Welcome
to Christendom's Alumni E-Zine. If you have information that
you would like to share with your fellow alumni, send it to
the Grapevine Editor, Tom McFadden, at tmcfaddenjr@yahoo.com
The
Grapevine Online is uploaded on the First Friday of every
month. It will have a couple of sections (when information
is available), namely, Class Notes (your basic information
on alumni babies, weddings, jobs, etc.), Calendar of Events,
and Links to various recent stories about Christendom
College and/or the Alumni of Christendom.
August
5, 2005 edition of The
Grapevine Online
Class
Notes / Calendar of Events / Links
to Stories / Prior
issues
Class
notes
Rita
Traugott '05 and Elizabeth Stephens '05 are braving the
wilds of Halibut Lagoon, Alaska. After crossing the great
Ketchemak Bay, snagging salmon, spotting breeching humbacks
and a couple of bears, they set up camp on the shores of Halibut
Lagoon. Camping in a tent, which is held together by duct
tape, building their campfire in the rain with wet wood, roasting
flounder for dinner in order not to starve, and slapping mosquitoes
and flies over campfire stories, they were really roughing
it. They came prepared with their .44 mag and their .357 in
case bears came to crash their blueberry picking party.
Ryan
and Katherine (Mirus) Callaghan (both '02) are happy to
announce that their son, Gabriel Joseph was born on Tuesday,
July 19, at Fair Oaks Hospital. He weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and
was 19 1/4 inches long. Mom, Dad and Gabriel are all doing
well, despite the fact that only Gabriel is getting much sleep!
The
brothers Fed & Co.(aka Scythian) are hitting the
nation’s roads and airwaves. Starting on Aug. 10. the
Lads will be on XM Radio’s Bob Edwards Show (Ch. 133).
For those of you unfamiliar with Bob Edwards, he was the long-time
host of NPR’s Morning Edition and now he’s the golden
boy of XM Radio. The show will air three times a day at 8am,
9am & 9pm for five straight days so you’ll have plenty
of chances to hear the fellas make fools of themselves on
a national stage. For all you non-technocrats who’ve
opted to pass on XM radio, you can download the show at www.audible.com.
Scythian
is also embarking on its DIXIE Tour starting Aug. 22 and trekking
it all the way down to Florida. This gives all you sweet-tea-drinkin’
southern alumni a chance to come out and have a pint and dance
a jig or two. Here’s the schedule (be sure to check the
website for last minute changes): Aug. 23 – Charlotte
NC (Connolly's Pub 9pm); Aug. 24 – Raleigh/Durham (TirNaNog
9pm); Aug. 25 – Atlanta (Meehan’s Pub 8pm); Aug.
27 – Naples FL (Ave Maria U). They are also working on
dates in VaBeach and Tampa FL so stay tuned at www.scythianmusic.com.
Mark
Riddle's '05 (seen wearing the pretty yellow shirt)
bachelor party turned out to be an explosive evening firing
off several hundred rounds from an AK-47 (pre-ban), an SKS,
two Glock 9mm, a Taurus 9mm, S&W .357, a LLama .45, a
Winchester Model 37 16 gauge shot gun, and a Remington pump
action 12 gauge (all legal by the way). In fine barbarian
fashion appetites were satiated by large chunks of barbequed
pork meat, deep fired potatoes, and, of course, fermented
beverages consumed around a roaring camp fire. Much to the
surprise of some, none of Andy McDonald's '05 neighbors
called the police. (Editor's note: The guns may have been
legal...but putting them into the hands of someone like Marc
Perrington? Maybe not so much.)
Dave
Farinholt '01 married alumna Regina Gaetano on
July 23. They were married at St. John the Baptist Church
in Front Royal. This officially brought to end the days of
the Reigning King of the Bachelor Pad (pictured below with
past and present dwellers of that infamous house). But it
will continue on, under the supervision of one named Fletch.
Dave gave his old friend and housemate one last kiss before
saying farewell to the boys and hello to his beautiful bride.
But who did he find in his carriage? Grant Freeman '04
(and not his fiancee) practicing for his own nuptials next
year.
Laura
Byrne '02 is feeling Sleepless in Seattle and plans to
do something about it. She is leaving Seattle on Aug. 18 to
live and work near her fiance who lives in New Zealand, since
she got a working holiday visa for 12 months. "It's pretty
exciting," says she. "I'm finally getting to satisfy
the wanderlust I've had since I was a kid and live in a foreign
country for awhile, and travel around a little in Fiji and
Australia." Her email is lola_b24@yahoo.com,
if for some reason any Christendomites are on a grand world
tour and make it to the Auckland area, let her know!
Joe and
Kate (Murrell '98) Pride are expecting baby #3 to join
Genevieve (3 yrs.) & Jack (1 1/2) in late February. Prayers
appreciated!
Mary
Hack and Jeremy Sheiko (both '05) are engaged! The link
to their website is http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/MaryHack&JeremySheiko
and the password is "maremy." The website isn't
totally finished and the date is very tentative, but
the site will be updated regularly.
Habemus
Filium! Benedict John Paul Pio Squire made his first appearance
in St. Peter’s Square Not! (O.K. it was a few hours north
of Rome, in Sacile, a small town near the Italian Alps. He
was born on June 2nd, 1:04 am. He delayed his birth for a
little more than a day; adding much to the anxiety of his
mother, Theresa (Higby) Squire '89 the self proclaimed:
“International Woman of Leisure.” (Editor's.
note: Sounds like competition for one Jules Abernethy) Benedict
already is of a traditional sort. He went to great lengths
to keep with the Squire tradition (tradition with a small
“t”) of boys being born in June. (Girls, on the
other hand are born in May!) Benedict is a heavyweight, not
only intellectually, but physically, tipping the scales at
9 lbs 3oz. Benedict’s father, Andrew Squire, states that
he is quite pleased with the ongoing development of this embryonic
stem cell line.
In
a recent trip to Europe Danny Heenan '05 visited TASIS
summer camp in Lugano Switzerland
where several Christendom alumni are working. The picture
is of them (Danny, Zach Akers '05, MPJ, and Kimon Isigonis)
outside of San Abundio church supposedly the most photgraphed
church in Europe outside the Vatican) after Sunday Mass.
Blaise
Ignatius O'Keefe was born to Steve and Paul (Quest) O'Keefe
on 12 July, weighing in at 7lbs 5oz. He joins brothers Mark,
Thomas, and Sebastian ans sister Lydia.
As
we read a little earlier, Zach Akers '05 is in Europe.
He is once again working at TASIS in Lugano, Switzerland for
the summer, along with Kimon, Julie (Abernethy), Marc-Pierre
(MPJ), and Jessica Carrano. He is a pictured on the Jungfrau
with expert rock climber, mountain goat herder, and overall
man of action Kimon Issigonis. But why stay in Europe
when the Boyz of St. Gregz are calling? ZAkers will be teaching
at the boys school this fall and will be re-enacting his days
as head RA by serving as a dormfather. (Editor's note:
It seems like a pattern is forming. Spend time in Europe...then
work at St. Greg's. First MPJ. Now ZAkers. Who's next? Jules?
Kimon?)
And speaking
of Europe. The man formerly known as the International
Man of Leisure may be back in action. Marc-Pierre Jansen
was seen recently jumping around the Alps. It's International
and it's definitely Leisurely. Let's say we maybe give him
another chance? Stay tuned for more.
Helen
Almeter '05 has finally admitted to herself that she no
longer goes to Christendom and works under the watchful eye
of Walter as a receptionist. She has just recently
signed a contract for the second grade teaching position at
St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton, VA, and will be
charged with the education of 30 students. She also just bought
her first car which she is very excited about since it was
an answer to the novena prayer of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
(she dares Kateri Scmidtt or Mike McGlynn to put
their cars out on the altar of sacrifice with hers to see
which one catches fire).
Christopher
Smith, class of 1999, was ordained to the priesthood by
the Most Revd Robert Baker at the Cathedral of Saint John
the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina on 23 July 2005
and offered his first Holy Mass at St Mary's, Greenville (www.stmarysgvl.org)
the next day. Fr Robert Skeris delivered the homily at the
Primiz and the Revd Mr Bjorn Lundberg '97 of the Diocese
of Arlington served as Deacon. Also in force from Christendom
were Christopher Wells, Maria Bissex, Michelle Gil, Lisa
Stiles and Christy Williams. The Christendom crew enjoyed
the Isle of Palms and a fabulous beach house with some of
Fr Christopher's Roman amici; a good time was had by all.
Feel free to come visit Fr Christopher in his new assignment
as Parochial Vicar of America's finest parish, his home parish
of St Mary's, Greenville. He is already esconced as Chaplain
to the Hispanics and after designing a fantastic new Rectory
to rival Versailles, is enjoying the fast paced life of a
parish priest in Dixie. Write him at merrydelval@yahoo.com.
Katy
Jenkins '05 has the opportunity to announce a drastic
change in plans since June. Not only is she no longer going
to work for a year at Queen of Angels Montessori school in
Cincinnati, but she isn't going to work at all! She is now
happily engaged to marry a young lawyer from St. Louis, Missouri,
named Adam Hochschild. The wedding is planned for October
of this year. Or the couple may just elope.
Recent
Grad Elizabeth Rice '05 would like to reminisce for
a while and then get on with her story: "After 21 years
of rivaling Walter for the position of permanent fixture
on the Christendom campus, I am finally leaving. I'm off to
St. Paul, MN, in order to pursue a Masters in Montessori Primary
Education. But fear not, Front Royal, I will be back for all
the recent graduates' weddings. If anyone lives in the St.
Paul area or knows anything good to do besides shovel snow,
send me a line at
elizabethrice@gmail.com."
Daniel
and Jennie (Kacsir) McGuire were united in Holy Matrimony
on May 28, 2005, and are blessedly happy. They are living
in Silver Spring, MD for the summer, after which they will
return to Michigan for Daniel's second year at Ave Maria School
of Law.
Lorraine
Podlinsek '05 has spent the summer at home with her family
in upstate NY reading novels, growing tomatoes, and buying
a car. Yes, for all those attached to the silver Taurus stationwagon
(fondly known as Blade), he finally bit the dust in PA a few
months ago. His successor is a cute, little Ford Focus dubbed
Clarence. As to other news, she just returned from a flying,
two-week visit to Alicia and Ben and her two nieces
in Oklahoma. It was a lovely time - she read fairy tales and
sang nursery rhymes until she was blue in the face. Whilst
there, she also saw Andrea Nolan a couple of times,
and finally made it out to the Nolan home for a visit with
the whole clan. In a few days, she will be travelling down
to Front Royal to join the Christendom staff as administrative
assistant to Christendom's Executive Vice President Mr. Mark
McShurley. If anyone wishes to get in touch, her email is
raindear19@yahoo.com.
Mary
(Corcoran) Biros has bun # 2 in the oven. Apparently,
she just missed Irish twins. The due date is 2/24/06. She
promises to try harder next time - maybe Irish triplets?
Alumna
Angela Ferri '05 and Sergio Yona '06 are engaged and
thought it would be nice to let their friends know (most of
whom have graduated and moved on). Congratulations!
Really!!,
Here is a picture sent in by alumnus Eric Kingsepp '98:
"We led a group of 40 kids and chaperones on pilgrimage
to the Holy Land for two weeks at the end of June, including
two alumni (me and Fr. Kevin Beres), four current students
(Katie Fitzpatrick, Sam Phillips, Shannon Michel, and Jenne
Lozano), and three kids about to go to Christendom this fall
(Thomas Francis, Ed Burns, and Joseph Hambleton). We are pictured
with His Beatitude Michael Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem."
After
breaking his coccyx, Dan Miller (80's) has been lying
around doing nothing for a change. On July 4, it is rumored
that he was seen with Fr. Ben Cameron, CPM ('91) on
a boat in Upstate New York drinking Saranac. The attached
grainy spy photo of the duo clearly confirms added rumors
that Fr. Ben has been scandalously gallivanting around wearing
shorts, t-shirts and (gasp) no collar! Fr. Ben (with the Fathers
of Mercy, Kentucky) recently served as Chaplain for Magdalen
College's Summer Program for High School students in New Hampshire.
Now here's the plug: Dan is currently selling raffle
tickets to raise money for Holy Cross Academy. Over $15,000
in cash prizes, excellent odds with only 300 tickets available.
Enter by August 30 to qualify for a bonus $250 drawing. Visit
www.holycrossacademy.com
to enter. You can't afford not to.
And,
as is our tradition, we come to the life and times of one
Pearse Marschner (01) who has been hysterical about wisteria,
prayed to St. John's Wort, tended his phlox, clipped clematis,
and been quite short with his impatiens this summer. He has
peered into the damp world of subflooring, ruminated on laminate,
marveled at marble, and been soft on hardwood. He now prides
himself in speaking Spanish almost as badly as his Honduran
general contractors. Pearse has atoned for his unsettled ways
of the past several years with an intensive refresher in domesticity.
Much as he has enjoyed playing house, however, Pearse hits
the road to Damascus at the end of the summer to live in one
of the last places on earth where a gentlemen has the luxury
of being blind to the tedious joy of home improvement.
Calendar
of events
October
7-9, 2005: Homecoming
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Press
Releases and Campus News: http://www.christendom.edu/news/releases.shtml
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