Welcome to Christendom's Alumni E-Zine. If you have information that you would like to share with your fellow alumni, send it to Tom McFadden at tmcfadden@christendom.edu.

The Grapevine Online will be uploaded, depending on the amount of information sent to the editor, every month. It will have a couple of sections (when information is available), namely, Class Notes (your basic information on alumni babies, weddings, jobs, etc.), Calendar of Events, and Links to various recent stories about Christendom College and/or the Alumni of Christendom.

Of course, all comments, suggestions, and information should be sent to tmcfadden@christendom.edu.

 

May 2003 edition of The Grapevine Online

Class Notes / Calendar of Events / Links to Stories / Prior issues /Old Editions of The Grapevine Print Edition

Class notes

Adam and Becky (Walz) Irving are proud to announce the birth of Bernadette Marie. She is joined by her two sisters, Julia, age 7, Georgine, age 2 1/2 and her two brothers, Joseph, age 5 1/2 and Thomas age 4. She was born April 11, 2003.

Dan ('92) and Maryan Vander Woude had their second son, Robert Thomas Joseph Vander Woude, on Wednesday, April 30, 2003. Firstborn, John Paul, gives him lots of "lovin'." Robert's baptism is on Saturday, May 10th. (Alumni Godparents are Nancy Lee ('96) --Soon to be Mrs. Nancy Bauer-- and Fr. Thomas Vander Woude ('88)!)

Ronan David O'Reilly, son of Frank and Angelique (Syversen) O'Reilly (both class of '83), was born Holy Saturday, April 19th. He joins his five brothers and five sisters (whose maternal instincts quickly overcame any discomfort of being outnumbered). Additionally, the oldest of the gang, Clare, who turned eighteen May 7th, will be attending Christendom this Fall.

After 25 years of education, Neill Mollard '97 is finally done. On May 17th, he will graduate from Creighton University with his doctorate in medicine (becoming the first Christendom Graduate to do so). One goes in (J.P. Jansen), one comes out! Next year, he'll stay in Omaha for an intern year in Family Practice at the University of Nebraska. Following that, he will head back home to California, where he'll finish up a residency in Anesthesiology at the Univ. of Calif. at Davis.

Gerard Saguto ('98) will be ordained to the diaconate for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter on June 7 in Lincoln, NE by Bishop Bruskewitz.

Kathleen (Kelly) Sternfels got married November 30, 2002 to Felix J. Sternfels (University of Dallas graduate) during a Solemn High Latin Mass at St. Mary's Church in Washington, DC. They are now living in Donaldsonville, LA. and are expecting their first baby on September 2, 2003.

Andrew and Clare (Curley) Cole had a new baby, Miriam Rose, on April 23rd. Born at 10:56pm, Miriam was 7 lbs 3 oz. Everyone is fine and healthy.

Julie (Asam) Monette and her husband Stephen are expecting a baby boy in September as well!

U.S. Marine John O'Brien ('99-??) is still in Iraq. His wife Maria (Gaetano) O'Brien ('02) is still pregnant, due in June. The suspense continues: will John be home for the birth of his first child? Tune in next month for the season finale...

Holy Cross Academy (co-founded by Christendom alumnus Dan Miller) is looking for Christendom graduates to "test-drive" a teaching career in a truly Catholic environment. The six-year-old junior-senior high school is looking to fill temporary part-time positions from mid-May through the end of the school year (mid-June). Duties may include tutoring, conducting review classes, proctoring tests, monitoring study periods and generally assisting teachers. If you are considering a career in teaching don’t pass up this unique opportunity to test the waters. This may lead to a permanent position. Interested? Send email to danmiller@holycrossacademy.com or visit www.holycrossacademy.com for more info.

John Janaro ('85) has just published a new book, THE CREATED PERSON AND THE MYSTERY OF GOD (Bloomington, IN: 1stBooks, 2003), 256 pp. Subtitled "The Significance of Religion in Human Life," the book addresses important issues in the philosophy of religion and Catholic apologetics. It presents and analyzes classical and contemporary arguments for the existence of God, the mystery of creation, the necessity for human happiness of a vital relationship with God, and the corresponding violence of secularist culture against the human person. The book also explores the foundations of Catholic apologetics by presenting the glorious, compelling, and inescapable claim of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, the Divine answer to man's search for meaning and purpose in life. Right now you can order the book at 15% off the retail price by ordering directly from the publisher's website ($11.50 + shipping). Order from http://www.1stBooks.com/bookview/14624. John Janaro is Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Theology at Christendom College.

Deacon Tom Longua, FSSP, ('92) will be ordained to the priesthood on June 7th in Lincoln, Nebraska at 9:00 AM by Bishop Bruskewitz in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ (3300 Sheridan Blvd). Reception and first belssings follow at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, NE. He says that you all ("ya'll" if you still live in VA) are invited! His first Mass will be the next day at 10:00 at St. Francis Chapel (1145 South Street) in Lincoln. Brunch follows. He asks for your prayers at this time.

And here are May's Alumni Happy Birthdays........

Mr.. Matthew S. Herter 5/1
Mr. Michael J. Blackmer 5/1
Mr. Johnangelo A. Leggio 5/2
Miss Susan M. Hayles 5/3
Mrs. Caroline Colclough 5/4
Mrs. Rachel Collard 5/5
Mr. Stanley S. Swetz 5/6
Miss Maria M. Berger 5/6
Miss Rosemary D. Reninger 5/7
Mr. Adam T. Irving 5/7
Mr. Patrick G. Barry 5/7
Mrs. Agnes M. Penny 5/8
Mr. Anthony Norris 5/8
Mr. Ted J. King 5/8
Mr. Michael Curell 5/9
Mr. John F. Echaniz 5/9
Mr. Joseph P. Mitchell 5/9
Miss Mary E. Hoffman 5/11
Mrs. Heidi Zweifach 5/11
Mr. Thomas Santschi 5/12
Mrs. Carolyn M. Kuhn 5/12
Miss Mary T. McFadden 5/12
Mrs. Ann M. Verrocchio 5/13
Mr. Thomas E. Brock 5/14
Mr. Peter Belleville 5/14
Mr. John D. Delmare 5/15
Mrs. Susan E. Francis 5/15
Mrs. Ashlea Kopeck 5/17
Mrs. Mary Jean Mallory 5/17
Mrs. Mary B. Dovel 5/17
Mrs. Laura M. Clark 5/18
Miss Crista M. Palladino 5/18
Mr. Neill Mollard 5/18
Mr. Ryan M. Jones 5/18
Mr. Paul Hofbauer 5/18
Mr. Charles J. Bak 5/19
Mrs. Denise J. Woltering 5/19
Mrs. Cybele P. Harris 5/19
Mrs. Victoria D. Cervantes 5/19
Mr. Christopher S. Bukowski 5/19
Mrs. Sarah Gasper 5/21
Mr. Kevin Roche 5/21
Rev. Stephen F. McGraw 5/21
Mr. Michael Lucas 5/21
Mr. David B. Farinholt 5/22
Mrs. Danielle Rohlena 5/23
Mr. Raymond Kelly 5/23
Mrs. Angela M. Huelskamp 5/23
Mr. Thomas A. Balint 5/24
Mr. James P. Rice 5/24
Mr. Jonathan A. McDonald 5/24
Mr. Trevor M. Sullivan 5/24
Miss Margaret Kocienski 5/26
Mr. Joseph G. DeFauw 5/26
Mr. John S. Williams 5/27
Miss Andrea M. Nolan 5/27
Mrs. Jacinta I. Black 5/27
Mrs. Theresa M. Davies 5/27
Mrs. Elisabeth Hernandez 5/28
Mr. George J. McFadden 5/28
Mr. John G. Birch 5/28
Mrs. Therese Spaight 5/29
Mr. Paul Krueger 5/29
Mr. John T. Curran 5/30
Mr. William J. Doran 5/30

Calendar of events

October 10-11, 2003: Homecoming

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Press Releases and Campus News: http://www.christendom.edu/news/releases.shtml

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Stories

Dan Clark, Class of 1987, Makes News

http://www.gcn.com/22_10/tech-report/21934-1.html

Christendom to Graduate Largest Class in History

The 71 undergraduates receiving B.A. degrees on May 17 include: Matthew Akers, Stephen Akhurst, Danielle Anderson, Megan Anderson, Fadi Auro, Michael Baron, Molly Becker, Jaime Berger, Michael Blum, Dominic Bodoh, Mary Boever, Gregory Burns, Elizabeth Butina, Elena Cardenas, Matthew Coffey, Sr. Maria Corona, PCI, Amy Donahue, Kelly Drew, Susan Erwin, Theresa Fer, Daniel Fier, Theresa Ford, Fred Fraser, Meghan Gallante, Catherine Garrett, Donald Goodman, Anna Hatke, Laura Henderson, Clinton Hepler, Paul Jalsevac, Joelle Jansen, Claire Jensen, Elizabeth Kish, Ann Kugel, Jan Kuznia, Christopher Lane, Lucia Leggio, Sr. Maria Licea, PCI, Alyssa Lombardi, James Maldonado Berry, Anne Martin, Kathleen McGlynn, Brendan McGuire, Daniel McGuire, Michael McGuirk, Colleen McMahon, Amber Meza, Candice Meza, Anne Monette, Sean Murphy, Andrea Nolan, Niall O'Donnell, Kerri Polce, Caroline Pollock, Rebecca Price, Suzanne Quinson, Bethany Sargis, Patrick Scanlon, John Paul Schafer, Michael Schmitt, Gregory Settducati, Justin Smith, Melanie Smith, Leah Stephens, Mary Storck, Emily Syski, Heather Tansey, Alexandria Thornbrugh, Christianne Van Sant, Katherine Wathen, Dane Weber, Sarah Webster, and Nicholas Wingate.

Three Associate of Arts degrees will be conferred on Sarah Antonio, Megan McNeely, and Lori Omann.

Christendom College Grad attending Ave Maria Law School Helps the winning side in Scheidler v. Now case

Christopher Young [Christendom Class of 1997] may not yet be a practicing lawyer, but the second year student at Ave Maria School of Law has participated in a Supreme Court case and gained a wealth of knowledge in the process.

The 28-year-old law student's journey to the High Court began in early 2002. He volunteered to work with the Thomas More Society, the Chicago firm founded to defend Joseph Scheidler whose 17-year legal battle came to an end February 26 when the Supreme Court cleared him of racketeering and extortion charges.

"I'd heard about the case and was impressed with the firm's work," Young explained. "When I volunteered, I was put in touch with Thomas Brejcha, the president and chief counsel for the Thomas More Society, and he offered me a job."

Young acknowledges that he was in a privileged position when he went to work for the Thomas More Society. Fresh out of his first year of law school, his task was to research a particular point of law that would appear in the petitioner's brief as Footnote 12. Though Young's work amounted to a small part of the entire document, he drew high praise from Brejcha.

"I made a point of asking him to participate in aspects of our work in preparation of the major brief on the merits in the Scheidler v. NOW appeal," Brejcha explained. "Chris researcher and wrote about a critical, pivotal issue in the case. Namely, whether and to what extent a series of special verdicts, which included jury findings on legally flawed as well as legally sufficient grounds, had to be reversed because it could not be determined whether or to what extent some or all of the jurors relied on the legally inadequate grounds.

"The fact that we won an outright reversal, without need of any remand for new trial, reflects the value of Chris' contribution," he said.

Pondering all that went into the case, Young said he learned a great deal about the process of bringing an appeal to the High Court, including some common misconceptions.

"People think that a case is won or lost on the oral arguments," he said. "That's most often not the case. It's all about how detailed and compelling your brief is. That's where you make your legal arguments. The oral arguments are usually only for the justices to clear up any lingering questions. That was likely the case in this appeal; however, Scheidler's team came to oral arguments extremely well prepared."

In addition to the obvious benefits of being part of the Supreme Court appeal, Young said he was delighted to interact with respected scholars, which gave him additional insight into the case.

"I was included on e-mail exchanges between Tom Brejcha and the firm they were working with in Washington," he explained. "All these very learned professors of law who had an interest in this case would look at drafts of the brief and offer their suggestions. It was very high level."

Additionally, Young found that the practical, hands-on experience he gained with the Thomas More Society complemented the classroom work he's done at Ave Maria.

"In law school, the majority of classes you take are theoretical," he said. "This summer work experience allowed me to put that theory into practice. How much more practical can you get than working on an actual Supreme Court appeal?"

It's not surprising that Young's summer experience would help him discern his legal career as he looks to graduation in 2004. Currently an extern with Judge Henry Saad of the Michigan Court of Appeals, Young said he would enjoy appellate work.

"This experience has certainly increased my interest in the appeals court process," he said. "And no matter what kind of attorney I become, I'm going to do pro-life work – it not as my primary work, on a pro bono basis on the side."

Says Young, "It was an honor to have even a small hand in helping draft the winning legal brief that was submitted to the United States Supreme Court."

The above article is condensed from the full article which appeared in the May 8, 2003 issue of The Wanderer and was written by Patrick Novecosky.

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