Welcome
to Christendom's Alumni E-Zine. If you have information that
you would like to share with your fellow alumni, send it to
the Grapevine Editor, Tom McGraw, at tmcgraw@christendom.edu.
The editor reserves the right to include or exclude any information
submitted for publication in The Grapevine.
The
Grapevine Online is uploaded on the First Friday of 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.
September
2007 edition of The
Grapevine Online
Class
Notes / Calendar of Events / Links
to Stories / Prior
issues
Class
notes
Kathleen
Rock and her sister recently finished the Camino Santiago
de Compostella and it was beautiful! It took them a month
but they met some wonderful people and saw some amazing things!
They entered the city and could hear the bells of the cathedral
tolling so they ran for it, and arrived at the cathedral just
in time for Mass, sweaty and breathless tears filled their
eyes as the priest let out a joyous sermon saying "The
way of Saint James is the way of Chist and you have made it
here after such a trying beautiful journey to be with Christ.
You have walked the steps of thousands of Catholics because
Christ wants you here now. How beautiful that you are a part
of this testiment of faith." All translated by their
very limited Spanish so take it for what that's worth. Then
when they went to visit the tomb as a total surprise they
were able to attend a private Mass, just two priests and her
sister and Kathy AT theTOMB!!! It was beautiful and great!
Elizabeth
(Ascik) McGuirk never sent in a picture or announcement
of their daughter's birth, so she's making up for it with
a first birthday picture! Grace Elizabeth McGuirk turned one
on August 31. She started walking on her birthday, and she
already says over ten words! The McGuirks have lived in Leesburg,
VA, for a year and a half now, and like it very much. Michael
still works as a computer programmer for JK Moving in Sterling,
and Elizabeth stays home and chases Gracie around!
Ryan
Ostendorf already has a new update--his wife Maria is
expecting a child, due on April 5th. Ryan still doesn't have
pictures from the wedding up yet. Maybe He'll get them up
soon...
Caitlin
(Turner) Marchand '06 and her husband Michael, just welcomed
their first child, Jean Damien, on August 31. He arrived a
week late, weighing 8 lbs 7 oz and is doing really well. CaitlinI
would especially like to thank all the Christendom students
and alumni who prayed for them and encouraged them over the
last few months.
Sarah
and Colin Mason are expecting their fist child due April
10, 2008.
David
and Elizabeth (Rice) Wallace (both '05) were joined in
the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on July 21st, at St. John's
in Front Royal, the same day as the Summer Institute on Marriage
and the Family (held in their honor, of course). They were
surrounded by a hoard of Christendom alumni, faculty, staff,
and children. Alumni in their wedding party included Dominique
Hain ('02), Jacob and Jessica Meza ('05), Adrienne
Alessandro ('05), Maggie Bolger, Anita Torzala,
Stephen Kunath ('04), Jimmy Blankenship ('05)
and future alumni, Natalie Mirus ('25) and Madeleine Hain
('25) . The Wallaces are joyfully residing in Centreville,
VA.
Seven
Christendom alumni and family participated in the 30th annual
New Haven, Conn., Labor Day Road Race. Among the runners were
Patrick Haggerty, Robyn Lee, Marcia (Lee) Bono, Liz (Higby)
Kelly, Dan Vander Woude, and among the cheerers were alumnae
Nancy (Lee) Bauer and Sue (Lee) Haggerty. Robyn
Lee claimed she was motivated by watching Rocky III, and listending
to the Eye of the Tiger, but admitted afterwards that her
true inspiration was mostly the free food provided after the
race. Marcia Bono agreed and said she sprinted her hardest
at the end of the 5K to enjoy the free Red Hook beer provided
to all the finishers. Spectator Maryan Vander Woude, wife
of DVW, admitted that she enjoyed watching rather than running.
“I’m really here for the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee
and the double-chocolate donuts,” she said. “They
don’t make these in the South.” There were no record
times among this group, but the runners appreciated the energy
and pom pom artistry of the cheering section.
Kate
Tyndall (formerly Power) from Australia was married November
11 2006 to Steven Tyndall, and has finally gotten around to
sending this for the Grapevine. It was a wonderful day shared
with both families. They now live in Melbourne Australia.
Her 2 sisters, Erica Schuman and Ann-Louise Coulson
were bridesmaids. You can contact Kate at: ktyndall@tasmaniaconventions.com
Nick
& Heidi (Eubanks) Oligny would like all to hear about
their new little bundle of joy. Rachel Ann Oligny was born
on July 11, three weeks early, weighing 4lbs. 8oz. and measuring
18 1/2 in. Despite her size, she was perfectly healthy and
she came home from the hospital 2 days later. Now, eight weeks
later, she weighs 8 lbs. and is finally fitting into newborn
clothes and diapers. She was very pleased to have her godfather,
"Uncle" Stephen Hambleton, be able to be present
for her baptism. It was pretty cute to see little Rachel with
her not so little godfather.
The
Stewart family is proud to announce the arrival of
the 7th addition to the clan, Georganne Kateri! She was born
at home, appropriately on Labor Day at 6:59 p.m. and weighs
7lbs. 11oz. and is 20 inches long. Everything went very smoothly,
and in fact, even though she was a week early she was out
in 2 pushes! ("Thank God!" said AJ.) All
her brothers and sisters are extremely happy....they seem
to have forgotten about the twin boys they were praying for.
And who wouldn't after seeing this thick-haired pink cutie!
Marian is especially pleased to have her first ever little
sister!
Jeremy,
Mary and Colette (now eight months) Sheiko moved
to Lafayette, Indiana at the end of June. They're thrilled
to be so close to family! Mary's family lives in Lafayette
and Jeremy's is just four hours away in Lexington, Kentucky.
Jeremy is working at Purdue University as a Research Associate
for their Development Office. (Go boilermakers!) Drop them
a note at mary.sheiko@gmail.com
Mike
Moore, '05 completed Officer Training School for the Air
Force on August 10. He was commissioned as a 2d Lt. and is
now stationed down at NAS Pensacola for Weapons Systems Officer
school. Basically he'll be Goose. He's just been a beach bum
so far... here he is pictured with some of his classmates.
He hope to see everybody at Homecoming.
Maria
Bissex moved to Sterling,VA a few months ago where she
is living in a splendorous townhouse with Colleen O'Donnell
and two other very nice ladies. She is teaching music for
the second year at St. John Academy in McLean where she runs
into fellow alumni Sebastien Jansen, Nicole MacDougall,
and Sabatino Carnazzo, and sings in the choir with
Michelle Gil and Janet Purdy. New this school
year is a music teaching position at Our Lady of Hope in Potomac
Falls where she joins fellow alums Colleen O'Donnell, Danny
Heenan, and Mike Eidem. We're taking over the schools,
folks! Between the two schools Maria has almost 500 students,
which keeps her on her toes, but it's fun, and the Ward Method
is proving as effective as ever. Hope to see everybody at
Homecoming!
Matt
Akers graduated from Ave Maria School of Law on May 13,
2007. He spent May-July studying for the Virginia Bar. Matt,
Jan and the kids spent the month of August traveling.
First they went to Pennsylvania for Matty and Moe Hilleary's
wedding, and they were fortunate enough to be able to stop
in Pittsburgh to visit the Jalsevacs! Then they headed
back west and traveled on to Minnesota to spend two and a
half weeks visiting Jan's family. They finished off their
travels by heading further out west to Wyoming for the Baptism
of their new godson, Blaise Agustine. The Akers moved at the
beginning of August to Royal Oak, MI in order to be a little
closer to Detroit where Matt is working this year as a judicial
clerk for Judge James L. Ryan for the Sixth Circuit Court
of Appeals. They'd love to hear from friends! Write, or call
and stop by for a visit at their new home. Their e-mail is:
matthewandjan@yahoo.com
Anna
and Ben McMahon had a baby boy on July 12th (see photo
at right!). His name is Conall Patrick McMahon. He is the
first grandchild for the much anticipating parents of all
the McMahons, Chris and Tish. Ben's brother Marty and his
wife Rachel (Lucas) also had a baby boy just 4 weeks later.
His name is Christopher James.
Dr.
Neill Mollard ('97) married his
bride Elizabeth on December 29, 2006 at St. Francis of Assisi
in Lincoln, NE. The couple's Tridentine nuptial mass was celebrated
by Fr. Gerard Saguto ('98). The couple resides in Sacramento,
CA where Neill is completing a cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship.
They are expecting their first baby in January!
Since
August 29, Michael Baggot
has been enjoying his job (job seems to be such a strong word
for what he has been blessed to do) as Resident Director for
the Christendom Rome Program. Well before the scheduled retreat
in Assisi, Baggot learned much about poverty and detachment
from the world when the luggage containing all of his dress
clothes failed to arrive on time. His initial travel outfit
was transforming into a habit as he eagerly awaited his luggage's
safe return. After a day in the Eternal City (enough time
for Mass in St. Peter's), he was traveling with the juniors
to Florence. It would take a book to describe the amazing
churches he saw in the span of just one week, in particular
the Dominican Church Santa Maria Novella and its adjoining
convent, with its awe inspiring St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel
with a beautiful altar piece of the Angelic Doctor receiving
the book of wisdom from Christ and a set of wall frescoes
depicting Dante's Divine Comedy. The nearby cloister is a
catechism in paint. On one side there is the famous The
Triumph of St. Thomas Aquinas fresco and on the other
side, a fresco called The Church Militant and Triumphant
that includes a set of black and white domini canes (watchdogs
of God) chasing and biting heretical and schismatic wolves
bent on stealing the Pope's sheep. Aside from the amazing
sacred artwork and Italian Baggot has learned, he has also
discovered that you can get unlimited hors d'oeuvre from the
James Joyce Bar when you buy a drink (don't worry, he still
has his Pioneer pin, the deal counts for non-alcoholic drinks
also). Baggot is also conspiring with students to make a documentary
on the important life lessons and little known secrets of
the Rome semester. Technology limitations prevent him from
sharing
pictures at this time, but he hopes to have some by next month's
Grapevine. Buona giornata!
Fr.
Ben Cameron recently gave a Mother-Daughter retreat at
the Sisters Servants of the Eternal Word in Birmingham, Alabama,
and discovered that there are two Christendom alumni in the
community there. Here is a picture of Fr. Ben (class of
1991) with Sr. Catherine Mary Martin (class of 2003)
and Sr. Debbie Hain (2005-2006).
Calendar
of events
October
5-7, 2007: Homecoming Weekend
November
30, 2007: Life on Tap (St. Kilian's Cafe)
February
8-10, 2008: Discernment Weekend
April
19, 2008: 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance at the Ritz
Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA (start saving your pennies now!)
March
1, 2008: Alumni Career Mentoring Reception
top of page
Press
Releases and Campus News: http://www.christendom.edu/news/releases.shtml
top of page
