RENEWING OUR SACRED SPACE

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MARY OF GOSTYN SCHOOL

Reflections

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER,
2002
RENEWING OUR SACRED SPACE

www.stmarygostyn.org
For the past seven months, cement trucks and
minivans, hard hats and backpacks, pipe fitters
and students have peacefully coexisted at St.
Mary of Gostyn. With all the enhancements
occurring at the church, many improvements have
also taken place at the school. Aside from the
usual upkeep of new paint, carpet and windows, an
innovative web site was developed describing all
that St. Marys has to offer. The school and the
church are featured comprehensivelyour next
improvement will be to add an alumni section..
We hope that this will help you stay in better
touch with us and each other. Visit it today at
www.stmarygostyn.org.
Father Toms Message
St. Mary of Gostyn parish and school are at an
exciting time in their history. On December 14,
2002, we will dedicate our newly renovated church
building. After much discussion, planning and
fundraising, the reality of a renewed space is
taking place. We are excited about having an
updated church facility. This is the first major
renovation that has occurred since the building
opened in 1963.
Fr. Thomas Paul
Construction work began on April 15. Since that
day, all daily and Sunday masses have been held
in the gym. Celebrating liturgy in a temporary
space has turned out to be a good thing for our
community. A new sense of what it means to be
church has evolved. Without a building, people
are recognizing, now, more than ever, that they
are the living church, the Body of Christ. Our
theme for this year is Renewing the Sacred Space
Within. Renewing the church building has been a
challenge. We faced with the daily opportunity
of trying to make ourselves more like Christ. A
beautiful church is not just the way the building
looks. A beautiful church is a community of
loving and caring people who are trying to build
the kingdom here on earth. Id like to especially
invite all of our alumni to pay us a visit when
you are in the area. Come and help us celebrate
a renewed building by attending mass with us on
or after December 15. Join with us as we
continue to also renew the sacred space within
ourselves by growing closer to Christ each day.
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OLUME
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Spotlight on
The Principals Corner
Miss Jamrozek
For 22 years Lucy Jamrozek has taught second
grade students at St. Mary of Gostyn. By
teaching second grade, she has the additional
By Dolores Mielzynski
This year the school embraced the Parish theme of
Renewing the Sacred Space Within. However as
Catholic educators, we had to pause to reflect
how we could make this theme meaningful to our
students. How can a 6-year old or a 12-year old
begin to appreciate the depth of this
challenge?   We are approaching the theme on two
levels. First, we are sharing with the students
the anticipation of a newly remodeled worship
space. They, like all of us, are excited that
December 14, when the Church will be dedicated,
is drawing near. Many of the students signed
their names to the old floor during the weekend
of October 12-13 and had the opportunity to see
the inside of the church for the first time since
April 15.   Secondly, we decided to mark our
growth as a People of God with activities that
relate to each months focus. We are hoping that
the students behavior evidences their
understanding of Renewing the Sacred Space
Within as we highlight the following
themes   September----------------------Friendshi
pOctober-------------------------Respect
LifeNovember----------------------Give
ThanksDecember----------------------Manners
MatterJanuary-------------------------Multicultur
al AwarenessFebruary-----------------------Lov
e One Another March---------------------------Incl
usionApril----------------------------Respect
the Earth OthersMay--------------------------
---Make a Difference   May God bless us all as we
grow in faith this year and every year of our
lives.
responsibility of preparing thirty-five plus 7
year-olds every year for the sacraments of
Reconciliation and First Holy Communiona role
that brings her great joy. She maintains her
enthusiasm after all these years by seeing the
faces of the children, still eager and excited to
learn new things. Miss Jamrozeks goal as a
second grade teacher has always been to offer a
place of learning, discipline, responsibility,
fun and laughter. Any time she hears a student
say, That was fun! --she knows her goal has
been accomplished. Other than the happy memories
and sense of accomplishment that each First Holy
Communion Day brings, Lucy treasures being
present at each 8th grade graduation ceremony.
As each graduates name is called, all the
memories of second grade come flooding back. Our
thanks and appreciation go to Miss Jamrozek for
her years of dedication to, and love for, 22
years of St. Marys students. Any alumni who
would like to drop her a line to say hello can do
so on the schools web site.
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Alumni Reunite 20 years later
The St. Mary of Gostyn Class of 1982 started
their reunion the way they started many a Friday
morning 20 years earlierwith a Mass directed by
Fr. Stan. From there the group headed to
Founders Hill restaurant in Downers Grove for an
evening of reminiscing and reflection. Fond
memories included Izod shirts and Calvin Klein
jeans roller skating parties and Park Days Rick
Springfield and Barry Manilow as well as Gordon
Olp doing a mean Benny Hill impersonation. Mrs.
Best Teacher Ever Buckie also joined the class
for the
festivities. Katie Burke Andersen chaired the
successful event with help from a team of 82
alums including Linda Baumann, Mike Wall, Brendan
Cooney, Steve
Gordon Olp and Dave Sutton
Vogrin, Rob Arend, Mary (McMahon) Smidl, and Judy
(Becker) Altaner. Katie summed up the evening by
saying, I always felt I went to grade school
with really nice kids, and they all turned out to
be really nice adults. If any SMG 1982 alums
couldnt make the reunion but would like to get
in touch with old friends -- or, if these fun
memories inspire you to get your class back
together, well try to put you in touch with any
fellow alumni we have updated information on.
Contact the school office or this newsletter at
soxfans6_at_aol.com.
Katie (Burke) Andersen, Wendy (Andrews) Murphy
and Linda Baumann
Cheryl (Plonka) Varys and Noreen (Gibbons) Millins
Giving thanksGiving back
St. Mary of Gostyn School must do something
right. Many of our alumni have children, even
grandchildren, at our school. This is a tribute
to the facility, the curriculum, the education,
but, most of all, to the teachers and staff.
Many of our staff today have taught two
generations of students from the same family.
Families continue to make the financial sacrifice
to commit to Catholic education. A 17 tuition
increase was needed just to balance the budgeta
budget that is only balanced when our teachers
are paid 25-30 less than their public school
counterparts. Within our own diocese, more and
more schools are creating competitive variable
compensation programs to supplement teacher
salaries. St. Marys needs to keep pace to
continue the tradition of staffing top quality
teachers. The school has started a fund that
will pay out variable compensation to teachers,
based on tenure. School families just kicked it
off by contributing nearly 14,000 through a gift
wrap drive. Were appealing to our alumni to
help todays parents reward our teachers the way
they deserve. There may be teachers you once had
who are still teaching and will benefit directly.
Your classmates have children and grandchildren
who now attend St. Marys. Your gift will not
just help todays teachers, but todays children
as well. Your checks (made out to St. Mary of
Gostyn) will be deposited in a special fund and
distributed appropriately. Send it to Teachers
Fund c/o St. Marys, 440 Prairie Avenue, Downers
Grove, IL 60515. Thank you for caring about the
past and planning for the future.
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Return Address St. Mary of Gostyn School 440
Prairie Avenue Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
February 22, 2003 St. Mary of Gostyn School 7th
Annual Endowment Dinner Dance Drury Lane,
Oakbrook Terrace Come try your luck at St.
Marys annual party! The cost is only 60 per
person and includes Elvis Presley, cocktails,
dinner, a live and silent auction and a great
time with friends! Call old classmates and get a
table! Call Michele King for tickets or ways
that you can help 630-434-9011.
News and notes
Kate Massura, Class of 1994, writes to tell us
that shes engaged to be married next May. Shes
working as a Registered Nurse at University of
Chicago Childrens Hospital. The Class of 94
had so much fun at their 15 year reunion, that
they will plan a 20 year as well. Plus, the
Fariello family has checked in. Dave, 72, is
returning to the Chicago area from St. Louis.
Linda, 80, is now Linda Henderson and Nancy,
81, is Nancy Herman. They both live in the area
and would like to reconnect with old friends.
Linda remembers a time capsule that her class
buried. Were trying to dig up information on
itanyone from 1980 remember what happened to it?
If you have questions, input, or updates, please
send to soxfans6_at_aol.com, or St. Marys, 440
Prairie, Downers Grove, IL 60515