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DECATUR—The anniversary Mass began as the dimly lit church
was brightened by a stream of candles held by past and present faculty and
staff of St. Thomas More School.
The teachers processed into St. Thomas More Church before
Archbishop John F. Donoghue and the concelebrating priests, a symbol of the
light they have provided to students for the past 50 years.
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who founded the school in
1950, led the procession of faculty and staff.
Held Nov. 11, the Mass brought together current students and
alumni of the school who rejoiced in their alma mater’s golden jubilee.
Concelebrating priests included Father Frank Richardson, pastor of
St. Thomas More; Father Augustine Tran, parochial vicar at St. Thomas More;
Father John Walsh, pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City; Father Hugh
Marren, pastor of St. Benedict Church in Duluth; and Father Peter Rau, a school
alumnus and pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Cumming. Father Walsh and Father
Marren formerly served at the parish.
Led by the St. Thomas More chorus and advanced chorus, the music,
with saxophone and flute accompaniment, filled the church during the Mass.
During his homily, Archbishop Donoghue called the Mass a
“celebration of giving—of what has been given, and of what remains to
be given.”
“No one from the beginning of this school’s existence,
until the present day—no one ever looked to gain wealth, or power, or
prestige by giving themselves to the service of St. Thomas More School. For
this is not, nor can it ever be, the goal of those who would work in Catholic
education,” he said. “We are here as servants—we are here to be
humble, and to put others first, especially the children who are brought into
the world by devoted parents, and whom the Lord and His Church wishes us to
cherish above all the wealth and good that the world can offer.”
The basic foundation of committed service has been the history of
St. Thomas More School, the archbishop said.
“ ... The priests who have served here as pastors and
assistants—the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who made it happen, with
such dedicated, day-in, day-out labor—the teachers who joined them, out of
a dedication which raises the word ‘job’ to the level of
vocation—the families and devoted parishioners who have always supported
the school no matter the nature of the need or the depth of the
challenge—all these together have constituted a wealth that cannot be
gauged in terms of money or precious possessions—all of these have built a
power for good that has never been tainted by greed or tyranny.”
Archbishop Donoghue then referred to the evening’s Gospel in
which a poor widow gives from the generosity of her heart without seeking
recognition.
“ ... All of you have been the widow—perhaps not knowing
where the next dollar for tuition might come from, perhaps not seeing how the
energy to survive one more day of teaching could be summoned, perhaps not
understanding how far the consequences of your giving might go—but giving
nevertheless, giving again and again, and giving, knowing full well, that
tomorrow will ask for more, and that more must be found.”
He told the congregation that this was an occasion to celebrate
and that the participants were just part of the celebration.
“We are half of the celebration, but a half that cannot stand
alone—Christ is the half which is life—life which embraces us and
makes us live in the whole,” he said. “Christ is the spirit of the
widow’s heart, which gives, not from an excess of wealth but gives all
there is to give. His love is total, and His love totally sustains us.”
After Communion, Father Richardson called the jubilee celebration
a “unique occasion for our church.” He then recognized the founders
of the school, asking the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to stand as the
congregation applauded them.
“We truly will never be able to repay you for all you’ve
done for our school,” he said.
The school opened in 1950 with five sisters to staff five grades
of 155 students. In those pioneer years, the school added on four grades, built
a new lower school and hired several new lay teachers.
In 1960 school enrollment was up to nearly 700 students. Led by a
Religious as principal until 1992, St. Thomas More was named a National School
of Excellence in 1988. The school now has nearly 500 students in kindergarten
through eighth grade.
The sisters left the school last June due to a declining number of
vocations. Their spirit, however, and the spirit of their foundress, St. Julie
Billiart, continue to live on at the school through its lay teachers, said
Sister Margaret Thomasine Grady, SND, one of the original sisters, who served
at the school a total of 36 years. She and the other sisters, as well as school
alumni, priests and other guests, gathered in Mulhern Hall for a dinner
reception.
“That same spirit has rejuvenated this school each decade of
this 50 years,” she said. “The reason this school has flourished is
because the sisters have enjoyed their co-workers and lay teachers. For that
reason, the spirit of St. Julie at St. Thomas More will continue—because
of the quality of teachers and of pastors.”
Sister Grady called the anniversary celebration a “new
beginning.”
“This is the biggest thrill,” she said. “I am just
so grateful for God’s blessings.”
Earlier in the evening, at the Mass, Sister Grady presented the
distinguished graduate award from the National Catholic Educational Association
to Father Rau, noting that the NCEA “believes that Father Peter
exemplifies the finest qualities of Catholic education and has rendered
distinguished service to the Catholic Church.”
Father Rau said he was surprised by the award presentation.
“It is a profound honor to receive this award and to be here
today with all of you,” he told the congregation. “St. Thomas More is
a place I think fondly of every time I drive by and is a place that has
nourished my life since I was here 42 years ago.”
Father Rau said that the school, and especially the sisters who
taught him, had a big impact on his life.
“Their gentleness and compassion extended to everyone and
they were there for everyone,” he said. “They were tough and stern,
but they did it with love and you always knew that. You knew you were part of
the family and you felt included.”
Gail Msezane, the current principal at the school, said she feels
fortunate to lead the school during this exciting time.
“Just to be the principal and see the thread of education
continuing for 50 years is exciting for me,” she said.
Msezane echoed Father Rau’s words about the closeness of the
school.
“This is a family,” she said. “That community
feeling has always been there. It’s always been our strength.”
Barbara Poole, principal at St. Jude the Apostle School in
Atlanta, said that she chose to be an educator because of the values and
lessons she learned while attending St. Thomas More School.
“It made me love school,” she said. “All my
memories I have of St. Thomas More are happy memories. I had tremendous respect
for the nuns. I just loved them.”
Poole said that the evidence of the phrase “God is
good,” often used by St. Julie, was always present in the school.
“They really managed to get that through to you. It was a
very clear message of the school. Love of the Lord and respect for God and one
another were really the hallmarks of this school.” |
