St. Mary Parish Capital Campaign Kick-Off
Celebration of 100 years of the Sisters of Mercy Building!

1.6 Million Raised to Date!
St. Mary Parish kicked off “Our Faith, Our Hope, Our Future” Capital Campaign for St. Mary Parish Sunday, September 13th. The event began with Mass at 9 a.m. in St Mary Church with guests Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi and Capital Campaign Honorary Chair Archbishop Emeritus Oscar H. Lipscomb who joined St. Mary Pastor, Reverend Monsignor Peter J. Cunningham and Associate Pastor, Reverend Antony Kadavil as celebrants. Following Mass, St. Mary celebrated the spirit of generosity beginning with a blessing of the recent school playground improvements. Made possible through St. Mary Catholic School’s Annual Fund Drive and Knights of Columbus Mustang Golf Tournament, the new field was named “Thompson Field” in memory of St. Mary Catholic School Alumnus, Steve Thompson. A reception followed in the Sisters of Mercy Building in celebration of 100 years of the building which served as St. Mary’s first school building. The event included tours of the Sisters of Mercy Building and viewing of the upcoming Capital Campaign projects. Azalea Trail Maids and St. Mary memorabilia from the last century were part of the celebration.
St. Mary’s Capital Campaign, with a goal of $1.8 million, hopes to complete necessary restorations to St. Mary’s historic church building built in 1926 at a cost of $1.1 million, and secure the parish debt of $700,000 incurred through investments made by the parish to ensure the future growth of St. Mary Catholic School. Restorations to the church include: stained-glass window repairs, replacement of the church ceiling, installation of a new air-conditioning system, refurbishment of the kneelers, repair of water and moisture damage, upgrades to the church bathroom, and installation of new sound and fire-alarm systems. Investments in the school include restoration of the first and third floors of the Sisters of Mercy Building, now home to St. Mary’s Preschool and Middle School; and purchase of adjoining property now used for St. Mary’s art program and after school care. The campaign will offer naming opportunities to donors including the recently renovated six middle school classrooms, and all of the church stained-glass windows.
St. Mary’s Capital Campaign co-chairs are Tim and Marian Clarke and Victor and Nancy Henken who will oversee hundreds of volunteers in the twelve week campaign. Special thanks Capital Campaign Kickoff Celebration chairperson Angie Gaillard. For more information on the projects of the capital campaign, contact the St. Mary Parish Development Office at 432-8678, ext. 2

St. Mary Parish Campaign Co-Chairs, Victor Henken and Tim Clarke address the congregation at the end of Mass during the kickoff of “Our Faith, Our Hope, Our Future” Capital Campaign on September 13.

Alumni Highlights

Under Grad Honors
Congratulations to high-school aged St. Mary alumni who received honors this year. Incoming Juniors, Alicia Ollis of McGill-Toolen CHS and Ellie Flock of UMS were accepted into the 2009-2010 Class of Youth Leadership Mobile. The following students from McGill also received awards: Carolyn Backes, The James J. Gonzales Performing Arts Music Award for Artistic Excellence and Outstanding Achievement in Choral and Theatrical Performance and Will Clayton Demeranville Leadership Award; Andres Calle, University of Alabama Physics Contest Award; Richard Drey, Will Clayton Demeranville Leadership Award; and Cierra Glaude, George Eastman Young Leaders Award; and Autumn Sharrow, incoming freshman, Cameron Callahan Memorial Scholarship;

Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Cunningham Award: Congratulations to Rachael Dolan and Christopher Smillie, St. Mary 8th Graders who were the recipients of the 2009 Award presented by St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus for Outstanding Scholarship, Character, and Service. KOC Grand Knight, Joe Kulakowski presented this year’s award at the 8th Grade Completion Mass.

St. Mary Alumni Seniors Awards & Scholarships total $750,000
Congratulations to St. Mary alumni, now high school grads, who earned scholarships and senior awards: McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Seniors include: Stevie Dolan, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Intern/McT Ideal Graduate for scholastic achievement, character, service, loyalty and leadership/Birmingham Southern Foundations Award/University of Alabama Hunstville Athletic Grant/University of South Alabama Bay Area Freshman Scholarship/University of West Alabama Trustees Academic Scholarship; Erin Fibbe, Troy University Excellence in Leadership Scholarship; Jereme Jones, University of South Alabama Athletic Grant; Denielle Jones, USA Bay Area Freshman Scholarship; Brett Machen, Don Kelly Founders Award/U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete Award/University of Alabama Air Force ROTC Scholarship ; Matthew Marler, Reinhardt College Achievement Award/Spring Hill College Gautrelet Partners Award; Elizabeth O’Gorman, Rotary Club of Mobile Scholarship/ Auburn University Presidential Scholarship/ Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute Scholarship; Bridget Pardue, McGill-Toolen Most Intellectual Award/National Merit Commended Scholar/Auburn University Presidential Scholarship,College of Math Scholarship, and Achievement Scholarship; and Katie Patterson, Senior Student Ambassador Service Award/ Academic Letter/ University of South Alabama Presidential Scholarship/ University of Montevallo Scholars Award/ Spring Hill College Ignational Leader Partner Scholarship/ Azalea Trail Pacesetter Scholarship/ and Military All Spouses Club First Command Scholarship. Murphy High ISB grad, Corey Ankerson, 4.0 honors, receiving University of Southern Mississippi Regional Scholarship. UMS Graduates: Anna Flock, Cum Laude/AP Scholar/ Alumni Spirit Award/ Laura Hancock Aquatic Award/ All-County Swimmer/ AP English Award/ Vivian W. Rainer Award for Excellence/ Red Ribbon Leadership Scholarship Winner/ Georgia M. Wilkins Scholar/ and Sewanee Award for Excellence in Writing; and Michael J. Turner, Jr., Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year/Varsity Football and Basketball Letter/Troy University Excellence in Leadership Scholarship/Boys and Girls Club Scholarships.

St. Mary Honors Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Business Partner
St. Mary Catholic School kicked off Catholic Schools Week with its annual Alumni Mass and Reception on January 25th, 2009.. During the Mass, awards were given for Outstanding Alumni and Business Partner for 2008. The recipient for this year’s Outstanding Business Partner was UBS Financial Services, Inc. for their sponsorship of St. Mary’s first ever Student Art Show and Sale held in November and their promotion of the school’s art program. Jim Lenaghan, Executive Director for UBS accepted the award.
The Outstanding Catholic School Alumnus Award was given to Michael Mastro, a graduate of All Souls Catholic School in Alhambra, California. Through Mastro’s digital artistry and graphic design, he has volunteered with St. Mary Parish over the past 10 years with various projects including annual reports, photography and advertising.
St. Mary Catholic School’s Distinguished Graduate for 2008 was awarded to Mildred “Millie” Grove Dixon. Millie was honored for her volunteer work at St .Mary’s in the Legion of Mary, St. Mary’s Rosary Group, as Volunteer Coordinator and her work as St. Mary’s Casino Night Chair in 2007. All were honored for both their volunteer work at St. Mary’s and in their greater community. Following Mass, a reception was held in St. Mary’s Sisters of Mercy Building for St. Mary graduates of all class years and their families.

Pictured: Left to right: Jim Lenaghan of UBS Financial Services, Inc., St. Mary’s Outstanding Business Partner for 2008; Mildred “Millie” Grove Dixon, St. Mary Catholic School Distinguished Graduate for 2008; and Michael Mastro, Outstanding Catholic School Graduate for 2008.

Leadership 2009-2010

Welcome newly elected Parish Council members who were installed in May: Ben Heinz and David Pryor. They join current members: Chairman, Hunter Compton; vice-chair, Christa Kuppersmith, secretary, Ellen Reilly; Millie Dixon, Jim Druhan, David Gill, Teresa Gill, Alice Lang, Katherine Phillips, Dina Repoll, Brad Jensen, Barbara Sims: and ex-officio members, Pastor Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Cunningham, president; Principal Debbie Ollis; Director of Development Marcelle Naman; Parish Office Administrator Sandi Clark; Associate Pastor Rev. Tony Kadavil, and deacons, Rev. Mr. Ernest Johnson and Rev. Mr. William Holcombe Pryor. St. Mary Catholic School Board Members for 2009-2010 include: president, Gordon Armstrong; vice president, Ben Cummings; secretary, Gina Finnegan; Kellie Bailey, Dina Blankenship, Jaadaa Holcombe, Zeke Snetsinger, Desi Tobias, John Zimlich and St. Mary Principal Debbie Ollis.

2009-2010 Parish Council Members pictured left to right are: front row: Marcelle Naman, Kristen Snetsinger, Barbara Sims, Katherine Phillips, Father Peter Cunningham; David Pryor, Sandi Clark, and Victor
Henken (Finance). Back row: Ellen Reilly, Brad Jensen, Christa Kuppersmith, Dina Repoll, Deacon Ernest Johnson, Ben Heinz, Hunter Compton, Mille Dixon, Teresa Gill, Jim Druhan, and David Gill.

Volunteer Corner

Notes from Millie Dixon, Volunteer Coordinator for St. Mary Parish
•St. Mary volunteers who signed up to share their talents, but have not been contacted, please call the Development Office at 432-9678, ext. 2.
•Did not have a chance to sign up in the census to volunteer? Please see volunteer opportunities in St. Mary’s Directory or log on to www.stmarymobile.org for descriptions of the committees of the parish.
•Calling all Ladies: St. Mary Parish is beginning a Women’s Social Club where adult women of all ages gather monthly to plan social and service projects within the parish. Call 432-8678, ext. 2 to inquire.

Get it in the News!

Have news to share? Upcoming events, alumni updates? The Onlooker is published three times a year, with Fall/Winter, Spring, and Summer issues. St. Mary’s Sunday bulletin is published weekly. The Development Office publishes the Onlooker and the Parish Office, the weekly bulletin. For submissions to both publications, please email mrnaman@stmarymobile.org. Photos are welcome for the Onlooker as well and may be emailed in a jpeg format. Publications are also posted on www.stmarymobile.org!

Religious Instruction

RCIA: Adult Religious Education for those interesting in becoming Catholic and for Catholics interested in deepening their faith, each Thursday at 7 P.M. in the Sisters of Mercy Building.

CCD: Youth religious education each Sunday following the 9 A.M. Mass for students in second grade through high school. This program is required for Catholics attending non-Catholic Schools and meets each week in St. Mary’s Lower School Building. Call the church office at 432-8678 for information.

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