Welcome
to Christendom's Alumni E-Zine. If you have information that
you would like to share with your fellow alumni, send it to
Tom McFadden at tmcfadden@christendom.edu.
The
Grapevine Online will be uploaded, depending on the amount
of information sent to the editor, on the First Friday of
every month.
February
2005 edition of The
Grapevine Online
Class
Notes / Calendar of Events / Links
to Stories / Prior
issues
Class
notes
In
an effort to compete with the IML, Michael McFadden
('95-'97) reports on visiting Europe in January, which
combined with a September visit to Hungary is his second European
vacation in 4 months (look out, IML): "I just returned
from Northern Italia and the Swiss Confederation (that's Switzerland
to you) where I spent a week touring with my Pop and a week
skiing in the Alps with my sister Mary (McFadden) Brand
('98) . We kept an energetic pace, spending time in Venice,
Padua, Verona, Sermione, Bergamo and Milan before heading
up to Lugano and then off to Crans-Montana.
The glass factories in Murano are the home of the world-famous
Venetian glass, while Burano is known for its handmade lace,
leaning clock tower, and its brightly painted houses, thus
painted so as to be identified from afar by their fisherman
owners when returning from work (picture on left). The glass
blowing/sculpting demonstration by one of the Murano masters
was like nothing I have ever seen, and Burano is one of the
prettiest little towns to which I've ever been. In Milan,
we visited the Duomo, which is the world's third largest church,
the Galleria, which is the world's oldest shopping mall, and
Leo DaVinci's Last Supper, in which he obviously left out
John (of all the Apostles) and instead placed Mary Magdalene
at the side of Jesus, as the heretical dilettantes of the
day will hasten to inform you. Of course, actual observation
of the work itself as well as any modest understanding of
art, and/or Scripture renders this concept, to quote a well-known
Sicilian, "inconceivable." After our brief tour
the Italian North, we joined my sister Mary and husband Jonathan
in Lugano, Switzerland, and departed for a skiing trip to
the Crans-Montana, where we enjoyed a week of continuously
changing conditions ranging from thigh-high powder (a.k.a
"sick pow-pow, brah") to soft, pliable mogul fields
and expansive groomed pistes. Sadly, however, two of the teachers
from my sister's school, Meg and Ty, were killed when they
were swept off a cliff by a snow slide. Please pray for the
repose of their souls, and the consolation of their families.
And that's all I have to say about that... Now I have to get
back to finishing my dissertation. Word to your mother.
What
has Chris Muro (‘98) been up to lately? Last summer,
he graduated from the University of Central Florida, with
a MA in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude. Here he is, pictured
with a fellow graduate, Noah Gaar. Chris is now an adjunct
professor at Keiser College in Orlando, as well as at Columbia
College at Patrick Air Force Base. Just call him Professor
Muro. (Look out, Dr. Luckey!)
Here is
the news from Bjorn Lundberg '97 from Overbrook. The
Class of Third Theology took
their Competency Exams for the Master Divinity Degree. Bishop
Loverde made his annual visit from February 1st-3rd. Candidacy
for the Holy Orders of Diaconate and Priesthood will be received
by the Third Theologians at Mass on February 19th. However,
besides the plentiful snowfall as of late, the really important
news in Philly is the Superbowl on Sunday. Thanks
again for all the prayers!
A
late Christmas photo from the Pegis family....Bernard,
Melody (95'), and Veronica Pegis. Two weeks later out
came our little sweetheart, Anthony Michael Joseph so he missed
the photo session. Anthony was born on January 16th, weighing
in at 9 lb, 14 oz! A healthy boy indeed!
According
to unpublished and unreliable reports, the legendary Celtic/Ukranian
musical group Scythian have invaded Vienna - Historically
accurate? Perhaps not, but that'll change when Scythian comes
to Jammin' Java on Tuesday, Feb. 8th. Jammin Java is located
in the well known Christendom ghetto, Vienna, VA,
and is nationally recognized venue, known for it's great coffeshop
atmosphere and acclaimed sound system. Jammin' Java is an
all ages venue so bring the strollers. Scythian has opened
for bands in the past at JJ but this time they'll be headlining
so a good turnout would go a long way. Along with coffee,
beer and light fare is served. Show starts at 9pm - $8. For
ticket reservations call: 703.255.1566 ext. 8 or reserve them
online at www.jamminjava.com. Address: 227 Maple Ave. East,
Vienna, VA. Also of note: Scythian Breaks Into Baltimore.
On Friday, Feb. 11, Scythian is excited to finally break into
Baltimore with a show at the popular Irish pub, Mick O'Shea's.
"It's our first show," says Alex Fedoryka,
"there so we'd love to make a splash." Show starts
at 930pm, +21, $5. Address: 328 N. Charles St., Baltimore,
MD. As always, you can find all info at www.scythianmusic.com.
Dominic
Michael Kaul came into this world four weeks early on December
30, 2004. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured
20 ½ inches. He is the son of Mike and Tina (Koch)
Kaul (class of 1991). His three big sisters, Monica (7),
Helena (5), and Maria (2), are very proud of him and are delighted
to practice their “mommy skills”. They also are
looking forward to expanding our collection of cars and blocks
and Rescue Heroes.
Caroline
Pollock moved to a new apartment in Fairfax with Katie
Kreiger, right around the corner from the NRA. Will be
visiting there shortly to celebrate my Right to Bear Arms.
Thinking of getting a Baretta or a Glock. Looking for a new
job because the contract I'm working on is ending son. If
anyone is in need of an Office Manager, let me know.
The Matt
and Theresa (Bush) Pierce family sent in thier Christmas
picture a tad bit late. So, for all to see...here it is. Aren't
they lovely?
The latest
news in the life of recently crowned alumna Mary Hack:
"Having just graduted in December 2004, I have just accepted
my first job in the career world in West Lafayette, Indiana,
at University Place as Assistant
Administrator in the West Wing of the independant living,
assisted living and nursing home facility. AsI am the first
in the position at this two-year-old company, my job has the
benefit of being tailored specifically to my talents and capabilities.
For this reason, the job will be a little more exciting than
other such clerical positions.
From
the land of Eternal City...Niall O'Donnell checks in
with The Grapevine: "My parents came out to Rome
for the funeral of Cardinal Schotte. While here we had a little
CAAR (Christendom Alumni Association of Rome) meeting on my
rooftop. It was a gorgeous day in January made complete with
a little pizza and vino. Left to right, Chris Wells,
James Berry, Fr. John Heisler, Anne Therese
(friend and honorary CAAR member) me, Dave Brown,
my mother and father."
On
January 21st, Josh Gideon proposed to Elisabeth Boever
('00) and she said "yes"! Both Elisabeth and
Josh are FOCUS missionaries in their 3rd year on campus. They
worked together on the same team at the University of Illinois
for 2 years developing a friendship and then began dating
this summer and are now serving on seperate campuses. A summer
wedding is being planned.
The always
exciting, always on-the-go Karla K. Kuykendall has
an announcement: "Last
summer I was able to find a program that will allow me to
teach at a deeply rooted Catholic missionary school and still
stay in the states. The school is located in a remote area
of Northern
New Mexico on the Jicarilla Indian Reservation. My original
plan was to go in August 05 for a year. However, a unique
opportunity has come up this week that will allow me to go
for just 4 months and see if I like it before I commit to
next year. So I will be headed out to New Mexico for my first
day of classes on 2/14. I will still be working for Novus
part-time but am not sure when I will be coming back as it
depends on how things go the first couple of months. If any
of you are looking for an excuse to make it out to the Southwest,
please come and visit. Taos is about 2 hours from the school
and there is great skiing there. You are always welcome."
Lori
Omann '03 got engaged on January 9th, to a fellow MinneSNOWtan,
Ryan Meyer. They will be getting married this July 16th, 2005,
in Minnesota. The happy couple is pictured on the left.
Maria
Bissex ('02) directed the student choir of Holy Family
Academy in their public debut this past Wednesday for the
feast of Candlemas. The 6th-12th grade students sang at St.
Andrew the Apostle Parish for Fr. Fasano's evening Mass, providing
a program of Gregorian chant, Palestrina, Montani, and a Kyrie
by Kurt Poterack. Maria was assisted by fellow HFA teachers
and Christendom alumni Patrick Storey ('02), Linda Antunes
('03), and Thomas Cole ('04), and among the students were
alumni children Katherine Arnold (daughter of Dan and Meg
Arnold) and Gregory Ellis (son of Bennett and Mary
Beth Ellis), as well as alumni sister Christina Summers.
Several alumni attended the Mass as well. The choir was very
well received and has been invited back to St. Andrew and
to two other local parishes. Viva musica sacra! Look for the
Sancta Familia Cantores to be coming to a parish near you
in the near future!
Helena
Maria Akers was born to Matt and Jan (Kuznia) Akers
on December 7, 2004 weighing in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. and measuring
19 1/2" This picture on the right was taken on the morning
of her Baptism, January 9, 2005.
Ron
and Alex(Doylend) Klassen
(married on June 4, 2004)are very excited to share the happy
news that we are expecting our first baby on August 23,2005.
Alumnus
and Christendom College Admissions Counselor Lou Massett
wants to let everyone know that he is very deeply involved
in the Fat Flush diet. He highly recommends it and wishes
everyone to be as healthy and happy as he is.
Here
is a picture of Lisa Stiles, Christy Williams ('99),
and Michelle Gil (99),at the Dubliner following the
Presidential Inauguration activities.
Andrew
and Heather (Gasper) O'Neill and their children were in
a serious car accident on Sunday, January 30, on I81 south.
Miraculously, no one was hurt, despite a tire blow out, a
high speed collision with a tractor trailer, and a short flight
across the median strip which ended in the northbound lanes.
Prayers of thanksgiving are welcome. What's also welcome is
any information to be had on an inexpensive minivan or SUV,
preferably used, to fit both their family and bank account
ninjaandy1975@yahoo.com.
March
for Life Pictures 2005 - Hold you mouse over the pic to
see the caption.
Calendar
of events
March
12, 2005: Alumni Career Mentoring Reception
October
7-9, 2005: Homecoming Weekend
top of page
Press
Releases and Campus News: http://www.christendom.edu/news/releases.shtml
top of page
