|
|
Alumni
Soundings
Newsletter
May 30, 2025
| | | | Message from Henry Chandler, Alumni Coordinator | | |
The 2024-2025 school year ended with the last day of final exams for underclassmen on Thursday, May 29. The halls of the school building will now be considerably quieter until mid-August when Saint Joe kicks off its 73rd school year. The senior class of 2025 enjoyed a whirlwind month of May with many events including Senior Dinner, Prom, Senior Mass and breakfast, and Senior Tailgate. Tonight the Class of 2025 will celebrate their Baccalaureate Mass at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Pius X Church. Commencement for the class will take place on Sunday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion, the Joyce Center, on the University of Notre Dame campus. The Alumni Office wishes our graduates happiness, success and God's blessings as they venture beyond the halls of Saint Joe. Please keep them in your prayers.
Elsewhere in this issue of Alumni Soundings you will find information regarding the next Alumni Memorial Mass on Thursday, June 5th. Alumni of Saint Joseph High School and its predecessor schools who have passed away since the last Mass in November will be remembered. Please note the details regarding the Mass and plan to join us. Saint Joseph High School Chaplain Father Augustine Onuoha will be the celebrant.
Highlighting alumni activities this summer are a host of class reunions stretching from the Class of 1975 to the Class of 2015. Check the reunions section of the Saint Joe website and this newsletter for more information.
As the students, faculty and staff enjoy a summer break to relax and rejuvenate, I hope that you can do the same. Your intentions are remembered in each Saint Joe Prayer Corner. Please keep the Saint Joe community in your prayers as well.
Wishing you God's continued blessings through the intercession of our patron, Saint Joseph.
| | |
Henry Chandler, '67
Alumni Coordinator
| | Alumni Faculty/Staff Spotlight | | |
We are excited to feature Mike McCarthy, '08, in this issue of Alumni Soundings.
Saint Joe alum Mike McCarthy ’90, attended Tarkington Elementary and St. Anthony de Padua before attending Saint Joe. After graduating from Saint Joe, Mike earned dual degrees in History and Secondary Education from the University of Notre Dame. He began his teaching career at Clay High School, where he spent four years teaching Special Education and Social Studies. In 2006, Mike returned to Saint Joe, drawn by the opportunity to both teach and coach in a high-expectations environment—and by a deep sense of loyalty to his alma mater. Since then, he has taught a variety of courses including World History Honors, U.S. History, and his longtime favorite, Geography and History of the World. This fall, he will take on AP World History: Modern for the first time. Beyond the classroom, Mike serves as the Head Coach for both the boys and girls cross country and track & field teams and chairs the Social Studies Department. As a student, he cherished his senior year and the strong sense of community forged through sports, friendships, and the influence of outstanding teachers. Now as a faculty member, he values the supportive, close-knit environment of Saint Joe and the diverse, motivated student body. His advice to the Class of 2025? “Be consistent and prioritize sleep.”
| | Saint Joe Celebrates Class of 2017 Alumni's Ordination to the Priesthood | | |
Saint Joseph High School is proud to celebrate the ordination to the priesthood of 2017 graduates Deacons Nicholas Monnin and Andrew Barnes. The ordination will take place on Saturday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Matthew Cathedral in South Bend with Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, presiding. Members of the Class of 2017 are cordially and especially invited to attend this sacred event in support and celebration of their classmates.
Deacon Nick will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Matthew Cathedral and Deacon Andy will preside over his first Mass, also on Sunday, June 8, at 12 Noon at Saint Pius X in Granger. All are invited to attend.
| | Saint Joe Alumni Making a Mark on the World—and the Vatican | | |
Deacon Nicholas Monnin, ’17, had the profound honor of chanting the Gospel from the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV.
Meanwhile, Frank Lacopo, '12, has been making waves with his deep expertise in Church history, particularly around the papacy and the Papal States. Frank has offered insight and context to viewers around the world through numerous media appearances—about half a dozen news interviews, including several with ABC57 in South Bend. In many of them, Frank made sure to highlight his roots, giving a heartfelt shoutout to Saint Joe. Frank finished his Ph.D. last May and is now an Assistant Professor of History at Southeast Missouri State University.
In addition, Saint Joe grad, Wendell Walsh, '73, spent two years in the St. Augustine Seminary High School with the future Pope Leo XIV.
Together, Deacon Monnin, Frank, and Wendell are powerful examples of how Saint Joe alumni are living out their faith, intellect, and purpose—whether on the steps of the Vatican or in front of the camera—shining a global light on our small but proud community in South Bend.
| | Brothers of Holy Cross Jubilarians | | |
Saint Joseph High School was originally staffed by the Brothers of Holy Cross in the Boys Department. We are proud to honor and celebrate the jubilarians for 2025 who served at the school site at 1441 N. Michigan Street. They are 70 year Jubilarian Brother Daniel Kane, C.S.C. who served at Saint Joe from 1958-1970, 60 Year Jubilarian Brother Lewis Brazil. C.S.C. who served at the school from 1966-1967, and 60 year Jubilarian Brother Philip Smith. C.S.C. who served the 1982-1983 school year. Thank you for your contributions to our school and for your efforts to promote the spiritual and academic success of our students.
| | |
The next Alumni Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 5 at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Saint Joseph at the school. Saint Joe chaplain Father Augustine Onuoha will be the celebrant. Alumni who have passed away since the November Mass will be remembered as well as recently deceased faculty and staff. If you are planning to attend, please park in the Notre Dame Avenue lot and enter Door A. An elevator is available for transport to the lower level Chapel of Saint Joseph. Please contact Alumni Coordinator Henry Chandler with any questions at hchandler@saintjoehigh.com or by phone at 574-233-6137, ext. 547.
| | Attention Saint Joe Alumni | | The Saint Joseph High School Alumni Office is excited to announce a new project that will offer alumni the opportunity to share some of their favorite memories of their high school days. In partnership with PCI, Publishing Concepts LP, Saint Joe is embarking on the compilation of an oral history of the school in the words of alumni. This year-long project will launch on September 5, 2025 and will consist of contacts by PCI with alumni to update their contact information and to share stories and memories of their Saint Joe experience. PCI was our publishing partner for the latest Alumni Directory in 2021 and is a trusted name in the publishing industry. Look for more details regarding this project in future editions of Alumni Soundings and in the next Focus magazine issue. Please contact Alumni Coordinator Henry Chandler at hchandler@saintjoehigh.com or 574-233-6137, ext. 547 if you have any questions. | | It has been brought to the attention of the Alumni Office that there has been a solicitation to purchase class merchandise to offset the costs of a Class of '68 reunion. Please be aware that the Alumni Office is unaware of any upcoming reunion for your class. We recommend that you not respond to any such solicitation. | | Saint Joe Grad Artist Lends His Talent to Local Mural | | A new mural was unveiled on May 9 at the Foundry Field baseball park at High and Wenger Streets in South Bend. The eight by thirty foot artwork is the creation of Saint Joe grad Freddy Rodriguez, '08, and highlights the story of the local Latino community along with its contributions to local baseball and softball. The mural begins with a sunrise then features migrant farmworkers in the field, four Latino ballplayers including former major leaguer Dickie Thon, and a series of sunset segments includingFreddy's father Chico Rodriguez, a former South Bend Fire Captain and local restaurant owner. | | Saint Joe Alumni Named PHM Superintendent | | Heather Trant Short, '90, has been named the Superintendent of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Heather has spent her entire education career in the PHM district, the second largest district in Saint Joseph County by student population. She had served as Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for the corporation prior to her new position and will begin her term as Superintendent on July 1. | |
Amy Kindig, ’86, Named Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Amy Kindig, '86, who was recently named the Elementary District Teacher of the Year! After earning her bachelor’s degree in Education from St. Mary’s College in 1990 and a master’s from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2005, Amy has dedicated the past 35 years to teaching. She currently serves as a Title I PreK teacher at Hawthorne Early Learning Center in Elkhart Community Schools. We’re proud to celebrate her incredible dedication to education and this well-deserved recognition!
| | | Save the Date: Saint Joe Trivia Night | | Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25 — Saint Joe's Trivia Night is officially happening! Gather your team, bring your brainpower, and get ready for a fun night of friendly competition. More details to come! | | |
Upcoming Reunions
Classmates interested in organizing a class reunion may contact the Alumni Office at (574) 233-6137, ext. 547, or email Alumni Coordinator Henry Chandler at hchandler@saintjoehigh.com to get started.
Class of 1975
50 Year Reunion – August 8, 2025
Contact Dick Sullivan at sull37@comcast.net for more information.
Class of 1985
40 Year Reunion – August 1-3, 2025
Contact Maria Owsley Harding at mkharding317@gmail.com for more information.
Class of 1995
30 Year Reunion – July 25, 2025
Contact Nate Rumely at rumshakers@gmail.com for more information.
Class of 2000
25 Year Reunion – August 1, 2025
Contact Travis Bruntz at mavs1315@gmail.com for more information.
Class of 2015
10 Year Reunion – September 19-21, 2025
Contact saintjoehighclassof2015@gmail.com for more information.
| | Happenings Around Saint Joe | | We recently celebrated our Senior Mass and Breakfast, a special time to gather, reflect, and share memories as graduation approaches. Congratulations to the Class of 2025, we’re incredibly proud of all you’ve accomplished! This spirited group led the way all year and claimed victory in the first-ever Battle of the Classes, earning a Dress Down Day and a donut breakfast for their enthusiasm and school spirit. We wrapped up the seniors’ last day of school with a tailgate, where they laughed, made lasting memories, and enjoyed their final moments together as Saint Joe students. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this amazing class! | | |
Saint Joseph High School
Athletics Update
| | Girls Lacrosse Wins Semi-State! | | Girls Lacrosse secured the Semi-State Championship with a 13-8 win over Castle! The team is now headed to the State Final this Saturday, 5/31 at 4:00 p.m. at Beaver’s Turf Field in Noblesville. | | If you or an alumnus you know is not receiving communications from Saint Joseph High School — we can fix that! We want to make sure everyone receives this monthly newsletter, Focus magazine, and any other news. Please contact Alumni Coordinator Henry Chandler to receive communications. | | | | |
