“’Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40. Unsung heroes are defined by what they do when no one is looking and the work they put in day in and out to better those and the world around them. This scholarship is meant to reward those students who do not typically receive accolades, but rather volunteer without gain, have the heart of a servant, are in good standing, and are an overall living example of putting others first. Their work ethic and dedication to others truly make them special. This scholarship will also be need-based in nature, affording the winner the opportunity to finish their high school career at St. Mary’s, whereas they may not otherwise be able to.
Students who apply for said scholarship will be tasked with writing an essay to explain why they are deserving of this honor and just how they put others first. A panel will oversee the selection process each year, with Jerry himself having a great deal of input in choosing the recipient.
This theme of work ethic with the heart of a servant is the foundation on which Jerry built his life. Jerry grew up in Lancaster as the oldest boy of seven siblings and even spent a couple of his childhood years in Gabon, Africa. His parents sacrificed much so that he could attend St. Mary’s High School, and Jerry pitched in as well, waxing floors and cleaning chalkboards as part of the after-school and summer work crew programs. He was an avid athlete, playing key roles on the Cross Country, Track and Field, Football, and Basketball Teams, and he continued his running career long after high school ended, even completing a Boston Marathon. He was also the recipient of the St. Mary’s “Hustle Award,” which honored the athlete who put in the time and effort to better their respective program in any and all ways possible.
Jerry was a fixture around St. Mary’s during his time at the school, serving as a homeroom representative, member of the National Honor Society, and captain of the Track Team. His days at 142 Laverack Avenue provided him with a great foundation to go on to earn a BS in Petroleum Engineering with a minor in geology and hydrology. Jerry then went on to build a 36-year career in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Thailand, and Indonesia in on-shore and off-shore oil and gas properties. Jerry worked for Chevron where he received the Chairman’s Award, presented technical papers on overboard water handling design to prevent oil slicks, co-authored a paper that was presented to the United Nations on reusing abandoned platforms, and was credited with the discovery and development of both on-shore and off-shore oil and gas fields.
It is because of the foundation he received at St. Mary’s that Jerry is investing back into the school through The Putting Others First Scholarship Fund. After being diagnosed with cancer, Jerry feels a sense of urgency to now give back to this great school, so it can continue to shape young men and women like it has for the past 120 years.
If you were a classmate of Jerry’s or feel like you too can relate to his story, please consider contributing to The Putting Others First Scholarship Fund. There is no greater legacy than helping a young person afford the best education possible – one that will nourish their body, mind, and spirit. YOU can make that difference today.
Thank you, Jerry, and thank you, Lancers.
The post The Putting Others First Scholarship first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>
School News
St. Mary’s Celebrates 120th Commencement Ceremonies
On Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Class of 2024 became the 120th class to graduate from St. Mary’s High School. These seniors are a group of remarkable young people who will undoubtedly go on to change the world.
Speeches by class president Teddie Osinski ’24 and valedictorian Madison Monaco ’24 reflected on the past four years and also looked forward to the future with words of wisdom.
Gwen McCarthy ’24 became the latest Lancer to win the Marian Award – the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a St. Mary’s graduate. Gwen was chosen as a nominee by her classmates, and then, ultimately chosen by the faculty and staff because she embodies the best of St. Mary’s and serves as an example for all of the students in the building to follow in terms of her character, work ethic, and overall demeanor.
After winning Teacher of the Year, Mr. Pete Herr served as the commencement speaker and left the graduates to ponder that they now have the ability to make choices – big ones and small ones – that will shape their futures in every way possible.
Dean of Academics Mr. Keith Junik concluded the ceremony by also speaking to the theme of choices, and how above all else, despite every ounce of adversity and challenge that comes our graduates’ ways, they should choose happy. Choosing to be happy can truly change your outlook on life and how you relate to other people.
As always, hosting graduation on campus makes Graduation Day one of the best days of the whole year.
Once a Lancer, always a Lancer.
Baccalaureate Mass Serves as Time of Reflection
The Baccalaureate Mass allows our seniors the chance to be together, as an entire class, one final time before graduation.
Led by Fr. Bob Owczarczak ’02, the theme of the Mass was “Lead Me, Lord.” Fr. Bob reminded our soon-to-be graduates that there will be many bumps in the road ahead, but God, their family, and friends will lead them through those tough times to calmer waters.
The seniors also received a gift – a St. Christopher medal. St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, and we hope that our seniors will carry this medal with them along their many journeys.
We then celebrated many of our seniors with an awards ceremony. From scholastic and service awards to everything in between, the Class of 2024 is truly an impressive group of young individuals.
Congratulations to all!
Lancers Dance the Night Away at the Prom
On Friday, May 17, 2024, our juniors and seniors enjoyed a magical evening at Hotel Lafayette in Downtown Buffalo. Dinner was quickly followed by quite the party, as our students danced the night away.
Thank you to all of the class moderators and the staff for the most memorable of nights!
Lancers Participate in Walk MS
Earlier this month, members of the V.I.E.W. Club (Value, Innovative, Enrichment, Welcoming) participated in Walk MS. Walk MS unites the MS community in the largest gathering of its kind to raise funds and make a difference for everyone living with MS.
Community service is of the upmost importance at St. Mary‘s. Over their four years at St. Mary‘s, each graduating class serves over 10,000 hours in their communities and even abroad, in countries like Guatemala and Mexico.
Made with Love Club Gives Back to Children’s Hospital
The Made with Love Club has been hard at work making cards, friendship bracelets, and other crafts for those receiving care at Oishei’s Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. This new club meets a few times of month to do acts of service and kindness for those in need of a little love.
Athletics
Women’s Lacrosse Wins First-Ever Monsignor Martin Championship
On May 14, 2024, the St. Mary‘s Women’s Lacrosse Team took home the Monsignor Martin League Championship with a 13-12 win over Nichols in one of the best games you’ll ever see!
It’s amazing how far this program has come. The team then went onto compete in the State Championships downstate, unfortunately losing in the semifinals. Congratulations to all of the players and coaches on a remarkable season!
Reece LaCotte ’25 Notches 100th Goal
A special shoutout goes out to Reece LaCotte ’25 who tallied her 100th goal this season for the lacrosse team. That number will only continue to grow next season when Reece is a senior. As a member of the National Honor Society and many other organizations around the school, we are so proud to have Reece as a Lancer.
Congratulations, Reece!
Softball Wins League Championship
The championship train keeps on chugging along!
On May 21, 2024, the St. Mary‘s Softball Team defeated Nardin in the deciding game of a three-game series to take home the Monsignor Martin Championship. These young ladies then headed downstate to compete in the State Championships. After an impressive win in the semifinals, the team came up short to powerhouse St. Anthony’s to come in second place in the entire state. Congratulations, Lancers!
Stay tuned for future editions of the “St. Mary’s Monthly” to see just how impressive of a run our women’s sports teams have had this season. Spoiler alert – all of our women’s team sports have gone on to win championships this year – that’s 10 league and state titles in all!
Ruby Nowak ’25 Is Discus Champion
This past weekend, several members of our St. Mary‘s Track Team competed in the CHSAA Championships downstate.
Ruby Nowak ’25 is the NYS Catholic Discuss Champion with a throw of 110-8 and also took fifth in the shot put.
Maddy Powers ’27 took second in the pole vault, clearing 8-0, as well as 15th in the 400m.
Both Ruby and Maddy will now move onto the NYS Federation Meet in two weeks. Congratulations, ladies!
We also want to give a special shout out to Casey Black ’24 who finished his stellar St. Mary‘s running career with great times in both the 800m and 1600m.
Baseball Falls in Semis
The St. Mary’s Baseball Team had a great year and rode fantastic pitching and timely hitting to the semifinals of the Monsignor Martin where they ultimately lost to St. Joe’s. The Lancers have a relatively young team, so they’ll look to make an even deeper run in the playoffs next season.
Summer Camp Registration Now Open
Looking for something for the kids and grandkids to do this summer? Sign them up for a St. Mary’s Summer Sports Camp! Learn from the best coaches and players in WNY and have a whole lot of fun at the same time.
The Arts
Varsity Chorus Competes in Festivals of Music
Over spring break, some members of our Varsity Chorus participated in the Festivals of Music.
The Festivals of Music was founded in 1982 as an educationally-focused music festival that provides school performing ensembles the opportunity to learn from exceptional conductors in the field of music education today. The events take place over multiple weekends in the spring in cities across the U.S. and Canada. The event is then culminated by a celebratory awards ceremony where all participants are honored for their commitment to quality in music education.
The Festival’s adjudicators grade choral ensembles with a rubric based on Tone Quality, Intonation, Diction & Pronunciation, Note Accuracy & Rhythmic Precision, and Musicality. The ranking system is Poor – Fair – Good – Excellent – Superior. This year’s Varsity Chorus received a rating of Excellent. Wonderful job, everyone!
The group also found time to do some sightseeing. They visited Symphony Hall for a concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and hung out in downtown Boston, exploring the Quincy Market, North End, Assembly Row, and more.
Well done to the following students who participated: Ethan Bookmiller ’25, Lieschen Burkhardt ’25, Brodie Carlson ’26, Caitlin Cone ’25, Nick Cox ’24, Gabby DeMarco ’26, Andrew Forys ’26, Shoya Hill ’25, Charlie Kasinski ’26, Jase May ’25, and Thomas Schroeder ’25.
Beauty and the Beast Receives Four Award Nominations
The Shea’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (formerly known as the Kenny Awards), celebrate the best of the best in Western New York high school theatre. St. Mary’s spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, participated in this year’s awards. Several judicators came to judge each performance of the show based on certain criteria to be eligible for different award categories.
St. Mary’s received four nominations, including:
Outstanding Hair & Make-Up Design & Execution
The Showstopper Award for “Be Our Guest”
STAGE Semifinalists: Nick Cox ’24 and Liam Dunne ‘25
The STAGE semifinalists represent the best male and female performers in lead roles. Only 10 male and 10 female actors were chosen across all of the shows in Western New York. The male and female winners of this award will then go onto New York City for a week of intensive workshops to compete in the Jimmy Awards, bringing together the best high school performers in the country.
Congratulations to all!
A Fall Musical!
After the smashing success of this year’s spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, St. Mary‘s will be performing two musicals each school year! This year’s fall musical will be… The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Stay tuned throughout the summer for more information.
Alumni Information
Alumni Professionals Network
We are starting an Alumni Professionals Network and want YOU to be a part of it. We’re looking for people from all different kinds of industries and backgrounds to join us, network, and learn from each other.
The plan is to meet once a month for meetings, happy hours, and/or personal development opportunities. The kick-off meeting will be on Wednesday, June 12th at 6pm right at St. Mary‘s. Food and drinks will be provided.
If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Beck O’Connor at [email protected]. Hope to see you there as we continue to build up resources for our strong alumni base. Lancers helping Lancers!
Join Us on June 29th!
We can’t wait to welcome back all of our alumni and their families for this year’s LANCERFEST! Not only is there a big party on Saturday, June 29th, but there are also several other events happening right at the school that we’re so excited to invite all of our alumni to:
The Scholars’ Brunch – 11 am (free to attend)
- Calling all Valedictorians, Salutatorians, Class & Senate Officers, Marian Award Winners, and current named-scholarship winners & donors! We want to celebrate you at our annual Scholars Brunch. You can mix and mingle with other St. Mary‘s alumni and hear from our Head of School Kevin Kelleher ’89 about all of the exciting things happening at St. Mary‘s that have helped us to become one of the only private schools in the area.
Athletics Hall of Fame Induction – 4 pm (free to attend)
- Join us as we induct the running game from the 1983 undefeated St. Mary’s Football Team as well as the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 Women’s Volleyball Teams into the St. Mary’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
Performing Arts Hall of Fame Induction – 6pm (free to attend)
- Join us as we induct Brian Bernys ’99, Pete Herr, and Heather Ruhland ’01 into the St. Mary’s Performing Arts Hall of Fame.
LANCERFEST – 5-10 pm ($20 admission fee includes food and drinks)
- Come back home “where everybody knows your name!” Join us on Saturday, June 29th, for a tribute to YOU, our Lancer alumni, and all of the things that make St. Mary‘s High School such a special place. There will be food, drinks, activities for the kids, and live music featuring some of the best alumni performers we’ve got. See below for the details!
Sign up for any or all of these events here.
Reach out to Director of Special Events, Lindsey Fattey ’02 at [email protected] with any questions or for more information.
St. Mary’s Golf Tournament Set for July 1st
Join us on Monday, July 1st, for the annual St. Mary’s Golf Tournament at Lancaster Country Club. Individual spots and foursomes are still available along with sponsorship opportunities. Please reach out to Kevin Kelleher at [email protected] for more information.
School News
College Decision Day – May 1, 2024
As has become a tradition for graduating classes throughout the country, May 1st is College Decision Day, where the majority of our students announce their commitments to attend some of the best universities in the country. Check out just some of the schools members of our senior class were accepted to this year, and stay tuned to St. Mary’s social media accounts tomorrow for all of the fun!
Seniors Head Off on Retreat
Last week, the Class of 2024 went on their retreat to Cradle Beach. They spent the day as an entire class for one of the final times before graduation festivities kick off in a couple of weeks. May really is the month to celebrate our graduates, so we’re excited for all of things to come in the next few weeks!
It’s All in the DNA!
Mrs. Walh-Henshaw’s AP Biology class had fun mastering DNA transcription and translation. The class worked on the encoding and decoding of nucleic acids to form biochemical molecules. Making science fun is what Mrs. Walh-Henshaw does best!
Support the Junik Family
As you may know, Mrs. Emily Junik, a Social Studies teacher here at St. Mary’s, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After already courageously battling – and defeating – cancer a few years ago, Mrs. Junik will power through once again, but of course, she and her family face a long road ahead.
To help support Mrs. Junik in her fight, St. Mary‘s is selling breast cancer awareness t-shirts with a St. Mary‘s touch. You can check out the design below (shout out to Mrs. Leah Tytka for the design).
The online store will close this Friday, May 3rd, and orders can be shipped directly to your home. If you choose “pickup order” when checking out, the shirts will be shipped to St. Mary‘s for you to pickup here.
We know the St. Mary‘s family rallies to support their own like no other, so we’re asking you all to again answer that call. Mrs. Junik is, without question, one of the most beloved people in this building. In addition to being an amazing teacher to her students past and present, she brings light and joy to everyone she interacts with. The Junik Family is so appreciative of your prayers and support!
Athletics
Spring Sports Are in Full Swing
Despite the soggy start to the spring, many of our Lancer teams are off to great starts. Baseball, softball, lacrosse, and track and field are all in action. Their schedules can be found at smhlancers.org if you’d like to come out to support the teams!
Teddie Osinski ’24 Scores 100th Goal
The century mark! Senior and captain of the Women’s Lacrosse Team, Teddie Osinski, scored her 100th career goal against Nichols. Congratulations, Teddie! Teddie will be attending St. John Fisher University this fall to study Health & Exercise Science.
Sarah Barnum ’24 Signs with Mercyhurst
St. Mary’s senior volleyball player, Sarah Barnum, will be taking her talents to Mercyhurst University this fall to continue her academy and volleyball career. Sarah has been a huge piece in the Women’s Volleyball Team’s success, including winning a couple of State Titles. Congratulations, Sarah!
Performing Arts
Beauty and the Beast Nominated for Four Shea’s High School Musical Theatre Awards
The Shea’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (formerly known as the Kenny Awards), celebrate the best of the best in Western New York high school theatre. St. Mary’s spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, participated in this year’s awards. Several judicators came to judge each performance of the show based on certain criteria to be eligible for different award categories.
The nominations were announced just last week, and St. Mary’s received four nominations, including:
Outstanding Hair & Make-Up Design & Execution
The Showstopper Award for “Be Our Guest”
STAGE Semifinalists: Nick Cox ’24 and Liam Dunne ‘25
The STAGE semifinalists represent the best male and female performers in lead roles. Only 10 male and 10 female actors were chosen across all of the shows in Western New York. The male and female winners of this award will then go onto New York City for a week of intensive workshops to compete in the Jimmy Awards, bringing together the best high school performers in the country.
Congratulations to all!
Evening of Fine Arts Recap
The St. Mary’s High School performing arts season came to a close this past week with the Evening of Fine Arts. This showcase of talents in the fine and performing arts featured an art gallery with some of the most beautiful works from our students in all different forms of media – paintings, photography, sculpture, drawings, and more. The night then concluded with performances from our students, including Varsity Chorus, Glee Club, Modern Band, Bell Choir, and some talented soloists.
Our seniors were also able to bid farewell to the St. Mary’s stage. Congratulations to Nick Cox ’24 who has been a standout in our Performing Arts Department for the past four years, landing lead role after lead role, including the Beast in this year’s production of Beauty and the Beast as well as the Lion in last year’s musical, The Wizard of Oz. Nick will continue to study acting at Slippery Rock University this fall. Evan Garbo ’24 has graced us with his skills as a drummer for the past couple of years, which has added so much to Modern Band and our Christmas shows. Evan will be heading to D’Youville University this fall to study Health & Exercise Management.
Alumni Updates/Events
Giving Day Recap
If you are reading this newsletter, then there is no doubt that you were also aware of our Giving Day on April 25th. On a day that celebrated all of the things that makes St. Mary’s such a special place to be, our Lancers came together to support St. Mary‘s like never before – raising over $50,000 and counting.
We know it can be a lot all in one day with so many emails, social media posts, and text messages, but it truly is all for the best cause – to continue the storied tradition of this great school and give our current and future students all of the resources they need to succeed at St. Mary’s and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this Giving Day the best one yet! Can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Chris Griswold Memorial Lancer 5K
Now that it finally looks like we’re getting a break in the spring weather, come run or walk with us on Friday, May 10th at the Chris Griswold Memorial Lancer 5K!
The Griswold Run has been a part of the Lancaster community for the past 30 years, so come celebrate this milestone with us! We’ve moved the race to a Friday night run/walk, so please pay special attention to that.
Take a run or stroll through Como Park on a beautiful spring evening, and then, join us for some post-race refreshments in the gazebo. We’ll also keep the party going at Fattey Beer Co. in the Village of Lancaster as well, so you know it will be a fun time!
It’s just $30 to register before May 8th, and you can do so below. Hope to see you at the starting line!
LANCERFEST Is Coming Up Quickly!
June is right around the corner! That means it’s almost time for LANCERFEST!
Come back home where “everybody knows your name!” Whether you graduated five or fifty years ago, we want to see you on Saturday, June 29th back at St. Mary’s. There will be food, drinks, activities for the kids, and live music featuring some of the best alumni performers we’ve got. We will be sending out some LANCERFEST-specific emails in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for more info.
St. Mary’s Golf Tournament – July 1st
Ready to hit the course? The kickoff-to-summer tradition is back! Join us on Monday, July 1st for the annual St. Mary’s Golf Tournament.
You can register yourself or a foursome and ask about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Beck O’Connor at [email protected] or visit smhlancers.org.
Athletics and Arts Hall of Fames Induct Newest Members
As we announced in the last edition of “The St. Mary‘s Monthly,” congratulations to the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 Women’s Volleyball Teams and the offensive line and running game from the undefeated championship-winning 1983 Football Team – Mike Catalano ’84, Jim Kieffer ’84, Tim Labenski ’84, Eric Ozolins ’84, Bob Prindiville ’84, Tom Skalski ’84, Jim Szrama ’84, Craig Hirsch ’85, and Ken Schaefer ’85.
These men and women will be inducted in a ceremony at 4pm on Saturday, June 29th to kick off LANCERFEST.
Congratulations also go out to Pete Herr, Heather Ruhland ’01, and Brian Bernys ’99, as they will be inducted into the St. Mary’s Performing Arts Hall of Fame in a ceremony at 6 pm also on Saturday, June 29th during LANCERFEST.
If you have any questions or would like to RSVP to join us for one of, or both, of the induction ceremonies, please contact Lindsey Fattey ‘02 at [email protected].
The post St. Mary’s Monthly – April 2024 first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>As we prepare for the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, may we open our hearts to new beginnings and the be thankful for all of God’s blessings bestowed upon us. Happy Easter to all!
School News
Students Embark on Europe Trip
Several St. Mary’s students spent the first part of their Easter vacation in Europe! Spending the majority of their time in Greece and Italy, students were able to see many famous sites, including the Acropolis, the Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis, and the Temple of Poseidon in Greece and explored Venice and Milan in Italy.
Providing our students with chances to travel and see the world is of the utmost importance at St. Mary‘s High School. Immersing themselves in other cultures helps our students grow and mature in so many different ways that you can’t find in a classroom.
Art Students Participate in Memory Project
Mr. Christian’s Art students recently completed their portraits for the Memory Project.
The Memory Project started in 2004 as a way to provide handmade, heartfelt portraits as special memories to children around the world facing many types of challenges. The goal is to use art to reach a distant destination: a kinder world in which all youth see themselves in one another regardless of differences in their appearance, culture, religion, or circumstances.
This year marks the fifth time St. Mary‘s has participated in the Memory Project. These paintings will now make their journey across the globe to their likenesses. We can’t wait to see the reactions of the children when they receive their portraits!
St. Mary’s Hosts Village of Lancaster Guest Speaker Series
St. Mary‘s was asked to play host for February’s Village of Lancaster Guest Speaker Series. As part of its 175th anniversary celebration, the Village has been hosting various events throughout the year.
St. Mary‘s – the high school, parish, and elementary school – have all played a large role in Lancaster’s history. This history was discussed by current St. Mary‘s High School Head of School, Kevin Kelleher ’89, along with fellow alumni, Don Monnin ’80 and Neil Connelly ’67. In 2004, St. Mary‘s celebrated its centennial, and Don Monnin wrote a book about the rich history of the school.
A wonderful audience was able to contribute their stories about St. Mary‘s and growing up in the Village of Lancaster in a true roundtable type of discussion.
Thank you to those who were in attendance and to the Village of Lancaster for the opportunity. We’re truly blessed to call Lancaster home!
Athletics
Basketball Teams Compete in State Championships
With a 57-42 win over Nichols, the Women’s Basketball Team advanced to the Class A CHSAA State tournament semifinal against Kennedy Catholic. After a win in the State Semifinals, the girls went on to compete in the State Championship at Hofstra University where they took home the Division A State Championship against Sacred Heart (Long Island) 57-48.
What a season!
The Men’s Basketball Team also extended their season another week with a resounding 70-51 victory over Cardinal O’Hara, winning the Class B final. Unfortunately, the boys then fell short in the Class B State Championship at Fordham University on March 8th.
Baseball Team Heads West for Spring Training
The St. Mary’s Baseball Team left the snow behind and headed to Arizona for spring training. With four games scheduled, and a couple of wins under their belt, the players will get some all-important work in before the start of their regular season back in WNY.
While in Arizona, the team will also catch a Diamondback-Yankees game and an Arizona State University baseball game as well.
Spring Sports Schedules Online
Want to support the Lancers this spring? Ready to catch some baseball, softball, lacrosse, or track and field? Head to smhlancers.org to see the full schedules for each team.
The Arts
Beauty and the Beast Debuts
The St. Mary’s Performing Arts Department put on their spring musical March 7-8, 2024. This year’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast debuted to near sell-out crowds over its four-show run. This year’s show is participating in the Shea’s High School Musical Theater Awards on May 25, 2024, where students will have the opportunity to participate in a day of workshops and could receive nominations for their performances, including the show’s overall nomination.
Congratulations to the entire cast and crew as well as the directors!
Along with the Performing Arts Department, the Hospitality and Event Planning Academy put on a tea party for fans of all ages prior to the matinee performance of the show. Belle and the entire cast of characters made their way around the party for some pictures, and guests enjoyed finger sandwiches, delectable desserts, and tea, of course, along with arts and crafts.
Alumni/Events
Lancer Gala is Rousing Success
It’s the luck of the Irish for The Lancer Gala! St. Mary’s largest fundraiser of the year moved back inside and took place on Friday, March 15th, so naturally a St. Patrick’s Day theme was in order. After months of preparation by committees, employees, volunteers, donors, and dozens of others, the Gala was a huge success!
If you donated to the cause, attended as a guest, volunteered, or helped in any way, we are truly appreciative of your support.
We’d also like to take a moment to recognize our Gala chaircouples: Neil ’67 & Trish ’71 (Kelleher) Connelly, Gerry & Ella (Milligan) Dunne ’87, Joe & Kate Callahan, and Kevin & Jen Dempsey
A special thank you also goes out to Kevin McCarthy for providing the music throughout the evening, the Irish dancers from Harris-Greico Academy, and our bagpiper, James Donoghue. This trio certainly helped add the Irish flare to the St. Patrick’s Day-themed Gala.
Of course, we’d also like to thank all of our sponsors:
Gold Sponsor: The Penfold Family
Table Sponsors: The Legend Group, Drescher & Malecki, The Galasso Foundation, the Chris Wanat Memorial Fund, ComDoc, ADPRO Sports, AssuredPartners, Personal Touch Food Service, Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports, the Aquino Family Foundation, Pillar Real Estate, William E. & Ann L. Swan Foundation, Costanzo’s Bakery, St. Mary‘s Elementary School, and Performing Arts Music in Depew
Bar Sponsors: Elbers Landscape Service Inc., Outlet Liquor, Chef’s Restaurant, and Schaeffer Plumbing Supply
Coat Check Sponsor: Day & Night Plumbing and Sewer Cleaning, Drain Cleaning
Auction Sponsors: PCS Plumbing & Heating, Towne Automotive Group, Arcara Lenda Eusanio, & Stacey CPAs, and Extreme Sun Capsule
Photo credit: Natalie Wargo ’25
LANCERFEST– Save the Date!
It might not feel like it outside, but June is right around the corner! That means it’s almost time for LANCERFEST!
Come back home where “everybody knows your name!” Whether you graduated five or fifty years ago, we want to see you on Saturday, June 29th back at St. Mary’s. There will be food trucks, drinks, activities for the kids, and live music featuring some of the best alumni performers we’ve got. Stay tuned for more information on this year’s LANCERFEST!
St. Mary’s Golf Tournament – July 1st
Ready to hit the course? The kickoff-to-summer tradition is back! Join us on Monday, July 1st for the annual St. Mary’s Golf Tournament.
You can register yourself or a foursome and ask about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Beck O’Connor at [email protected].
Athletics and Arts Hall of Fames Induct Newest Members
Congratulations to the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 Women’s Volleyball Teams and the offensive line and running game from the undefeated championship-winning 1983 Football Team – Mike Catalano ’84, Jim Kieffer ’84, Tim Labenski ’84, Eric Ozolins ’84, Bob Prindiville ’84, Tom Skalski ’84, Jim Szrama ’84, Craig Hirsch ’85, and Ken Schaefer ’85.
These men and women will be inducted in a ceremony at 4pm on Saturday, June 29th to kick off LANCERFEST.
Congratulations also go out to Pete Herr, Heather Ruhland ’01, and Brian Bernys ’99, as they will be inducted into the St. Mary’s Performing Arts Hall of Fame in a ceremony at 6 pm also on Saturday, June 29th during LANCERFEST.
If you have any questions or would like to RSVP to join us for one of, or both, of the induction ceremonies, please contact Lindsey (Fattey) DiGiacomo at [email protected].
The post St. Mary’s Monthly – March 2024 first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>St. Mary‘s instituted a Day of Caring as part of the senior year religion portfolio years ago to show our seniors how important it is to serve their communities and to have the chance to experience that type of feeling one can only get from helping others.
Several groups of seniors helped other organizations throughout WNY during this past school year, including St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and Harris Hill Nursing Facility.
In a little “Lancers helping Lancers” moment, we were able to get a photo under the Aquino Family Foundation sign. The Aquinos have quite the St. Mary‘s legacy and are incredibly supportive to so many organizations throughout WNY!
The post Seniors Participate in Days of Caring first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>This field trip really brought the classroom to life, as the AP Spanish students have been studying fine art in their “Arte y Belleza” unit. While the students were out on the town, they, of course, just had to make a pitstop at a local Mexican restaurant for some lunch too!
The post AP Spanish Finds Cultural Immersion in Our Own Backyard first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>
The post St. Mary’s Announces Second Quarter Dean’s List first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>Check out some photos to see how intense the competition really gets!
The post Spirit Week Brings Out the Best of St. Mary’s first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>He is a graduate of Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and studied theater in Los Angeles. Jon is a radio cohost for GNR Network, which is a social multi-media outlet dedicated to cultural arts, activism and community development.
For our students, Jon performed an impassioned reading of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and truly set the scene for students to respond and reflect on the power of that moment in history.
The post Jon Cesar Speaks to St. Mary’s first appeared on St Mary's High School.]]>
Christmas is truly the season of giving, and St. Mary’s students got in on the action as they do every year!
Partnering with Russell J. Salvatore and the Salvation Army, St. Mary’s raised money for the Salvation Army’s Toy Shoppe. After holding a dress down day, St. Mary’s students took the money raised and bought a treasure trove of toys from the local Bloomsbury Toy Shoppe in Lancaster and dropped them off at Russell’s to add to their huge collection of donated toys.
Campus Minister Deacon Robb Ciezki stood outside his classroom for two weeks collecting spare change and dollars from students, faculty, and staff to donate to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. That spare change – along with donations from some generous parents – resulted in over $1,450 raised for the mission. Mrs. Sue Choboy, who works closely with St. Luke’s, came to pick up the donation and expressed just how far that money will go during the incredible time of need the holiday season brings.
St. Mary’s is proud to partner with St. Luke’s throughout the year in a myriad of other initiatives. Several students who benefit from the mission’s great work also receive tuition assistance here at St. Mary’s. Throughout the rest of the year, our student body collects clothes and other personal care items to donate, and Deacon Robb takes a small group of students once a month to volunteer at St. Luke’s, where they prep and serve dinner.
Lastly, Campus Ministry and the St. Mary’s Girls Club ran a coat drive, collecting new and gently-used coats for the Summit Life Outreach Center’s Gift of Warmth Drive. In all, over 100 coats will go to families who can really use some warmth during the winter season.
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