Dear Parents and Friends,
We begin a new school year filled with opportunities to positively impact the lives of our students and their families. Our foundation is the Holy Eucharist, Christ’s presence, guiding us as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was guided so many years ago on her journey of faith. This year’s charism to be celebrated is faith, which coincides with the larger Church’s proclamation of a Year of Faith.
Pope Benedict declared a Year of Faith beginning on October 11, 2012 through November 24, 2013. The official symbol of the year of faith is a ship which is a traditional symbol for faith. During times of persecution the symbol of a ship was used to hide the cross in the mast of the ship. The ship is sometimes represented with Christ as the helmsman. ”The world is a sea, in which the Church, like a ship, beaten by the waves, but not submerges.” (St. Hippolytus)
Our St. Elizabeth Ann Seton chapel will someday have a replica of a ship on display to remind us of her return voyage from Italy after her husband’s death. It was during this voyage that she discerned, and upon her return, embraced the Roman Catholic faith. During this Year of Faith, we are blessed to have a patroness whose life was an example of the faith. We look forward to a variety of faith celebrations and traditions which will be more visible on campus as we strive to emulate her charism of faith.
We say farewell to the Class of 2013 as they head off to higher education. Fiftysix percent of the class of 2013 earned academic and athletic scholarships totaling more than $1.23 million of assistance for their first year of college. We also want to extend a warm welcome to Seton Catholic Prep’s (SCP) Class of 2017. Join us in prayer for the continued success of our new alumni and our new Sentinels.
I wish to acknowledge our Alumni Advisory Board, which continues to host great events to welcome alumni of all ages back to our campus. They have some fun things planned for Alumni Weekend, Sept. 27-29, so mark your calendars now! Many heartfelt thanks to our dedicated alumni who give so much.
During this Year of Faith, we are blessed to have a patroness whose life was an example of the faith. We look forward to a variety of faith celebrations and traditions which will be more visible on campus as we strive to emulate her charism of faith.
Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year. I am honored to be serving Seton Catholic Prep this year as the President of the Parent Advisory Board. I have had the privilege of serving on this Board for Mrs. Collins for the last two years and it has truly blessed my life. The opportunity of serving my daughter’s high school (Maggie, Class of 2014) is a great feeling of giving back, sharing our faith and ensuring the strong traditions at Seton Catholic Prep continue. The SCP Parent Advisory Board serves as the parent-community representatives and works with the administration to make
Seton the best school it can be. This year, as a Board, we will be serving in community service projects and working to promote our Catholic faith. We will be inviting and encouraging others to participate in Seton Catholic events, activities and in giving back to Seton to enhance our vibrant high school experience. A new event for this year will be our Veterans Appreciation Day on November 12…please watch for more details of how Seton Catholic Prep will honor our past and present veterans! We will continue to serve as advisors to the administration and as ambassadors of the entire Seton community. If you have suggestions, questions or want to help, please let me know.
This year the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton charism that will be focused on is faith…a corner stone of the Seton Catholic Prep
Sal Flores
Sal is a new incoming freshman parent, but a long-time community leader and business owner in the East Valley. His business, Flores Wealth Management, has offered comprehensive investment management and financial planning services since 1987 and he has been actively involved in leadership positions with the Mesa Baseline Rotary Club, Dobson Ranch Toastmasters, the Mesa Hohokams, the United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society and past chairman of the board of Life Teen International.
mission statement “To provide a college preparatory curriculum within a Catholic faith community focusing on academic excellence, leadership and loving service to others.” As we read of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Journey of Faith, we too, all make our own journey of faith here at Seton Catholic Prep. We are all blessed to have visible reminders of our faith in our classrooms, in our chapel and within the staff and faculty at Seton Catholic Prep. I want to thank all of you who work so faithfully to make Seton an outstanding school and such a special place. We all find our niche at Seton, and it is through our combined efforts that Seton has grown and prospered.
Blessings to you and your family during this new school year!
Sentinel Shield? If so, please contact Lucille Ruschensky in the Advancement Office at 480.963.1900, Ext. 2031 or by emailing lruchensky@SetonCatholic.org
I also wish to express my gratitude to the many leaders who have come forward to volunteer their time and talent on our Board of Trustees, Parent Advisory Board, Seton Parents Association, Sentinel Booster Club, the Seton Fine Arts Association, the Seton After Dark Committee, the Development Council, the Spirit Store/SCRIP volunteers and other groups. Their expertise, guidance and advice help to shape our vision for the future and keep us true to our mission. Due to the support of our generous benefactors, SCP continues to improve our campus facilities, academic and athletic programs. This year we are looking forward to our new Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program. Students will be permitted to use tablets, lap tops, or an iPad during their classes which will enhance our already strong academic program. Because of the generous support of a benefactor and members of the SCP community we will have a new concession stand/restroom facility and entrance to welcome us to the Home of the Sentinels for this football season as well as a state-of-art, new gym floor. Seton Catholic Prep is blessed with gifts of time, talent and treasure. Please stop by for a visit with me. I enjoy hearing from the SCP community and I welcome the opportunity to give you a campus tour and share the many wonderful improvements and enhancements that our students can now enjoy.
Blessings to you and your family!
Steve Smitham
Steve is a Seton past parent of Geoffrey Smitham ’98 and Courtney Smitham-Sturgess ’01. He served on the Parent Advisory Board from 1995 to 2000, and as President for the 1996-97 school year. Steve is currently retired from his position as chief operating officer for three law firms and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Rich Zawtocki
Rich is a Seton past parent of Meagan Zawtocki Sullivan ’07 and Micha Zawtocki ’12. Rich served on the Seton Parent Advisory board and was president for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. He is also a past president of the Kyrene School Board. Rich and his wife, Marie, are both attorneys and own a family law practice.
Board of Trustees • Mission Statement
In the spirit of loving service, shares, promotes and shapes the School’s vision, culture and achievements while guiding the School’s community to secure the resources to live out her mission.
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY
b (1) : fidelity to one’s promises (2) : sincerity of intentions 2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion. b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust 3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
Just six years after becoming married, Elizabeth Ann’s husband, a founding partner of a mercantile firm, contracted tuberculosis and they went to stay with a friend, Antonio Felicchi, in Leghorn, Italy, in hopes of restoring his health. After William’s death, the Felicchi family took in St. Elizabeth Ann and daughter Anna Maria. Mr. Felicchi’s devout Catholicism influenced St. Elizabeth Ann along with his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton eventually returned to New York in 1805. She prayed often and longed to believe in the Catholic doctrine of The Real Presence. Her conversion occurred in 1805 by Father O’Brien at Saint Peter’s Church on Barclay Street in New York City. Her friends and family turned their backs on her for becoming Catholic. Living in poverty, she opened a boarding school for young women to make ends meet. In 1808 as a widow and young mother, she accepted an offer from Archbishop John Carroll to come to Baltimore to found a school for girls at what is now the Spiritual Center & Historic Site. She also took her first vows as a sister and started a new order, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton arrived in Baltimore in 1808 after facing the loss of her father
when she was a child, then her husband, William, and two of her five children, who died in their teens.
St. Elizabeth Ann moved her school and the Sisters of Charity to Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1809.
Her school became a model for U.S. Catholic schools and several religious orders that trace their roots to St. Elizabeth Ann continue to thrive, running schools, colleges, nursing homes, orphanages, centers for AIDS patients, programs for addicts and shelters for abused women and children.
Sulpician Father John C. Kemper, director of St. Mary’s Spiritual Center & Historic Site, said St. Elizabeth Ann Seton exemplifies Christian hope in the face of hardship.
“When we see the challenges we face
Growing up I guess you could say that I was spoiled when it comes to family. Both of my parents were raised with strong Catholic roots, so the faith has always been a big part of my life. My parents’ relationship has always been very strong and healthy, and I have never felt that their relationship has ever been significantly shaken. This stable family environment, I believe, allowed me to truly grow in humility and faith. Although not often a topic of actual discussion, faith life in our family was big. guess the faith was just silently expected of my brothers and me by our parents. Don’t get me wrong, they would still make us go to mass every Sunday; no “ifs”, “ands”, or “buts” about it, and before we could eat any large meal as a family, we always prayed the blessing. Occasionally, if there was someone our family really wanted to pray for, we would gather together and pray a family rosary. My parents maintained a good balance of encouraging discipline regarding our faith, but at the same time, not forcing Catholicism down our throats. Personally, I never doubted my faith as a child, but I never did fully understand it either. Much of my faith life at the time was me just going through the motions. I never really felt particularly enthusiastic about God or the Church. My faith journey, leading to where I am today, didn’t really begin until I started attending Seton Catholic Preparatory High School.
be answering my prayers.
At the beginning of my senior year, one of my friends, Grace Minton, had been encouraging me to go on this retreat that Seton held twice per year. The retreat was called Kairos. I knew very little about the retreat, so I thought that I might as well give
with Christ and the Church. It was also on these retreats that I first began to seriously consider my calling to the priesthood. All my life, even as a child, the one thing that I wanted most was to be a father and husband. I would dream of raising a family and teaching my kids how to play baseball.
it a shot. In the fall of 2010, signed up for Seton’s Kairos XXX.
in our attempt to grow spiritually,” he said, “they can’t be any more challenging that what Mother Seton faced.”
At the time of her canonization in 1975, in his foreword to a biography of Mother Seton, Terence Cardinal Cooke summed up her legacy:
“In Elizabeth Ann Seton, we have a saint for our times. In Elizabeth Ann Seton, we have a woman of faith, for a time of doubt and uncertainty; a woman of love for a time of coldness and division; and, a woman of hope for a time of crisis and discouragement. Thanks be to God for this saintly daughter of New York, for this valiant woman of God’s Church.”
Upon my 8th grade graduation from St. Timothy’s Catholic Academy, I immediately applied to attend Seton Catholic Preparatory High School. I was so excited at the idea of going to a Catholic high school, and I really can’t explain why. guess it was just because I enjoyed an environment where you were surrounded by people who believed in the same things. I also knew that Seton was going to provide me with an excellent education. Even so, at first I found it difficult to settle in. Seton’s challenging academics caught me off guard, but gradually, the lessons I learned in time management began to ease the transition. Despite earning decent grades and having a group of friends I felt comfortable with, however, I still felt there was something missing. I couldn’t have told you at the time what it was, but in hindsight, I feel as though I had been searching for something more. Little did I know that God would soon
The impact this retreat had on me was indescribable. It was like a ton of bricks had fallen on top of me. I had never felt so loved by my parents and by God than I did when I came home from that retreat. For the first time, I realized that God was thirsting for a personal relationship with me. I realized that my faith was the reason for living. It was after that retreat that I decided to take my faith more seriously and work to form a healthy and strong relationship with God. Through lots of prayer and meditation, I felt a huge calling to be a leader for the next Kairos retreat. Sure enough, several months later, I applied for and was accepted to be a member of the leadership team for Kairos XXXI. I never dreamed that less than a year later, I would be leading four more Kairos retreats, both as a student and as an alumnus. Last spring, I was even selected to co-direct Seton’s Kairos XXXVIII. It was through these retreats that my faith journey really took off. I began to fall in love
Never once did I seriously think the priesthood was an option. In fact, if you had asked me if I thought I should be a priest, I would probably have responded with a, “Heck no!” It was the last thing on my mind. On Kairos XXXIII, I had an opportunity to be by myself in prayer. I decided I would walk out to the camp lake and sit near the edge looking out over the water. It didn’t take long before a wave of emotions hit me. All of a sudden, could feel God’s presence with me. I had never felt so connected with Him in my life. The thought of the priesthood kept popping into my mind. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. I finally decided to be honest with myself and ask God if this was what He wanted. It took me what seemed like several minutes until I finally asked God, “What do you want for me?” I was afraid of the answer because I knew what the answer was. All I could think about was what God was asking me to give up. I walked away from that encounter angry and confused.
At the time, there was only one person in
my life that knew I had felt a calling to the priesthood, and that was Fr. Will Schmidt. He was the Chaplain at Seton while I was a student there, and became the biggest role model in my life. He was the first priest I ever got to know, and he was always challenging me to grow in my faith. He has taught me everything I know about being a mature Catholic. I look up to that man as a spiritual father.
The summer after my freshman year in college, I was invited by Fr. Will to help chaperone a St. Mary Magdalene Parish mission trip to Gallup, New Mexico. I had never gone on a mission before, but everyone I talked to who had gone the previous year, spoke very highly of the experience, so I decided to sign up. One of my mentors, and a former teacher at Seton, Mr. Dan Nguyen, was also going on the mission. He is an extraordinary man of God, and someone I look up to a lot. One night, while we were transitioning between activities, Mr. Nguyen pulled me aside and felt the need to ask me if I was still discerning. I told him that I was, but that I really didn’t want to think about it until after I had gotten my college degree. He then responded with a question that shocked me. He asked me why. I was not prepared to answer that question. Reluctantly, I responded with the only thing I could think of. I told him I was afraid. I know that God was speaking through Mr. Nguyen that
night because he then proceeded to tell me exactly what I didn’t want to hear and exactly what I needed to hear. He told me that being afraid is normal, in fact, if I wasn’t afraid, he would be concerned. Mr. Nguyen said that if I truly believe that God might be calling me to the priesthood, then I shouldn’t wait to answer Him, and I most certainly shouldn’t make that decision out
...if I truly believe that God might be calling me to the priesthood, then I shouldn’t wait to answer Him, and I most certainly shouldn’t make that decision out of fear. “ “
of fear. Those words kept ringing in my ears for the entire mission; I could not get them out of my head. I slowly began to see the patterns of my rejections and ignoring what I knew to be true. I began to admit to myself that God might be calling me to the priesthood.
As soon as I got home, I called Fr. Will and made an appointment with him. I unloaded everything and told him how I felt. To my surprise, he didn’t act surprised at all, and even told me so. He then asked me if I would be willing to live in the rectory with
him as a discernment/internship process. was so overwhelmed with joy. For the first time in a long time, felt at peace. I felt like a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Shortly thereafter, I moved in, met with the vocations director, and started reading books on discernment. Every passing day, my desire for the priesthood grows stronger and stronger. I no longer feel sorrow or sadness at the thought of not being a physical father. My love and desire for Christ has far surpassed any of my own ambitions. My prayer life, love for the Eucharist, and love for the sacraments has never been stronger.
Since moving into the rectory with Fr. Will, I have been working with my parish’s youth ministry program as a core member and one of their retreat volunteers. have never been more at peace with whom am and where I am going in my life. I can even begin to see the reaction of my surrounding community as I open up about my discernment. I have had several people tell me that they, too, feel a calling towards the priesthood, and that they seek the courage to answer that call as I have. It has been a long and uncertain journey, and I know that it has only begun for me. But through my years at Seton Catholic, with the help of my many spiritual mentors, have learned to have faith in God’s plan for my life. My wish for you is to have faith in God’s plan for you!
In March 2011, Mrs. Ellen Harrington, President of the Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities Organization, approached Seton Catholic Preparatory High School to establish a “Twin School” affiliation with Sacred Heart Secondary School in Tullamore, Ireland. Mrs. Harrington approached Seton Catholic Prep for several reasons. The two schools share similar student populations, Mrs. Harrington’s two children were Seton Catholic alumni (Amanda, Class of 2004, and Kyle, Class of 2006), and Mrs. Harrington has a love for the mission of our school.
One of the first endeavors for the Twin Schools of the Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities Project was a Seton Catholic Prep and Sacred Heart Secondary collaborative effort to create a recipe book as a fundraising project. Sacred Heart
Secondary contributed Irish recipes, and Seton Catholic Prep contributed recipes representing the many cultures of the Seton Catholic Prep community. Over 130 recipes from American, Korean, Chinese, Hispanic and other cultures were submitted by the Seton Catholic Prep student body, current families, alumni, faculty and friends of Seton Catholic Prep as they rose to the challenge of this collaborative effort.
Student committees for Marketing, Recipe Collection, and Proof Reading were formed specifically for this project, and many Seton Catholic Prep students took part. The Seton Catholic Prep ~ Sacred Heart Secondary School recipe book was even featured on a local Channel 10 news program in December 2011! The recipe book was sold at athletic and fine arts events, the Mothers’ Mass Bazaar and in our Seton Catholic Spirit Store/SCRIP Office
International Competition for her poem, and her award also included a scholarship check for $1,000. Alicia (Alice) Garcia, Seton Catholic Prep Class of 2013, was honored as the United States First Runner Up for her essay. (See Alice’s photo with Bishop Olmsted on page 12).
To further solidify the Twin School relationship, a Sister School Connection Club was established on the Seton Catholic Prep campus in August 2012 with Seton Catholic Prep Science Department Chair, Mrs. Barb Oliveri, serving as club moderator. The goal of the club is to establish collaborative projects between Seton Catholic Prep and Sacred Heart Secondary. Club members selected two projects to work on in the 2012-2013 school year: an e-pal program between
Prep families who graciously opened their homes to the students during their stay. Meanwhile, the Education Branch of the Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities Board of Directors had undertaken the establishment of a Student Youth Ambassador Program similar to those in Tempe, Phoenix and Gilbert. It just seemed natural that the first delegation of Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities Student Youth Ambassadors should come from the group who had worked so diligently to establish a relationship between Seton Catholic Prep and Sacred Heart Secondary. Eleven students were selected to represent Chandler and Seton Catholic Prep as the “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors to visit Tullamore, Ireland in June 2013. These Seton Catholic students were Alexandra
in overwhelming numbers! As a result, the Spirit Store/SCRIP Office still keeps a few of the books in stock for anyone who is just hearing about the book or who would like to purchase another copy.
In March of 2012, the Seton Catholic Prep student body challenged the Sacred Heart Secondary student body to a plastic recycling competition to celebrate International Earth Week. This friendly competition was a “fun” raiser that certainly brought the two groups closer while simultaneously fostering an awareness of how recycling can impact our environment.
The following month, Seton Catholic Prep and Sacred Heart Secondary students submitted poetry, essays, and art work to the annual International Sister Cities Organization Young Artist and Young Author Showcase competition. Saidhbe Cullen from Sacred Heart Secondary won the
students from both schools and to pursue hosting students from Sacred Heart Secondary here at Seton Catholic Prep and in host homes throughout our community. Sacred Heart Secondary was invited to select students to travel to Chandler at the end of Seton Catholic Prep’s spring break week in March of 2013. In this way, the Sacred Heart Secondary students could enjoy a few full days of activities and march with our own Seton Catholic Prep students in the Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade. There would also be opportunities for the Sacred Heart Secondary students to attend classes and participate in activities on the Seton Catholic Prep campus in order to experience education in the United States. Lodging for the Sacred Heart Secondary students was provided by Seton Catholic
Council and participated in a session with several Town Council members. More highlights of the trip were the opportunity to attend a top notch hurling match between County Offaly and County Kilkenny. County Kilkenny boasts the most “All Ireland Hurling Championships” in the history of hurling! Several Seton Catholic Prep Youth Ambassadors were interviewed for the local Tullamore newspaper, and Seton Catholic Prep student, Sara Siadat, was interviewed by the local Tullamore radio station where she was asked to explain the Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program to the people of Tullamore.
Upon their return to Chandler, the “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors attended the June 18th meeting of the ChandlerTullamore Sister Cities Board of Directors to report back on their trip regarding lessons learned and “roads” paved for future Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities Youth Ambassadors. Several of the “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors have agreed to work with next year’s group of Youth Ambassadors to help prepare them to represent the City of Chandler to Tullamore. Mr. Tony McCormack, Tullamore Town Council Member, local business owner, and President of the Tullamore-Chandler Sister Cities organization, complimented the “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors on the grace and dignity with which they conducted themselves during their stay in Tullamore. He stated that the “Pioneer Youth Ambassadors are a credit to the City of Chandler, Seton Catholic Prep and their families.”
Alycia
Lindsay Odil, Kaila Repar, Kayla Ruiz, Sara Siadat, Constance (Stanci) Snow, Sarah Swinford, Briana Toguchi, and Margaret Yacoub.
The students then began to raise money to cover plane and bus fare to Tullamore, Ireland. After much fundraising, over $11,000 was raised for the eleven “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors to visit Chandler’s Sister City of Tullamore, Ireland.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Oliveri and Mrs. Harrington, the Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors embarked for Ireland on June 4, 2013, paving the way for future Sister City Youth Ambassadors. This “Pioneer” group of Youth Ambassadors stayed with host families, met with members of the Tullamore Town
The Seton Catholic Prep “Pioneer” Youth Ambassadors wish to thank their club moderator, Mrs. Barb Oliveri, as well as Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Ellen Harrington for making this trip possible and for serving as chaperones during the amazing week they spent in Tullamore, Ireland. For more information on the Sister Cities project in Chandler, please visit ChandlerIrish.org.
Geri Desmond and her daughter, Shannon Desmond ‘07 challenged themselves to walk the medieval pilgrimage throughout northern Spain called the Camino De Santiago, (also known as “The Way of St. James”), covering over 440 miles from Pamplona to Santiago. In celebration of Geri’s cancer survival and to raise money for cancer research, they established, “The Camino for the Cure” and raised over $5,400. Geri and Shannon share in excerpts from their journal below their incredible walk of faith.
(Note: The Way of St. James or St. James’ Way (Spanish: El Camino de Santiago) is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried.)
Camino for the Cure Journal
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Our journey and walk of faith has begun! We have arrived safely in Pamplona and are writing from our albergue (lodging) called “Jesus y Maria”. As you can imagine, we are exhausted. After first flying through the night, we then traveled about seven hours, on two different buses, to get from Madrid to Pamplona. Our Spanish is lacking, and it has become very obvious that we are going to have a hard time communicating. Tomorrow´s goal is to make friends that speak Spanish! We were able to take showers and wash our clothes, however, and the accommodations are better than expected. Ate lots of bread, had some vino tinto and are ready for bed soon. Tomorrow is our first day of walking, so please continue to pray for us as we will for you!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Today we walked a little over 15 miles, the first day of walking on our Camino. The weather is absolutely beautiful, had to take our coats off and walked in short sleeves. The cafe con leche, the bread, and the vino are all fantastic. Tonight we are staying at
the Santiago Apostolo alburgue in Puenta la Reina. It is very clean and spacious, and we even got to wash our clothes in a washing machine! Who said we were roughing it? There were very visible scallop shells and yellow arrows leading us the entire way. We met a couple from New Jersey named Celine and Todd and another couple from Canada named Bob and Nancy--loved speaking English with them!
(Note: The scallop shell, often found on the shores in Galicia, has long been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Over the centuries, the scallop shell has taken on mythical, metaphorical and practical meanings, even if its relevance may actually derive from the desire of pilgrims to take home a souvenir.)
top of the mountains. It was absolutely beautiful, and you can actually forget your aches and pains. One of the men we met on the Camino, John from Ohio, posted our donation link to his website, and today his father, whom we have never met, donated to our Camino for the Cure! There are very good people everywhere. We have met people from Germany, Ireland, Canada, and Romania ... all today! What an amazing world we live in. Tonight we are staying at San Jose Church which also used to be a seminary. They have remodeled it for pilgrims on “The Way” to stay there. The woman volunteer felt sorry for me (my gorgeous face after my fall). And gave me a bag of ice!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Today we walked another 15 miles from Ventosa to Ciruena, Spain. That makes 86 miles in five days - no wonder we are a little sore! We are starting to feel the weight of our backpacks (about 20 lbs.), especially when we are climbing the larger hills. We went to Sunday Spanish mass, and didn’t understand too much, but prayed for all of you. When we feel helpless to do anything else, this seems to be an alternative. Thank you so much for your prayers and donations to fight cancer.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Today we hiked 17 miles, mostly uphill, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Yes, we were booking it! Shanny flies up these mountains, and then cheers me on thank GOD! Today we hiked from Belerado to Ages, Spain. We mostly walked through the forest on
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Today we hiked 13 miles under cool, but beautiful, blue skies—no rain. You are great prayer warriors. Thank you! We did have one incident. As you can imagine, in the middle of walking through the country, there are no women’s bathrooms. I gave Shanny my walking sticks, and told her to keep an eye out while I found a high bush. Later I
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Today we hiked 15 miles, so all together we have walked 186 miles in 11 days. We have experienced almost all types of weather, but today it actually snowed on us! It has been quite chilly here, especially by Phoenix standards. We are in the town of Carrion. It is Saturday evening, so we are currently waiting for mass to begin. We do not understand it because it is in Spanish, but they have a pamphlet at the door in all languages.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Today we walked 15 miles through cold and rain. We are at our half-way mark! We are at Mansilla, 14 days into our walk, and we have covered 232 miles total.
everyone leaves their rock in thanksgiving to God or for a special intention. It was amazing to see all the rocks, photos and other items left from pilgrims from all over the world.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Today we hiked 15 miles to Amenal, Spain. We have now walked for 27 days, and our total is 435 miles! We only have one more day of less than 11 miles, and we will be walking into Santiago (tomorrow!). The plan is, for all who have been on the Camino, on the day that they arrive, and each day that they spend in Santiago thereafter, everyone is to meet in the square next to the Cathedral at 11:00 a.m. There will be lots of hugging and mugging and happy tears (at least from this peregrino). Then there is a pilgrim mass at 12:00 p.m.
realized that in the brush I had lost a very prized possession…a medal that someone had given me to carry along “The Way”. As I was starting to panic, a young European pilgrim came up to us and said, excuse me, does this belong to you? Oh my God…at that moment I was so thankful that nothing else mattered. My friend who asked that I carry the medal on this journey, shared with me that this medal had kept her safe through Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn…her prayer was this medal would keep me safe on this journey. God brought the medal back to me!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Today we walked 17 miles, so now our total is 309 after 19 days in Spain. We are in the town of Ponferrada. The skies are blue, and we walked in short sleeved shirts today. We climbed to the highest point on the Camino today, to Cruz de Ferro, where
It is our 26th day of hiking across Spain, and we have finished a total of 420 miles! At the beginning of our Camino, Shanny and I saw a young pilgrim wearing a full Franciscan robe with backpack. Today he caught up to us on the journey, and told us he had been given his Camino “scallop shell” back in his country of Hungary. It had been blessed by a special priest from Hungary before he left on his Camino. He said he accidentally dropped it, and it broke in 2 perfect halves, and he decided to give each half to Shanny and I. We told him for some crazy reason we had not bought our shells yet (which is the sign of the Camino pilgrim). I told him about my recovery from cancer and why we were walking the Camino, and asked him to pray for my sister, Char, who is struggling with cancer, and he said he would pray for her. This really is a very spiritual and faith-filled journey.
So this is the final entry to all the wonderful people who were spiritually with us on the Camino. (Many of you have said that you felt like you were right there with us.) We felt that, too, and all your prayers for us were answered. Each day we walked we prayer the rosary for all of the intentions to sent with us…we hope the ones we said for you were answered as well!
One thing I realized on the Camino is that prayers are answered and they give us great hope. I would like to encourage everyone to never let a day slip by that you don’t pray for at least one other person. This is something we both aspire to.
As far as the donations to the American Cancer Society, our original goal was to raise $1,000. Very generous people donated over $5,400! Thank you so very much! And if you ever just want to sit around and talk about the Camino, we are your girls!
(Note: “THE WAY” (a 2010 movie available on DVD and Blu-Ray) is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world.
As we approach the new school year, our campus continues to improve with a number of significant improvements to our facilities. Construction of a new concessions and restroom building is well underway in the Eubanks Stadium complex. The building is located just inside the newly designed main entrance which is just west of the academic/ fine arts building. We are grateful for the many people who have invested in this project, most especially the Campanella family, whose major gift kick-started the fundraising drive. By the beginning of the new school year, our gym floor renovation will be complete! After years of wear and tear, a generous donor stepped forward with a $90,000 gift to replace the floor and Seton parents, past parents and alumni have come forward with the additional funds to help complete the project – many thanks to all of you!
Generous donors, along with the Sentinel Booster Club, have provided funds to update a variety of equipment in our weight room, including stationary bicycles, weight racks
and a balancing platform. These items will go a long way in helping students to train and
prepare for their athletic pursuits. New for next year, is a state-of-the-art Piano Lab, provided by funds from the Fund for Seton Catholic Annual Giving Program. This computer lab will be outfitted with electronic keyboards that will allow for piano instruction, as well as paving the way to offer classes in music composition.
A memorial to deceased alumnus, Arie Fitzhugh ‘11, will be installed in front of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel. The granite bench is being donated by alumni classmates who raised funds last fall in memory of Arie at the “Tackle the Cure” tailgate event. Their act of love and service is a testament to the values instilled at Seton Catholic Prep and is a gesture that is deeply appreciated by the Fitzhugh family.
Pueblo Zach Plichta
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
M J Villegas
Scottsdale Community College Vanessa Flores Softball Scottsdale Community College Dan Garlid
Scottsdale Community College
Do you know that after graduation Seton Catholic Prep students…
• ExCEl ACADEMICAllY and earn millions of dollars in college scholarships
• Continue to SERVE THEIR CHuRCH, community and nation
• BECOME LEADERS in their communities and in leading industries
What is needed to ensure this tradition continues? Donated dollars to fund the advances in a Seton Catholic Prep education. we are counting on your support!
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted ordained Father Chris Axline to the priesthood at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral on June 1, the Feast of St. Justin Martyr. The second century saint converted to the faith as a young adult and serves as an example of holiness for new priests. The Litany of Saints moved Fr. Axline, and while the people prayed for the saints’ intercession, he prayed as well. “Lord, make me faithful. Make me be the priest you created me to be,” Fr. Axline repeated throughout the two-hour Mass. Fr. Chris Axline will be parochial vicar of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert and chaplain of Seton Catholic Preparatory High School for this coming year.
At its foundation, the Seton community has been fortunate to have many servant leaders who have shared their time, talent and treasure to support the school’s vision and mission. The Campanella family is one shining example of the impact faith and generosity can have on a school community. The family’s relationship with Seton Catholic Prep (SCP) began fourteen years ago, when Noreen Campanella Cravener, and her husband, Greg, enrolled their sons, Michael ’03 and Thomas ‘05. Although the Campanella family hailed from central Phoenix, Noreen and Greg felt the environment at Seton reflected their family’s values and provided a diverse population best suited for their sons. They were both involved at the school on a volunteer basis with Noreen becoming a member of the Parent Advisory Board, and eventually serving as a member of the Capital Campaign Committee.
As the Capital Campaign progressed, Noreen invited her father, and Seton grandparent, Joe Campanella, to join the campaign committee, as he had many contacts she believed would benefit the school. Joe became an active member and soon was the group’s chairman. The relationships he brought to SCP, along with his own gift, helped to secure over $6 million to complete the first phase of the new master plan for the campus, including a $1 million gift to build the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel from his long-time friend, Mrs. Lorenza DeMuro, now deceased.
In the late 1990’s, the Campanella family jointly established a family foundation. Members of the family sit on the board
and direct charitable grants that help our local Catholic schools. In 2000, in honor of her 70th birthday, the Kathy Campanella Catholic High School Scholarship Fund was established in their mother’s honor, to provide scholarships to students attending, Seton Catholic Prep, St. Mary’s High School and Bourgade Catholic High School. The scholarships are awarded, on a rotating basis, to a student attending one of these three schools. Although now deceased, Kathy’s memory lives on in the lives of her children and family and extends beyond to students in need. The Foundation has also been an annual supporter of the SCP Capital Campaign and the SCP Robotics team. In addition, individual family members have wholeheartedly supported Seton After Dark, the Fund for Seton Catholic and other numerous Seton community causes.
Most recently, the Campanella family has been attending football games to cheer on Antonio Campanella, current junior and son of Brian and Yvonne Campanella. They saw a need for a concessions/restroom facility and decided to make a family gift to kickstart the project. Part of their gift contained a challenge grant to the Seton community, which was successfully matched. Because of their generosity and vision, construction on the new facility was started in June 2013 and is slated to be completed in time to be in use for the 2013-14 football season! Since 1999, the Campanella family has served our community with a servant’s heart and has provided financial resources to help us make a difference in the lives of our students and their families. Our
thanks to the Campanella family!
to our volunteers who assisted with campus projects this summer!
Vinny and Lisa Dolce
Aimee and Edgar Espiritu
Bright Eze
Chris Gass
Greg Ham
Todd Johnson
Amy Lee
Julie and Stuart Rayburn
Alli Rayburn
kim Shirley
Madelynn Shirley
Commander Dale Walters and Lieutenant Jason Zdilla School Safety: What
The Chandler police Department will help our students understand their role in making seton Catholic prep a safe and secure school environment. students will be made aware of their options when facing unsafe and/or dangerous situations at school; the value of emergency drills and school rules; and the importance of the phrase, “If You see something...say something.” at the end of the evening presentation, parents will understand their role in keeping their students safe at school; they will be able to have a conversation with their child about what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe and/or dangerous situation on or off campus; and will be given strategies to keep their students safe outside of school.
Dale Walters has been in law enforcement for 23 years and is currently a Commander with the Chandler Police Department. Throughout his career he has been actively involved in training both law enforcement and community members in a variety of subjects including basic investigation techniques, surveillance, firearms, supervision, leadership, ethics, narcotics recognition, and active shooter response. Jason Zdilla, is currently a Lieutenant assigned to the Special Assignment Unit as the Tactical Commander and has been with the Chandler Police Department since 1994.
Fr. Leo Patalinghug Finding God
How can we recognize God in our daily lives? Fr. Leo will shed light on finding God in all things, including the saints, the Blessed Mother and even at the Lord’s table. Find out what our faith calls on us to accomplish so that God can be reflected in the way we live our lives.
Father Leo E. Patalinghug is a parish priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the host and founder of Grace Before Meals, an apostolate to strengthen families and communities around the dinner table. He is also an internationally renowned conference speaker, author, TV host of “Savoring Our Faith” on EWTN, radio co-host of “Entertaining Truth” on Sirius XM and contributes restaurant reviews to Baltimore’s The Catholic Review. His unique background as a martial artist and break dancer helps him to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. He has appeared on PBS, ABC, CBS and the Foot Network, where he defeated a world famous chef in the ,”Throw Down! with Bobby Flay.” With food, faith and fun, Fr. Leo hopes to bring people closer together one meal at a time.
Chris Stefanik No Imitations! A Chastity Presentation
While giving credence to the dangers of premarital sex, Chris goes beyond fear tactics and “just say no’s.” He offers teens something to say “Yes!” to: health, happiness, authentic relationships, and the love they were made for...everything else is an imitation! Upbeat, passionate, humorous, and sensitive enough for a mixed crowd, no i mitations! has changed lives and impacted the culture at hundreds of Catholic and public high schools across the country and beyond.
parents, do you know what you’re students are up against? The postmodern world that young people find themselves in provides no moral and religious framework to help them make sense out of life. Learn about the cultural factors that have robbed teens of faith and hope, and how you as a parent can give it back to them.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has called Chris Stefanick “one of the most engaging young defenders of the Christian faith on the scene today.” Chris speaks to over 50,000 teens, young adults, and parents every year. Venues he has spoken at include hundreds of high school assemblies and parish events, colleges (including Annapolis, Penn State and the US Air Force Academy) and both international events and national conferences. Chris is a syndicated columnist and a regular in Catholic radio and TV. He has authored or coauthored, “Do Have to Go?” (about the Mass), “Raising Pure Teens,” and “Absolute Relativism.” He currently works for the Augustine Institute as Director of Youth Outreach. Above all, he is proud to be a husband and father to six beautiful children.
On April 11, 2013, the Mother Seton Legacy Society was formally launched with three charter members. The Society will recognize donors who have made a commitment to the future of Seton Catholic Preparatory High School through a deferred gift from their estate. These gifts will be placed in the Sisters of Charity Scholarship Endowment Fund which provides tuition assistance for qualified students with financial need.
We are honored and proud to have Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Clinch ’77, Mr. and Mrs. James Heath, Msgr. Jeremiah McCarthy ’64 and Mrs. Ann Johnson ‘62 as charter members of the Mother Seton Legacy Society, which will guarantee future families access to the Seton experience. The great vision of Father Joseph Patterson, as founder, and the inspiration of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, as the first educators of our school, will be kept alive due to their generosity. On behalf of the Seton community, we extend gratitude and admiration. Membership is open to any individual who makes a deferred gift to SCP through their estate. Become a charter member by making your gift by December 31, 2013!
All members of the Seton community and their guests are invited to attend a free presentation by Jeff Hall’97, estate planning attorney, on Monday, Oct. 21, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, in the Seton Library.
Get the answers to these questions and many others:
• Will there be enough funds for my children’s college education?
• What is an estate plan and do I need one?
• How can I make sure my family is taken care of if something happens to me?
• How can I make sure my wishes regarding care for my children will be carried out?
• Can’t I just make these documents myself or use a website?
• Will my estate be handled the way I want?
Topics to include general discussion on these questions along with wills and trusts. For more information about either program, contact Paula Osterday in the Advancement Office at (480) 963-1900 Ext. 2011 or via email at posterday@setoncatholic.org.
On November 1, 2013, the Church celebrates All Soul’s Day, a feast commemorating the faithful departed. You are invited to remember your deceased loved ones by making a special gift to the Commemorative Giving Program. Your memorial gift is acknowledged with a specially designed card mailed directly to the person or family you designate at the time of your gift. All memorial gifts support the Sisters of Charity Scholarship Endowment Fund which provides tuition assistance to students with financial need.
For more information, call 480.963.1900 Ext. 2011 or make an online gift at www.SetonCatholic.org (under the Support Seton tab)
JACKIE PETERSON , Math Teacher
Degree: Bachelor of Mathematics and Bachelor of Computer Science, Purdue University.
Mr. Frank Schoenhardt (SetonParent) February,2013
Fr. John Mark Fahey (FormerSetonFacultyMember) May,2013
Mrs. Martha Omohundro (FormerSetonStaffMember) June, 2013
Mr. Jim O’Connor (DennisClinchFatherinLaw) July,2013
The Seton Catholic Prep community extends its deepest sympathies to friends and family members of the deceased. May they rest in peace in the arms of the Lord. If you are aware of alumni who have recently passed, please notify the Advancement Office at Seton so that we may remember them in this column. Send an email to: setonalumni@setoncatholic.org or call 480.963.1900 x2006.
You can help shape the future of a student’s life with just a few simple sentences in your will. Called a CHARITABlE BEqUEST, this type of gift works well for people who believe in the mission of Seton Catholic Prep but can’t part with money today.
How You Benefit:
Flexibility. Because you are not actually making a gift until after your lifetime, you can change your mind at any time.
Versatility. You can structure the bequest in many ways, including leaving a percentage of your estate to the Seton Endowment Fund.
Convenience. You have access to your assets throughout your lifetime.
Have a question? I can help. Paula Osterday, Director of Advancement call 480.963.1900 Ext. 2011 posterday@SetonCatholic.org
Seton Catholic Prep standout athlete Michael J. “MJ” Villegas ‘13 has recently been drafted as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. MJ signed with the Dodgers on July 12 to the rookie league and has begun play at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, the Spring Training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. MJ was an AIA All State First Team baseball player following his senior season at Seton Catholic Prep. MJ did receive a scholarship to play baseball with Scottsdale Community College but he and his family agreed the experience with the Los Angeles Dodgers was the perfect fit for him. Congratulations MJ!
In July 2013 at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior & Cadet National Wrestling Championships incoming Seton Catholic Prep Freshman, Quentin Hovis, earned the All – American Championship status in both styles of wresting, Cadet Greco and Cadet Freestyle. Hovis was participating in wrestling this summer under the coaching of ASU/USA Wrestling standout and Seton Catholic Prep Head Wrestling Coach, Eric Larkin. Congratulations Quentin!
Previous Work: Includes Math Tutor, Substitute at St. John Bosco and Engineering Manager at Intel.
ClARISA FOOR , English Teacher
Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, Secondary Education ASU.
Previous Work: English Teacher at Desert Vista HS
ROBIN NOUDAlI , French Teacher
Degree: MA in French, ASU. Previous Work: French Teacher Apache Junction HS
ROB CURTIS , Director of Campus Ministry and Theology Teacher
Degree: MA Ed Secondary Ed, U of Phoenix, MA Pastoral Theology, St. Joseph’s College.
Previous Work: Theology Teacher, SCP
TERESA RODRIGUEz , Staff Accountant
Degree: BS Organized Leadership, AZUSA Pacific University. Previous Work: most recently: ELL (English Language Learner), Higley School District and Accountant for the County of Los Angeles
MEGHAN MUllIN ‘05, Theology Teacher and Christian Service Moderator
Degree: Master of Liberal Arts, St. Edward’s University. Previous Work: Theology Teacher, Counseling and Campus Ministry, SCP
KATElYN MCCAIGUE ‘10 , Graphic Design Teaching Assistant
Katelyn will begin working at Seton as a part-time Graphic Design Teaching Assistant, previously an intern with Apple. Katelyn is currently attending ASU and will complete her BFA in May of 2014.
JUlIE zYllA, Administrative Assistant
Julie will join the Counseling Department and is the parent of Seton graduates Margaret ‘01, Christine ‘04, and Joseph ‘08.
THERESE MOlINA , Cafeteria Services
Therese is the parent of Luke, ‘10 and Cienna (a sophomore).
Here’s the riddle… you see it every day… you’ve used it before… it’s everywhere you go… and it keeps on giving… what is it?
It’s “scrip,” the proven method of generating charitable rebates through common purchases from your favorite stores, restaurants and service providers. With scrip, you’ll have significant opportunities to provide much-needed funding relief to Seton Catholic Prep.
1961
Brigido Miranda, Jr., is enjoyingretirement,playing golfandattendingcarraces. He spends his volunteer timesupportingmilitary causes and children’s cancer centers.
1977
Dennis Clinch isbeginning his24thyearteachingSeton CatholicPrep.Hehasbeen marriedtoPegfor5years, andhisdaughter,Michelle, from class of 2000 is married to PJ Austin and has two wonderful kids; Cecilia 7 and luke5.Megan,class of 2003 is married to Matt Breckinridgeandhastwo kids as well, Arlo is 3 and Nora is 1.
1978
DianeSpruit’sfourthchild, JakeRyan,willbeattending SetonCatholicPrepasa freshman this fall. Diane recentlylostherhusband on November 16, 2012 in atragicATVaccidentin winterhaven, California.
1989
25TH ClASS REuNION BEING PlANNED FOR 2014! Ifyouareinterestedin helpingplanorinfinding out the details about the reunion, please contact Heidi (Bichler) Tourangeau atHeidiMT12@gmail.comor ontheclassFacebookpage “Seton Class of 89.”
kenEarlyandErica (Valenzuela)Early,Classof 1999, and Ken’s automotive repairbusinessGreen light Garage,locatedinMesa (TheGreenlightGarage.com) isofftoagreatstart. Erica staysverybusyathomewith theirthreeboysages4,2 andnewbabyJoshua.
Stewart Dandorf, a UofA CollegeofMedicinestudent wasawardedascholarship fortheprestigiousMedical StudentTraininginAging Research(MSTAR)program administeredbythe American Federation for AgingResearchandthe NationalInstituteonAging.
NewlyordainedDeacon Scott Sperry has served as a deaconlocallythissummer andwillnowbeginhisfinal yearofseminary.
Barbara Usher wasengaged onEasterSundaytoStephen Dombrowski.Hesurprised heronbyputtingthering insideanEasteregg.They willbegettingmarriedin thespringof2014.Barbara currentlyteaches2ndGrade at Saint John Bosco School.
Meghan Schaiberger and Darrel Arnold will be married in March of 2014 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Phoenix.Meghanandher fiancébothgraduatedfrom Northern Arizona university. Meghanteaches7th gradeSocialStudiesand TechnologyintheDeerValley unified School District.
Susan (white) Foss and her husbandMichaelrecently celebrated the birth of their babygirl,SofiaJudy,inApril. Susan is blessed to be able tostayathomewithher newdaughterandtakecare of her, while Michael does independentcontractwork asacomputerengineer.
2005
Meghan Mullin,whoplayed softballattheUniversityof Nebraska,willbeteaching TheologythisfallatSeton CatholicPrep!Inadditionto herteachingresponsibilities, MeghanwillbetheChristian Service moderator, Senior Class moderator and assistant softball coach.
Matthew Molloy was married on June 15, 2013 toMollySmith,inBaltimore. MatthewandMollymetin collegeattheUniversityof notreDameandhejust completedhisthirdyear of medical school at Johns Hopkins.Matthewwillnow bepursuingaMasterin PublicHealthdegreeatthe JohnsHopkinsBloomberg School of Public Health.
2007
Susanne wolfe justreceived her DDS “white coat” at aceremonyonJuly20, 2013 as the The Arthur A. DugoniSchoolofDentistry attheUniversityofThe Pacific in San Francisco.
2008
Timothy Grunkemeyer earned his B.S. in Biochemistry in May of 2012 and is now in graduate school at Ohio State conducting research in cooperation with the
weizmann Institute in Israel as well as the u.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. Timothy will have his ASU research paper published soon.
Ryan Harrigan graduated from the New Mexico MilitaryAcademyin2009 in the Coast Guard Scholar Programandgraduated from the United States Coast GuardAcademyin2013 with a Bachelor of Science Degree(withHonors)in Management.Ryanisnow anEnsigninthe uSCG, attendingflightschool, Pensacola, Fl.
Joseph (Joe) Juliano was an ASU Rhodes Scholar nominee this fall and wasrecentlyawarded the American Institute of Chemists Award from theASUDepartmentof ChemistryandBiochemistry. Hehadagreattime talkingtoSetonCatholic PreparatoryHighSchool sciencestudentsthisyear withhisfellowclub(Project Inspire:Math without Borders) members about thevalueofpursuinga career in math or science. Joeiscompletinghis B.S.inBiochemistryand ComputationalMathematics from the Barrett Honors CollegeatASUafter graduatingwithhonors fromScottsdaleCommunity Collegewhereheearned the Student Athlete award for academic and tennis achievement as well as the Hites and All American USA scholarships.Hehashadtwo excitingsummerinternships, oneattheHarvardUniversity
Stem Cell Institute and one asanAmgenScholaratthe Universityof washington pursuingmathematical modelingofbraintumors. Hewillbeapplyingto MD/PhD medical school programsthisyear.
Hailey Campanella graduatedcumlaudefrom northernArizonaUniversity inMay2013.Haileyearned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with anemphasisinceramics. Herplansforthefuture aretoenjoythebeautiful Flagstaffweatherforthe summer and head out in thefallforaEuropeantour throughSpain,Franceand Italy.Shehopesonedayto continue her studies at an artschoolinFlorenceItaly. HaileycreditsMrs.Totten, Seton’sveryownFineArts Teacher,asthefirstperson torecognizeandencourage hertalentinart.Haileyis seen below next to one of hermanypiecesinagallery openinginFlagstaff.
2009
Kevin Zeck graduatedfrom ASuandwasrecipientof the 2013 Moeur Award for maintaininga4.0GPAforall ofhisfouryearsatASu. He alsoreceivedtheRayHenkel Scholarshipawardfrom theSchoolofGeographical
SciencesandUrbanPlanning formaintainingthehighest GPAamongGeography majors.Kevingraduated as a member of the Honor SocietyforSustainabilityand thePhiBetaKappaSociety. He has accepted a position with IO Data Centers in San Francisco and will be relocatingtoCaliforniathis summer.
Molly Barlow recently graduatedsummacum laudeandalphachifrom HighPointUniversityin north Carolina with a bachelor’s degreeinelementary education with a minor in coaching.Barlowplayed fouryearsof nCAA Division Ivolleyballandfinishedher careerastheeighthplayer in HPu’sDiv.Ihistoryto reach1,000careerdigs. She was named the 20122013BigSouthConference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Barlowgraduatedfrom Seton Catholic in 2009 whereshehelpedSeton winthreevolleyballstate championships.Shewasa member of the All-Arizona VolleyballTeamhersenior year.
Theresa Sullivan recently had her book “Late notes” publishedandisnow available on Amazon.com. katelynMcCaigue,alsoClass of 2010, illustrated this book for Theresa. Theresa writes in her forward, “In highschoolIwasconstantly late for school. It was never myfault.Thesefirst30 excusesarethenotesIgave thesecretaryinthefront office of Seton Catholic HighSchoolexplainingwhy I was late. She saved them andgavethemtomeatthe endofmysenioryearand told me to write a book. So, I did!”
katelyn McCaigue,pursuing aMajorinDrawingat ASU,through kickStarter fundraisingwillbeable to have her first book “JadeDragon”published.
This book is her first in thismangaseries.Visit jadedragonmanga.comfor more information.
Joseph Harrington was namedASU’sOutstanding Graduate for Civil, Environmental and SustainableEngineering.A student in ASU’s Barrett, The HonorsCollege,Harrington maintaineda4.0grade pointaverageandmadethe Dean’s list each semester. He was involved with several leadershippositionswith studentorganizations, mostsignificantlytheASu chapteroftheAmerican SocietyofCivilEngineers (ASCE).Harringtonalso helpedyoungerstudents asanundergraduate teachingassistantinthe civilengineeringstructural analysisanddesigncourse. Hewasrecognizedasan OutstandingUndergraduate TeachingAssistantforhis contributions to the course forthepastthreesemesters. He has been accepted into theengineeringgraduate programatASUtopursue adoctoraldegreein engineeringwithafocuson structures and materials. He was awarded the Dean’s FellowshipandaFulton Fellowshiptofundhis studies.
Christopher Procopio was namedOutstandingGradate inConstructionEngineering at ASu.Procopioearned agradepointaverageof 3.42whilegettingarange ofon-the-jobexperiences duringhisundergraduate years.Heworkedina civilengineeringposition withAlphaGeotechnical
& Materials Inc. and as a projectengineerwithHill InternationalInc.Procopio was a member of a team thatwonasecond-place award at the Associated Schools of Construction RenoCompetition,amajor annual student construction managementevent.He was a member of Chi Epsilon; a national civil engineeringhonorssociety andtheASUchapterofthe AmericanSocietyofCivil Engineers.Hehasaccepted afull-timepositionin Dallasasaprojectengineer withMcCarthyBuilding Companies.
An UPDATE FROM CONNOR wEIGAND… IamagraduateofSeton from the class of 2010 and mysisterMckennajust graduatedinMayof2013. Ihopeeverythinghasbeen goingwell!Ijustwantedto letyouknowaboutaglobal engineeringserviceproject I’vebeenworkingonwhile at ASu.Ourgroupiscalled 33 Buckets and we are tryingtoimproveequality andhealthinBangladesh. we want to install a filter atagirls’highschooland then sell affordable water tothecommunitythrough a microfinance business thatsustainstheproject. weareinacrowdfunding campaignrightnow,andI’m hopingthatmanymembers oftheSetoncommunity maybeinterestedinhearing abouttheproject.Ialso wantedtothankyouforyour supportanddirectionwhile atSeton.Ithinkthatgoing to a school where there is acommunitythatfosters serviceandempathyfor humankind has directed me tothispositionwhereour teamcanpositivelyimpact the lives of hundreds of peopleinruralBangladesh. Thetoughcurriculumbut emphasis on morals and Catholic beliefs has made me a more conscious and caringCatholic.Icantellyou frompersonalexperience
that all of us students see and appreciate the hard work and dedication everybodyputsintogiveus the tools to better our own and others’ lives. Here is a link for more info about our project:https://asu.useed. net/projects/70/home.All mybest,Connor
2013
Becca Blaser recently won the Arizona Own up campaign’sessaycontest withheressayabout underagedrinkingin theRaisingArizona kids magazine.Beccawas awarded with a financial scholarshipforherwinning essay. waytogo,Becca!!
Megan Farinella ‘13 and Austin Morris ‘10 have been cast in the Mesa Encore Threatreproductionof Grease.Austinwillappearas DannyZuko,andMeganis a member of the ensemble. Performances will be at the MesaArtsCenterAugust16 throughSeptember1. Call the box office at 480.644.6500topurchase tickets.
Sam Engelbert,alongwith Seton Sentinel Jake Rueter, werebothselectedtoplay in the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association All Star Game. Go Sentinels!
DO YOU HAVE NEwS?
Send it in! Be sure to include your class year along with your accomplishment, accolade or other significant news item.
Email to Becky Sanchez: RSanchez@SetonCatholic.org THANK YOU!
The Fund for Seton Catholic annual giving project exceeded the goal for 2012-13. Thank you to our generous challenge grant donor as well as all of you who stepped up to accept his challenge! Your gifts are sincerely appreciated!
The Students of Seton Catholic Prep
PREPARATOR y HIGH SCHOO l
Congratulations to the upcoming 2013 Seton Catholic Preparatory Hall of Fame Inductees.
The 10th annual Alumni Mass and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, beginning at 12 noon in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel. The induction ceremony and reception will be held in the theater, in academic/fine arts building. For those interested, Seton Ambassadors will be on hand to conduct tours of the building.
Our 2013 Inductees are:
katherine McBryan ’03
DISTINGuISHED AluMNuS AwARD
Evelyn Heath
DISTINGuISHED SERVICE AwARD
Brother Mark O’Leary
DISTINGuISHED SERVICE AwARD
Avel Mendoza ’78
ATHlETIC HAll OF FAME AwARD
Coach Joe Timpani and the 1997 State Championship Varsity Football Team
ATHlETIC HAll OF FAME AwARD
lisa wangler ’98
ATHlETIC HAll OF FAME AwARD
All members of the Seton community are invited to attend. Admission is free but donations will be gratefully accepted! To RSVP, contact Paula Osterday at (480) 963-1900 Ext. 2011 or via email at posterday@setoncatholic.org.
The Seton community proudly presents these inductees and extends heartfelt congratulations and best wishes!
Entering its third year, our Alumni Advisory Council, chaired by Nicole Harrison ’88, continues to expand and has planned four events for the 2013-14 school:
September 27-29
Alumni weekend
January 9
Young Alumni/Seniors Forum
February 8
Alumni VIP Reception prior to the winter Musical
April 8
Golden Sentinels Reunion
All Sentinel alumni are invited to join in the festivities. Mrs. Patricia Collins, principal, has appointed several new council members and has asked the council to engage in a strategic planning process to better align the council’s goals with the school-wide strategic plan that was adopted last fall.
Any alumni interested in joining the council can contact Mrs. Collins at pcollins@setoncatholic.org.
Friday, September 27
5:00pm – Join your fellow alumni at the Alumni Tailgate in the SCP quad, beer and snacks provided! No RSVP required.
7:00pm – Be recognized at the Varsity Football Homecoming game. Free admission for all Seton alumni!
Saturday, September 28
12:00pm – Alumni Mass and Hall of Fame Inductions will be held in the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel. A reception will follow in the Fine Arts Theater and refreshments will be provided. There is no charge to attend this event but donations will be gratefully accepted! Please RSVP by calling Paula Osterday at 480.963.1900, Ext 2011 or emailing POsterday@SetonCatholic.org
Sunday, September 29
7:30am – 20th Annual Seton Golf Classic at Ocotillo Golf Resort. Tournament fee includes prizes and lunch. Special discounted rates for Seton alumni players! Register online at SetonCatholic.org
Need Help Planning Your Class Reunion?
If you are interested in obtaining more information or assistance in planning your class reunion, please contact Paula Osterday in the Seton Advancement Office at 480.963.1900 Ext. 2011 or via email at posterday@setoncatholic.org.
Class reunions can be planned for the evening of Saturday, September 28, as a part of the Seton Alumni Weekend and the Advancement Office will be happy to assist you!
Seton Catholic Prep hosted the Second Annual Golden Sentinels Reunion on April 11, 2013 honoring and recognizing those alumni who graduated from Seton 50 years ago. Included in this year’s celebration were members of the Class of 1963 Guests were treated to a wonderful dinner in their honor and had a great time reminiscing about their years as students at Seton. The group was welcomed by Seton alumnus and President of the Board of Trustees, Gabe Ortiz ’88 and entertainment was provided by Tim Smith and the Seton student Barbershop Quartet! Honorees were given a special lapel pin indicating their status as a Golden Sentinel along with a personalized certificate honoring their legacy as an alumnus of Seton Catholic Prep.
The Golden Sentinels Reunion is an annual event, each year “inducting” into the group the newest 50 year class. In 2014, we will be pleased to welcome members of the Class of 1964 in addition to all those from previous years.
After a high school career of playing three positions on the Varsity football team at SCP (wide receiver, defensive back and punter) and leading Seton through the toppling of the White Mountain powerhouses (Cottonwood Mingus, Show Low and Lakeside Blue Ridge) to win the Division IV state championship, followed by his hitting and pitching exploits which forged a deep run in the baseball postseason, Haggerty was named as the 2012-2013 East Valley Tribune Male Athlete of the Year. Matt was an outstanding student during his time at Seton Catholic, serving for many years on the Student Council and serving as co-emcee at our Pep Assemblies during his senior year. Matt considered several athletic and academic scholarship offers from around the United States, as well as being offered a drafted position by the LA Dodgers rookie league. Matt has selected to sign on at Grand Canyon University for a full baseball/academic scholarship. Congratulations Matt!
As reported on the
The Phoenix Suns are the large category winner in our Phoenix Business Journal’s local Social Madness competition, so we decided to take a look at what makes the organization so successful in their social efforts.
“The key since I’ve been here for the last two years, is to try and develop the Suns’ brand as a personality; the biggest Suns fan on the Internet,” said Suns Digital Manager Greg Esposito. “So basically, the personality of our account, which I look at as our brand, is that we love the Suns as much as the fans.” For Esposito, that comes naturally. A home-grown Suns fan, Esposito has been rooting for the team since he was born and has supported the team through
thick and thin. However, one of the challenges Esposito and most other social media managers face are separating the personal from the professional.
“I’m an opinionated human being — most people that run these accounts are — and you have to take a very different mindset when you approach a company Twitter account as opposed to your own personal account,” said Esposito. “It helps that I know the history, I do enjoy the team, but you really have to be cognizant of what you’re doing, because it’s definitely a different personality than me.”
The large business category that the Suns won featured competition like the Harlem Globetrotters and Fox Sports Arizona. The Suns showed impressive
engagement strategies to try and generate more conversation on FaceBook and Twitter, even though Fox Sports Arizona asked fans to “like” its page on FaceBook during Arizona Diamondbacks games.
“I was very impressed by the way they handled things. In terms of [our accounts], we just try and be the most interactive big company there is. We recognize there’s a reason it’s called social media,” said Esposito. “In the past, media has been more dictation than discussion. That’s changed over the last half decade with the advent of social media, commenting and blogs. Really as a company, you have to take advantage of that and I think that’s what we’ve been able to do.”
The newest sorority at Arizona State University saw its first pledge class surrender themselves. These 23 young women didn’t submit to stereotypical stunts, however. Instead, they simply entered the Valley’s oldest church and surrendered in humility at the foot of the altar. The women, who span every class year of ASU students, are the first pledge class of Mu Epsilon Theta’s Gamma Chapter. They were initiated April 20.
The 26-year-old sorority started at the University of Texas at Austin as a way to unite college women by promoting academics, leadership, community service plus moral and spiritual well-being in the Catholic tradition. This marks the third chapter for the sorority and the first out of state.
“It showed us how truly beautiful the sisterhood is by having so many actives and alumni sisters fly in and drive all the way from Texas to initiate us,” said Katie Bandy, president of the Alpha Class of the Gamma Chapter at ASU. Katie, a 2010 graduate of Seton Catholic Prep and a junior at the nation’s largest public university, briefly tried Greek sorority life last year. She left after the first phase of the initiation process.
“I knew it wasn’t for me and I wanted to spend more time here,” she told The Catholic Sun outside of the All Saints Catholic Newman Center.
Some 40 women attended a meeting for the sorority in January. More than half — including two additional alumnae Seton Catholic Preparatory, Erin Sarotte ’12 and Kelsea Stevason ’12, fulfilled the service hours and other requirements necessary to become part of the charter committee and first pledge class.
Bandy said the sorority has already brought “so many girls” to the Newman Center. She said it’s important to have a common spiritual element within a sorority because it’s within that faith community that sisters can best build each other up.
“By having our faith be the foundation of our sisterhood we have created virtuous friendships that will lead women to strive for excellence and always have someone to lean on when hardships come,” Bandy said. Her online search for such a sorority last August ultimately got her in touch with Rosa Marroquin, chairman of the sorority’s national board of directors. Then she
learned that Anna Brzozowski, a missionary assigned to ASU through the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, is a Mu Epsilon Theta alumna. The snowball kept rolling. The sorority focuses on spirituality, sisterhood and service and declares, “Our Strength is from Above” in its motto. St. Catherine Labouré, promulgator of the miraculous medal, is its patron saint.
Every ASU student who is a member of Mu Epsilon Theta attends Mass regularly and prays the rosary. Each member is also involved in a FOCUS-led Bible study. The women attended a recent sacred relic exhibit too as part of the sorority’s spirituality pillar.
The women financially support and volunteer at Maggie’s Place, a network of homes for women who are pregnant and without a system of support.
Mu Epsilon Theta is still submitting its bylaws and will be finished in the fall semester. Growth is a priority for the sorority at the national level — five chapters in five years. Congratulations to our Seton Catholic Prep alumnae for being the foundation of this sorority at ASU!
• Meet current Seton students
• Meet our amazing teachers!
• Interact with current administrators and parents
• Take a campus tour and experience our classes
• See and visit our beautiful Chapel
• No need to register to attend this event
• All students and families are welcome to visit Seton Catholic Prep
For additional information about the Admission process at Seton Catholic Prep, visit our website at www.SetonCatholic.org. For further information or questions contact:
Chris Moore Director of Admission
480.963.1900, Ext. 2008 cmoore@SetonCatholic.org
Lisa Sweador
Admission Office Assistant 480.963.1900, Ext. 2355 LSweador@SetonCatholic.org
EdwardMy recollection of my time as a Seton Catholic Sentinel provided me with some unexpected life-long experiences. First and foremost, it gave me (a Mexican-American Catholic student in the East Valley) an opportunity for a college-preparatory education. Father Patterson’s dream was to improve the educational experiences of his St. Mary’s Parish Community, especially for the Mexican families who were seriously discouraged to expand their education beyond the 4th grade in the Chandler Public School System. I was able to complete my undergraduate degree, a B.A. in Liberal Arts (‘63) and later complete my MSW (‘83) both at Arizona State University. Most recently, on May 10th, 2013, I was fortunate to be inducted into the ASU Alumni Association Golden Circle (50 year alumni) with the Class of 1963.
I was also fortunate to participate in Student Government while at Seton Catholic and during those four years I was Student Body President. This gave me an opportunity to travel throughout Arizona
Eduardo ‘Eddie’ Delci, Class of 1959
and meet with other Arizona high school students involved in student government. My final related student government experience was to represent Seton Catholic at a summer (‘58) Student Government
I clearly believe that my SETON CHS - SENTINEL education and experiences provided me with the foundation to excel at the various personal and professional experiences of noteworthy value. I was truly educated with courage, determination, faith and love in the spirit of our Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Leadership Seminar held at ASU, which also opened my eyes about enrolling at ASU. Seton CHS also gave me an opportunity to participate in high school varsity athletics: Football, Basketball and Baseball. I was voted Co-Captain of the 1958 football team which recorded a 10-1&1 winning record at the Class ‘C’ Arizona High School league level (Seton CHS was non-conference at that time). The coaches voted me the First MVP Football Player that season. A very big surprise for me!
Since my Seton Catholic & ASU experiences, I leveraged my education to be the first Peace Corps Volunteer to serve from Seton CHS and Arizona, serving in Ecuador, South America, where I also was able to use my Mexican cultural background, Spanish Language abilities, Specialized Studies in Latin American Studies with a Spanish major to the full
capacity for a 3 year assignment. It turned out to be a key experience in building a new rural school enabling Indigenous Andean children to complete a 6 grade elementary education allowing them to continue their post-primary education throughout Ecuador to better their lives. I call this the Father Joseph Patterson “Model in Education”. He and my Seton Catholic High School experiences were my true role models, after my parents.
After my Peace Corps experience, I worked in rural New Mexico and Juarez, Mexico as a Community Development Specialist coordinating field training and administering anti-poverty programs from Head Start to Adult Education and Economic Development. This experience prompted the US Peace Corps Administration in Washington DC to recruit me for Administrative duty in Peace Corps/Peru South America, for a Regional Directorship in Cuzco, Peru for 31 months. This too may have been another first for a Seton CHS Sentinel graduate. Upon returning to Arizona in 1974, I worked for the Maricopa County Superior Court as an Adult Probation Office/Arizona Peace Officer for 11yrs. After completing my MSW at ASU (1983), I was recruited by ASU to become the first Minority Student Recruitment Director and subsequently retired from ASU in 2003 after 19 years of service as a Senior Outreach Counselor/ Academic Advisor in the College of Liberal Arts & Science Office of Academic Affairs. I clearly believe that my SETON CHS - SENTINEL education and experiences provided me with the foundation to excel at the various personal and professional experiences of noteworthy value. I was truly educated with courage, determination, faith and love in the spirit of our Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Thank you for opportunity to share my story.
Seton catholic prep celebrates 60th anniversary in 2014! Join us to
Please call the Admission Office 480.963.1900, Ext 2355 to schedule a Shadow Day!
1150 North Dobson Road
Chandler, AZ 85224-4004 www.SetonCatholic.org
18th Annual Sentinel Classic 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
September 7, 2013 Register at SetonCatholic.org
Seton After Dark Gala
Saturday, September 14
5:30 pm DoubleTree by Hilton in Tempe. Register at SetonCatholic.org
SCP Tuition & Tablets Raffle
Win a chance for a free year of SCP Tuition, an Apple iPad, or Kindle Fire HD. Drawing will be at Seton After Dark, September 14. Need not be present to win. Buy your tickets online at SetonCatholic.org
Sentinel Homecoming Football Game
September 27, 2013
Free admission to all Seton Alumni
10th Annual Alumni Mass and Hall of Fame Induction
September 28, 2013, 12:00 pm Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel
20th Annual Sentinel Booster Club Golf Classic
September 29, 2013
Ocotillo Golf Resort
Special entry fee for Seton Alumni
will and Estate Planning Seminar
October 21, 2013
Seton Library
All Souls Mass at SCP november 1 at 10:00 am
Seton Catholic Prep Gym
Prospective Student Open House and Tours of SCP Campus
November 2, 2013, 9:00 am to Noon
Seton Catholic Veterans Appreciation Day
november 12, 2013
SCP Grandparents Mass and Luncheon
January 30, 2014
Golden Sentinels Reunion
Tuesday, november 12, 2013
Events to be held on campus, watch our website for details SetonCatholic.org We are seeking contact information on all Seton Alumni who are retired or active in military service. If this is you, please email your contact information to RSanchez@SetonCatholic.org or call 480.963.1900, ext. 2006. Thank you for your service!
Grandparents’ Mass and Luncheon
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrew the Apostle followed by lunch at Seton Catholic Prep.
Second Annual SCP Film Festival
April 10, 2014 SAVE THE DATES: Veteran’s Appreciation Day
Theme “Finding the Face of God”
Thursday, April 4, 2014
Sentinels, begin working on your entries early! See Mrs. Grindey for details!