Saint Patrick High School in Chicago, IL kicked off its 150th Anniversary celebration with the Mass of the Archangels September 29th. More than 1,100 members of the school community and friends participated in the Mass presided by His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, OMI.
The liturgy was highlighted by the blessing of a six-foot basswood crucifix commissioned by the school and underwritten by the Ettore Giovannetti family. It will be on permanent display in the Giovannetti Sports Centre.
The Mass is the first of several events that will lead up to the 150th Gala on June 18, 2011. The next event will be the all-inclusive reunion on October 16. A commemorative anniversary book will be released in October about the school’s history entitled A Tradition of Brotherhood: 150 Years at Saint Patrick High School written by Danny Smith ’98.
To honor the anniversary, Charles Brown, a relative of many Saint Patrick graduates, donated two historic medallions to the school archives in recognition of the education the school provided generations of his family. One medal was awarded to Brown’s father, Frank J. Brown, for loyalty in 1923-1924. The other is the graduation medal Brown’s great uncle, William P. Wilson, received in 1887. Wilson’s brother, Charles, became Brother Cornelius Paul and returned to the academy to serve as Director from 1921-1924.
(l-r) Bro. Michael Flaherty, Bro. Charles Kelly, Bro. David Galinski, His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, OMI, St. Pat’s President Bro. Konrad Diebold,
Bro. Kevin Fitzgerald, Bro. Martin Spellman
More information on St. Patrick High School’s 150th anniversary celebration.