Blue Banner-V19-Fall/Winter 2015

a n b n e er u l b

Volume 19 ~ Fall/Winter 2015

10 What Is a Basilian Education?

18 Room 12 Memories 20 The Basilian Migration 32 RIP Dan Prendergast, OSM

Basilian Issue

H A E L ’ S C O L L E GE S C H O O L S T. M I C

a n b n e er u l b

letters to the editor

H A E L ’ S C OL L E GE S C HO OL S T. M I C

The St. Michael’s College School alumni magazine, Blue Banner, is published two times per year. It reflects the history, accomplishments and stories of graduates and its purpose is to promote collegiality, respect and Christian values under the direction of the Basilian Fathers.

PRESIDENT: Fr. Jeff Thompson, CSB ’79 EDITOR: Gavin Davidson ’93 CO-EDITOR: Michael De Pellegrin ’94 CONTRIBUTORS Kimberley Bailey, Fr. Jeff Thompson, CSB ’79, Frank Di Nino ’80, Joe Younder ’56, Pat Mancuso ’90, Stephanie Nicholls.

PHOTO CREDITS: St. Michael's College School Archives, General Archives of the Basilian Fathers, Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto

TABLE OF CONTENTS

class of 1966 – 50th reunion On Saturday, May 14, 2016, the Class of 1966 is invited to St. Michael’s College School to celebrate its 50th Reunion. The Class of 1966 committee is looking for assistance locating the following lost classmates: Stephen Barringer

Ivan Deveau

Robert Hendry

Frank Medal

John Seminsky

Edward Batna

Peter Devita

James Hodgins

William Miklasevics

Orest Solonynka

George Belanger

Sal DisPasquale

David Humphnry

Robert Mullen

David Sorenson

Ian Birnie

Geoffrey Donoghue

David Hurley

Mike Mullins

Ronald Spizzirri

William Birnie

Thomas Etele

Peter Inokai

Brian Myers

Andrew Subrits

Leo Breen

Paul Farraro

John Jeffries

Peter Neubauer

Herb Terry

St. Michael’s College School: www.stmichaelscollegeschool.com

Peter Brent

Mario Fedel

Peter Kallos

James O'Reilly

Robert Tobin

Claus Brugger

Mario Fedele

Fergus Lyons

Christopher Otrysko

Anthony Ucci

Blue Banner Online: www.mybluebanner.com

Raymond Buchowski Gabriel Felpeci

William Martin

Robert Ouellet

Jurgen Varga

Basilian Fathers: www.basilian.org

Thomas Burns

Jules Gagné

John McBride

Michael Pejskar

John Vining

CISAA (Varsity Athletic Schedule): www.cisaa.ca

Robert Coffey

John Greb

Michael McCarron

Brian Regan

Gordon Wilton

Twitter: www.twitter.com/smcs1852

John Corrigan

John Harti

Vincent McEwan

William Robb

Colin Wright

Advancement Office: advancement@smcsmail.com

Patrick Coyle

Robert Hayward

Kenneth McGuigan

Richard Rogacki

David Daigle

Paul Heenan

Paul McIsaac

Maurice Rudisi

Colin Damer

Thomas Hegarty

Donald McKay

Michael Rutsey

CONTACT DIRECTORY

Alumni Affairs: alumni@smcsmail.com Archives Office: archives@smcsmail.com Blue Banner Feedback: bluebanner@smcsmail.com

Class of 1966 – 50th reunion

3

Communications Office: md@smcsmail.com

Message from the President

4

Tel: 416-653-3180 ext. 292

Alumni Association Message

5

Fax: 416-653-8789

Editor’s Letter

6

E-mail: info@smcsmail.com

Letters to the Editor

7

• Admissions (ext. 195)

Men of St. Michael’s: Pal Di lulio ’69

8

• Advancement (ext. 118)

What is a Basilian Education?

10

• Alumni Affairs (ext. 273)

Basilian Future Looks to Past

14

• Archives (ext. 457)

Securing our Future by Giving Back: Recognizing Influential Basilians

16

Room 12 Memories

18

Basilian Origins: From Canada West to St. Clair West

20

• Main Reception (ext. 0)

Thank you Basilians

23

• Mporium – school store (ext. 431)

Significant Dates in Basilian History

24

• Property Manager (ext. 129)

Please forward any information to Stephanie Nicholls, Alumni and Special Events Officer, 416-653-3180 ext. 273 or nicholls@smcsmail.com.

Alumni Association 2016 Event Calendar

25

• President – Fr. Jeff Thompson, CSB ’79 (ext. 174)

Sincerely,

Where Are They Now

26

• Principal – Mr. Greg Reeves ’73 (ext. 139)

In Memoriam

28

• Vice Principal – Mr. Emile John ’87 (ext. 156)

The Way We Were: I remember it well – RIP Dan Prendergast

32

• Arena (ext. 422) • Communications (ext. 292) • Finance (ext. 239)

• Vice Principal – Mr. David Lee ’94 (ext. 179) Canada Publications Mail Agreement #40006997

Paul Baker - paulhibaker@gmail.com Don Bannan - bannand@ridley-windows.com Carlo De Pellegrin - carlo.depellegrin@williamsandpartners.com Paul Downs - pdowns@nexicomgroup.net

Doug Bannan - dougb@ridley-windows.com Bill McNeill - williamjmcneill@gmail.com Paul Thomson - pathomson45@gmail.com Jack Daley - daleygroup@aol.com Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

message from the president Dear St. Michael's Alumni and Friends, In these mid-December days when our students are busily studying and writing their mid-year exams, when our teachers are busily evaluating our students’ work, when the world around us is busily crushing the original divine reason for gift-giving by calling it holiday shopping, we wonder again: When is it not a busy season in our lives? Can we at least agree that Christmastime is a happily busy season?

I think my favourite Christmas tune – more a hymn than a carol – is “In the Bleak Midwinter.” It is a deeply moving 19th-century poem by Christina Rossetti that was set to a sweet and haunting melody

by Gustav Holst in the early 20th century. Just Google and YouTube it, and I’m sure you’ll agree too!

In the fifth of five eloquent verses, we are left to ponder this invitation: What can I give Him, Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what I can, I give Him – Give my heart.

The divine light radiating from the stable in Bethlehem draws us into God’s loving embrace, a beautiful and life-giving gift that inspires us to move outward from ourselves to embrace the world as God’s gift to us, and in particular our own little worlds and all the people in them as God’s especially precious gifts to us.

If this loving embrace, in imitation of Our Father, is flourishing through the teaching and learning of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge at St. Michael’s College School, and it is, it is because our students, teachers, and parents have heeded and responded generously to the invitation of the Child in the manger – to give Him our heart.

In the bleak midwinter, in this busy season of studying and grading and shopping and baking, in the gifts and in the wrapping, in the quiet humility of the human heart, God is still giving himself to us now, and God is still inviting us to give ourselves to him and to each other now.

Yet what I can, I give Him – Give my heart.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

St. Michael, pray for us.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jefferson Mark Thompson, CSB ’79

alumni association message My Fellow SMCS Alumni, I am honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to become your president for the next three years. I want to thank Marc Montemurro ’93 for his tireless efforts improving the SMCS alumni experience. Under Marc’s leadership the Alumni Lounge was finished, the Spring Reunion & BBQ has returned, the Enzo Montemurro ’81 Touch Football Classic was created, and most recently, the Evans Tannis Alumni Soccer Showdown premiered.

Thank you Marc; replacing you will be a mighty task.

The yellow-brick halls of SMCS have always held a special place for me. While many things have changed since I graduated in 1980, it is refreshing to see that many things have remained the same. Whenever I have the opportunity to speak with current students, it is incredible to see that the same values of bonitatem et dicipliniam et scientiam doce me have remained a constant. This is a true testament to the Basilian Fathers’ caring and thoughtful approach to Catholic education.

Building on the hard work of past alumni administrations, I believe that the activities of the Alumni Association fall into three areas. First, we will continue to reach out to alumni through various activities throughout the year. Engagement is the key to keeping the Alumni Association strong and relevant within the SMCS community.

Second, I believe we can build closer ties with the parents of current students. I have attended a number of parent-sponsored events and they are a remarkable group of dedicated people who are passionate about the school.

Lastly, I think the alumni can play a more active role in the mentoring of our students, whether they are at SMCS or away at university or college. A lot has

changed in both post-secondary education and the entry-level job market since 1980. I often receive calls from students wondering what courses they should take, or whom they can talk to about their career interests. The alumni can play an active role in providing guidance and helping to establish networks, which are critical for success.

We encourage you to stay involved and we always want to hear your ideas and feedback. Please make use of my contact information found in the alumni section of the school website. Even though you have graduated, you remain a vital part of St. Michael’s College School – SMCS will always be your school.

Frank Di Nino ’80 President SMCSAA

PAST PRESIDENTS

Marc Montemurro ’93, Josh Colle ’92, Romeo Milano ’80, Peter Thurton ’81, Denis Caponi Jr. ’86, Rob Grossi ’72, Paul Grossi ’69, Daniel Brennan ’70, John McCusker ’57, William Metzler ’65, John Bonvivere ’50 †, Michael Duffy ’65, Ross Robertson ’64, William Rosenitsch ’57, Paul Thomson ’65, John G. Walsh ’58 †, Frank Thickett ’57, W. Frank Morneau ’59, Frank Glionna ’53 †, George Cormack ’49, Richard Wakely ’64 †, Gordon Ashworth ’45 †, Peter D’Agostino ’42 †, G.J. McGoey ’58 †, Paul McNamara ’40 †, Joseph Primeau ’28 †, Dick Foster ’30†.

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

editor’s letter Dear Readers, As many of you have no doubt heard, the school recently lost one of its biggest boosters with the death of the legendary Dan Prendergast, OSM. I had the honour of working closely with Coach P on the 2015 edition of Skate4Kids, an event that has raised almost $900,000 over the years for St. Michael’s and an assortment of worthy charities, including the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation. Rarely do men of such legendary reputations live up to them, but I can tell you that everything you hear about Dan Prendergast is true. He focused immeasurable time and energy to helping secure the future of his beloved institution, right through to his final days. It is doubtful there will ever be another like Dan Prendergast, and he will be sorely missed. We pay tribute to Dan, not only in the in memoriam section (p. 29), but also in the way we were (p. 34), with a touching tribute from former Banner editor Joe Younder ’56, Dan’s friend of more than 50 years.

Although one great man can help shape our path for generations to come, St. Michael’s strength has always been in community. It is therefore with confidence I can say others with unwavering dedication to the school will step in to fill the void created by Coach P’s passing.

One such man, who has already jumped into the breach with both feet, is new Alumni Association President Frank Di Nino ’80. Frank is well known around the halls of St. Mike’s as a key member of the Alumni Association, generous giver of both time and resources, and a very dapper dresser to boot. He now brings those

letters to the editor qualities to the role of president and will continue to build on the good work of Marc Montemurro ’93, Josh Colle ’92, and all those who have preceded him.

Of course, there is one group without whose historical and continuing dedication and generosity the St. Michael’s community would not exist. I speak of course of the Basilians, and it is with great joy we are able to present to you an in-depth feature on the Basilian connection to St. Michael’s – a feature that has been in the works for more than a year. The word ‘connection’ is actually not strong enough to describe the bond between the Basilians and St. Mike’s. They are one and the same - as demonstrated in Fr. Jeff Thompson, CSB ’79’s article, what is a basilian education (p. 10); this edition of securing our future by giving back (p. 16); my exploration of the Basilian migration to the New World, basilian origins: from canada west to st. clair west (p. 20); and - perhaps more than anything – the centerfold spread room 12 memories (p. 18).

More evidence that the two are one and the same can be found in the motto shared by congregation and school. Let us all be thankful this dedication to ‘Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge’ practiced by both institution and community has blessed us with men like Pal Di lulio ’69 (men of st. michael’s, p. 8); men like Paul Burns ’57 (where are they now, p. 26); men like the late Fr. Chris Iredale, CSB ’49 (in memoriam, p.

28); men like Dan Prendergast.

Dear Editor, I just wanted to let you know that I noticed an error in the in memoriam section of Volume 18 of the Blue Banner.

I do realize the sizeable number of deaths the community has experienced over the past year and I appreciate that you did quite a thorough job of including everyone. However, while I was happy to see my dad (Carmen Cinelli) was included in the ‘friends and family’ section, only my brother’s name was listed.

We actually have five alumni family members: Anthony ’90 (nephew), Michael ’95 (son), David ’97 (son), and cousins Steven ’03 and Philip Zampini ’07. Would it be possible to correct this? If not, no worries.

Hope all is well, Michael Cinelli ’95 Ed’s reply: It most certainly is possible to correct it, Michael. And we do so with great apologies and with thanks for bringing the oversight to our attention. And as anyone who writes to the Blue Banner knows, we’ll try to rope you in to writing more… so you can find out what the Cinelli family is up to in ‘where are they now’ (p. 27).

Dear Editor, You have mixed up your in memoriam article about Bill Macdonald ’41. You have the picture correct, it is truly Bill Macdonald of the class of ’41, and he did die, but you have mixed him up completely with the man who died in the Kirkland & District Hospital. The Bill Macdonald of the class of ’41 was living in Hastings,

Ont. when he died. He worked for years with Imperial Oil in Sarnia, and other places.

Vernon Mulhall ’41 Ed’s reply: Well, this is quite embarrassing; not our finest hour, Vernon. We are extremely glad you caught this error and send our apologies to the MacDonald family. You will find the correct obituary for Bill MacDonald on page 28.

Dear Editor, A friend suggested I inform you of my husband’s death on July 9, 2013. John Beaune ’54 never received the Blue Banner, so I wouldn’t have known you record the deaths of alumni. John proudly named our son Mike, because of his fondness for his high school. While at St. Mike’s, John played on one of the hockey teams and continued playing hockey until he was 70. He was thrilled to be able to play with our son on many occasions. Our grandson has played in St. Mike’s arena, which was another thrill for John.

Yours sincerely, Carol Beaune Ed’s reply: We’re extremely grateful you reached out to us Carol and appreciate the opportunity to share the sad news regarding your husband’s death with his brothers in the St. Michael’s family.

Joyous reading!

Gavin Davidson ’93 Editor

A happy and robust Alumni Association meeting on Tuesday, November 17

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

men of st. michael’s: pal di lulio ’69 Joe Younder ’56

socializes on a regular basis. They include classmates Leo Buccilli ’69, Tony Di Poce ’69, Justice Antonio

Today, the Villa Charities family of organizations

It all started on December 22, 1956, when a young

Di Zio ’69, Domenic Frasca ’69, and Michael Mar-

has approximately 1,000 employees and provides

Palmacchio Di Iulio, like many Italian immigrants, came

rese ’69. Many others who joined Italian classes and

culturally sensitive care to more than 600 seniors in

to Canada along with his parents, Giuseppe and Filom-

the Italian Club under the gentle direction of Fr. Rocco

long-term care facilities, along with maintaining 750

ena Palmacchio. Landing in Halifax, they made their

Volpe, CSB ’48 became lifetime friends, including

apartments with supportive services. It also enriches

Luigi De Faveri ’68, Sal Formusa ’69, Ardo Gidaro

the lives of thousands of people by bringing them

way to Toronto, where they took up residence in the Bloor and Dufferin area – home of St. Anthony’s parish.

A sister, Luisa, came later.

Learning a new language and adopting a new culture was, to the young Pal, frightening yet challenging. Like any endeavor he has since

’70, Sergio Marchionne ’71, and Jack Rosati ’67, to name but a few. Friendships were not limited to students. Fr. Volpe officiated at Pal’s wedding to Mary Grace Labricciosa. It was a union that produced Stefania, Davide ’03 and Dante ’05, both who played for and captained the SMCS Azzurri Soccer team.

together to discover an Italian lifestyle through education and cultural and recreational services at the Columbus Centre.

Villa Charities immediate past chair, and current member of the SMCS Board of Directors, Nina Perfetto is grateful for Pal’s hard work and dedication to the Villa Charities family. “Pal is a unique individual who will

undertaken, he did it with

Pal and his group of friends kept in contact with

style,

and

Fr. Fitzpatrick, OSM, CSB, Fr. Mohan, CSB, OSM ’48,

always aiming for perfec-

and Fr. Carruthers, CSB, and for the past 25 years or

tion. This he achieved by

so, have managed to, at least yearly, have lunch or

We at St. Michael’s are equally proud of Pal, his family,

eventually rising from a volunteer in 1973 with Villa

dinner, with some of their Grade 9 teachers: Hugh

and his long-standing association with the school. Pal

Charities to become its President and CEO in 1984.

McDougall, OSM, Joe Younder ’56 and Dan Prender-

has attended most Homecoming events and Turkey

Now, after 40 years, he is stepping down. Warmly

gast, OSM.

Roll & Reunions since his graduation.

bers of the Villa Charities community, he will remain

Attending St. Mike’s was the best decision Pal never

We all wish him and his family good health and buona

active in a new honorary position, President Emeritus.

made. In fact, Sr. Charlotte, a Loretto nun, and principal

fortuna in the years and adventures still ahead.

determination,

never be replaced. He leaves a legacy of which we can only be proud.”

know as Pal to his many friends, employees, and mem-

of St. Anthony’s in 1964, insisted he attend. “Pal, you As an early volunteer involved with Villa Colombo Toronto, Pal was actively involved in the realization of Columbus Centre / Carrier Art Gallery, Caboto Terrace, Casa Del Zotto and the addition of Casa Abruzzo and Centro Abruzzo to the Villa Charities family. He was also involved in Villa Colombo Vaughan and the opening of group homes for the developmentally challenged through VITA Community Living Services.

are a good smart Catholic boy and you should attend St Michael’s.” She promptly arranged to have the parish Catholic Women’s League offer a partial bursary.

The stoic Giuseppe, Pal’s father, made the decision even easier. “If you go to school at St. Mike’s, it’s good and I’ll help you, if not, get a job!”

However, it had to start somewhere… and that was

Before arriving at Villa Charities, Pal had a varied and

at St. Michael’s College School in early September of

checkered

1964.

carpenter; construction labourer; waiter / bartender;

job

path.

His

experiences

include:

tour guide / chaperone to Canadian students visiting The boys he met on the first day in the registration line

Italy; immigration counselor and officer; real estate

are, after 50 years, still his best friends, with whom he

agent; teacher; and Yorkville restaurateur.

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

what is a basilian education?

Fr. Jeff Thompson, CSB ’79 Stepping into Mr. Vince Pagano’s Homeroom 9E in Room 119 in September 1974, nearly half a lifetime ago, I never imagined at the time that I was crossing a defining threshold and entering into the rich tradition of Basilian education, which in turn brought the contours of definition and meaning to my own life.

Had the Blue Banner asked me this question “What is a Basilian education?” in those young, formative years, I probably would have catalogued the long hours of homework and the frequency of tough tests to describe its structural framework. The homework and tests were everywhere, just like the Basilian Fathers were on campus. The luxurious perspective of hindsight and the gentle wisdom of experience have shed light on so much more that was also going on all the time as inherent components of Basilian education, just as they are to this day, despite the social and cultural shifts that have been witnessed by passing generations.

These hallmarks of Basilian education are by no means unique to St. Michael’s College School, but also imbue the life of all Basilian schools, as they always have.

When the Blue Banner asked me to respond to this question for this issue, I immediately invited all our current Basilian administrators to contribute towards a comprehensive expression of our collective Basilian educational philosophy and experience. What follows, therefore, is a harmony of different voices joining together in chorus on a Basilian theme that is instantly recognizable because it has never stopped ringing in our ears ever since we first heard it.

According to our charism of education within the Church’s mission of evangelization, be it enfleshed in parishes, schools, colleges, universities, campus ministries, or missions, the Basilian Fathers and our lay colleagues with whom we collaboFostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

rate in this sacred apostolate consciously and intentionally seek to meet Jesus Christ in every member of our ministerial communities and to bring him to others beyond our communities, always being guided and formed according to the Psalmist’s prayer in our inspiring Basilian motto, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.” In our high schools in particular, through the vibrant Catholic ethos of religious, spiritual, sacramental, academic, and co-curricular programmes, we endeavour to discover and share the extraordinary truth and beauty of divine revelation in the ordinary routines of teaching and learning, playing and building, challenging and growing, which in turn fulfill us in our daily school life, while preparing us for Life.

Ever seeking the divine extraordinary amidst the human ordinary and everyday, a Basilian education is necessarily grounded in the “fully catholic understanding that we are meant to be universal or for all,” explains Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB, President of St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas (1900). “By contrast, some private schools want to work exclusively with the academically brilliant or the athletically gifted or the socially graceful – that is not our goal at all. We want to support an array of talents – academic, artistic, athletic – and we feel that this diversity produces a richer and fuller educational experience for all our students.” Our commitment to provide financial aid for tuition assistance enriches the socio-economic diversity of our schools, which is an inherent component of being catholic and universal.

Fr. John Huber, CSB, President of Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi, Michigan (1928), spells out this catholic or universal perspective in the Basilian approach to the curriculum. Subjects and the learning of them are not confined to their own periods in the school day, but rather receive from and contribute to each other, Fr. John Huber, CSB with Catholic Central students with a view to encouraging our students to appreciate the unity and wholeness of God’s love in all of creation: “A Basilian education incorporates the teachings of the Catholic Church into how we view every aspect of our lives, of the world, and of creation. The entire curriculum teaches the truth: truths discovered through science and mathematics, truths as presented in poetry, art, music, and literature, truths as revealed in Sacred Scripture and Church traditions, truths as revealed through fraternal relationships based on respecting the dignity of all life.” The

foundational document of the Basilian Fathers, The Basilian Way of Life, explains that the inspiration and teaching of St. Basil the Great are at the very heart of this richly inclusive view of education: St. Basil was chosen as patron “because of his holiness and the example he gives us, and because of two aspects of his life and teaching. Imbued with the spirit of the Gospel, he taught men and women how to live a Christian community life in the conditions of his time, and he found even in pagan learning values which, seen in the light of revelation, might contribute to a full Christian life.”

In his undergraduate experience of a Basilian educational formation at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Fr. Patrick Fulton, CSB, Principal of St. Thomas High School, found that his teachers and mentors applied Fr. Storey’s point of catholicity or universality with sharper focus on specifically the human being, the individual student: “It was a spiritual home where my fledgling independent faith was both challenged and nurtured.It was a warm place and that flowed from the Basilians there. They were a mixed lot.

There was no singular characterFr. Patrick Fulton, CSB with a student ization of them – they defied definition. They all were intensely student-focused, taking personal interest in each of their students’ lives, having conversations with students and citizens of the College alike that were well outside what would have been expected by their professorial duties. They ate lunch with the students or breezed by the dance. They were not reticent about challenging my assumptions and prejudices, and encouraged an open mind formed by a broad education. It was a pastoral approach to education by the Basilians which flowed through the lay staff too, who exhibited the same characteristics. One of Fr. Henry Carr, CSB’s famous dictums, ‘A Basilian can never spend enough time with his students,’ has stayed with me and become written on my heart. I think that the genius of Basilians is how they seek ways to infiltrate and influence their students. In the high school apostolate, this may manifest itself through coaching. It’s in our Basilian DNA, the knowledge that we can preach from a pulpit a hundred times and not be heard, but one little sentence or one moment as a coach can make a huge difference in a young person’s life through the lessons learned from the Gospel that isn’t preached. Basilians instinctively know why this is the case.”

Echoing these distinctively Basilian perspectives, Fr. Dennis Noelke, CSB, Principal of Catholic Central High School, summarizes “the three elements which characterize a

Fr. Dennis Noelke, CSB with Catholic Central students

Basilian education: fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ, growing through loving service to others, and building community together.” One of the shining examples of this community is the rich brotherhood among our students that marks each Basilian school. Teaching and learning from each other while being themselves, our students give and receive love and support from their classmates, which seals the lifelong bonds of brotherhood among them, often extending through generations, as witnessed among groomsmen, godfathers, business partners, and shotgun starts at golf tournaments.

The Collège Privé du Sacré-Cœur in Annonay, France, still standing tall and functioning as a thriving middle school, is a living monument of Basilian education which laid its foundation and grew up on this hilltop since 1822 under the direction of the fledgling community of ten Basilian priests.

Mr. Michaël Bouvier is currently the school’s Principal. On this native soil but in a significantly different context, his perceptions echo poetically those of his North American Basilian counterparts: “It seems evident to me that Basilian education is conducted through individual human beings who have responded to a call, who feel invested and entrusted with a mission, who are resolved to work for the education of youth. These men and women share the common endeavour of helping students to grow up with confidence, accompanying them through the daily responsibilities of life, with particular focus on the strength to face and overcome difficulties by developing the necessary

Faculty and Staff of Collège Privé du Sacré-Coeur in Annonay

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

habits of giving the best of oneself, all the while respecting others in a spirit of openness to the world. All of these central values that are handed down from generation to generation define what is rooted in God’s plan for mankind, they define a foundation laid by the Basilian motto.”

Fr. Mario D’Souza, CSB is the Director of the Basilian Network for Education in the New Evangelization.

Reflecting on the recent BNENE ConfFr. Mario D’Souza, CSB erence, held at St. Michael’s College School in July 2015, he describes the nature of Basilian education in a blend of theological, philosophical, and pedagogical terms: “Jesus did not come to establish Catholic schools. He came to save us from the never-ending, imprisoning, and destructive cycle of sin and death. However, once so saved, everything changes, for we are, in the words of St. Paul, ‘a new creation,’ and how we live our lives, all that we do, seek, yearn for, and strive for is in response to being so saved. Catholic education is the indispensable secondary reflection on what it means to be saved by Christ in the living of one’s life: the choices made and the decisions carried out. In the school, this reflection concerns how the young, according to their stages of mental and moral growth, are to be introduced to the diversity of encountering God’s creation in so many different ways and expressions: from theology to music, from the common good to literature, from mathematics to history, and from sports to serving others. Human beings and the created order are transformed because of the gift and mystery of the Incarnation. I suspect that when we each stand before the throne of God, we will be asked how much we have loved. In this world, we have to learn to love the right things, for which knowledge and learning are essential. Catholic education helps us to order what we should love and to know why.”

Mr. David Mulroney ’73 began his term as the seventh President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St. Michael’s College on July 1, 2015. His first visit to a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Toronto was naturally to his Alma Mater, where he spoke to our Grades 11 and 12 students on October 19. In the following excerpt from his blog, he articulates eloquently how his recollection of this visit is seamlessly woven into his wider reflection on the gradual emergence and far-reaching value of the gifts of his Basilian education over his lifetime: Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

“It wasn’t entirely a professional call. In addition to wanting to speak to a student body that traditionally sends some of its best graduates downtown to the University of St. Michael’s College, I was also looking forward to seeing some old friends. One of them is SMCS’s new Principal, Greg Reeves ’73, like me a graduate of the same year. A gifted student-athlete, Greg went off to the University of Pennsylvania in the Ivy League to play hockey and to lay the groundwork for an impressive career in Catholic education. I also had the chance to catch up with former classmates Paul Barry ’73 and John Walsh ’73, former ’73 classmates who are also on SMCS’s deeply experienced teaching staff.

“My main objective in meeting with the students was to encourage a continuing flow of top-quality talent from SMCS to USMC. In my attempt to do that, I reminded them of our shared origins and history as the two connected halves of a highly successful Basilian experiment in Catholic education in Toronto. But I ended up spending less of my time on recruitment and more of it talking about the most notable take-away from any time spent with the Basilians, namely their gifts of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. I started by acknowledging that they are strange gifts. They aren’t presented complete and ready to experience, but require some effort to attain and enjoy. They represent something like a desired destination, visible on the horizon of life, very real and ultimately accessible, but only reached after traversing some difficult terrain.

“My warning of struggle and much time spent on the journey was, of course, another way of explaining to the students my own incomplete reception of the gifts. But as I was putting my thoughts down on paper, and reflected on my own arm’s length experience of those gifts in family, friends, and colleagues, I was struck by a common theme. The people I admire most are the strugglers, the strivers, and the seekers. They acknowledge their incompleteness and are perpetually trying to overcome it. In doing so, all that striving, all that effort, ennobles them. It actually makes them better. And because they are conscious of their own failings, they have huge reserves of tolerance and sympathy for others.

“It finally dawned on me, embarrassingly late in life, that the struggle and the journeying are the real Basilian gifts.

The reward comes in trying to gain knowledge, striving to embrace discipline, and struggling to be good.”

The Class of 1973 must have been a tightly knit group, one in mind and one in spirit – indeed, like any other class.

Great minds think alike, and it is especially edifying and gratifying to read how David Mulroney ’73s experience and appreciation of Basilian education were all but duplicated by that of his classmate Greg Reeves, the still new Principal of St. Michael’s College School who, despite his salt and pepper trappings of an Old Boy, pretends to excuse himself as “the new guy” in the school: “The impact of my Basilian education taught me to see the goodness in Life. While attending the school, I was too young to realize the Basilian influence on my faith formation. The continuous message of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge came to me in many forms.

“The formal teaching in the classroom taught us about knowledge and the internal discipline to keep up with our studies. It taught us about respect by encouraging and by being encouraged, it taught us empathy, compassion, and understanding, but most of all it gave us skills and tools to cope outside the classroom.

“The halls, the cafeteria, the music room, the gym, and the rink were other areas where Basilian education came to life.

This is where we learned about hard work, dedication, honesty, and passion. I did not realize that all of these were tools for life. When I left the safe confines of Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB the yellow bricks, I had no idea how well with St. Thomas St. Michael’s had prepared me. I was well students prepared and equipped in Knowledge and Discipline, but the understanding of Goodness came to me later. I am not sure I understand Goodness yet, but I do believe in it. It comes at me daily, in the people I meet, in the work I do, and in the joy I see in my family. I have been truly blessed, and I believe that the Basilian Fathers modelled their faith for me in words and actions.

“The words Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge call for action from a Gospel perspective. Everything flows from Goodness. If we see the world from this point of view, we will find God in everyone and everything. I now realize that I use Knowledge and Discipline to try to bring out the best in other people. The very ordinary things in life truly become extraordinary. And so the opening phrase “Teach Me” becomes a simple prayer to help us cope with whatever Life throws at us. I know

Greg Reeves ’73

that Basilian education has taught me to pray, to try to be a good person, and to use my God-given skills and talents to see and bring out the best in others.”

Never shying away from an opportunity to have the last word, how do I compose the closing bars to this harmonious chorus? What is the cadence that brings together these reflections and expressions of Basilian educational philosophy and experience for a unified resolution? Surely it is natural for us to bring ourselves back to the home key of the Basilian motto: “Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.” In our united pilgrimage to grow ever more into the image and likeness of God, we are blessed with a lifetime during which to harvest the gifts of a Basilian education, an education of the whole person that gradually moulds the body, the mind, and the soul. The beautiful Mission Statement of St. Michael’s College School speaks from the very heart of this holistic approach to education: “In the tradition of the Basilian Fathers, we educate young men in Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge for a life of leadership and service in faithfulness to Jesus Christ.” Is this why the students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni of Basilian schools are inspired by the impulse to move from within themselves toward service to others, and finding Christ there too, to embrace him by responding to the world in love and freedom? Is this why, after teaching in all three Basilian high schools in North America, I am convinced that we could move the student body from one school to another and the only thing different would be the building? Is this why our alumni from all our schools say to us over and over again, and the older the alumnus the stronger this conviction, that the years they spent in their Basilian high school made all the difference by preparing them well for the right path that became their life?

What, then, is a Basilian education?

It is the foundation for life.

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

basilian future looks to past In his keynote presentation, ‘The Vocation and Mission of the Catholic Educator’, Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver, recognized the important role Basilian-run schools have played in the Catholic community for more than a century and a half.

Looking to the future, Archbishop Miller challenged Catholic educators to make evangelization the primary mission in their classrooms and schools in his keynote address at the Basilian Network for Education and New Evangelization (BNENE) 2015 Summer Conference.

Educators and administrators from Basilian schools, including Catholic Central High School, Collège Privé Sacré-Coeur, Instituto de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, St. Michael’s College School, and St. Thomas High School, gathered in Toronto for the conference held at St. Michael’s on July 11-12.

The 200-year tradition of Basilian education is taking a new path into the future - a path first walked by the disciples Jesus sent out two-by-two to connect with the villages of Galilee and change the world. In this case, the villages will be Basilian schools in Canada, France, the United States and Colombia and the disciples will be pairs of Basilian priests.

At the conference, Basilian Superior General Fr. George Smith, CSB launched the BNENE network, inspired by the 2011 Synod on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of Christian Faith. Smith feels the network

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

is a way for the order to keep its tradition in education alive in an era of fewer vocations to the priesthood.

“The smaller we get as a religious congregation, the more important it is that we deepen our understanding of communion and mission,” Smith told about 60 teachers and administrators from Basilian schools in Annonay, France, Cali, Colombia, Detroit, Houston, and Toronto.

Ten Basilian priests will be paired in two-man teams to visit Basilian schools on their regular professional development days. The Basilians will invite teachers and staff into an ongoing discussion on the tradition and meaning of Catholic education. But before that, the initial experience will be extended via e-mail, Skype, and other forms of communication, so that teachers at Basilian schools have the opportunity to develop their sense of vocation both as baptized Christians and as Catholic educators.

“Our schools aren’t Catholic because our students wear uniforms or are perhaps more disciplined,” Archbishop Miller told the inaugural BNENE conference.

“Our schools are Catholic because they proclaim a name, the name above every other name.”

cal, hypocritical, and strange” televangelists, but in the sense that they should become instruments of ever-growing communion with Christ.

Pointing out that education, and the meaning of education, is a theme that comes up repeatedly in Pope Francis’ writing to the Church, Miller said “we must go from seeing the school primarily as an institution to seeing the school primarily as a place of communion.”

“Francis’ call for a culture of encounter begins and ends with an encounter with Jesus,” he continued, believing that once a teacher has an experience of Christian communion they will discover and operate from a Catholic understanding of the world.

Fr. Mario D’Souza, CSB, a professor of the theology of education at the University of St. Michael’s College, will be the first executive director of the Basilian Network. *This is an edited version of a story by Michael Swan that originally appeared on July 13, 2015 at catholicregister.org. It contains additional files from basilian.org.

Miller, who once worked in the Vatican for the Congregation for Catholic Education, believes Catholic teachers must be evangelizers, but not in the sense of “comi-

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

securing our future by giving back: recognizing influential basilians Kimberley Bailey Many members of our community have established funds at St. Michael’s to honour and recognize the Basilian Fathers’ that have taught at the school. The funds have been set up as bursaries to assist those who cannot afford the cost of a St. Michael’s education, as awards given to current students for academics and/or athletics, along with exit scholarships given at graduation.

The Fr. Leo Campbell, CSB Bursary was established in 2008 to assist a student who is a member of the Music programme and is unable to afford the tuition cost of a St. Michael’s education.

The Bursary was created in honour and memory of Fr. Leo Campbell whose musical talents and contributions to the St. Michael’s community are missed.

The Fr. Thomas F. Mohan, CSB Scholarship was established by Mr. Edmond Odette, OSM ’44 and is awarded annually through the E. & G. Odette Foundation to one or more students completing Grade 9. The scholarship is based upon a combination of three criteria from the candidate's Grade 8 and Grade 9 years: good academics, a healthy participation in extracurricular activities and athletics. Typically, each recipient will be awarded approximately $1000 per year and there are approximately 10-12 recipients per grade level per year AWARDS:

BURSARIES: The Père Jean-Mathieu Soulerin, CSB Bursary was established by the Basilian Fathers of St. Michael’s College School to assist a student who has a high academic standard and will has been actively involved within the school community, while demonstrating that he is a ‘St. Michael’s Man’ through his integrity.

The Fr. Brian Higgins, CSB Bursary was established in 2007 to assist a financially needy student who is unable to afford the tuition cost of a St. Michael’s education.

The Fr. John Leonard ‘Bud’ Cullen, CSB Bursary Fund is awarded specifically to a financially needy student at St. Michael’s College School in need of emergency funds.

The Fr. Leo Burns, CSB Entrance Bursary was established in April 2014 to provide a Grade 9 academically qualified student, who cannot afford the cost of a St. Michael’s education, the opportunity to attend the school.

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

The Fr. Matthew Mulcahy, CSB Entrance Bursary was established in April 2014 to provide a Grade 9 academically qualified student, who cannot afford the cost of a St. Michael’s education, the opportunity to attend the school.

The Fr. Neil Hibberd, CSB Bursary was established in 2007 to assist a student-athlete, preferably a crosscountry runner, who is unable to afford the tuition cost of a St. Michael’s education. The Bursary was created through the generosity of alumni during an evening of celebration for Fr. Hibberd. The Bursary of $1,000 is used to offset tuition costs.

The Fr. Rocco Volpe, CSB Bursary was established in 2007 in memory of Fr. Volpe ’48 who died in July of that year. Fr. Volpe was a former student, teacher, and chaplain at St. Michael’s College School. The Bursary was established in consultation with Fr. Volpe’s family and is dedicated specifically for a first generation Canadian Grade 9 student in financial need.

The student must be well-rounded in academics and athletics, and should exhibit values in keeping with Fr. Volpe’s qualities: kindness, humility, a love of learning, and strong community values, with a desire to encourage others to be their best.

The Fr. Ted Flanagan, CSB Bursary Fund is awarded specifically to the MVP of the Varsity Kerry Blues during the Athletic Banquet.

The Fr. Cecil Zinger, CSB Award For Grade 9 Beginner Music was created

by Mr. Michael Remenyi in honour of Fr. Cecil Zinger, OSM for his contributions to the Music Department. The award is dedicated specifically to a Grade 9 Beginner Music student who made an outstanding contribution to the music programme and has registered for Grade 10 Music. The award combines their academic achievement along with their performance and dedication to the music programme.

EXIT SCHOLARSHIPS: The Fr. Daniel Zorzi, CSB Football Scholarship was created in April 2013 by the Toronto Junior Argonauts, to honour Fr. Zorzi’s assistance with, and support of, its programme. Fr. Zorzi was President of St. Michael’s College School from 2000-05. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating football player, who exemplifies a dedication to academics, faith, school spirit, and athletics, while embodying the Basilian tradition of an educating a well-rounded person.

The Fr. James Rent, CSB Exit Scholarship was established in April 2014 to be awarded annually to the graduating student who achieves the fifth highest academic average based on six SMCS courses in the graduating year.

The Fr. Leo Burns, CSB Exit Scholarship was established in April 2014 to be awarded annually to the graduating student who achieves the fourth highest academic average based on six SMCS subjects in the graduating year.

The Fr. Norman Fitzpatrick, CSB Exit Scholarship was created in June 2005 in honour of Father Fitzpatrick’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination. Fr. Fitzpatrick is a former Principal of St. Michael’s College School (1969-86). The scholarship is awarded to two graduating students who have made a significant contribution to the dramatic arts productions at St. Michael’s College School in a performance capacity and a technical capacity.

The Fr. Tony Kelly, CSB Classics Medal was established in memory of Fr. Tony Kelly, who for many years was a beloved teacher of Latin and Greek at St. Michael’s College School. The medal is awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated a high degree of achievement, and enthusiasm for, Classical studies at St. Michael’s College School.

If you are interested in donating to one of these funds or establishing a new one, please contact the Advancement Office at 416-653-3180 x118 or advancement@smcsmail.com.

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

Remembering Room 12 on the eve of its return...

basilian origins: from canada west to st. clair west Gavin Davidson ’93 Everything changed when, later in 1853, Lord Elmsley gave the Basilians three lots to the north of his property.

After receiving money from France, the Basilians started building, eventually moving St. Michael’s College to Clover Hill in 1856. Since that day, St. Mike’s has been at the forefront of Basilian education in Ontario, while serving as example and inspiration for other Basilian secondary schools globally.

Thanks to the stellar teaching of Paul Barry ’73 and an enthralling television mini-series he showed in full to our Grade 12 History class, I am quite well-versed on Robespierre and his Reign of Terror. What I did not know, however, is that it was in response to these extreme conditions that the Basilian Fathers came to be, and in so doing, developed their dedication to education. For it was at the height of the terror, in 1797, that two diocesan priests first began teaching clandestinely at a secret school in the mountains of France.

small community of around 20 members, persevered through a variety of political and financial struggles.

Surely then, Bishop ArmandFrançois-Marie de Charbonnel of Toronto must have thought in 1852, if these hearty Basilians can survive the terrors of revolutionary France and the dangers of post-revolutionary society, the challenges of the New World would pose them Bishop Armand François-Marie no threat at all. de Charbonnel

For you see, on May 26, 1850, Fr. de Charbonnel, a French priest and a former student of the Basilians, who had been educated at the College of Annonay, was consecrated Bishop of Toronto. A very zealous and saintly man, the new Bishop was faced with a multiplicity of problems, none more pressing than a lack of schools offering religious education in Canada West.

It was clear to de Charbonnel that the young people of his parishes needed Catholic schools, particularly at the high school level. In searching for a solution, the Bishop thought of his own education in France.

Collège Privé du Sacré-Coeur in Annonay

When the anti-religious laws were relaxed after the school had been operating for several years, the ten priests serving there bound themselves into a religious community. It was their hope and belief that the school, which had by then moved out of the mountains and into the nearby city of Annonay, would have a better chance of success under the direction of a recognized congregation that could accept and train new members - enabling the operation to continue following the retirement of the founding fathers. St. Basil the Great, a fourth century teacher, bishop, and doctor of the Church, was selected to be the patron of the new community.

Even after the conditions in France had improved, keeping the school open was tough slogging and dangerous work. In succeeding, the Basilians, with a Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

A look at Collège Privé du Sacré-Coeur in Annonay today

And so it was, that in the middle of the nineteenth century, on an invitation from Bishop de Charbonnel, four priests from Annonay - Basilians - set out to change the course of education in Canada West. Arriving in August 1852, the small band of Basilians was composed of Fr. Soulerin, CSB and Fr. Malbos, CSB, Superior and Bursar respectively, along with two unordained clerics, Messrs. Flannery and Vincent. The group’s fifth member, Fr. Molony, CSB, was already on the ground in Canada West, having previously accompanied Bishop de Charbonnel on his voyage to Toronto in 1850.

Prior to the group’s arrival in Toronto, a treaty had been arranged between the Bishop and the Basilian Superior General, Fr. Tourvieille, CSB. It was decided that the main work of the Basilians in Toronto was to be the establishment of a Little Seminary, to be owned by the Bishop. In pursuit of this goal, the Basilians established St. Mary’s Seminary as a beachhead in the New World. Located on Queen St. E., it opened in September 1852 and served nine religious students.

While the Basilians had been engaged to administer the seminary, Bishop de Charbonnel had obtained the services of the Christian Brothers to run a high school for boys who sought a secular education. Named St. Michael’s College, it was located at the Bishop’s residence and ready for occupancy in 1851. But, in spite of Fr. Jean-Mathieu Soulerin, CSB the best efforts of both the Bishop and the Christian Brothers, St. Michael’s enjoyed little success. After a half-year, there were only eight students.

Although the seminary was, by comparison, doing quite well, money was rather scarce. In 1853 Bishop de Charbonnel moved the seminary into the space in his house where the Christian Brothers had previously established St. Michael’s College. The two institutions were merged, with the seminary morphing into a mixed school, serving male students of both secular and ecclesiastical pursuits.

This new combined school, which retained the name St. Michael’s College, was placed under the sole direction of the Basilian Fathers.

In the beginning, still geared primarily towards aspirants to the priesthood, St. Michael’s offered, in the French style, a combination of what would now be called high school and university education. The curriculum involved five years of Latin studies as well as Mathematics, Greek, and English.

Everything changed when, later in 1853, Lord Elmsley gave the Basilians three lots to the north of his property.

After receiving money from France, the Basilians started building, eventually moving St. Michael’s College to Clover Hill in 1856. Since that day, St. Mike’s has been at the forefront of Basilian education in Ontario, while serving as example and inspiration for other Basilian secondary schools globally.

Eager to build on the early success of St. Michael’s, the Basilians sought to rapidly expand their imprint on Catholic education in Canada West. Five years following Lord Elmsley’s donation enabling the move to Clover Hill, another Basilian priest, Fr. Malbos, CSB, established a Basilian secondary school in Windsor (then known as Sandwich) after taking over the struggling Assumption College.

Originally, a Jesuit school, Assumption College had opened its doors to students in February 1857.

However, the Jesuits decided in August of that same year that they would be unable to continue staffing the college. On the advice of his counterpart in Toronto, Bishop Pierre-Adolphe Pinsonnault of London turned to the Basilian Fathers.

The Basilians began to entrench and consolidate their purposes in Windsor, beginning with the Superiorship of Fr. Denis O’Connor, CSB in 1870. O’Connor, who was to become the Archbishop, copied the blueprint that had worked so well at St. Michael’s. In order to increase enrollment, Assumption’s curriculum was expanded to include both classical and commercial courses. In order to improve finances, the school enrolled students from the United States at higher fees.

Assumption College continued to undergo considerable changes under the direction of school president Fr. R. Francis Foster, CSB. Foster brought the secondary school curriculum up to Department of Education standards, sepaAssumption University rated the high school and college departments, and aimed at raising the standards of the latter. With increased demand for a Catholic college for lay students, Assumption was able to expand from a minor seminary to a school offering lay undergraduate instruction, as an affiliate of Western University. Through a 1919 affiliation agreement, Assumption College became a member of the larger university’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and began to concentrate on molding “as many students as possible into integral human beings, oriented to God and to a right conception of society.”

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

Once again, these changes were inspired by successes experienced at St. Michael’s, when Fr. Henry Carr, CSB became president of the school in 1904. Aware the curriculum was outdated, and realizing that increasing numbers of Catholic youth were attracted to a professional life, Carr had created a modern high school curriculum designed to serve their needs. He successfully transformed the programme of studies so that St. Michael’s students qualified for university entrance. By 1906, the post-secondary department of St. Michael’s had become an independent arts college, federated with the University of Toronto.

The decades that followed were sallow, marked as they were by two world wars, The Great Depression, and the temporary establishment of the east and west-end campuses for St. Michael’s College School. However, as the 1940s turned into the ’50s, the Basilians entered a golden age of education in Ontario. In 1950, St. Michael’s College School moved from Clover Hill to the current campus at the corner of Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue, and in 1957, Assumption High School moved to a new campus on Huron Church Line. In between these two milestones, the first steps toward the union of French and Canadian Basilians were taken, with the visit of Fr. Roume, CSB of Annonay to Toronto in 1954.

goes, surprised Basilian Superior General, Fr. George Flahiff, CSB at a large gathering, by announcing that the Basilians would open a Catholic high school in the west part of Toronto. Never known to shy away from a challenge, the Basilians opened Michael Power High School, in Etobicoke, in 1957. It was the fifth Basilian secondary school in Ontario.

That same year, the Basilians opened their final high school in the province, establishing their first co-ed institution at St. Joseph’s in Ottawa. And so it remained, with six First Graduating Class at Michael Power High School Basilian-run high schools in Ontario, until the offer of full funding from the province led all Basilian schools but one to become co-educational institutions that were part of local Catholic school boards.

As we know, St. Michael’s College School blazed a different path, thereby continuing to serve as an example and inspiration for other Basilian secondary schools globally.

The 1950s was an era not just of renewal, but expansion, as the Basilians opened four more high schools in Ontario.

Priests of the Sault Diocese, who had previously attended St. Michael’s, successfully lobbied the Basilians for two schools – expanding St. Mike’s influence to the north.

The Basilians took possession of a former orphanage in Sudbury in 1951 and used it as their temporary home, while the building that was to house St. Charles College was constructed.

During construction of St. Mary’s College, the other high school in the diocese, finances were so tight, that Fr. Matthew Mulcahy, CSB, the founding principal and future St. Michael’s faculty member, sent the teaching seminarians out to sell raffle tickets to local miners as they exited their shifts. A details guy and a big personality - as SMCS students of a certain vintage will remember, Fr. Mulcahy, and another Basilian, Fr. Patrick Lalonde, CSB ’46, lived above a stage in the school auditorium while they supervised the building of the school.

Another big personality, as Ontario Catholics of a certain vintage will remember, was Cardinal James Charles McGuigan. It was McGuigan who, as the legend Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

THANK YOU BASILIANS Thank you to the Basilian Fathers who have served St. Michael’s College School since it opened its Bathurst Street campus in September 1950. (We apologize in advance for any omissions, and kindly ask that you inform the Communications Office of any errors - md@smcsmail.com.)

BASILIANS WHO HAVE SERVED AT ST. MICHAEL'S COLLEGE SCHOOL SINCE 1950 Fr. Grace Joseph Agius, CSB Fr. Thomas Amlin, CSB Fr. Kevin Anderson, CSB Fr. David W. Bauer, CSB Fr. George Edward Beaune, CSB Fr. Michael Bernard Biondi, CSB Fr. Francis H. Black, CSB Fr. Francis Christian Boehm, CSB Fr. John Francis Boland, CSB Fr. Luis Joseph Bondy, CSB Fr. James Bowie, CSB Fr. Joseph Brady, CSB Fr. William J. Brown, CSB Fr. Leo D. Burns, CSB Fr. Albert Butler, CSB Fr. Frederick Wallace Cahill, CSB Fr. John Francis Callaghan, CSB Fr. Leo C. Campbell, CSB Fr. Wilfred Steidel Canning, CSB Fr. James Carruthers, CSB

ONTARIO HIGH SCHOOLS UNDER BASILIAN DIRECTION

St. Michael’s College School on Clover Hill

This article was compiled with liberal aid from the following sources: Rev. J. Rent, CSB ’54, CSB, Basilians and Secondary Education in Ontario, Basilian Archives Fr. Francis Boland, CSB, Father Soulerin, CSB, Founder and Administrator, Assumption University Peter M. Meehan, From College to University: The Basilian Fathers and Assumption, CCHA Dr. Mark McGowan, BA, MA, PhD University of Toronto, Department of History http://www.stmichaelscollegeschool.com/aboutus/history-and-archives/index.aspx http://www.basilian.org/about-us/history/

St. Michael’s College School Toronto ~ 1852 - present Assumption High School Windsor ~ 1870 - 1994 St. Charles College Sudbury ~ 1851 - 1993 St. Mary’s College Sault Ste. Marie ~ 1956 - 2000 Michael Power High School Etobicoke ~ 1957 - 1998 St. Joseph’s High School Ottawa ~ 1958 - 1974

Fr. Robert Thomas Chauvin, CSB Fr. Daniel Chui, CSB Fr. J. William Conway, CSB Fr. John V. Corrigan, CSB Fr. William Edmund Coughlin, CSB Fr. John J. Crowley, CSB Fr. Budd (J. Leonard) Cullen, CSB Fr. Hugh John Curran, CSB Fr. Edward William Donoher, CSB Fr. John Egsgard, CSB Fr. James Enright, CSB Fr. Donald Faught, CSB Fr. Lawrence Faye, CSB Fr. Timothy Fitzgerald, CSB Fr. Norman J. Fitzpatrick, CSB Fr. Edward Ted Flanagan, CSB Fr. Hugh McMahon Foley, CSB Fr. James Terence Forestell, CSB Fr. John Augustin Fournier, CSB Fr. Dennis Foy, CSB Fr. Patrick W. Fulton, CSB Fr. Sean Garrity, CSB Fr. William Joseph Gibbons, CSB Fr. Basil Francis Glavin, CSB Fr. Paul T. Glynn, CSB Fr. Michael Alphonsus Goetz, CSB Fr. Patrick J. Gorman, CSB Fr. Gerald Telesphore Gregoire, CSB Fr. Leon George Hart, CSB Fr. Arthur Thomas Hathaway, CSB Fr. Leo Anthony Hetzler, CSB Fr. Neil Hibberd, CSB Fr. Brian P. Higgins, CSB Fr. Arthur J. Holmes, CSB Fr. Robert K. Holmes, CSB Fr. Christopher Iredale, CSB Fr. Norman Iversen, CSB Fr. John Baptist Janisse, CSB Fr. Richard Joseph Jeffery, CSB Fr. Robert Kasun, CSB Fr. Anthony J. Kelly, CSB Fr. William Kelly, CSB

Fr. Gordon Francis Kennedy, CSB Fr. Leonard Anthony Kennedy, CSB Fr. Kevin John Kirley, CSB Fr. Gerald Austin Lalonde, CSB Fr. Michael Lehman, CSB Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB Fr. David Alfred Levack, CSB Fr. William J. Lewis, CSB Fr. Arthur Rynold Looby, CSB Fr. Robert Joseph Madden, CSB Fr. Gregory T. Mai, CSB Fr. Thomas Gregory Mallon, CSB Fr. John Malo, CSB Fr. Nicholas Manherz, CSB Fr. William May, CSB Fr. Gerald McAlpine, CSB Fr. Frank McCabe, CSB Fr. Bernard McCarron, CSB Fr. Francis McCarty, CSB Fr. Edmund Joseph McCorkell, CSB Fr. Barry McDermott, CSB Fr. William Patrick McGee, CSB Fr. Thomas McGillis, CSB Fr. Leo McGrady, CSB Fr. Robert McKinnon, CSB Fr. Louis C. Edward McLean, CSB Fr. Ian M. McRae, CSB Fr. J. Arnold Megan, CSB Fr. Paul Meloche, CSB Fr. Thomas Mohan, CSB Fr. Robert Michael Montague, CSB Fr. John Bert Morrissey, CSB Fr. Peter Kingdom Mosteller, CSB Fr. Matthew T. Mulcahy, CSB Fr. John Brian Mullins, CSB Fr. Leo Munnelly, CSB Fr. John Murphy, CSB Fr. James Murphy, CSB Fr. Hugh Nolan, CSB Fr. William H. O'Brien, CSB Fr. Francis James O'Grady, CSB Fr. Arthur O'Leary, CSB

Fr. John O'Loane, CSB Fr. Eugene O'Reilly, CSB Fr. Vincent Alton Pare, CSB Fr. Joseph Penny, CSB Fr. George Raymond Phelan, CSB Fr. John Anthony Poluikis, CSB Fr. Louis Purcell, CSB Fr. William Reddall, CSB Fr. John Reddy, CSB Fr. Joseph Redican, CSB Fr. Basil Regan, CSB Fr. Edward Arthur Roberts, CSB Fr. Edward X. Ronan, CSB Fr. Dennis Rowan, CSB Fr. Norman Roy, CSB Fr. Walter Winthrop Scott, CSB Fr. Matthew P. Sheedy, CSB Fr. Richard Sheehan, CSB Fr. Paul Thomas Sheehan, CSB Fr. Fergus Joseph Sheehy, CSB Fr. Neil H. Smith, CSB Fr. William James Stoba, CSB Fr. John Jerome Stortz, CSB Fr. Brian Sweeney, CSB Fr. Maurice Taylor, CSB Fr. George J. Thompson, CSB Fr. Jefferson M. Thompson, CSB Fr. Joseph Timmons, CSB Fr. Cyril Udall CSB Fr. George Vander Zanden, CSB Fr. Daniel Vernelli, CSB Fr. Rocco C. Volpe, CSB Fr. Arthur Francis Waligore, CSB Fr. Joseph Walsh, CSB Fr. David Weise, CSB Fr. Maurice F. Whelan, CSB Fr. John Raymond Whitley, CSB Fr. Robert Joseph Whyte, CSB Fr. Albert L. Williams, CSB Fr. Kenneth Wilson, CSB Fr. Cecil Harold Zinger, CSB Fr. Daniel Zorzi, CSB Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

some significant dates in basilian history 1800 Archbishop d’Aviau appoints Fr. Joseph Lapierre to the parish of Saint-Symphorien-de-Mahun, Ardèche, where classes are taught in the rectory: our first school.

1802 The school moves to Annonay and occupies a former Franciscan college, becoming known as Le Collège des Cordeliers.

Fr. Joseph Lapierre

1808 Sainte Barbe minor seminary opens in Annonay for boys whose parents could pay no tuition.

Annonay

1822 The first General Chapter of the ten secular priests who form the Community of Priests of St. Basil is held in Annonay on November 21. Fr. Lapierre is elected first Superior General.

St. Basil’s

Church

1850 Fr. Patrick Molony, Basilian from Annonay, accompanies Bishop Armand de Charbonnel to Toronto to minister to Irish immigrants.

1852 Fr. Jean Soulerin and three companions come from Annonay to Toronto to establish a minor seminary. The Community of Priests of St. Basil professes the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Assumptio Windosr n University,

rles, Collège Saint-Cha Blidah, Algeria

Collège Privé du Sacré-C

oeur

1856 Opening of St. Michael’s College and St. Basil’s Church on Clover Hill, Toronto.

1857 Opening of Assumption College, Sandwich, Ontario; Basilian commitment becomes permanent there as of 1870.

1867 St. Louis College, Louisville, Ohio; first foundation in the United States.

nd, Houston

St. Thomas Ba

1868 French Basilians open St. Charles College, Blidah, Algeria.

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

1883 College of Mary Immaculate, Beaconfield, England, and common novitiate for France and Canada.

alumni association 2016 event calendar Please save the date for these upcoming events and visit stmichaelscollegeschool.com for updates. For further information on any of these events, please contact Stephanie Nicholls, Alumni and Special Events Officer, at 416-653-3180 ext. 273.

1900 St. Thomas College, Houston, Texas.

1928 Catholic Central High School, Detroit, Michigan.

MAY 14 – EVANS TANNIS ALUMNI SOCCER SHOWDOWN

1936 St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

1947 University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas.

In honour of Mr. Evans Tannis, the Evans Tannis Alumni Soccer Showdown was created to raise funds for the Alumni Association and to reunite soccer alumni. All alumni are invited to come and join in the tournament.

For more information, please contact Dante Di Iulio ’05 (dante@heroburgers.com).

MAY 19 - ALUMNI SPRING REUNION & BBQ

1951 St. John Fisher College, Rochester, New York.

1961 Basilians move into Mexico, to San Juan Crisóstomo Parish, Mexico City.

1963 St. Joseph’s College, Edmonton, Alberta.

1987 Basilians go to South America, Instituto and Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Cali, Columbia 1991 St. Benedict’s Parish, St Lucia, West Indies.

1999 Holy Redeemer High School, Detroit, Michigan.

2012 Basilian Network for Education in the New Evangelization (BNENE)

Alumni, parents, and friends are invited to participate in the St. Michael’s College School Annual Golf Tournament. This year, the tournament will be held at Markland Wood Country Club.

The proceeds raised will benefit the Bursary Programme.

YOUNG ALUMNI GOLF TOURNAMENT – TBC

1929 Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto.

1935 Ministry to Mexican Catholics in Texas.

JUNE 20 - ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Graduating classes from the past 10 years are invited back to St. Michael’s for the Alumni Spring Reunion & BBQ, hosted by the Alumni Association. A reception is held for the most recent graduating class, who are officially welcomed into the Alumni Association and presented with a gift.

MAY 26 – THE BIG BLUE BENEFIT

The St. Michael’s community is invited to the campus for an evening of music, sampling of delicious food, and a chance to win exciting prizes.

Classes from 1996-2015 are invited to participate in the Young Alumni Golf Tournament. The tournament offers alumni the opportunity to reconnect with classmates and friends, and establish new relationships.

SEPTEMBER 24 - HOMECOMING

Join us for Homecoming. The day offers the St. Michael's community of students, families, alumni, staff and friends a place to come together and celebrate the spirit of St. Michael's.

NOVEMBER 25 ALUMNI TURKEY ROLL & REUNION

Come join Basilians, faculty, staff from past and present, and former classmates to reconnect old friendships and community. The evening will begin with mass celebrated at 6:00 p.m. in the school chapel before moving to the gymnasium. The classes of 1967 (50 years), 1992 (25 years), and 2007 (10 years) will be honoured and presented with commemorative gifts.

JUNE 11 – ENZO MONTEMURRO ’81 TOUCH FOOTBALL CLASSIC In 2013, Matt Montemurro ’05 and Ron Scarafile ’05 founded the Enzo Montemurro ’81 Touch Football Classic.

Alumni of all ages are invited to participate in this 5-on-5 tournament. All proceeds raised from this event support the Enzo Montemurro ’81 Bursary Fund and the Alumni Association. For more information, please contact Matt (matt@monteandcoe.com) or Ron (ron@monteandcoe.com).

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

where are they now Paul Burns ’57 has had a long teaching career at

posted on the Internet as a free download. It is

St. Mark’s College, Corpus Christi College in Vancouver,

entitled On Truality: A Forgotten Idea About the

and at the University of British Columbia. While at

Source of All Creation. His second book, tentatively

St. Michael’s, Paul studied Latin and Greek with

titled How I Discovered Truality, will be more specific

Fr. Tony Kelly, CSB

re: the many changes that occurred during George’s

’40. After graduation,

spiritual journey to date, his role as a truth seeker and

he obtained a degree in

his independent search for the meaning of God/Truth

Classics

during 4 stages of evolving consciousness and

from

the

University of Toronto

progressive discovery of Truality.

and degrees in Theology from the University

Further details, and free downloads, can be found on

of St. Michael’s College

George’s website – truality.ca.

and Oxford University.

Paul currently teaches

Dr. Kevin Higgins ’91

Religion

the

qualified for a spot on the

undergraduate dean at

Canadian Masters Cycling

Corpus Christi College,

team this past summer

under the guidance of

and competed in the UCI

college president Dr. Peter Meehan ’85. In 2012, Paul

World Cycling Tour Cham-

dedicated a book on early Christian thought to a

pionships

number of his teachers who have died, including

Denmark on September

Fr. Kelly. Paul’s brother Michael ’58, brothers-in-law

9, 2015. With 1,524 riders

Larry Soden ’58 and Mike Wiley ’68, nephews Mike

representing 45 countries,

’88 and Pat Soden ’91, and Luke Sarabia ’15 are all

Kevin completed the very technically challenging and

graduates. Jack Sarabia ’19 is a current student.

physically demanding 164 km race in a time of

St. Michael’s has been a family affair!

4:25:59, garnering him a 5th place finish on the 58

and

is

in

Aalborg,

rider Canadian Masters team and a 269th place finish George Kokich ’59 has written a book, his first and

overall. Kevin has competed in the Iron Man twice and

the first of a two-part series, detailing his “personal

run the Boston Marathon four times, but says this

spiritual journey and experiences". George attended

road race was the most physically demanding

seven universities, worked for thirty years in the

experience of his life.

Strategic Policy and Planning Sector of Canada's federal government, and has traveled to more than

Anthony Cinelli ’90 is the president and owner of

a dozen countries. After considerable thought on

Surrey Construction Inc., a contractor specializing in

what and how to write George settled on writing this

concrete, exterior cladding, and general construction

two-part series on Truality (a forgotten synonym for

in the commercial market. Anthony received his B.A.

‘God/Truth’).

in Psychology and B.A.S. in Marketing from York University in 1995. He then went on to work in the

George’s first book generally provides food for

construction industry, gaining experience in areas

thought about our Creator and about Truth. It is

such

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

as

waterproofing,

concrete,

and

general

maintenance. Along the way, he took night courses in estimating and plans, reading to further his knowledge in the industry. In January 2010, Anthony went on his own, starting Surrey Construction Inc. as a two-man company. Year over year, the company has grown. Anthony still enjoys his family time, whether it be watching his daughter Stephanie dance, or his son Matthew play hockey. Their passion is what makes him happiest.

Michael Cinelli ’95 is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. Michael received his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in 2006. He then completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Cognitive Science at Brown University (Providence, RI), before joining Wilfrid Laurier in 2008.

Michael’s research focuses on understanding how individuals use their sensory systems to control balance and locomotion across the life span, as well as understanding balance and cognitive dysfunctions following a concussion. Over the past seven years, Michael has served as a thesis supervisor for many graduate and undergraduate students. He has also taught undergraduate courses in Human Anatomy; Growth and Motor Development; Balance, Posture, and Gait; and Biodynamics of Physical Activity.

However, Michael’s main interest is spending time on the ice, field, or trails with his family: wife Sarah, daughter Alex, and son Kent.

David Cinelli ’97 is a real estate sales representative for Royal LePage Signature, and the owner /operator of The Property Manager, which offers income property services catered to individual investment needs.

Previously, David worked as a treasury and billing analyst for Toronto Hydro since 2004. He obtained his MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004 and a

BSc for Business and Mathematics from the University of WisconsinStevens Point in 2002.

Currently, David resides in Etobicoke with his wife Natalie and their two daughters Mila and Mateja.

Ryan ’03 and Tess Prendergast welcomed Harrison Peter in July 2015, much to the delight of grandfather Dan Prendergast, OSM, uncle Dan Jr. ’89, and cousin Ben Fox ’19.

Nick Pappalardo ’98 has been appointed as permanent chief of staff by Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown ’97. Pappalardo served in the same post for then-transportation minister Lisa Raitt from May 2014 until the recent election call. Prior to his time in Raitt’s office, Pappalardo worked for four-and-a-half years in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office as manager of regional affairs and advisor for Ontario after a brief stint as director of operations and appointments in the ministry of natural resources.* *edited from a Dec. 4th article in the National Post by Ashley Csanady

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

in memoriam Dan Prendergast, OSM was known as a shaper of men. When he wasn’t shaping boys into men on the basketball court at St. Michael’s, something he did for 27 years, Dan taught, counselled and performed administrative duties at the school. In 1996, Coach P retired from St. Michael’s after 34 years. Yet he continued to contribute to the school as an instrumental part of its fundraising and alumni initiatives. In 2010, Dan was inducted into the Blue Raiders Basketball Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Order of St. Michael, and was presented with the Paul Salfi Award for the role he played in developing basketball in Ontario.

The day before Thanksgiving, when they were sitting down for a potluck dinner, Dan, who never liked flying, quietly and out of the blue told his daughters, Kelly and Erin, “maybe I would like to go to Ireland”. The family was excited and prepared to plan his trip. Dan died the next day – Thanksgiving – at his home in Grand Bend, Ontario, after a battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.

When Leo Rautins ’78 visited Dan in early October, the former NBA player and television basketball analyst

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

knew it was the last time he’d ever see his former coach alive. Despite being prepared for the news of Coach P’s death, Leo was still left reeling. “The talk that day was about getting him back around the school,” said Rautins. “Dan was such a good person. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

On Oct. 16, Mr. Prendergast’s body was laid to rest following a funeral Mass held at Holy Rosary Church in Toronto, in front of friends, family, colleagues and many alumni. *with files from Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

Fr. Chris Iredale, CSB ’49 died peacefully, surrounded by his fellow Basilian Fathers, at Anglin House on October 25, 2015. Fr. Chris served at St. Michael’s from 1962-78, where his duties as vice principal in charge of discipline made him well-known to all the students.

Born in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, on September 17, 1931, Fr. Chris was predeceased by his parents George and Martha, as well as by his brother Andrew. He is survived by his sister, Sr. Marcella Iredale, CSJ. Fr. Chris attended St. Catharine’s Collegiate for a year and St. Michael’s College School from 1945-49. He then entered the Congregation of St. Basil and was professed in 1950. After studies in Toronto at the University of St. Michael’s College and St. Basil’s Seminary, he was ordained a priest in 1958. Subsequently, his priestly ministry was mostly as a teacher, librarian, and administrator in Toronto at Michael Power High School, both before and after his time at St. Mike’s.

Fr. Chris also served at St. Basil’s Church in Ottawa beginning in 1991, and at Holy Rosary Church in Toronto until 1994. He spent the last 21 years of his life living at 95 St. Joseph Street in Toronto.

William ‘Bill’ Angus Macdonald ’41, P. Eng. died on February 28, 2014 in Cobourg, proudly in his 90th year.

Beloved husband of 63 years of Dorelle, Bill was a loving father and father-in-law, proud grandfather, and thrilled greatgrandfather. Predeceased by sister Mary, and brother Rowan ’46, Bill is mourned by sisters Ann and Ruth, in-laws Sylvia MacDonald, Stephen Monahan, Mary Chard and Barbara Webster, and his many nieces and nephews. After graduating with a degree in Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1948, Bill became a long-term Imperial Oil employee. A WWII veteran (Artillery), he spent many happy years with Dorelle on their dream farm in Hastings, Ontario, after retiring at a youthful 58.

Bill formed lasting friendships and loved hosting all visitors at the round table in his kitchen. From his computer control desk he composed ‘odes’, managed his ’43 Army Course gang and their reunions, organized church and community committees, solved Canada’s political problems, linked relatives near and far with his many emails, and would happily Skype with anyone willing, at any hour. Family reunions were a particular joy, although it has been said that Dorelle did all of the work! While health issues kept them from living at ‘Monahmac Farm’ this past year, Bill and Dorelle were able to have many precious visits there, surrounded by their large, loud brood. Bill was a force of nature that lived life to the fullest. He made everyone who he met feel special. He guided his children to parent with unconditional love. Bill had a very deep faith and his family takes great comfort in knowing he is now in Heaven.

Norman Albert Vetere ’41, Retired Deputy Registrar General of Ontario, died peacefully at Rouge Valley Health Centre, Ajax, on January 25, 2015, in his 91st year. Norm was the beloved husband of the late Shirlee, and cherished father of Janice, Christine, Tony and Anne-Marie. Loving and devoted grandfather of Tracy, Kevin, John, Robert, Michael, Lucas, Martin, Olivia and Trevor, great-grandfather of Ava Rose, and dear brother of Frank and Stan. Norm will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends.

Maurice ‘Bus’ Sadler ’43 died peacefully at North York General Hospital on September 24, in his 91st year. Beloved husband and best friend of Patricia for 53 years, Bus is survived by brother, Bill and sister Joyce, and predeceased by his father Leslie, mother Alice, brothers George, John and Joseph, and sisters Anna and Alyce. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews, and friends. Bus had a long, successful career in the media business, where he was beloved by his colleagues as both a mentor and friend. He was also a lifelong sports fan. His support for the Toronto Blue Jays was unwavering.

Fleming Mackell ’47, a former Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs star, died on October 19, 2015, at the age of 86. He was surrounded by his family and special friends in his final days. Fleming was the son of the late John Ambrose Mackell (two Stanley Cup championships with Ottawa Senators 1920 and 1921) and the late Margaret Fleming. He is survived by his children, Rosemary, Kathy, Michael, Joanne, Maureen, Sheilagh, Fleming Jr. and the mother of his children, Kathleen Grigg; his grandchildren, Noah, Clara, Hannah, Addie, Gabriel, Jennifer, Maggie and Emilie; special friends Sandra, J.P., Kerry, Mario, and Joyce. Predeceased by his son Sean, Fleming was a fierce competitor.

In his 13-year NHL career (three with Toronto, 10 with Boston), he won the Stanley Cup twice with the Leafs (1949 and 1951) and was named first team centre All-Star in the 1952-53 season with the Bruins. In his rookie season, in Toronto, Fleming became the youngest player on an NHL all-star team at 18. Nicknamed the ‘Sparkplug’, Fleming held many playoff records, created excitement on the ice, and was best known for his speed, stick handling, and penalty killing. Following his NHL career, Fleming brought hockey excitement to the Maritimes, both as a player and a coach. After hockey, Fleming had a successful career in the automotive business, devoting spare time teaching hockey to special needs students and promoting fitness among youth in local schools.

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

Richard ‘Dick’ Ottone ’48 of Mitchell, and formerly of Aurora, died at Stratford General Hospital on June 8, 2014. Richard was the beloved husband of Pat, loving father of Tracey, Rick and Trish, and cherished grandfather of Christopher and Kalina.

Robert Greven ’51, father of Paul ’90, and brother-in-law of John ’54 and Joe Younder ’56 died.

Richard Stanley Marchut ’57, died on February 23, 2015, after a lengthy illness, surrounded by his family.

Beloved husband of Mary Anne for almost 55 years, Richard was the son of the late Marjan Marchut and Barbara Zmarzly. Survived by his sister Sophie Martin and her children Michelle, Peter, Norman, John and D’Arcy, as well as nephews Peter and Paul Popik, Richard leaves behind cousins in Canada, the USA, and Poland.

Richard was the owner of Whitehouse Soaps and Chemicals and Fred Bland & Co. John J. Dennis ’53 died in 2012.

John F. Beaune ’54 died on July 9, 2013. John is survived by his wife, Carol, and his son, who John proudly named Mike after his beloved high school.

At St. Mike’s, John was well-known as a hockey player of considerable skill. He continued playing the sport until his 70th year, enjoying the opportunity to take the ice with his son. John’s grandson is following in the family tradition, having also taken the ice at St. Mike’s Arena. This was another thrill for John, who will be greatly missed.

Paul Patten ’56 died at home on July 3, 2015. Paul was beloved husband to Cathy and loving father to Sarah and Amy. Dear brother to Terry ’59 and the late James

Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

Patten, Paul was cherished grandfather to India, Ronan, Phinn, and Morgan. Paul’s daughters Sarah and Amy were the centre of his universe. He enjoyed his family and friends. Paul was known for his kindness and sweet and gentle disposition and was loved by all. He was fortunate to remain close to his childhood friends (The MOMS) for more than 70 years. Paul treasured his time with friends and family at his cottage in Muskoka and will be missed every day.

Fr. Michael Stogre, SJ ’62 died unexpectedly on June 24, 2015, at the Jesuit house in Vancouver. He was in his 71st year of life and in religious life for 52 years.

Fr. Stogre was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, on June 28, 1944.

He grew up in Toronto, attending St. Michael’s College School, before entering the Jesuits in 1962.

He was the eldest of eight children of Winifred Quinn and Alexander Stogre. Ordained priest on June 8, 1974, Fr. Stogre obtained academic degrees in Classics, Philosophy, Theology, Medicine (M.D.) and Social Ethics (Ph.D.) He was a staff member at the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice. He lived and worked from 1990-2012 in the Espanola and Manitoulin regions, where he served First Nations Peoples, particularly with researching and developing local health services. Fr. Stogre will be missed by his family, many First Nations people, and his Jesuit companions.

to many of his closest friends’ children, especially Mado and Josh. The family wishes to extend their deepest thanks to John’s long-time friend, Dr. Anne Madigan, for being there during his illness and providing professional and personal comfort.

Andrew Bellini ’86, cousin of Paolo Stefenatti ’85, died on May 16, 2015 at the age of 47. He will be reunited in paradise with his father Ito. Andrew will be missed by his loving mother Caterina, and all his family and friends.

Robin Wolf ’91 died on June 30, 2015 at Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto, after a courageous battle with brain cancer, with his mother Hanne Wolf at his side.

Predeceased by his father, Manfred Wolf, Robin is survived by his mother, his sister Christina and brother Frank ’89. He will be greatly missed by his extended family and many faithful friends. The family is grateful for all of the support and visits from friends and family during Robin’s illness. One of Robin’s greatest gifts was the kindness he showed everyone he met at school, at church, in prayer groups and his workplaces (attendant care worker at Tobias House, and educational assistant at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Elementary School).

Please also remember family and friends of the St. Michael’s community Bill Smith, who served St. Michael’s College School as Property Manager from April 2000 to December 2010, recently died. He will be fondly remembered for his leadership, zest for life, sense of humour, and passion for St. Michael’s. Prior to joining the St. Michael’s community, Bill worked for several years with the Art Gallery of Ontario, Granite Club, and Havergal College, in similar property management roles. He also served as a director with the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association.

Betty Kelly, wife of Peter Kelly ’55; Bernadette Shelia Baran, grandmother of Palmer Baran Tino ’19; Walter Stanowski, father of Skip Stanowski ’62; John Cowie, father of Robert Cowie ’86; Frank Romano, father of teacher Miko Romano; June Cuccia, wife of Gene Cuccia ’52; Felice Desantis, father-in-law of Romeo Milano ’80; Michael Marlborough ’58, brother of Gerry Marlborough ’59; Jane Swiatek, aunt of Mark ’86, Jeff ’88, and Chris Zownir ’92; J.J. Barnicke, father of Paul (SMCS 66-67), and Peter ’70, grandfather of Jack Armstrong ’12; Chris Obelnycki, father of Lucas ’18.

John Buday ’71 died on July 18, 2015. Saddened are his sisters, Eve and Catherine, and brother, Stan ’74. Missing their favorite uncle are Tori, Steph, Liz, and Em. Beloved by his mother, Amalie, and father, John Sr. (predeceased), John was a generous and kind man. He was also a loving ‘uncle’

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

the way we were: i remember it well – r.i.p. dan prendergast Joe Younder ’56 A story to be told…

We first met in January 1962, Christmas break to be exact. I had been teaching at St. Mike’s for a year. I saw this guy, small in stature, lots of hair, and seemingly in good shape, coming down the hall, smiling. We shook hands and that became a friendship lasting some 53 golden years.

We had much in common. We had just come out of the seminary and both taught Latin Dan being a gold medal winner at Western University and me struggling through Grade 9, one chapter ahead of the students.

school, not necessarily to see the teachers, but to rap with the students, who we were not much older than - in those days. We both had four children. Dan’s second home and love was in the gym; I found comfort in a debating room.

They were the best of times: staff hockey; parties; annual June getaways to Jack Fenn’s Bala cottage; Christmas gatherings with Fr. Rocco Volpe CSB, OSM ’48; playing Santa; and children’s baptisms in the chapel, officiated by one of the priests. The Basilians took us in and treated us well. Many remain friends to this day. Yes, time, let us play and be Golden in the mercy of his means”.

Dan had come down from North Bay, where he was teaching at Scollard Hall, to seek a warmer climate in Toronto. I remember it well.

So, there you have it. I remember it well.

We were single, to the envy, I felt, of the married laymen.

In those days, there were 10 male teachers and some 40 Basilians on staff. We were a close-knit group who followed the Basilian motto of teaching goodness, discipline and knowledge. Of those laymen, four have remained close friends to this day: Hugh McDougall, OSM, Mike Lavelle ’54, Jack Fenn ’54, Joe Younder ’56, along with the late John Guerriere ’50.

Dan (Danny, Coach P, Prendergast), as Erin, his daughter, so eloquently stated at the funeral service, was also given the name Dalton named in honour of the country doctor who delivered all 11 of the Prendergast children.

Dan, the youngest, was born near London, Ontario, in Kinkora, a rural farming community, at the tail end of the Depression and the cusp of WWII. His connection to the school is strong: Sharon’s father, Mark Flanagan, was a St. Mike’s grad as were her two brothers Paul ’54 and Bryan ’54.

Dan and I partied. We kept razors in our lockers, ready for the next adventure. Each paycheque we bought a suit. By the time we got married, we had 12. We married nurses, classmates from St. Michael’s Hospital.

Later, Dan and Sharon moved to Aurora, and for six years we drove down to St. Mike’s, 36 stoplights in 45 minutes. You learn a lot about a guy in transit. We couldn’t wait to get to Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

Dan was many things: he was a devoted family man, faithful to his church, loyal to his friends, and for 50-plus-years, long beyond most teaching careers, he was closely involved in all things St. Michael’s. Dan, the smallest guy on the bench, hated heights, enjoyed onion sandwiches, sang Gregorian chant, and was a masterful and witty emcee. Did you know he feared heights? Because of this, he never got to visit Galway, his ancestral home. So, when I was teaching summer school in Ireland, I presented him with the names of all the Prendergast families in the phone book.

That put a smile on his face. I remember it well.

Of his many accomplishments, he filled the roles of Director of Counselling Services, Vice Principal, alumni fundraiser, and in collaboration with the late principal, Fr. Thomas Mohan, CSB, OSM ’48, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Order of St. Michael - to which he was rightfully inducted in April 2015.

From his first year in 1962, Dan was recognized as one of the top basketball coaches in the country. For 27 years, he was involved with the varsity basketball team, the Blue Raiders. He was inducted into the Blue Raiders Hall of Fame in 2010, in recognition of his many contributions to the game of round ball.

Not only did he bring together alumni at the annual Turkey Roll & Reunion - which, by the way, he hadn’t missed in some 54 years - he was one of the key organizers of this event. He was also instrumental in organizing and emceeing many athletic awards’ banquets, the annual alumni and school golf tournaments, and the Skate4Kids fundraisers – with Nick Kypreos calling him that event’s godfather.

In 2006, he was actively involved in the 100 Years of Hockey Celebration at St. Mike’s. This past April, he was honoured with the Paul Salfi Award at the All Ontario Catholic Classic Tournament held in St. Catharine’s, a tournament St. Mike’s has entered for 40 years. The annual award recognizes an individual’s ‘selfless volunteerism’ as well as dedication and sacrifice in helping shape the game of basketball in Ontario.

The word is now out that they are going to name the annual St. Michael’s Invitational, the longest running event in Canadian high school basketball, in Dan’s name. I hope so.

Ask any player about Dan’s dedication and humility.

Mike Lavelle ’55 remembers that no matter what group Dan was in, he always maintained his value system.

Giancarlo Mazzanti, now the Guidance Department Head, recalls as an early staff member meeting and admiring Dan as a supportive colleague and the principal reason why he took guidance courses. Later, he

remembers meeting Dan’s son Ryan ’03, in whom he saw a perfect example of what Dan was - an intelligent, respectful man.

Leo Rautins ’78 writes, “Dan allowed me to come into his family well before I ever put on my first blue blazer.

He taught me how to work hard, never be satisfied, respect my coaches, love my teammates, put the team ahead of me, share my life and career with my family, be a good father, care about people, never forget where you came from, and to dig in when it gets tough, and fight to the end. The coach, the man, the husband, the father, the son, the friend, that’s what he has lived every day of his life. He has inspired and influenced me, and the many others he has touched, more than he would ever realize.”

Current St. Mike’s basketball coach Jeff Zownir ’88, announced Prendergast’s passing on Twitter, writing that he was “a mentor and father figure to many of us” and a “humble and dedicated family man who devoted his life to serving St. Michael’s College School and others.” Would that accolade be the reason why Vaulton Reece ’83, on hearing of Dan’s sudden death, flew in from Korea?

Dan’s daughter, Kelly, relates that when she and her siblings were young and were walking down the halls on a Saturday after ball practice, their father would often meet a custodian and take the time to stop and chat. He told his kids, people are important in the halls, in the office, in the rink, so make time for them. In terms of St. Michael’s highlights, none stand out more than Dan coaching Dan Jr. ’89 and having Ryan graduate with honours. Now, Kelly’s son, recent Athlete of the Year, Ben Fox ’19, has been a student since Grade 7.

For many, Dan was a man who in reaching for your hand touched your heart. For him, keeping in touch was not a phrase, but a commitment, as witnessed by those many students and players who attended his funeral, along with those he taught, counselled and coached. And, I might add, who continued to seek out both his advice and his hand, long after his retirement.

If you wanted to know the real Dan, you had to see, hear, and watch him in action. I had the privilege, as did others, of visiting him in his waterside forest setting in Huron Woods, Grand Bend, where he and Sharon settled after retirement. Her presence was everywhere, Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

from the flowers in the garden, bird feeders surrounding the property, ornaments, and seating areas in meditative and tranquil spots, all private, all personal, all-embracing to announce to the visitor that this was home. Inside were hats for all occasions hanging everywhere, pictures of family on the walls and up the stairs, catchy phrases ‘what would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail’ - hung in every room.

It was here, in and around the London area, that Dan found peace surrounded by memories, good times, good neighbours, and boyhood friends. His neighbours were special; Gavin Jones, June Thompson, and John and Barb Smits often invited him for meals and, when he was sick, brought him food. Dan was the perfect host. There was a TV in almost every room, including the bedrooms, all turned naturally to sports channels. Books a plenty were of course devoted to basketball, along with How to Improve Your Golf Swing, Ontario Bird Guides, and the Toronto Sun, which he read every morning with his coffee, Baileys optional. After supper, we would watch TV, sports of course, in two rollback Lazy Boy chairs.

Dan knew all the stations, channel flicking the games coming in from across the lake. Then out would come the caesars. You don’t stay awake long in one of those chairs.

He was at peace. I was at peace. I remember it well.

We sometimes golfed in Camlachie, Ontario, at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa, owned by Dan’s good friend and former player, Danny Odorico ’78. It was Coach P who introduced me to the game in 1967. I still carry his Moe Norman putter in my bag. And being a good golfer himself, Dan once told me the secret of how he took five strokes off his game. When I innocently asked, “how?” - he said he uses an eraser. Funny guy that Dan! We always ate breakfast and supper out somewhere, usually by the water. We watched sunsets or boats moving out into Lake Huron to bring back a catch of fresh fish, which we would eat at Smackwater Jacks.

His favourite eatery was Aunt Gussie’s. We lunched in Exeter at the School House and supped at the Beach Fostering a relationship of discipleship with Jesus Christ

Station Restaurant in Goderich by the water. Then the stories would start, followed by more laughter. Dan knew all the spots. I got the tour, as did all his friends: the Oakwood Resort where Ryan worked during the summers; the best place in the Bend to buy ice cream; Ridgeway, where they summered for six years on the water. We went to Mass at St. Peter’s, the small community church near his home, where Dan introduced me to his Grade 2 friend, John Jarrell - always courteous and inclusive that Dan. The real husband, and his communion with Sharon, showed itself when we visited the small hamlet, The Shores of St. Joseph. It was there that Dan and Sharon went daily to pray before the shrine of St. Andre, her very special love. It was there too that he pointed out a corner stone in the adjacent park: Sharon - In Loving Memory, Dan, Ryan, Kelly, Erin, Danny. It’s to this same spot, Kelly told me, that Dan will have his stone - side by side.

Willy Loman, whose own son, Biff, never really made it, once asked his neighbour, Ben, whose son was to argue a case before the Supreme Court. “What’s the secret?” of success. Ben’s reply was, ”He just did it.” I often wondered what Dan and Sharon’s secret was in raising such a fine family of loving and caring children. I never asked him. I observed it, heard it, and saw it throughout our lifetime together with him, Sharon and family, as did many of you. Our prayers go out to them: Erin, Kelly, and Kevin (Fox) and their children, Ben, Noah, Emma, Madeline, Ryan and Tess ( and their newborn, Harrison), Danny and Mai (and their children, Toma and Hana).

If St. Michael’s teaches a student to live a life by giving, to help students use their talents for those in need, to be a living example of goodness, discipline, and knowledge, then Dan Prendergast, teacher, coach, counsellor, husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all - who gave his life and God-given talents to his family, his school and his friends - is your man. He is a man for others, a true friend. We all had a hand in the formation of Dan, and I know he left his handprint upon all of us, in actions, thoughts, deeds, and memory.

If you have a friend worth loving, Love him, yes, and let him know That you love him; ere life’s evening Tinge his brow with sunset glow Why should good words ne’er be said Of a friend—till he is dead.

We will all remember Dan, our friend. RIP Dan and Sharon.

A POSTSCRIPT Since this tribute was written, there is a story worth mentioning, that the family would like to tell. It deals with the great bond the family had with their Ridgeway neighbours. They were close to Ron and Prue Bonham, and Kim and Angela Mclean. However, it was Bill and Sue Haskett, who own a funeral home in Exeter, who took care of all funeral arrangements and arranged for Dan’s body to be taken to the Morley Bedford Funeral Home in Toronto. The family will be forever grateful. That is friendship that tells much of Dan’s character and the effect he had on others.

DAN, YOU’RE STILL WITH US! It‘s a late fall day. One more round for the hardy.

Sam Kanes ’71 and I would meet Robbie Stewart ’71 in Woodstock, play a round of golf, and drive on to Grand Bend to spend some time with Dan. It may not have happened if not for Dan’s boys wanting to visit Coach P and give him back some of the encouragement he gave us to keep up the fight. Unfortunately, before that tee time and visit would come, we had to say goodbye to our friend and mentor.

In closing, my apologies to the many people I have omitted in this tribute to Dan: The basketball community: Ted Schmidt ’57, Paul Dignan ’59, Greg Paolini, Paul Paradiso, Dave Smyth, Greg Hook ’80, Kirt Charter ’82, Emile John ’87, Dan Lumsden ’96, Gino Saccone ’80, Al Saplys, Bernard Jackson ’87, Sean Dodds ’83, George Papadakas ’83, Roman Bukata ’64, Roland Semprie ’88, Joe Norkus ’72, Jason Ciceri ’89, Dom DeLuca ’76, Rob Stewart ’71, and Jeff Zownir ’88.

Also the non-basketball community: John Grilli ’78, John O’Donough ’72, Terry Sheridan ’89, Bill Redall ’54, Rick Naranowicz ’73, Les ’54 and Dick Duff, OSM ’55, Peter Thurton ’81, Marty Story, Brian McKay ’69, Dan Nicholson, Dave Gardner ’71, Paddy Graham ’79, Pal Di Iulio ’69, and all their families, along with the Mackel and Flanagan families, the people in the Communications and Advancement Offices who, for years, worked alongside him: Mike De Pellegrin ’94, Kimm Bailey, Gina Cramarossa, Stephanie Nicholls, Cathy Di Nunzio - in fact the whole staff. Fr. Neil Hibberd, CSB, OSM ’58, Fr. John Malo, CSB ’66, Fr. Jim Carruthers, CSB, ’58, Fr. Cecil Zinger, CSB, OSM, Msgr. John Caswell ’55, the entire Basilian community, boyhood friends like Harvey Gleason, and from his seminary days, Brian Fitzmaurice and Peter Fillman, who tell me Dan was called ‘Thumper’ on the court because of the manner in which he bounced the ball. I didn’t know that.

In St. Mike’s spirit, we stuck to our plan to play this one for the coach. Dan was also there, though only in spirit. There was frost on the driving range, adding a cold chill to the pain we felt in losing our dear friend. At the first tee, the sun came out to warm our aging bones. In team spirit, we all managed to par the first hole. Robbie and Sam are great golfers, but for me this was a rare accomplishment. I’m sure Dan pushed the 25 ft. putt I made into the hole, so I would not feel left out. He was always there for everyone on the team. The day turned out to be beautiful, and we reminisced so much about Dan. We really felt he was right there looking over our shoulders. In the bar, we toasted Dan with a good old jug. We kept our promise to visit with him that day.

We remained close to the father figure that brought us together on the St. Mike’s hardwood.

In all the years of meeting alumni that had been fortunate enough to attend St. Mike’s and grow under Dan’s guidance, one consistent phrase rings over and over again: “He changed my life”.

Joseph Norkus ’72

There are many more stories and people I could mention.

You know who you are. You remember it well.

Blue Banner | Fall/Winter 2015

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