May 2004 Grapevine Online Printable Edition

Chris Kopeck '90 wants to know how many Weight watcher points a chocolate
covered glazed donut is worth?

Matthew & Tatiana Cameron filmed "I Thirst - The Crucifixion Story" as they wrapped up their longest (six month) and longest (Maine, Orlando, Seattle & San Diego) tour to date. The footage is gorgeous and clips will be posted on our website within a few days! www.CameronProductions.org
The program is in editing and is scheduled to be available by the end of May!

Dane Weber ('03) made an appearance at the Spring Formal (May 1, 2004) chained to the elusive Wallflower (formally the property of one Matthew Cuddeback, or so the tale goes). After being mobbed by onlookers, and then assuring a few over-eager students that the chains were well attached to both him and the plexiglass encased Wallflower, Dane managed to get in a couple dances with his date, as well as with a few real women. He complained about the Wallflower being "like a ball and chain" on their first date, but that isn't entirely her fault. She did remain by his side the entire time, and together they made a discreet exit around 12:30am. Dane was very closed-mouth about the whole affair, and somehow returned to formal without his date in order to drive four ladies back to campus. This major appearance of the Wallflower has renewed interest across campus. Dane was surprised at the number of students who asked, "What is that picture and why are you chained to it?"

Note: Dane Weber and Tom McGraw are interested in compiling a history of the Wallflower. If you have any stories about the Wallflower, please e-mail them to tmcgraw@christendom.edu or dane@weber.org. Especially of interest are dates the Wallflower was in your possession and how you gained possession. Escapades involving the Wallflower would also be appreciated. A (mostly) complete list of Wallflower owners is one of the goals of the history.

Happy Easter to everyone from the McIntyre family, aka, Vivian Cabler's '90 family! Getting a family picture is always a challenge, especially in the middle of an Easter egg hunt. Pictured below from left to right are Jerry, Mary-Clare, Joseph, Vivian, and Anna-Marie McIntyre.

Br. Anthony Stephens, CPM, will profess final vows to the Fathers of Mercy on May 30 followed by his diaconate ordination on May 31.

John Paul Jansen visited Alphonse Pinto and Niall O'Donnell in Rome... another grand time (see left). They were able to bask in the glory of Niall's newly discovered roof top! Great views and great times...

Jim Grumblatt reports that his oldest son, Albert, received his first Holy Communion on May 2. Later that same day Albert was running from the police, but that's a bit of a story in itself...

Ron Klassen '02 and Alex Doylend '04 are preparing for their big day, the 4th of June, when they will be married in Ottawa, Canada. So, if anyone knows of any available jobs in the Annandale area (near Lighthouse Underwriters Company and the Graduate School) then they would be grateful. They need to find a company that's willing to hire a Canadian citizen, eh?. . .

Nicholas Fisher, son of alumni Ben & Theresa (Ford) Fisher, came home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on April 3--119 days after his extremely premature birth. He is doing wonderfully in his new enviornment, amusing his parents with his personality and puzzling the cat with his mere presence. So far since his homecoming he has gained 2 pounds and grown 2 inches. Special thanks to all Christendomites for their prayers during his hospitalization!

From alumna Anne-Marie Jensen (of Bill Murray fame): "Well, for the past two semesters I have been taking nursing pre-requisites: sciences, psy etc. . . It's all good, not Christendom by any means but it's good. I have been excepted to nursing school in PA where I will be living with Heather Tansey's family come August. Over the weekend I ran into Rick Moranes (Honey I shrunk the Kids), sorry no picture. You might not recognize me these days, I went to go get an innocent hair cut and a little highlight here and there and walked out Barney meets Mick Jagger. Never fully engross yourself in a magazine when someone is doing drastic things to you hair. I looked up and wanted to ask the 80's rock star that I saw in the mirror if I could get a picture with him . . . needless to say, I will be living with a paper bag over my head for the next 4 months. I convinced myself the whole way home that I wouldn't cry because it was only hair. That worked until I walked into the house and saw my mother's reaction . . . the flood gates where opened."

Marc-Pierre Jansen (right) has once again discovered that life would not be complete without "working" at a surf camp in Myrtle Beach this summer. As always, MP is doing his best to become the ultimate liberal arts graduate, proving he can, and will, do anything.

Soon to be alumna Bunny Martell '04 wants to let alumni know that she does calligraphy and would be willing to do wedding invitations, etc. for a special CC alumni price. The only thing to worry about is shipping. She will most likely be living in KS for awhile. Questions can be sent to her e-mail address: bunaboo@hotmail.com.

Caroline Pollock '03 will be in control of our safety! She was just contacted through George G. Sharp to work for the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. "The salary and benefits are great," says she and come at a most important time because she had been unemployed for a time being.

Kingsepp and Sabbah

With all the recent (air)brushes with fame, here's one for the Authentic File: Eric Kingsepp ('98) celebrated Holy Week and Easter in Jerusalem, hobnobbing with His Beatitude Michael Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (see pic to the left), and other colorful local figures. Aside from basking in the peaceful warmth of a city full of Latins, Greeks, Armenians, Coptics, Syriacs, Ethiopians, Jews, Muslims, and a few largely atheist tourists, Eric is pleased to report that his trip was largely uneventful, save several rather large liturgical events. He also asks that you please pray for the persecuted Church in the Holy Land; the local Christians fear that in a few decades all the churches will become museums unless things change for the better. In other news, there is no other news. Eric continues in his jobs as Director of Course Development at The Catholic Distance University, and Front Royal ambassador to the Satellite of Love.

Julie Abernethy '04 wants everyone to see what her home town, Saskatoon, is all about.

Elizabeth Ascik '04 and Mike McGuirk '03 are engaged to be married. And here's the story of how it happened: "It was Liz's turn to stay over with my family as I had stayed with hers for Christmas (another great story), and for a few other events. She had no idea I had been secretly communicating with her father via email to get his permission to propose to her on Easter. I had bought the ring only three weeks before Easter and kept it a secret from everybody (I even walked through the mall once to make sure I didn't see any Christendomites before going into the jeweler's) which was no small task. I was bursting trying to be as sneaky as I was ... but it paid off. Liz stayed over at my house with my sister after the Easter Vigil, that way she could be with my family for the traditional Easter breakfast and Easter egg hunt. The Easter egg hunt of my family's tradition starts with an egg on the table with a clue inside. Each clue brings you to the next until you reach your Easter present - usually a pair of socks, book, and candy (or something along those lines). I told my father (who usually writes the clues) that I would write Liz's to 'spare her his sense of humor.' So, around 4:30am, I snuck around my house hiding her eggs which I had filled with the riddles from the Hobbit. She, being an English major at heart, I thought might appreciate the literary reference - especially since the last riddle coincidentally leads to the ring. And so, the last Easter egg was in my pocket. Upon reading the last clue, 'what have I got in my pocket?' I furnished a small, pink Easter egg with a message that said 'wrong pocket'and a small, rusty washer. I then produced out of my left pocket an identical Easter egg with her engagement ring inside. I presented it, watched her open it, got down on my left knee, and asked 'will you marry me?' I then took the ring, started to place it on her left-hand ring finger and said, 'you didn't say yes'. She then moused a 'yes' and I put the ring on her, receiving her arms around my neck in return. After that she couldn't eat until dinner ... maybe next year she can partake of the full easter egg hunt AND breakfast."

Steve Akhurst '03 and Betsy Hayles '04 are also engaged. They too have an elaborate involved story that involves the St. Greg's Boys, a crazy limousine ride, and the Spring Formal, but they can tell you about it later. Oh yeah, Jill Menke '04 and Pat VanderWoude '05 and probably many others are engaged too.

Jennie Kacsir '02, in typical Christendom alumni fashion, is now happily living on Happy Ridge Drive in Front Royal and working for Seton Home Study School.

Rev. Mr. Gerard Saguto ('98) will be ordained to the priesthood for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter on May 22 in Lincoln, NE by Bishop Bruskewitz. The first Solemn Mass will be May 23 at St. Joseph's Church in Paul, NE with Christendom Choir veterans in the loft and Don Capisco in the sanctuary. A spare prayer would go a long way...

Chip ('89) & Susan (Schneible) Hibl ('90) (above) recently welcomed #9 Peter Dominic Hibl into their family. Their other children are Amanda, Maria, Anthony, Bernadette, Mary-Claire, Regina, Christina, and Theresa.

Mark and Katy (Haas) Wallacavage are expecting their first child on May 24th.

Last month's Grapevine issue brought alumni in Europe together for an Easter dinner prepared by Christendom in Rome Theology professor, Alphonse Pinto. Mary (McFadden) Brand and husband Jonathan contacted Professor Pinto after seeing his picture in the Grapevine before their recent trip to Rome for the Easter Triduum. They were delighted to be invited to dinner at Chef Pinto's, where they enjoyed a sumptuous feast and lively conversation on a rainy Roman evening along with Christendom alumnus seminarian Chris Smith.

According to Karla Kuykendall: Marianne Kerin and Kevin Kohlhaas got hitched on May 1 and the highlight of the wedding was the 'necktie dance' by one Stephen O'Keefe and Steve Daly. Also, there was a rare appearance by Sean Finnegan. Oh and by the way. A few of them played 'The 6 degrees of the McCoys and Kerins' over that weekend. Can you get this one . . . .How is Katie Bailey Halisky '02 related to Raymond Hain '03? Pictures from this splendid event are below.

And speaking of Katie Bailey Halisky, she was seen on Washington DC's Fox 5 10:00pm news broadcast on Sunday night, April 25, saying "with God on our side, we don't need the numbers" in reference to the amount of people at the March for Women's Lives. Good on ya.

Christy (Weinert) Mott '93 had her third child, Elizabeth Sharon, weighing just over 8 lbs. on May 1, 2004 (her Anniversary!).

McGraw Children To finish off the fairy tale of the McGraw family, after being re-united in March, and moving into their castle on Dan Vander Woude's birthday March 26th, (see photo from last month's grapevine), Tom and Heather had their sixth child on April 7th. Daniel William Marie McGraw. Most of the McGraws call him Danny for short. Tom calls him q (as in q-ball cause he has no hair) but Heather doesn't like that, so don't tell her that this is being reported in the Grapevine. All the McGraws are very grateful that Danny arrived safely. From l to r: Theresa (holding Danny), Timmy (made first Confession and Holy Communion on Easter Wednesday, both with Fr. Steve McGraw, who is his godfather), Annie Majella, Joey, Caeli (that's pronounced Chay-ley for all you people who never took Pat Duffy). Yes the order is girl, boy, girl, boy, girl, boy. And yes, we planned it that way. Sorry you can't see Danny's face too well in the photo. He was only about 3 days old when it was taken by Kathleen Kelly Sternfels (Caeli's godmother) on Holy Saturday. There. Is that long enough for you McFadden? And now the McGraws will all live happily ever after.

Mark and Catherin Raes would like to announce the birth of their son Matthias Germain. This big (9 pounds & 6 ounces), bouncing babe was born on November 5th, 2003. He came home to his sister Olivia Rose, who is three, and his brother James Donovan, who will be two in May. "Hey there old friends, we'd love to get in touch, and we finally have email! Our address is mgraes@softhome.net," says them, eh?

Jennie Guettler '97 married Bill Zuberbueler on September 13, 2003 (see left). Bill is the sibling of Christendom alumni Sr. Mary Anne, Fr. Tex, and Patrick. Coincidentally, Patrick is married to Jennie's sister, Amy. It looks like the Zuberbueler/Guettler dynasty is trying to give the Cuddeback/Fedoryka connection a run for its money!

David and Anne Marie Scrivener are pleased to welcome a ninth player to the "Scrivener Sluggers": Joseph Aidan joined the team at 1:20pm on April 2nd, weighing in at a healthy 9lbs 13 oz. Sibling teammates Emily, Nicholas, William, Lucy, Luke, Charles, Jack and Olivia are eager to teach "Shoeless Joe" the finer points of kitchen-floor base sliding, bunting for bunk space, and stealing seconds.

Mysterious Pearse Marschner ('01) is just about finished with his self-imposed captivity by the waters of Babylon. The Coalition Provisional Authority has but 60 days left before sovereignty is transferred (mostly) to an Iraqi caretaker government (with a hefty presence of US troops and the largest US embassy in the world staying behind). Accordingly, he is beginning the process of putting out feelers for something interesting to do after a recuperative summer off. If anyone knows of interesting job-openings or generous scholarships for graduate work in Arabic/Arabic related fields, please write him at Raphael110@hotmail.com.

Aimee Gesuina Norris, 42, of Front Royal, died Tuesday, May 4, 2004, in Front Royal.

Mrs. Norris was born Jan. 7, 1962, in Eastchester, N.Y., the daughter of Walter J. and Gesuina Miranda Seibert. She was a graduate of Christendom College in Front Royal and grew up in Connecticut. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Surviving with her husband, are her parents; three daughters, Virginia Norris, Theresa Norris, and Rose Norris; a son, David Norris; a brother, Joseph Seibert; a sister, Theresa Carifa; and her paternal grandmother, Ruth Seibert.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with the Rev. Kevin Walsh officiating. Burial will be in Good Hope Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Maddox Funeral Home in Front Royal and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the church.

Niall and Jessica Hickey (nee Runge) ('00) and Gwen Adams ('01) live in Lafayette, IN where Jessica Hickey has worked as Director of Catechesis and Gwen Adams asDirector of Youth Formation at St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church. Niall Hickey is currrently a candidate for the M. Litt. from the University of Maynouth, Ireland. Now with pastor Fr. Timothy Alkire, they are coordinating Project Darien, a parish sponsored 2005 study-abroad program in Ireland for high-school and college students.

Offering a formation in wonder through a total immersion experience in Catholic Culture, the program features classes in English, Scripture, History, Art, Music, and Astronomy, as well as recreational activities including hiking, sailing, and horseback-riding. They will teach and chaperone, joined by Dr. William and Amy Fahey of Christendom College and author Joseph Pearce and wife Susannah of Ave Maria College.

Says Adams, "What I experienced at Christendom College, I hope to give our students a taste of, a life where work and leisure were transformed by the Faith. Modern youth are asleep, and this kind of trip will wake them up to beauty, to truth, and to God."

Located at Inch House Irish Studies Center on Inch Island, Co. Donegal, Project Darien's dates are 14 July-9 August 2005. Cost is $2,800. All interested students can contact Gwen Adams at 765-742-1351.