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, Marie Antunes, at marieantunes@christendom.edu.
The editor reserves the right to include or exclude any information
submitted for publication in The Grapevine.
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.
October
2010 edition of The Grapevine Online
Class
Notes / Calendar of Events / Links
to Stories / Prior
issues
Class
notes
Flannery
O'Connor and Bobby Lancaster were married on September
25, 2010 at St. Louis Church in Buffalo, NY. Father John
Heisler celebrated the Mass and many alumni made the
trip to witness the marriage of the Class of 2008's Cutest
Couple. The bridal party was a predominantly Christendom crew
including Colleen McSheffrey, Katherine Freeman, Anna Svendsen,
Bridget McShurley, Erin McCafferty, Siobhan O'Connor, Mary
Lancaster (Class of 2016), Cari Lancaster (Class of 2021),
Chris Lancaster, Matt Lancaster, Richie Lancaster (2012),
AJ Lancaster (Class of 2019), Tom O'Connor, Pate Quest and
Micah Willard. The new Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster are now
at home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Mike
and Elizabeth McGuirk ('03 & '04) welcomed their first
son (pictured above), Michael Eugene Gerard Peter McGuirk,
Jr., on August 31, 2010, which was big sister Gracie's 4th
birthday! She is thrilled with the new addition and is his
second mommy! Big sister Helen (2) is less interested, but
she notices him every so often and says, "Baby - cute!"
Baby Peter (as he is known) spent 6 extra nights in the hospital
during his first two weeks due to very persistant jaundice,
but it now seems to be under control. He is otherwise healthy,
gaining weight, and modeling all his cute new blue clothes!
On
August 7th, Sarah Berger ('08) competed in her first
dancesport competition at the Seattle Star Ball. She danced
in a teacher/student competition with her coach, Simeon Stoynov
(Google or Youtube Simeon & Kora to see why she is so
lucky to have him as a coach) in the silver level international
standard scholarship event, dancing waltz, tango, and quickstep.
Placing second out of eight couples overall, and first in
waltz, it was exciting for Sarah to take the floor with some
other very talented girls and their coaches from Oregon, Washington,
and Canada. She didn't realize that she had such a competitive
streak, but it came out that night! If any Christendom students
in the general Seattle area are interested in getting into
ballroom dancing, Sarah highly recommends Impulse Ballroom:
www.impulseballroom.com, and her own coaches, Simeon and Kora:
www.emotionsdancesport.com. Leaving Christendom is no excuse
to stop dancing!
Sam
and Katie (Fitzpatrick) Phillips (both of '08) are delighted
to introduce their son, Isaac Jogues Samuel, born May 4, 2010
- one month before his due date! Despite Isaac's early arrival,
there were no major complications, and four months later Mommy,
Daddy, and Baby are doing well. Sam just started his third
year teaching fourth grade as well as middle school and high
school Latin at The Avalon School, a Catholic all-boys school
in Gaithersburg, MD. The Phillips family currently resides
in Reston, VA.
This
next item comes to us from Anthony Smitha ('05): Well,
this is my first Grapevine submission, I think. I was recently
accepted into the Suspicious Cheese Lords, an all-male ensemble
that specializes in ancient sacred music. The SCL have come
to Christendom a couple of times for mini-concerts and I was
so impressed by how they sounded that I wanted to join them.
My schedule finally opened up enough that I've been attending
their weekly rehearsals since last year. After formally auditioning
for them in July, I was accepted as an official member of
the Suspicious Cheese Lords, although my official title has
not been assigned. I'm open to suggestions, but it looks like
the defaults of "Lord Anthony" or "Lord Smitha"
are the currently reigning ideas. Sadly, I will be unable
to attend their next concert tour in October in MI, which
would have been my second official function with them, since
that will be a busy month of weddings. (http://suspiciouscheeselords.com)
Christopher
('97) and Sara (Minkel) Young are pleased to announce
the June 3rd birth of Isaac Edward Vianney. (The photos on
the left are from from his baptismal day.) Isaac and his doting
big sister Stella Rose live with their parents in Tigard,
Oregon. If anyone would like to reconnect with Chris and Sara,
they can be reached at the following: saraandchristopher@gmail.com.
Andy
('05) and Mindy McDonald welcomed their 6th child
and first daughter to the world on the Feast of the Assumption.
Evelyn Marie Clare McDonald was born on August 15, 2010. Her
big brothers are very proud of her and Mom and Dad are trying
to adjust to so much pink in the house. Thanks goes to all
of those who have thought for years that we needed a girl
and have prayed for it to happen. She is the loudest baby
we've ever had.
One
night, while hosting a fabulous fajita dinner for a couple
of friends and fellow alumni, Beth Bowes ('98) came
up with a brilliant idea. "Why don't we have a Christendom
reunion for all the alumni in Colorado and neighboring states?",
she exclaimed excitedly in her unique 5-shot espresso manner.
Her idea was met with unanimous excitement and consent. And
from there, Beth, Danielle (Dalley) Rohlena ('01) and
Dr. John Paul Jansen ('00) began preparing for the inaugural
Colorado Christendom College Alumni Reunion. Electronic invitations
were sent and message boards posted. As alumni from Colorado
began to reply, there were two surprises that no one was expecting.
The ever-elusive and hardly seen-since-graduation (except
on Facebook), Therese Peters ('02) rsvp'd for the event.
Not to be outdone in surprising rsvp's were Nebraskan residents
Tim Coffey ('02) and Leah (Stephens) Coffey ('03).
Tim was quoted as saying, "How can my wife and I pass
up a trip to see old and dear friends in God's country?"
The day of the event came and, as usual, the weather in Colorado
was amazing! 75 degrees, the most beautiful blue skies and
not a hint of humidity. In attendance were Sarah Akers
('00), Ben Akers ('98), Heather (Rankin) Akers ('98),
Brian Shepherd, Beth's husband and cousin to the O'Donnell's,
Trish Metzger ('05), Megan (Mead) Reetz ('06) and her
husband Luke, Anne Wolpert ('05), Peter O'Brien ('06),
Mark Rohlena ('00), Elisabeth (Boever) Gideon ('00) and
her husband Josh, Maureen Dalley ('10), Jacinta Wahlmeir
('00), and Joshua Petersen ('01). John-Paul Jansen
made an amazing chicken and brat dinner and everyone else
provided sides and desserts. And in honor of Marc-Pierre
Jansen'(02), who unfortunately was unable to make it,
Alaskan Salmon was ordered for the event. When asked why it
had to be Alaskan Salmon, everyone knew...well, that's just
want MP would have wanted. The organizers hope that MP will
be able to make the next event. The reunion went so well the
organizers asked themselves, "Why wait a whole year to
do it again?" Therefore, plans are underway to have an
Our Lady of Guadaloupe Party this December. So if you should
fancy a journey, you are more than welcome. You should be
forewarned though, if you come to visit, you'll never want
to leave! As Therese Peters sadly and softly sang on her way
back to the land of fruits and nuts...
It's
the Colorado Rocky Mountain High,
I've seen it raining fire in the sky
I know I'd be a poorer (wo)man if I never saw an Eagle fly
Rocky mountain high, Colorado!
Maureen
Dalley ('10) and Trish Metzger ('05)
Therese
Peters ('02) with Leah and Tim Coffey ('04, '02)
Tim
Coffey ('02) and Therese Peters ('02)
Ben
and Heather Akers with Ben's sister Sarah Akers
Calendar of Events
October
8-10, 2010: Homecoming
Weekend, beginning with Thomas
S. Vander Woude Golf Tournament on October 8th.
October
11, 2010: Columbus Day: Senior
Visit Day
October
29-31, 2010: Crusader
Visit Weekend #2 (including Scholarship Competition)
November
4-8, 2010:
ECSP Visit Weekend (sessions 1 & 2)
November
8, 2010: Major Speaker Program - Dr. Ray Guarendi
November
11-15, 2010: ECSP
Visit Weekend (sessions 3 &4)
November
19-21, 2010: Regular
Visit Weekend #2
Press
Releases and Campus News: http://www.christendom.edu/news/releases.shtml
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