Tower Topics ~ Summer 2001

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Alumnitems

Deaths
Clarence J. Carter (H37-41) died May 12 in Mayhill, N.M.

Mrs. Sheila Gallop, mother of Fr. Aquinas Nichols, OSB (C70-75), died April 16, in Des Moines, Iowa.

John Leonard Farrell, father of Joshua (Dennis) Farrell (C74-78), died April 24 in North Platte, Neb.

Bruce Heininger (C59-63; T63-67) died May 3 in Overland Park, Kan.

Michael Kokoruda, father of Michael R. Kokoruda (C94-98), died recently in Kansas City, Kan.

Barbara Mastrella, mother of Joel Mastrella (C93-94) & Jason Mastrella (C94-96), died Nov. 28, 2000, in Rochester, N.Y.

Lucille Matt, mother of Fr. Joseph Matt (C66-70), died April 23.

Maxine Vaske, mother of seminarian Philip Vaske (C99-01), died on Palm Sunday, April 8, in Brookings, S.D.

Msgr. Alfred J. Wasinger (H33-36), died May 7 in Salina, Kan. Msgr. Wasinger was honored with the James Power Award in 1990.

Marriage
Lt. Robert Schabron (C92-96) and Christine Porter were married December 2000 in Laramie, Wyo. He has now served in the Air Force for four and a half years. They will soon be moving to an air base in Alaska.

Varia
Joe Cavallaro (C90-91) is the youth minister at the Church of the Magdalen in Wichita, Kan. He and his wife Amy were married in 1997.

Fr. Richard Cleary, OSB (C47-52; T52-55), monk of Conception Abbey and associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament parish, Wichita, Kan., will lead a pilgrimage to cities and shrines in England and Scotland this summer.

Edwin P. Day (C89-91), organist and music director at St. Bernard, Tulsa, Okla., presented an organ recital at Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa, on May 15.

Bro. William Dokulil, OSB (C94), professed simple vows at Mt. Michael Abbey, Elkhorn, Neb., on Jan. 7, 2001.

Fr. Roger Mollison (C57-58), priest of the Archdiocese of Denver, was honored by the Hands of Hope Family Resource Center in Englewood, Colo., by being named the first recipient of the center’s Legacy of Hope Award.

Harold D. Renshaw, MSSW (C58-62), a licensed social worker and therapist, has published a book titled Taming Your Inner Jackass. The book deals with the handling of human emotions.

Steven E. Rogers (C76-78) practices law in Dallas, Texas. He and his wife have a son and are active in their parish. He is board certified in civil trial law and family law. He is a pilot and also enjoys sailing and scuba diving.

Fr. Raymond Rodriguez (C86-90), pastor of Holy Rosary, Lander, Wyo., has been appointed a priest consultor to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry.

Assignments
Des Moines
Fr. Benedict Kenkel (C45-49) is retiring. Most recently served as pastor at St. Mary parish, Guthrie Center, and St. Cecelia, Panora.

Fr. Samuel Palmer (C49-53) is retiring. Most recently served as parochial vicar at St. Piux X, Urbandale.

Msgr. Frank Chiodo (C68-72), administrator, St. Thomas More, Omaha, Neb.

Fr. Richard Gubbels (C57-61), parochial vicar, St. Theresa, Des Moines.

Fr. James Laurenzo (C60-63), pastor, St. Elizabeth Seton, Carlisle.

Fr. Albert Sherbo (C60-64), pastor, St. John, Adel.

Grand Island
Fr. Hubert Spanel (C51-55; T55-59) is retiring. Most recently served as pastor at St. Bridget parish, Hemingford, and Sacred Heart, Shelton.

Fr. Todd K. Philipsen (C80-81), pastor of St. Anselm-St. Paul in Anselmo-Merna. Continues as pastor of St. Joseph’s, Broken Bow; Sacred Heart, Ansley; St. Thomas, Mason City.

Oklahoma City
Fr. Hoa Nguyen (C86-90), pastor, Sacred Heart, Mangum, and SS. Peter & Paul, Hobart. Additional assignment: adjutant judicial vicar for the archdiocesan tribunal.

Fr. Thomas O’Toole (T66-69), pastor, St. Mary, Ardmore; St. Cecilia, Healdton; Good Shepherd, Marietta.

Fr. Kevin J. Ratterman (C85-89) chaplain, Mt. St. Mary High School, St. Anthony Hospital and Vencor Hospital. Residence at the Cathedral of Our Lady in Oklahoma City.

Omaha
Fr. Thomas J. Adams (H54-56; C56-60; T60-64), pastor Our Lady of Lourdes and Adalbert, Omaha.

Fr. Lucian S. Astuto (H45-49; C49-53; T53-57) is retiring. Most recently served as pastor of St. Patrick, Omaha.

Fr. Thomas Greisen (C76-78), Director of Office for Lay Ministry Formation, residence at St. Patrick, Elkhorn.

Fr. Michael Keating (C89-93), associate pastor, Mary Our Queen, Omaha.

Fr. Emmett F. Meyer (H52-56; C56-60), pastor, St. John the Evangelist, Valley.

Fr. Ralph O’Donnell (C89-93), associate pastor, St. Vincent de Paul, Omaha.

Fr. Timothy Podraza (C89-93), associate pastor, St. Mary, Bellevue.

Fr. Frank Partusch (C66-68), pastor SS. Peter & Paul, Omaha.

Fr. John Vernon (C46-48) is retiring. Most recently served as pastor of St. Thomas More, Omaha.

Fr. William S. Whalen (C48-52; T52-56), is retiring. Most recently served as pastor of St. Augustine, Schuyler.

Ordinations
Abbot Roger W. Gries, OSB, abbot of St. Andrew Svorad Abbey in Cleveland, Ohio, was appointed auxiliary bishop of Cleveland. His ordination took place June 7 at St. John Cathedral in Cleveland. Bishop-elect Gries attended the summer pastoral institutes here in 1962 and 1963.

Ordinations: Transitional Diaconate
John Jirak (C96-98), Diocese of Wichita, April 10, 2001.

Nicholas Voelker (C95-98) Diocese of Wichita, April 10, 2001.

James M. Smith (C92-95) Diocese of Jefferson City, April 21, 2001.

Paolo Dulcamara (C96-98) Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, May 12, 2001.

Ordinations: Priesthood
Carlos Alvarez (C94-96), Diocese of Pueblo, June 1.

Stuart Crevcoure (C95-96), Diocese of Tulsa , May 25; appointed associate pastor Church of the Magdalene; assistant chaplain St. Philip Neri Newman Center; and chaplain at Bishop Kelly High School.

James Keiter (C96-97), Archdiocese of Omaha, June 2; appointed assistant pastor, Sacred Heart parish, Norfolk, Neb.

Jarrod Lies (C93-97), Diocese of Wichita, May 27.

John A. Orr (C96-97), Diocese of Knoxville, June 16.

Vincent Parsons (C93-97), Diocese of Grand Island, May 25; appointed associate pastor Holy Rosary parish, Alliance, Neb.

Gary Pennings (C95-97), Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, June 2.

Matthew Pozen (C95-97), Diocese of Joliet, June 2.

Derek Scott (C93-96), Diocese of Pueblo, June 1.

Brent Shelton (C94-96), Diocese of Knoxville, June 16

M. Jeffrey Stephan (C93-95), Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, May 26.

Br. John Vu Cao, CMC (C94), Congregation of the Mother Co-redemptrix, June 2.

Daniel Richard Andrews, ordained for the Archdiocese of Omaha June 2. He is the son of alumnus Richard (Dick) Andrews (C57-59) and his wife Shirley. Richard was a faithful alumnus and board member who died in 1995.

Oblation
Final Oblations:
Karen Baiers, Conception, Mo.
Joseph Curran, Mount Vernon, Iowa
Nolan Schmit, Lincoln, Neb.
Mary Ann McGary, Clyde, Mo.
Carole Sharpsteen, Wellington, Kan.

Oblate Novices:
Ann Cole, Omaha, Neb.
Rev. Timothy Keel, Kansas City, Mo.
Rev. Craig Babb, Shawnee, Kan.
Marilyn Mutti, Pella, Iowa
Christopher and Michele Cuoco, Grand Junction, Colo.

Special Note:
The annual Alumni Reunion is scheduled for Oct. 4-5, 2001. (See images of the 2000 Alumni Reunion on our website)

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