees and community
partners to provide many of these first-generation college-bound students the opportunity to thrive academically. “She is always thinking of what she can do to help our families succeed and be involved. Whether she is organizing college campus visits, teaching us how to navigate the school’s websites or helping students and parents, she has made Cathedral Catholic High School feel like home to me, always welcoming and warm,” concludes Valverde. Paty Ortiz, mother of a class of 2025 Don, shares a similar sentiment: “I know God must love me very much to give my children the opportunity to be at Cathedral Catholic. I am thankful there is a way for me to give back and show my gratitude to this wonderful community through Dons Familia.”
Gonzalez, madre de Lukas ‘26, encabezó un evento en la primavera en Three Hills Winery en Ramona. Gonzalez trabajó con patrocinadores locales, incluyendo músicos y chefs de paella, para crear un evento lleno de diversión para recaudar dinero mientras celebraban la diversa herencia dentro de nuestra comunidad Dons. Esta fue otra oportunidad para construir comunidad y crear recuerdos. Antes de que se formó Dons Familia, las familias hispanas carecían de la capacidad para conectarse y crear comunidad. Se enfrentaban a muchos desafíos, como las barreras del idioma, la falta de un coordinador que hablara español y una desconexión con la comunidad. Esmeralda Valverde recuerda la vida en el campus antes de Dons Familia y comparte: “Antes de que la Sra. Wallace estuviera en Cathedral Catholic, me sentía aislada y tenía dificultades para ayudar a mi hija a navegar su experiencia escolar y su preparación para la universidad. Ahora, me siento parte de una familia que nos brinda la guía y las respuestas que necesito para
ayudar a mis hijos a tener éxito.” Sobre su experiencia con Dons Familia, Marisol Sotelo, madre de Andy ‘26, dice, “Sentí tan bienvenida y empoderada durante el proceso de aplicar que gané confianza para involucrarme más en la escuela y animé a mi hijo a participar en deportes y otras actividades extracurriculares.” Desde entonces, Sotelo también ha guiado a las familias de su parroquia en el proceso de aplicar a Cathedral Catholic. Además de unificar y apoyar a las familias, el Dr. Calkins y la Sra. Wallace buscaron integrar a las familias en la comunidad más amplia de Cathedral Catholic a través del voluntariado y la participación. Los padres de Dons Familia dedicaron su tiempo con entusiasmo para ayudar con la recaudación de fondos anual Wine & Microbrew, y docenas de ellos trabajaron incansablemente para prepararse el día del evento. “Esta fue la primera vez que fuimos al Wine & Microbrew. Nunca sentí que conocía a nadie que fuera a asistir, y me sentía intimidada. Fue maravilloso compartir en la celebración de toda la
escuela,” comparte Valverde. Dons Familia ha creado un centro para tantas familias en el campus. La Sra. Wallace colabora con padres, empleados y miembros de la comunidad para brindarles a estos estudiantes, muchos que serán estudiantes universitarios de primera generación, la oportunidad de prosperar académicamente. “Siempre está pensando en lo que puede hacer para ayudar a nuestras familias a tener éxito y participar. Ya sea organizando visitas a campus universitarios, enseñándonos cómo navegar por los sitios web de la escuela o ayudando a estudiantes y padres, ha hecho que Cathedral Catholic High School se sienta como en casa para mí, siempre acogedora y cálida,” concluye Valverde. Paty Ortiz, madre de un estudiante de la clase de 2025, comparte un sentimiento similar: “Se que Dios me quiere mucho para darle a mis hijos la oportunidad de estar en Cathedral Catholic. Estoy agradecida de que haya una forma de ayudar y mostrar mi agradecimiento a esta maravillosa comunidad a través de Dons Familia.”
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M A P P I N G A C R O S S
28 DONS MAGAZINE
OUR FAITH CAMPUS
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Guadalupe Center
Kolbe Center
Our Lady of Guadalupe
St. Maximilian Kolbe
Feast: December 12
Feast: August 14 Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as la Virgen de Guadalupe, appeared to St. Juan Diego four times in 1531. Seeking to have a church built in her honor to serve the Mexican people, Our Lady’s mission was fulfilled when Bishop Juan de Zumárraga built the first site of what is now the most-visited Catholic shrine in the world. Juan Diego’s cloak, or tilma, is now displayed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which attracts about twenty million visitors each year. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most popular in the Catholic Church, and she is central to Mexican culture. She is the patron saint of the Americas and is known as the Queen of Mexico.
Born in 1894 in Poland, St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Franciscan Friar who published Christian journals and newspapers. Due to Kolbe’s anti-German stance during World War II, he was arrested and imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz in 1941. Kolbe volunteered to be killed in place of a man who had a wife and children, and he and ten other men were isolated and starved. He led the group in prayer daily for a few weeks before they were eventually executed by lethal injection. Maximilian Kolbe was canonized and declared a “martyr of charity” by Saint John Paul II in 1982 in the presence of the man whom he had saved at Auschwitz. He is the patron saint of drug addicts, prisoners, families and the pro-life movement.
Juan Diego Center St. Juan Diego Feast: December 9
St. Joseph Statue St. Joseph
Feast: March 19
St. Joseph, patron of Cathedral Catholic High School, was the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ. Little is known about his life besides what is found in scripture. Joseph was a carpenter in Nazareth. He and Mary were to be married when he learned that she was pregnant. While considering the situation, Joseph was visited in a dream by an angel of the Lord who instructed him to marry Mary and to name the baby, who would be the Savior of the world, Jesus. Joseph trusted in the Lord’s plan and took Mary as his wife. St. Joseph is known for his role in caring for and protecting Jesus and for raising him in the Jewish faith. He is the patron saint of fathers, workers, the dying, families and the Universal Church.
Born in Mexico in 1474, St. Juan was brought up in the Aztec pagan religion. At fifty years old, he and his wife were among the first indigenous people to convert to Catholicism following the arrival of Franciscan missionaries in Mexico in 1524. Juan Diego was devoted to his faith and to the Virgin Mary. In 1531, he was walking a long way to Mass when the Virgin Mary appeared to him clothed in a mantle of stars and instructed him to tell the bishop to build a church at that site. Bishop Juan de Zumárraga initially met Juan Diego’s request with skepticism, but after he found the image of Our Lady miraculously imprinted on Juan Diego’s rose-filled cloak, the church was built. St. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002 by St. John Paul II. He is the the patron saint of indigenous people.
Claver Center St. Peter Claver Feast: September 9
St. Peter Claver was born in 1580 in Spain to a devout Catholic farming family. Noted for his piety and intelligence as a young adult, Peter entered the Jesuit novitiate at twenty years old. He was encouraged to become a missionary in the Spanish colonies in America, and in 1610, he set off for Cartagena, Colombia, a slave-trading hub at that time. Peter was passionate about serving these enslaved Africans’ physical and spiritual needs. He spent the rest of his life in Cartagena, converting and baptizing hundreds of thousands of slaves and working towards the abolition of slavery until his death in 1654. St. Peter Claver was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888. He is the patron saint of enslaved peoples and African Americans.
St. Thérèse Chapel
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Feast: October 1
Born in 1873 to wealthy and religious French parents, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as the “Little Flower,” died in Lisieux, France, in 1897. Thérèse felt God’s call to religious life at an early age and joined the cloistered Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy, at just fifteen years old. She believed that any life could be a holy one, and she devoted each day to her “little way” of carrying out small deeds of love for God. At the instruction of her superiors, Thérèse wrote her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, which is now a universal spiritual classic. She was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, who named her a patron of missions and, along with Joan of Arc, a patron of France.
De Sales Hall St. Francis de Sales Feast: January 24
St. Francis de Sales was born into an aristocratic family in France in 1567 and died in 1622. Francis was devoted to his studies in law and theology and felt called to become a priest at the disappointment of his father, who wished for him to pursue a legal career. He was ordained a priest in 1593 and was later appointed the Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, in 1602. He especially loved teaching the children of his diocese. Francis de Sales wrote Introduction to the Devout Life to aid in the development of spirituality of peoples of all walks of life. Along with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he co-founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. He is the patron saint of writers, journalists and the deaf.
Cabrini Hall
St. Frances X. Cabrini Feast: November 13
Assisi Hall
St. Francis of Assisi Feast: October 4
St. Francis of Assisi was born around 1181 in Italy and died in 1226. He came from a wealthy family and lived a carefree youth. Following a serious illness, he repented and lived a life of poverty and service to the poor. As a traveling preacher, he attracted followers to his way of life. His followers, or friars, sought to formx a new religious order, and in 1209, he began the Franciscan Order. Francis received the stigmata (physical marks of Christ’s Passion) in 1224. St. Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1228. He is a patron of Italy, ecologists and all who work to protect the environment. Due to his devotion to God’s creation, he is also the patron saint of the Laudato Si’ Movement.
Born in 1850 in Italy, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was the youngest of thirteen children. She spent her youth as a teacher before founding the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880. She and her fellow Sisters hoped to be missionaries in China but instead immigrated to America to help Italian immigrants at the suggestion of Pope Leo XlI. Her life was spent establishing sixty-seven missionary institutions, including schools, hospitals and orphanages, throughout Europe and the Americas. She died in Chicago in 1917 and was canonized in 1946 by Pope Pius XII. Mother Cabrini was the first American citizen to be canonized. She is the patron saint of immigrants.
Drexel Hall
St. Katharine Drexel Feast: March 3
Canonized by Saint John Paul Il in 2000, St. Katharine Drexel was born in 1858 in Philadelphia and died in 1955. She grew up in an affluent and devout household, where the importance of charitable works was instilled in her from an early age. Inspired by a passion for aiding Native and African Americans, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. Katharine generously gave of her own inheritance to found 145 Catholic missions, twelve schools for Native Americans and fifty schools for black students during an era of strictly enforced racial segregation. She helped establish Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic college for African Americans. Katharine is the patron saint of philanthropy and racial justice.
TRANSITIONS
EXCITING CHANGES IN MISSION AND MINISTRY By Matthew Korniczky ‘24
A
s a new school year is underway, it is impossible to ignore the transitions that are occurring around us. With the pandemic receding, a new era of Cathedral Catholic athletics dawning and a fresh class of freshmen, change is undoubtedly happening on campus. However, there is one transition that many people may not have immediately noticed. Mrs. Stacy Wells P ‘20 ‘23 and Mr. Philip Remington have ended their long tenure at Cathedral Catholic High School, with Mrs. Kristine Bacich P ‘18 ‘20 ‘22 ‘25 stepping up to start a new position in the Mission and Ministry Office. After more than two decades of service, Mr. Remington has ended his time here at Cathedral Catholic High School. Over the years, he has not only taught religion courses to all grade levels but also served as a golf coach and a freshman class moderator. He says that his fondest memories of his 30 DONS MAGAZINE
time here all included seeing his students learn in the classroom. He prides himself in being a project-based teacher and hopes that he has had an impact on his students. And as for having an impact? The past twenty years, Mr. Remington has taught thousands of students. As one of his students myself, I have so many fond memories in his classroom. Mr. Remington always found a way to make learning fun and interesting, including having students do skits of biblical stories, bringing in objects and artifacts that connected to our learning and teaching us about countless saints in the “Saint of the Day” classroom ritual. Mrs. Blackstone-Gardner ‘89 P ’22, the Mission and Ministry Curriculum Chair, recounts this as her favorite lesson learned from Mr. Remington, saying, “Through this study, generations of students have been encouraged to grow in holiness and prayer,
showing students that each saint in the Church calendar was once a teenager, too.” However, Mr. Remington’s influence reached far beyond the classroom walls. Ms. LaPorte, the Mathematics Department Chair, emphasized the impact that Mr. Remington has had on her, saying that his “prayerful presence… was a gift to us all” and that she is “forever grateful for his support, advice and leadership over the years.” Furthermore, many other teachers quote his guiding leadership in the Dons for Life club and his devotion to prayer, being one of the only teachers to attend morning Mass every single day. Mr. Remington reciprocates that sentiment, expressing his deep gratitude for his colleagues, saying, “[they] helped me grow in my faith as well as helped me become a better teacher.” Mrs. Wells also recalls that when Cathedral Catholic acted as an emergency
distribution center during the pandemic, “Mr. Remington came faithfully to every Monday food distribution, showing up early and leaving late with a ‘no problem, happy to help’ attitude.” All in all, Mr. Remington has had a tremendous impact on the Dons community. We wish him the best in his retirement. Mr. Remington plans to continue serving his parish and the homeless community and plans to travel. At Cathedral Catholic, students don’t only have religion classes but a whole dedicated Mission and Ministry department. They host all of our school Masses, coordinate student
retreats and offer numerous opportunities for students to serve the community. For example, Mission and Ministry held an opportunity last year for students to serve at the San Diego Food Bank among their peers, and the department helped coordinate the Million Meals event held on our school campus last summer, where many Cathedral Catholic students had the opportunity to pack meals for those in need. They also ignited service partnerships with Catholic Charities and other San Diego Catholic Schools. Mrs. Stacy Wells has been at the helm of this department for the past five years, playing
a central role in its positive impact. Affectionately called “the heart of CCHS” by Mrs. Blackstone-Gardner, Mrs. Wells has been an exceptional model of Christ to Cathedral Catholic students. From her involvement with Catholic Charities during the pandemic and outreach to Homeboy Industries to visits with the elderly with cards and gifts as well as her warm gestures, such as making hot chocolate for students, reflect her dedication to the Dons community. Mr. Jeff Gramme P ‘26, Assistant Dean of Mission and Ministry, compliments Mrs. Wells in sharing that she “truly poured her heart into Cathedral Catholic” and emphasizes
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that she really focused on building relationships with colleagues, parents and students alike to make Cathedral Catholic a better place, calling her “a true Christian that always thinks of others before herself.” When asked about her favorite memories from the past few years, Mrs. Wells 32 DONS MAGAZINE
says that Kairos retreats, school Masses and seeing how “Christ shone through our community in the midst of a global pandemic” all stood out the most. And when asked what she would miss, she immediately said her incredible colleagues and the people who make Cathedral Catholic such a remarkable community, commenting,
“from my peers on my admin team to my peers in facilities and security and everywhere in between, everyone has a story, many talents and insights to share. Each person is a miraculous reflection of the goodness of God, and I take this reminder and special memories of each employee with me in my heart — Once a Don, Always a Don!”
In her place, Mrs. Kristine Bacich has stepped into the role of Dean of Mission and Ministry and is hopeful to continue making a positive impact on campus. With seven years of experience teaching various classes and engaging in Campus Ministry, being an active participant in the Racial Awareness Formation Team (RAFT) on campus and as a previous parish Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Bacich is excited to continue providing students opportunities for spiritual growth. Mrs. Bacich’s vision for the future involves providing ample opportunities for students to embody Christ’s teachings by being the “hands and feet of Christ in the world.” Working in tandem with Dr. Kathy McIntosh ‘92 P ‘21 ‘24, the new Director of Student Life and Leadership, as well as Mr. Jeff Gramme, Mrs. Bacich is enjoying collaborating with student leaders to make an even greater impact within the Cathedral Catholic community and beyond. The Mission and Ministry team is also eagerly anticipating the opening of the Zak Myers Food Pantry and Service-Learning Center in partnership with Catholic Charities, which aims to offer direct assistance to those in need. With the departure of Mr. Remington and Mrs. Wells, the entrance of Mrs. Bacich as the new Dean of Mission and Ministry and the future plans of the Zak Myers Food Pantry and ServiceLearning Center, change
is undoubtedly underway. Nevertheless, amidst these shifts, one aspect of the department will stay the same:
its unwavering commitment to students and its dedication to providing opportunities for putting faith into action.
THE CLASS M Y FA V OR ITE M EM OR Y A T CATHE DRAL “When ASB surprised the facilities night crew with a Christmas dinner. Not only did it remind me what the holidays are about, but it also introduced me to people on campus that students don’t ever see during the school day. These people are always working nights, so they don’t ever get to share a meal with their families. Most of the time, they eat dinner in whatever classroom they are cleaning, so it was special being able to sit down and share a meal with these important people while getting to know them.”
Danielle Corrao (Texas Christian University ‘27)
“Capturing the football games.”
energy
at
Preston Palmo (content creator) 34 DONS MAGAZINE
“My last race on the track & field 4x400 relay team. After running track for many years, this successful but bittersweet moment defined what it meant to be a Don through our hard work and support of one another. I’m so thankful for all the opportunities CCHS allowed me to have, not only athletically but also academically and spiritually.”
Blake Behmer (University of California, Berkeley ‘27)
”The creative projects that almost every teacher commissioned. These allowed my classmates and me to step outside of our comfort zones completely, having an absolute blast while working with various topics in unique and unexpected ways. I recall writing and illustrating a comic strip with my peers, ‘Oedipus in Simple Terms,’ for Ms. DeSantis’ English 2 Honors class. It was a lot of fun realizing that insanely loweffort drawings can produce some of the highest quality comedy, all while showing a deep understanding of classical literature.”
Cort Peters
“Leading the Kairos retreat. It was an unforgettable experience of guiding and connecting with my peers on a deeply personal level.”
(University of California, Los Angeles ‘27)
Anna Fox (University of Arizona ‘27)
O F
2 0 2 3
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL WAS... “The West Coast Walk for Life Pilgrimage to San Francisco with Dons for Life because I grew in my relationship with Christ by focusing my week on prayer and standing up for the truth alongside my friends.”
Maggie Woods (Franciscan University of Steubenville ‘27)
“Going on the Kairos retreat in November of my senior year. From faith leadership and creating an open and safe environment as a group leader to bonding with my friends and fellow classmates to sharing an anecdote of Jesus’ impact on my life, Kairos was an unforgettable experience. The retreat taught me to ‘Live the 4th,’ putting into practice the promises I made on the final day of the retreat. Thanks to that experience, I find myself still living the 4th and fulfilling my potential with the grace of God as a freshman at USC. Kairos solidified my faith in God and strengthened me to live God’s call and build the kingdom.”
“Being a part of CCHS ASB. ASB provided me with things that I will never forget or take for granted. I had countless opportunities and successes in both personal leadership and communal leadership, and I made friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Giuliano Santos (California State University,
Fullerton ‘27)
Esteban Murillo (University of Southern California ‘27)
“Winning the CIF-SDS Boys Soccer Open Division Championship my sophomore year. The opportunity to play on that team as the only sophomore was truly special, and I’m forever grateful for the teammates I played with and the coaches that I played for. Having the chance to be a part of CCHS history was amazing.”
“Trunk or Treat where all the elementary school kids were able to visit clubs’ trunks to get candy. It was so heartwarming to see the pure joy of the children when they saw how nicely decorated and unique each club’s trunk was.”
Hagan Ward
Bella Moreno
(gap year - Eture Men’s Soccer in Valencia, Spain)
(University of Southern California ‘27) DONS MAGAZINE 35
W H AT I L E A R N E D A S
FAITH FOUNDATIONS, LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS AND IDENTITY By Nicole Moore ‘23
Easton Kawasaki
H
igh school. The four years every middle schooler counts down the days until. The infamous years where you make endless memories, meet lifelong friends and try new things. Or at least that’s what I was looking forward to most. And while I met these 36 DONS MAGAZINE
expectations and will always look back upon the friend group I had, the laughter we shared in class and new people I continued to meet, as I reflect on what stuck with me most after graduating, it was more than just those things. It was how Cathedral Catholic
shaped who God intended me to be. During my freshman and sophomore years at Cathedral Catholic, I was honestly not very in tune with my faith. I was putting all of my attention on things
A DON
FORMATION
around me that just didn’t matter. I wasn’t involved in any clubs, and, while I was on the Cheer Team, I still found myself uninvolved in the spirit of the school. However, at the beginning of junior year, a friend of mine invited me to a Dons for Life meeting that day
at lunch. I’d heard about the club previously, but I never had the courage to attend alone. I remember at that meeting we made friendship bracelets and played games. I instantly felt a part of the community. I talked to Ms. LaPorte, the Dons for Life Moderator, briefly and ended up helping clean up the Chapel Garden and also went up to her classroom later that day. Something in me felt at peace when she invited me to come to the next meeting. After just one meeting, I felt like I was somewhere I belonged. So, I continued to attend. I learned more and more and found my faith naturally growing within me. I ended up becoming a Leader in Training. By the time second semester rolled around, I had the courage and passion to attend my first Walk for Life in Los Angeles. Not really knowing anyone, I was excited to get to know my fellow students and not fear being myself. As we began the walk, we were shunned by protesters and people arguing against us, but that made me feel even more secure in my Catholic faith. I’d never felt so sure about anything before. No sense of emotions compares to how I felt, not only at this walk, but even at the second walk I attended this past winter in San Francisco. Being a leader in this club opened an array of opportunities to interact with guest speakers from COLFS (which provides pregnancy services for women and families in need), FOCUS missionaries and so much more. This opportunity
challenged me to go up and speak about difficult topics, which in turn gave me the confidence to share my voice and my faith with the community. My senior year was a pivotal turning point in many ways as I leaned further into my faith and the community. During my senior year, I harnessed my newfound confidence in sharing my perspective and solidified this passion for my faith through journalism. Journalism was something that I never really had an interest in throughout the beginning of high school, but Ms. Cairns convinced me to join the class senior year. I was assigned the Spiritual Life column, where I had the freedom to write about Catholic worldwide events, truths and traditions of our faith or anything I felt was needed to be shared amongst the school. My first project I named “Saint of the Week.” Every other week, I chose a saint to highlight, and I shared about their lives and what we, as Catholics, can learn from them. I related the saints to school events and the liturgical calendar. I learned more than I could have imagined researching these miraculous people, such as Saint Gianna Molla, Saint Peter Claver and Saint Francis de Sales. Through my articles, I was able to express myself in a way I never realized I needed and that I didn’t know I had been searching for. I will forever be grateful to my journalism teacher, Ms. Cairns, DONS MAGAZINE 37
who always pushed us to speak our minds no matter our opinion. She never gave up a fight to give us the opportunity to have a voice and seek out important people to talk to. As a senior, I also gratefully served as Cheer Captain. Being a part of this team, I made memories I will always look back on, including the pregame ritual of piling into each other’s cars for a pregame Starbucks run, spending hours singing and dancing in Coach Carlson’s classroom, preparing for that night’s game and heading to the Guadalupe Center to eat dinner as a team. This part of our pregame routine
was a special time for the team because it was a time of bonding and laughing until our stomachs ached. It was a sacred time Coach Carlson P ‘24 took to pray with us as a team, for the game ahead and for the important things going on in our personal lives. Cheer was an outlet that allowed me to push myself in a way that I loved, providing me a community and safe space to go to after a hard day. At the start of senior year, I felt called by the Lord to begin spiritual direction with Fr. Matthew Maxwell, MC. Spiritual direction is a time when you discuss your own personal relationship with God with a
priest or lay person. This time of spiritual direction with him truly brought me peace from the beginning of the school year until the end. Fr. Matthew not only guided me but helped me with my faith in ways that truly proved to me that God is by my side through everything. Each session somehow expressed something I needed to hear at that time, whether I was doubting God, falling into the same sin or letting the anxieties about college take over. Although simple, the advice he would always remind me of was “do every little task in your day for God.” While this might seem obvious, how often do we truly do that? Don’t want to
study for a test? Study for God. Driving home from school? Do it for God. When you start to consciously think about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, life won’t seem so boring or so hard. You’re reminded that God is right there with you. This advice I carried on in times where I had to make big decisions, such as where I was going to go to college, how to fix things with my friends when we had a disagreement and how I continue to approach difficult situations in the future. I am now attending Creighton University and am studying exercise science through their Pre-Occupational Therapy program. I am grateful to Fr. Matthew for helping me discern this major life decision through spiritual direction. Although I have a great deal of advice to give current and incoming students, there are three major points that
summarize it all. Firstly, don’t be afraid to show people you love God and that you are passionate about your faith. You should never feel that you must hide your beliefs from your friends to fit in. Secondly, living your faith out with volume will only make your faith and passion stronger. Attending morning Mass or making time to visit Cathedral Catholic’s chapel works wonders. Lastly, get involved. Whether that be through a club that expresses your own interests, a sport that encourages you to push yourself or a campus leadership position that allows you to use your strengths, you will find that God speaks to you through what you do and that you can make an impact on your community. As a high schooler, you will come across so many challenges and opportunities that shape you. God is always by your side to guide you to be who you are called to be. DONS MAGAZINE 39
THE CLASS OF 2023’S NEW HOMES American University of Paris
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
Azusa Pacific University
Fairfield University
Arizona State University Babson College
Baylor University
University, Daytona Beach
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Beacon College
Georgetown University
Biola University
Grossmont College
Bethany Lutheran College Boise State University Boston College
Boston University Bryant University
Bucknell University
California Institute of the Arts
California Lutheran University
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Grand Canyon University Harvard University
Hawaii Pacific University Indiana University
John Cabot University
Louisiana State University
Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
California State Polytechnic University,
Midway University
San Jose State
California State University, Fullerton
Montana State University
Santa Barbara
Northeastern University
Santa Clara University
San Luis Obispo
California State University, Long Beach California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
California State University, San Marcos Canisius College
Catholic University of America Chapman University Clemson University Colgate University
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado Christian University Colorado College
Colorado State University Connecticut College Creighton University Cuesta College
Dartmouth College Davidson College
40 DONS MAGAZINE
MiraCosta College
New York University Oberlin College
Occidental College
University
City College
Savannah College of Art & Design
Ohio State University
School of Visual Arts
Pacific University
Shenandoah University
Oklahoma State University Palomar College
Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University
Point Loma Nazarene University Providence College Purdue University
Riverside City College
St. Bonaventure University San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Miramar College San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
Seton Hall University
Southern Methodist University Southern Utah University Southwestern College Stanford University Suffolk University
Texas Christian University The New School
Tulane University
United States Air Force Academy University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis
Paris, France
Rome, Italy
Honolulu, Hawaii
University of Florida
University of Georgia University of Idaho University of California, Irvine
University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Miami
University of California, Riverside
University of Mississippi
University of California, Merced
University of California, San Diego
University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
University of Colorado, Denver University of Dallas
University of Denver
University of Michigan
University of Nevada, Reno University of New Mexico
University of Northern Colorado University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania University of Portland
University of Saint Joseph
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco University of South Florida
University of Southern California University of Tennessee University of Utah
University of Washington University of Wisconsin Utah State University Vanderbilt University Vassar College
Washington State University
Washington University in St Louis DONS MAGAZINE 41
SETON SCHOLARS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE NAME OF ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON By Julieta Zavala-Lemarroy ‘26
G
od has his ways of guiding people down the right path. Oftentimes, we don’t see those ways immediately. But there are always the small details, which let us know we are going the right way. His little messages and signs show us that we are doing alright. Sometimes, it’s hard to notice them. It’s always hard to see changes happening day by day. Yet they can start out as simple as a sudden, random bang! At Cathedral Catholic, we as a Dons community are incredibly fortunate to be able to attend a faith-based
42 DONS MAGAZINE
school. Many are afforded the opportunity to attend Cathedral Catholic through the blessing of scholarships, which pave open amazing paths that people might otherwise never have gotten to experience. At Cathedral Catholic, this path allows so many Dons to grow and learn in the faith together. This was the idea behind the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship Program, which allows its recipients to grow as well-balanced, faithdriven individuals who engage with the community. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship Program was
formed in 2022 by Dr. Kevin Calkins. Starting in the spring of 2022, six students from the incoming class of 2026 were chosen and given fouryear, full-ride scholarships to Cathedral Catholic with the idea that through the program, they would become the best version of themselves and embody all it means to be a Don. Beyond living out the school’s four core values of character, faith, knowledge and responsibility, Seton Scholars are expected to be leaders in their communities, people of strong faith and individuals who choose to change the world for the better day by day.
Top row, from left to right: Tyson Smith ‘27, Shayan Mozaffari ‘26, Oliver Mayson ‘27, Pablo Villegas ‘27 Middle row, from left to right: Liam Schleicher ‘26, Cash Pacini ‘27, Massimo Santos ‘26, Annika Mara ‘27 Bottom row, from left to right: Julieta Zavala-Lemarroy ‘26, Tai Blabac ‘26, Ava Grace Nichols ‘27, Kate Terry ‘26
But first, who’s the person behind the scholarship’s name? St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born on August 28, 1774, in the city of New York to a wealthy family. She was known as a quiet, kind girl and an avid reader who would grow up to be a gentle mother. St. Seton was not born Catholic. In fact, she was born into an Episcopalian community, which at the time was not accepting of Catholicism. Later in life, after a trip to Italy and dealing with the passing of her husband, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was guided by God to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and upon her arrival back to New York, she converted to Catholicism despite the backlash she received from her family. Throughout her life, St. Seton suffered many tragedies. She lost many family members, including her husband and children, to tuberculosis, which no doubt made it hard to stay strong in her faith. However, St. Elizabeth was known for her deep and powerful faith. For the rest of her life, she continued to teach and be a caring mentor to anyone who wished for it. She founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s (the first community for religious women) and St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School, and by doing so, planted the seeds to Catholic schools all across America. St. Seton’s story continues to teach us over 200 years later.
When times are tough, trust in God and His plan to find guidance and light. Her story teaches us to always be kind and gentle to others, be a trailblazer in life and a child of God. In honor of the program’s namesake, therefore, the responsibilities behind being a Seton Scholar are many. From being a role model in and out of class to being a leader and contributor, the scholars are called to follow in St. Seton’s footsteps. Recipients of the scholarship follow two main components to the program: the core values assessment and the service and philanthropic project. The core values assessment, simply put, is how Seton Scholars incorporate the four Cathedral Catholic core values of character, faith, knowledge and responsibility both in and out of school and how those four values are acted out as a moral compass. Also exciting is the service and philanthropic project. Throughout the four years, the plan is to create a passion project that will leave a lasting, positive impact on both the Dons and greater San Diego communities. The goal is to give back in a meaningful way and bring about positive and thoughtful change to an often neglected issue in our world. Just as St. Seton was a trailblazer, the Seton Scholars are called to
do the same and to pave open a path with those who might not be able to do so on their own. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship has only been in place for one year, and the philanthropic projects have already made an astounding impact on the Cathedral Catholic and San Diego communities. They range from outreach projects helping out underresourced Catholic Schools in the Diocese of San Diego to programs that provide middle schoolers opportunities to grow in their faith and help their San Diego community through various service applications. “Seton Schools,” a project created by Kate Terry ‘26, delivered school supplies to five Catholic schools in San Diego County (St. Mary School, Escondido, Good Shepherd Catholic School, Our Lady’s School, Nativity Prep Academy DONS MAGAZINE 43
[Liam] learned how to say prayers in front of large groups and gained more experience with writing prayers in general. Liam sees the big picture and recognizes that he doesn’t have to do it all on his own. He has Christ as a friend to guide him. When challenges arise, Liam brings them to prayer. It has been incredible to watch as a parent.” Such an impact from developing a project based on a want to help others inspires many. Cash Pacini ‘27 is excited to start his project and says, “It’s a blessing being able to use the Seton Scholars platform to give back to our community and have a positive impact on people’s lives.”
and St. Michael’s School). She organized and taught a summer camp for two weeks in July at Our Lady’s School before also donating art, STEM and exercise equipment. Another project, “Seton’s Young Disciples” (S.Y.D), created by Liam Schleicher ‘26, Shayan Mozaffari ‘26 and myself, was set in motion in the summer of 2023. S.Y.D is a program meant to provide middle school students with service opportunities and a way to interact with the community while growing in their faith. They had their first event on August 4, where students from all across 44 DONS MAGAZINE
San Diego parishes came to Cathedral Catholic’s campus to pack care packages for Father Joe’s Villages, which they later drove up to the organization. This event is the first of many to come. All of these projects incorporate the work of St. Elizabeth Seton as a guide. Apart from transforming their values and interests into projects, these Dons’ faith lives and those of their family members have been greatly impacted. Families of the scholars have been touched by their Don’s work, as Ray Schleicher, father of Liam Schleicher ‘26, expresses, “He
Just as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton inspires us, we Seton Scholars choose to try and inspire others. And like a chain reaction, the scholarship program is transformative in its recipients because of that same aspect. Yet, even then, that change is not always so easy. In an overview of the very first year, inaugural scholarship recipient Massimo Santos ‘26 said, “I think the aspect of trial and error surprised me most. I knew there would be obstacles and challenges with this process and our projects, but I was not aware of some of the larger setbacks that would occur. However, all of us Seton Scholars have an amazing support system, and we were able to bounce back from all the obstacles we faced.”
With all the responsibility and hard work, it is vital to learn how to balance it all out. That is how we all grow: through trial and error. Becoming more comfortable with oneself, in addition to learning the importance of service, is such a unique aspect of the program. It creates the warm feeling of wanting to give back, just as Kate Terry ‘26 expresses, “I wanted to see what I could do with the opportunities being gifted to me. I thought it was an amazing experience to be offered so much and try to give back a fraction of that to the community... Being a
part of the program has made me look deeper into what I do and think about my relationship with God more. It has also made me more grateful to God because I realize how much He gifts me in my life.”
us, hardships are no match for God’s plan. The impact one makes with even the smallest good deeds are mirrored back in unrivaled marvelous ways, always creating a domino effect of kind action after kind action.
Reflecting Luke’s Gospel 12:48, which tells us that to whom much is given, much is required, giving back is an integral part in understanding how much is given to us and enhances the appreciation of all the small gifts from God. It is challenging. But, as St. Seton and all the other amazing saints have taught
God has his ways of guiding people to where they need to go. Trusting the process is a part of life that is hard to get comfortable with, but faith is the action that lets us thrive and travel down the right road. It can all start from a small door He opens up to you. You only have to be willing to walk through it.
SETON SCHOLARS VISIT NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON This September, all twelve of our Seton Scholars traveled thousands of miles across the country on a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The group, chaperoned by Dr. Calkins, Ms. Tysor and some family members, enjoyed a moving, religious experience. These Dons also explored Washington, D.C., where they visited various landmarks as well as Catholic University of America (CUA), where they were led on a personal campus tour by Anthony Graf ‘22 and met with CUA’s President, Dr. Peter Kilpatrick.
DONS MAGAZINE 45
Anna Scipione
Kevin Steimle ‘25
Easton Kawasaki
YEAR IN
John Fraser
John Fraser
Alex Hurtado
Michael Manzano
REVIEW
Taylor Desmond
Julie Mitchell
Jorge Weinchez
DONS MAGAZINE 47 Peter Dunsford
Stephanie Montion Marquez
T H E D O N S AT H L E T I C S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES Girls Volleyball
Dance
CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES Girls Volleyball
Boys Water Polo
(Open Division)
(Southern California Division II)
CIF SAN DIEGO SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES Girls Beach Volleyball
Boys Swim & Dive
Girls Cross Country
Girls Track & Field
Boys Golf
Boys Volleyball
(Division I)
(Division III) (Division II)
(Division II)
(Division II)
(Open Division)
Girls Volleyball (Open Division)
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES Baseball
Boys Lacrosse
Girls Swim & Dive
Boys Beach Volleyball
Girls Lacrosse
Girls Tennis
Girls Beach Volleyball
Boys Rugby
Girls Track & Field
Girls Cross Country
Softball
Boys Volleyball
Boys Golf
Boys Swim & Dive
Girls Volleyball
48 DONS MAGAZINE
202 2 -2023 SEASON SEASON AWARDS Fall Sports Most Valuable Players Julia Blyashov '23 (Girls Volleyball)
Richard Lundh '23 (Boys Water Polo)
Winter Sports Most Valuable Players Claire Curran '23 (Girls Soccer)
Stephen Dunphy '24 (Boys Soccer)
Spring Sports Most Valuable Players Michael Riebe '25 (Boys Golf)
Sereneti Trice '24 (Softball)
Academic Athletes of the Year Shea Fitzgerald ‘23 (Boys Basketball)
Emma Hellenkamp ‘23 (Dance)
Athletes of the Year Julia Blyashov '23
(Girls Volleyball, Girls Beach Volleyball)
Michael Riebe '25 (Boys Golf)
Career Athletic Achievement Awards Kapiolani Coleman '23 (Girls Volleyball, Track & Field)
Sean Kagen '23
(Football, Boys Rugby)
Kevin Madden Award Maxwell Bayles '23
(Baseball, Football, Boys Rugby)
CLASS OF 2023 NCAA-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETES 44 students from the class of 2023 signed National Letters of Intent. DONS MAGAZINE 49
50 DONS MAGAZINE
Glae Thien for the San Diego Union-Tribune
GIRLS CIF TITLES: 106 (6 Open Division)
BOYS CIF TITLES: 94 (15 Open Division)
——— TOTAL ———
200 and counting!
Joe Bergman
DONS MAGAZINE 51
CAMPUS DIGEST HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 46 Dons received scholarships this year. These Dons had a lovely scholarship breakfast
earlier this fall, and they could not be more grateful to our generous donors who make Catholic education
possible to so many who could not otherwise be Dons! Congratulations to our scholarship recipients:
Congratulations to Ellie Carroll ‘24 and Matthew Korniczky ‘24 on winning Homecoming King and Queen! The Dons also celebrated a 49-21 Homecoming win against the University City Centurions on September 29.
Anthony Alido ‘25, Emilia Becerra ‘25, Daniela Bernitt ’27, Kristine Bickler ‘27, Natalia Blabac ‘26, Ty Cortes ‘24, Kelvin Crowder, Jr. ‘25, Olivia Dianda ‘26, Lilian Englund ‘24, Anneliese Fiegl ‘24, Caroline Fierro ‘25, Regina GalindoDeWitt ‘26, Xavier Gonzales ‘24, Jade Iturralde ‘27, Daniella Johnson ‘26, William Kaseburg ‘26, Anthony Lopez ‘25, Orlando Lopez-Tenorio ‘25, Amanda Lyons ‘24, Jacob MacNab ‘25, Annika Mara ‘27, Joshua, MartinSpencer ‘24, Josue Martinez ‘26, Oliver Mayson ‘27, Miguel Morales III ‘24, Shayan Mozaffari ‘26, Kassandra Mullen ‘24, Anthony Nguyen ‘24, Cash Pacini ‘27, Johnathan Perez ‘26, Gabriela Pilo ‘27, Emma Powell ‘24, Alyssa Quick ‘24, Sloan Ravenscroft ‘24, Hailey Romano ‘25, Massimo Santos ‘26, Liam Schleicher ‘26, Tyson Smith ‘27, Jonathan Solomon ‘25, Emiliano Sosa ‘26, Mikaela Sosa ‘24, Clay Stabile ‘25, Katherine Terry ‘26, Pablo Villegas ‘27, Carter Wilson ‘24 and Julieta Zavala-Lemarroy ‘26
Our Dons community celebrated National Migration Week this September. Dons Familia, Mission & Ministry and
Dons for Life organized the week’s events, including a Dons-for-Life-sponsored presentation on migration and immigration, a beautiful prayer service and a
This spring’s TEDx event planning is fully under way. After a wonderful first-ever
production of TEDx on campus last year, we are excited to see what Ms. Fiore, her new Co-Lead Director, Mr. Threatt, and the TEDx Student Committee have in store. Follow @tedxcchs on Instagram to learn more about this year’s event, “One School, Many Voices,” and save the date for the second annual TEDx on March 21, 2024.
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guest speaker from Casa del Migrante, a non-profit
organization that serves migrants during their most vulnerable moments in life.
We have some new faces around campus! We are overjoyed to have so many new employees as part of our Dons family.
Our Drama Dons have done it again! Congratulations to our Drama Department on a wonderful production of Murder on the Orient Express,
starring Elijah May ‘26 and Julieta Zavala-Lemarroy
‘26, in early September. We look forward to the winter
musical, The Secret Garden, in February and the spring musical, Anything Goes, in April. Break a leg, Dons!
Dons Flag Football is off to a great start! As a newly recognized CIF sport this year, flag football has attracted over fifty girls to join. Led by Head Coach Ryan Wiegand ‘05 and Assistant Coaches Frank
Caro P ‘27 and Joe Filippone ‘83 P ‘17 ‘20, the Lady Dons have enjoyed a winning season thus far. Roll Dons!
14 Dons qualified as Commended Students in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to the following class of 2024 seniors on this wonderful achievement:
Alexander Anger
Beck Mahoney
Kathleen Day
Alexandria Peña
Bowen Clemens
As part of Respect Life Month and our Dons community’s Life Week events, the Rosary Club held a crowing of Mary on October 9. We are blessed to have Our Lady watching over and protecting our Dons family.
Benjamin Gunderson Jennifer Gurtler Anthony Jiang
Matthew Korniczky
Theresa Neff
Emily Salazar
Alaric Schulteis
Maximilian Wieczorek William Zimmer
DONS MAGAZINE 53
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 32nd Annual Wine & Microbrew last March! The Dons spirit was truly in the air. Save the date for the 33rd Annual Wine & Microbrew on Saturday, March 16, 2024!
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A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors
The Black, Durnin, McGrath and Millar Families
And to Our Honorary Chairs Steve and Lisa Brown Mike and Jennifer Carroll
Erik and Julie Jorgensen Greg and Lynde Kaminsky
Dominick and Corrine Perritano DONS MAGAZINE 55
Cathedral Catholic High School 5555 Del Mar Heights Road San Diego, CA 92130 (858) 523-4000
Non Profit Org US Postage PAID San Diego, CA Permit No. 1347
@cchsdons www.cathedralcatholic.org
Join us at these upcoming events!
Dance Team Christmas Show
Christmas Concert
December 7-8, 2023
December 14, 2023
PRESENTS
February 22-24, 2024 56 DONS MAGAZINE
March 16, 2024