February 2019

February 2018

THE SAINTS MARCH ON WASHINGTON Recap of the 2019 March For Life | page 2

WHY FINALS SHOULD BE BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK A student’s opinion of when finals should happen | page 6

PRAY FOR COACH DEKOK Prayers for the healing of Coach Dekok | page 9

February 2018

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR January has come and gone, and the month of February has already brought many ups and down, from cancelations, to state championships, from positive thirty degrees, to negative thirty degrees. In this mid-February issue, the Messenger reminds its readers of all the good times in January; and anticipates excitements still to come in February.

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Kathryn Goettle Editor-in-Chief

OUR MISSION Here at Messenger, we love to see the groups of people huddled around our paper, the proud smile when a student reads an article about themselves, and the slight laughs as students make fun of our bad attempts at jokes. Our mission at the Messenger is to produce a quality newsletter that provides insight into SMCHS by featuring our own students and their accomplishments and goals.

So, grab a blanket and acopy of the Messenger and flip through its pages!

OUR EDITORS KATHRYN GOETTLE Editor-in-Chief

JULIA JARAMILLO Layout Editor

GRACE VOLK Feature Editor

MEGHA BHARADWAJ Opinion Editor

ANNA BRAUN Entertainment Editor

ALLISON BRAUN Opinion Editor

HANNAH GARDNER Entertainment Editor

KENDALL TIBOR Religion Editor

ALYSSA RUD Photography

ANDERSON HAGEROTT Sports Editor

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THE ADORABLE MYTH OF GOUNDHOGS DAY The story behind the holiday that determines our snow days WORLD YOUTH DAY Learn about the 2019 World Youth Day that recently just passed!

GETTING BACK ON THE HORSE An Interview with a student who has made their return to the court

ON THE COVER The constants and winners of the 2019 State Know Your Faith competition at Shanley, Samantha Heen, Alex Schaefbauer, and Michael Linex

CONTACT US OUR WRITERS Ryan Brown Darian Coghlan Rachel Rusch Jaceb Schepp

Allyson Treiber Sydnie Welch Maria Fleck

Jeffrey Salvadel John Goettle Jacek Dojs

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Website: https://smmessenger.wixsite.com/2018-19 Email: smmessenger@locstudents.org Facebook: SM Messenger Instagram: SMMessenger Twitter: @SM_Messenger

FEATURE

The Saints March on Washington

This year, we were in the front of the March Picture from cruznow.com

St. Mary’s students traveled to Washington, DC to take part in the 2019 March for Life and experience the city | Jacob Schepp

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f you were at school during the week of January 14th - 18th you may have noticed a few things that were different.

The hallways seemed quiet, the school was quiet, and a lot of juniors and seniors were gone. The students were absent because they were on pilgrimage to Washington DC to see the holy sites, experience history and culture and most importantly represent the school at the 2019 March for Life.

The morning of January 14th was an exciting day for almost one hundred juniors and seniors from St. Mary’s. It was the day that they would load the buses and start the thirty-hour bus ride to Washington DC in anticipation for the March for Life. The pilgrimage to Washington, DC has been a tradition at St. Mary’s for 6 years under the direction of Mr. Emmel. The pilgrimage started with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Kagan, for the pilgrims from St. Mary’s, Bishop Ryan, and their parents. The trip may seem long but as Senior Samantha Heen says, “It was a great time to play games, talk, and grow closer to friends.”

In the first days two days in Washington, DC, the pilgrims experienced the city, and toured many museums. They learned about one of the darkest eras in world history by touring the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It taught the pilgrims about the dignity of human life and what happens when that dignity is disrespected. The pilgrims also visited The Museum of the Bible, where they learned about the most important book in the history of Christianity. In particular, students enjoyed a 3-D virtual guide to the history of the Old Testament and detailed recreations of Biblical places.

The night before the March, the students and chaperones attended the Life is Very Good Conference at George Mason University. The conference featured a music performance, the sacrament of reconciliation, Chris Stefanick as the guest speaker, and Eucharistic Adoration. The pilgrims from North Dakota were given a shout out by Chris for the great distance that they had traveled. The conference was hosted by the Diocese of Arlington and attended by thousands of young

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Catholics in preparation for the March. Senior Elizabeth Frohlich said, “It was very inspirational seeing thousands of young people getting excited for our faith and the pro-life cause.” At the end of the of conference it was announced that the Bismarck pilgrims would be returning to North Dakota after the evening of the March due to weather conditions.

“It was very inspirational seeing thousands of young people getting excited for our faith and the pro-life cause.” - Elizabeth Frolich Friday, the hotel was buzzing with excitement as it was the day that everyone had been waiting for- the day of the march.

It was an early morning as the pilgrims were set to have Mass on Capital Hill with the rest of the Diocese of Bismarck contingent before the March For Life. Not everything went according to plan. In the midst of the chaos of the morning, the pilgrims were dropped off at the wrong church and celebrated Mass with pilgrims from Florida. It was a packed church but a good experience to meet other pro-life youth from across the country. After Mass, the pilgrims had time to visit some monuments and experience the rally before the March was to start.

As the time for the March to start approached, the pilgrims gathered together to prepare. They said the rosary for the

intention of all the unborn babies lost to abortion and talked to old friends they were reunited with at the March. When the time finally came, they made a mad rush to find the front of the March and Dayna Wanner said, “It was a really cool experience to see it from that perspective.” The one- mile March took an hour and a half and ended at the steps of the supreme court. Anderson Hagerott said that the March is a “time to see that the Pro-Life movement is not just a Catholic movement, but it actually transcends religion, race, or age and brings people together.”

At the conclusion of the March the pilgrims were given one final chance to visit the monuments and explore the city with their city groups before starting the drive back to Bismarck. The trip back was long but “the bus ride is half the fun of the adventure!” according to Michael Liedenix. The Pilgrims returned to Bismarck late Saturday evening and were able to spend a day recuperating before returning to school on Monday. The 2019 March for Life Pilgrimage was a time to grow closer to friends, learn many new things, let our voice be heard, and most importantly grow closer to Christ.

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QOTM

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February Question of the Month “What are you most excited for during Catholic Schools week?”

Submit an answer in one of the boxes around the school!

SOPHIA KLEE Freshman “The Rock because the talk was really good and the music provided was really fun!”

BREANNA SCHATZ Sophmore “Bowling and the ROCK and Ferrie Friday.”

AUBREY ROEMMICH Junior “Friday-movie day. Because I like seeing what movie the chaplains pick.”

ALEX SCHAEFBAUER Senior “I’m most excited for the Know Your Faith state tournament.”

QOTM by Kathryn Goettle

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OPINION The Adorable Myth of Groundhog’s Day | Anna Braun

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h, Groundhog Day. The day that most Americans know to be the day that determines how much longer winter will last. If the groundhog sees his shadow, we are supposed to get six more weeks of the unending season known as winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, then winter will end soon and spring will commence! But is this actually true? Can a groundhog actually predict the weather? And where did this idea even begin?

Groundhog Day became a tradition in Germany in the early years of weather forecasting. The Germans originally believed that a badger could predict the weather. But knowing what we know today, we know that a badger or groundhog can’t actually tell what the weather will be like. Regardless, when they came over and settled in Pennsylvania,

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they decided to use the groundhog to keep their tradition alive.

The tradition still continues today with many people who flock to see Pennsylvania’s groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil.

He’s named after the town he lives in, Punxsutawney, Philadelphia. This tradition grew in popularity around the U.S. when the film Groundhog Day came out, making Punxsutawney famous all over the nation. So even though Groundhog Day isn’t exactly like we all might’ve believed when we were in grade school, the tradition is still fun and hopefully now you know a little bit more about it. Happy Groundhog Day! Sources A. iStockphoto.com B. Jason Cohn (Reuters)

Exhausted Promises

Tips on how to keep New Year’s Resolutions after January | Kathryn Goettle

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very year people make resolutions to be better in some aspect or another. And they carry out these promises with enthusiasm…….for a week; and then they give up and forget about them. Why is this? Mainly because bad habits die hard. If one is serious about wanting to change, here’s some tips on how to be more successful in keeping your New Year’s Resolutions.

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Choose something doable Often people make resolutions that are impossible to accomplish.

Lofty goals do not help someone keep their resolutions, everyone needs something that is actually possible to accomplish.

Write down your goals, and be specific If one is specific about what they are doing, then it takes away the temptation to make “exceptions.” Plus, having something to go back and look at, can keep someone from “forgetting” their resolution.

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Get a partner Finding someone who is doing the same thing is a great way to keep a promise.

By checking in on each other, the partners not only keep each other accountable, but they also help keep the other person’s moral up.

Do not wait until January 1st to start over While the first of the year is a great time to begin resolutions, there are many other firsts that can be helpful in restarting that resolution. One of my favorites is February 1st, or the first day of Lent, or March 1st, or the 1st day after my fail.

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And finally, Do not give up!

If you fall, you stand back up. If you fail at your resolutions, start over.

Ten Holidays that are Better than Valentine’s Day Valentine’s is stupid, celebrate these instead | Julia Jaramillo

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ost people tend to associate certain months with certain holidays. St. Patrick’s Day frolics in March, the Fourth of July is always a blast, Christmas music is on full volume in December, etcetera, etcetera. In February, the moment I walk into any CVS, chocolates, hearts, and flowers come together to promote Valentine’s Day. Oh Valentine’s Day, oh Valentine’s Day, how overrated and dumb I think art thou. Yeah, I think Valentine’s Day is stupid. Why give someone flowers only to watch them wilt in a week? Or why gift a cute stuffed version of an animal that in real life would maul you to death. I could go on and on about how ridiculous this holiday is, but instead, I think it would be better to tell you ten amazing and better holidays you can celebrate in February.

Groundhog Day, Feb 2nd- It’s very useful in snowy North Dakota and groundhogs are actually quite cute.

Why weren’t we giving out stuffed versions of groundhogs?

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, Feb 4th- Delicious and Self-explanatory

Safer Internet Day, February 6th- As we become a more internet-reliant world, it’s important to remember that safety should always come first.

Fettuccine Alfredo Day, February 7th- My personal favorite; I would actually throw a party for this.

Umbrella Day, February 10th- Did you know North Dakota is one of driest states in America?

Regardless, I believe we should never neglect our umbrellas.

Hoodie Hoo Day, National Flag of February 20th- This Presidents’ Day, Love Your Pet Day, Don’t Cry Over Spilled Canada Day, February day was created to February 18th- As February 20th- Like 15th- I believe Milk Day, February combat the winter citizens of the United Valentine’s Day, but 11th- Hakuna Matata, partaking in our maple blues and prepare for States of America, we with your pet and who syrup loving neighbors’ must remember to honor dear reader, Hakuna spring by going outside wouldn’t want to spend customs is very Matata! at noon, raising your the leaders of our nation. time with their puppy. important. hands, and screaming, “HOODIE HOO!!”

Honestly, this isn’t about how Valentine’s Day is the dumbest holiday ever (even though it is). It’s about celebrating other holidays that are in Valentine’s Day’s shadow. They deserve a chance too. And even if you do still like to celebrate the world’s dumbest holiday, at least you might find something new to celebrate.

Why Finals Should Be Before Christmas Break | Jeffrey Savadel

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believe finals should always be before Christmas break, and there’s no doubt about it. Answer this question for me. Would you rather take your mandatory finals before break and then be able to relax and not have to worry about studying during your time off, or would you rather waste your time which should be spent with friends and family studying meaningless flashcards dealing with the New Deal? I think the answer is pretty obvious.

Another factor is how well you would remember the material.

With finals taking place before Christmas break, you go right into test prep in all your classes and get to take the final on it right away. With finals being after Christmas break, you would have to go almost two weeks without going over the material in class. It would require much more discipline in your studies, during time that could and should be spent relaxing with family and friends.

The only real argument that “Finals After Christmas Break”

supporters have is that it gives students more time to study and prepare for finals, which although technically true is a pretty lame argument. I’d argue that the extra study time students get is outweighed by the time and stress students put towards taking finals after they come back from break. Having finals before Christmas break allows for students to get through all their studies and then have a nice, relaxing, and fulfilling break that allows them to come back from the New Year fresh and ready to start a new semester, instead of having to stress and worry about impending finals throughout the entire break.

Overall, taking finals after Christmas break is just more stressful and time consuming as well as more difficult for students. I believe we should stick to having finals before Christmas break in order to help the students and make finals just a little less stressful. ;) 6

ENTERTAINMENT

Handmade Valentines | Anna Braun

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see you are looking for a valentine for your special someone. Don’t deny that you are. I know they can be very expensive to go out and buy one. I mean it’s kind of a made up holiday so the greeting card company can sell more cards. Well don’t buy into that pressure and purchase your card when you can make your own valentine. Not only will it be unique, but the card will mean that much more to the person you are giving it to.

Instructions: Here’s what you’ll need: Cardstock/construction paper Pens/markers/crayons/etc. scissors Optional: Glitter Heart stickers/valentine stickers

So to make a valentine’s day card you will need to pick the color of cardstock that you would like to use. I suggest a valentine’s day color like red, pink, or white or the favorite color of the person you are giving it to. Next, you will want to cut it into the shape of a heart. So, you will fold it in half and draw out half a heart on the crease. (if you don’t want it to be heart shaped you can just leave it as is) You will cut through both sides of paper on the line that you have drawn. And boom. A heart.

Finally, you will want to write your message of unending love onto your lovely homemade card.

And there you go a lovely valentine’s day card perfect for your special someone. This is now the time to add stickers or glitter if you want. You probably own most of these supplies already at home so you can practically make this card for free, so not only will you not spend a dime, but you will create the best card that a person could ever receive.

Teacher’s Pick: Mr. Eztold | Ally Treibor

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MESSENGER: “What’s your ideal vacation spot?”

MR. ETZOLD: “I would say Durham North Carolina for a Duke basketball game.”

M: “What tv show best describes your life?”

E: “It used to be friends but now it’s more like Last Man Standing.”

M: “What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?”

E: “I would say get involved, you’re never too young to be a leader and to make an impact on lives around you.”

M: “If you could invite any 3 people to a dinner party who would they be and why?”

E: “I would invite Saint Ignatius of Loyola because he’s my favorite saint and I feel like I share a similar story through my mid 20’s. And John Wooden because I’ve read so many of his books and he seems like not only a great coach but also is one of the wisest persons who has been alive. I would also invite Jim Gaffigan because I want to keep things light and humorus, plus he’s got a big catholic family.”

M: “Would you rather explore the unknown depths of the ocean or

explore a new galaxy?”

E: “I would say a new galaxy simply because my ears pop when I get 10 feet under water.”

M: “What’s your favorite high school memory?”

E: “All the little moments of hanging out with my closest friends and always competing against each other by making up games like twud flip and tub shot.”

M: “What’s your favorite part about being a teacher?”

E: “I have the best job in the world because I get to hang out with the future leaders of today, every day.”

M: “What’s the most ridiculous thing a student has done in class?”

E: “Accidently hit Jesus in the face while playing trashket ball.”

RELIGION

World Youth Day A Day for the World’s Youth | Allison Braun

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orld Youth Day is being held in Panama from January 22- 27.

It’s an event held every three years, each time in a different country. It allows for the world’s youth to have the opportunity to encounter the Pope. World Youth Day is available to all young people who want to dive deeper into their faith and experience something deeper than themselves. It is a great way for teenagers to meet new people and build friendships with others who share in their ambition to live for Christ. In 1984 during the close of the Holy Year of Redemption, over 300,000 teens from all around the world joined Saint John Paul II for an International Jubilee of Youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. This gathering sparked an idea in the Holy Father and from there he established World Youth Day. There have been 12 International Youth Days held since its founding 34 years ago, and every year the attendance record keeps growing larger and larger. The last World Youth Day was held in Poland in 2016 and an estimated three million youth attended. World Youth Day is proof that faith unites the world. It shows us that Christ’s love brings us together in a way that nothing else does and that, which I think we can all agree on, is pretty extraordinary.

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A. WYD 2016 Photo by Emilie Ng at Catholic Leader B. 2019 WYD Logo: https://pa.usembassy.gov C. Pope Francis: https://www.churchmilitant.com

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Our Lady of Lourdes | Maria Fleck

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he Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11. Our Lady of Lourdes first appeared to young St. Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858. After the first apparition, Mary appeared 17 more times to Bernadette. During the ninth apparition, Bernadette was instructed by Mary to “drink from the fountain and bathe in it.” Puzzled, as there was no fountain, or any sort of natural spring around, Bernadette dug anyway, searching for one. Within moments, the ground became wet and Bernadette drank and washed her face in the water. The pool widened the next day and became a real spring. This water still flows at the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine in Lourdes, France. Over 7,000 physical healings have been attested to this miraculous spring, and 70 cases have been officially recognized by the

Article Source: https://www. catholicnewsagency Picture Source: https:// globalnation.inquirer. net

Catholic Church. This is a huge number considering the extensive and detailed study that goes into declaring an official miracle. The most recent Lourdes miracle was declared on February 11, 2018, a little less than a year ago. A French nun who suffered spinal complications and had been confined to a wheelchair for 30 years visited the Lourdes shrine in 2008. She said she never prayed for a cure, but after attending a blessing there, “felt a surge of well-being throughout [her] body… [she] returned to [her] room and heard a voice say, ‘take off your braces’”. She walked out of her wheelchair, took off her braces, and no longer had need for pain medication. Her case was brought to the International Medical Committee of Lourdes who found the nun’s instantaneous recovery to be scientifically unexplainable.

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SPORTS Pray for Coach Dekok | Jacek Dojs

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ur school’s beloved Coach Dekok, head boys’ basketball coach, is fighting cancer again.

A statement was released from his family telling the unfortunate news. Please keep Coach Dekok in your prayers as he will be undergoing chemotherapy for the coming weeks and needs all the help he can get during these trying times. Mr. Schumacher, our athletic director, said, “It shows that for him it’s more than just basketball. His positive attitude is key for him. He is a role model for everyone.”

While Brent is in good spirits and ready to fight this again, please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers and that his body handles the chemo treatments well.

The Dekok family adds, “As always, we are so thankful for your love, thoughts, support and prayers throughout this process.”

The Letter from the Family: “We found out this week that Brent’s cancer is back, this time with spots on his pelvis and L5 vertebrae. Chemo will start in a couple of weeks, will last roughly Nine week and then a back to Mayo for scans to track the success of the treatments.”

Getting Back on the Horse Andrew Nagel is back on the court | Megha Bharadwaj

MESSENGER: When did basketball go from being just another activity to a passion?

ANDREW NAGEL: Probably around four or five years old. That’s when I remember really starting to like it. My older brothers always played it and I wanted to be like my older brothers.

M: How exactly did you get your concussion; when did you first learn that you had a concussion?

A: I got the concussion during a JV game last year. I drove into a lane and another player reached in to steal the ball and hit the side of my head with his shoulder. Right away, I got a headache and throughout the game my eyesight was getting blurry, but I stayed in and didn’t tell anyone. [Later] I talked to the trainers and told them my symptoms. That’s when I knew.

M: What was the first thing that ran through your mind when you learned about your concussion?

A: When can I get back to basketball?

M: How did taking a season off from basketball affect the rest of your life?

A: It was really tough, but it was good for me because it’s hard to stay true to yourself with concussions. You can easily lie and say, ‘I don’t have any symptoms any more,’ then you have the chance of getting back in and getting injured again. You’ll be worse off than when you started.

M: How did it feel getting to play basketball again this year after having to take a season off?

A: It was the best feeling in the world. I finally got to be back on the court and play what I want to play.

M: Are there any lingering symptoms from your concussion that still affect you now?

A: Occasionally, taking notes is difficult. It’s not terrible, and when I need to stop, I’ll take a quick break and I can get back to it.

M: What tips would you give someone else who experiences a struggle like you did?

A: Take the time off required. The more you listen to the trainers and the coaches to take time off, the faster it’ll get better. Because I didn’t listen, I was doing physical activity when I really shouldn’t have been; that prolonged the concussion even longer.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT An inside look into some of the athletic careers of our seniors.

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MARRIANN SENFTER | BASKETBALL

MESSENGER: How long have you been playing basketball?

MARRIANN SENFTER: I’ve been playing basketball since I was twelve years old.

M: What have you learned from basketball?

S: Throughout my years of basketball, I’ve learned how to become a strong leader and I’ve realized how important every single player is to a team. Whether they see the court or not, every person has their role that helps lead the team to success.”

M: What’s your favorite basketball memory?

S: My favorite basketball memory was last season when we defeated #1 ranked and undefeated Century in our last home game. That was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever gotten to share with any team.”.

M: What is your go-to hobby?

S: My favorite hobbies are going out with my friends and playing and training for sports.

BRADEN BENZ | TRACK

MESSENGER: How long have you been in track?

BRADEN BENZ: This will be my 2nd year of high school track.

M: What have you learned from track” B: I’ve learned to always push through and persevere even when the workout sucks or the weather is super cold or super hot. I’ve also learned in order to accomplish something you have to work very hard and nothing comes easy which can be applied to way more in my life than just track.

M: What’s your favorite track memory?

B: My favorite track memory is when I walked into the Bowl at state track seeing a ton of people and felt accomplished that my hard work through the season paid off to be able to run in a state track meet in my first year of track.

M: What is your go-to Netflix series?

B: My go-to Netflix series is definitely Hawaii 5-0 without a doubt the best tv show ever.

KYLIE HAAS | BASKETBALL

MESSENGER: How long have you been playing basketball?

KYLIE HAAS: I have been playing basketball since I was in first grade.

M: What have you learned from basketball?

K: I made great friendships and learned the value of hard work, servant leadership, and teamwork.

M: What’s your favorite basketball memory?

K: My favorite basketball memory is the road trip to a summer camp in Montana and seeing the Rockies for the first time with my teammates.”

M: If you had to pick a place to eat right now, where would it be?

K: I would go eat popcorn with ranch at ground round.

M: What is your go-to hobby?

K: When I have spare time after school, practice, and homework I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

NOAH WEBER | TRACK

MESSENGER: How long have you been in track?

NOAH WEBER: 7th grade - however I have always had a knack for running since about 2nd or 3rd grade.

M: What have you learned from track?

N: Track has taught me a lot. First off how to be disciplined, how hard work pays off, and how to have fun.

Track is a challenging sport, the workouts are tough, but as long as you are having fun, it’s not bad. “ M: What’s your favorite track memory?

N: My favorite track memory is tough. I have a couple. When I was a freshman in track, the freshmen team built a tent out of blankets. My second favorite track memory would be being able to meet a lot a cool cats”.

M: What is your go-to hobby?

N: My favorite hobby isn’t actually running - My go to is probably fishing. I always enjoy a good day on the water.

Senior Spotlight by Kathryn Goettle

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The Messenger would like to congratulate the Senior class on taking the win and bringing home the Know Your Faith trophy!

Score sheet from Shanley TV

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