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THE CHALLENGE

St. Cyril Academy Alumnae Association, Danville, PA 17821-1699

Winter 2022

FROM THE MODERATOR Dear Alumnae, I hope your Christmas was healthy and happy, filled with peace and many blessings. I have thought of you very often during this horrific pandemic. We and our kiddies here at St. Cyril Preschool and Kindergarten are still masking, helping our school schedule get almost back to normal. We enjoyed Parents Nite, our Basket Bonanza, the Thanksgiving Feast at the Pine Barn Inn, and the Christmas Pageant. (You can view the Pageant on the Community’s website: sscm.org under Ministeries and Events.) Guess what? Homecoming will be here in a wink! I am excited about seeing all of you in October! Some alums are contacting classmates to make this the best Homecoming ever! Make attending one of your New Year’s resolutions. Come share a few laughs and memories with old friends. You’ll return home feeling lighter, renewed. Please know you remain in my thoughts and prayers; my blessings go with you always. Sr. Donna Marie Ivanko, SSCM (’52)

YES, I’M STILL HERE… It’s been a tough year. I thought once I got shot twice it was over. Then I got boosted. I mask and social distance, leaving home only for meds, food, doctor appointments, and the gym. There seems to be an entire Greek alphabet of infection sweeping the country. When “cabin fever” gets bad, I jump in my car at rush hour, turn up the radio, and do traffic therapy. You can’t concentrate on COVID if you’re more worried about someone rearranging your fenders and bumpers. Many disasters have been the result of climate change and political change. We struggle to understand what is happening around us, to make sense of the unreasonable and unknowable, to be cautious and caring. Many of these struggles will continue as we adapt to a completely new way of living. It’s not a choice, but a requirement, if we hope to move forward personally and as a society. One thing is certain: it’s important to keep busy. There are all sorts of things to do. Visit over the backyard fence or on the porch with an elderly neighbor. Participate in community gardens, provide plant clippings or grow fresh veggies and share them. Get into the deep recesses of a storage closet or your garage and donate useful things in good shape. Evict the dust bunnies hiding under the bed. Work on losing COVID weight (at a pound a week you’ll be svelte by Homecoming!). Take an online course; read War and Peace (yes, the whole book). Do things that warm your heart and feed your soul. I’ll see you at Homecoming in October. I’ll be the woman with the buzz cut. Be sure to say hello! Mercy Kowalczyk (’64)

May They Rest In Peace: Please remember in your prayers the deceased and their families.  Sr. M. Marguerite Dankulich, SSCM—3 September 2021 Alumnae:  Sr. Mary Regina Werntz, RSM (’62)—11 March 2021  Ruth Ann (Steiner) Lewis (’56)—27 March 2021  Emily (Janosov) Dagenhart (’49)—21 August 2021, sister of Margaret (Janosov) Camissa (’42)(d.)  Margaret (Schott) Dik (’44)—27 September 2021, sister of Irene (Schott) Mescan (’54), sister-in-law of Ethel Jean (O’Brien) Schott (’49), aunt of Kathleen (Mayan) Karchner (’68), and Ann Marie (Mayan) Stephens (’72)  Rosemarie (Valenta) Foytlin (’40)—28 September 2021, mother of Linda (Foytlin) Sheehan (’64), sister of Eleanor (Valenta) Nelson (’43)(d.), Mary Ann (Valenta) Hranek (’51), Dolores (Valenta) Cassin (’54)(d.), Lillian Valenta (’55), Christine (Valenta) Sams (’64)  Scholastica (Rybar) Sullivan (’53)—17 November 2021, mother of Mary Sullivan (’80)  Rita Claire (Nolen) Halterman (’58)—29 November 2021 Family:  William Lattanze—7 December 2020, brother of Judy (Lattanze) Capperella (’57)  Ronald Lee Williams—19 March 2021, husband of Carol Ann (Bosak) Williams (‘66)

Passages: Friends of Erin (Kotheimer) Helgers (’92), will want to save $ for airfare so you can visit her in… PARIS, FRANCE! Erin has been named economic counselor at the US Embassy there for the next three years. This plum assignment follows three years in D.C. at the State Department working on international energy policy. Congratuations, Erin!

Another move. Sr. Margaret Dubas, who taught at the Academy for many years, is now residing in Maria Hall. Please direct her mail appropriately.

The Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius hold a General Chapter every four years. One item on the agenda is selection of the new leadership team. The 2020 Chapter was delayed due to COVID and officers in place served for an additional year. This year’s Chapter, held 27 June-2 July, resulted in a new statement of direction for the Community: “Rooted in Love; Bearing Fruit.” A new leadership team was elected as follows: Sr. Barbara Sable, General Superior; Sr. Michael Ann Orlik (‘66), Assisant to the General Superior; and members Sr. Carol Ann Terlicher, Sr. Susan Pontz, and Sr. Pamela Smith. Please check out the Sisters’ website for additional information about the Community’s new leaders: https://sscm.org.

THE WEBSITE: Our website is a vast resource of good information about our schoolmates and ourselves. You can fact-check, e-mail, listen to the Magnificat, read issues of The Challenge, and so much more. If you haven’t yet joined, please do. If you have joined but have not been on the site for a while, please check it to make sure it has your current contact information (we still have bouncing e-mails). If you’ve gone into social hibernation, please remove yourself from the site because it is one very big waste of time clearing bouncing e-mail blasts. Your diligence is required.

DUES: I know we’re in COVID but please pay your dues anyway. COVID has nothing to do with the fact that you are an alumna. Your dues fund services of the Alumnae Association (remember we have a Homecoming scheduled for 15 October 2022). Annual dues are only $10; if you’ve fallen behind due to inattention, etc., you are not liable for those dues in arrears. Recall that alumnae in religious orders do not pay dues. Please make your check out to the: SCA Alumnae Association. Your check should go directly to Treasurer Joanne Stahura (address below).

HOMECOMING: As previously mentioned, Homecoming is scheduled for 15 October 2022 (the third Saturday in October, as usual). This should be a fun event because the 2020 Homecoming was cancelled due to COVID. I know you are bursting with news and can’t wait much longer to tell all! Just so you will be ready, know now that you will be required to provide proof of vaccination/boosting, and you will need to be masked according to guidelines. Don’t wait until the last minute; get your vaccination/booster as soon as possible. While there is a wide array of beliefs regarding vaccination and masking, science upheld by experience has proven they are the best way available to protect ourselves and others.

NEW EDITOR WANTED: We are searching for a new editor for The Challenge. If you would like to consider doing the job but are not sure what is involved, I will be happy to talk with you about it. I have committed to prepare 

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THE CHALLENGE

St. Cyril Academy Alumnae Association, Danville, PA 17821-1699 Winter 2021

FROM THE MODERATOR

Dear Alumnae,

We stop and smile in the midst of COVID-19. The sisters and teachers have received their vaccines and we are grateful! We hope you are keeping safe and well.

St. Cyril Preschool and Kindergarten is very busy these days. The children, 50 of them, come to school each day wearing their masks, ready for a new day. They love school and are sad when they can’t attend. The enthusiasm of youth! We recently held our annual charity fundraiser for the Danville SPCA. We call it Pay-for-Play. Children assemble in teams in the gym and for one hour play at different stations set up by the teachers. Usually parents also help, but because of the virus, they weren’t allowed. Activities are being kept at a minimum his year. There IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

The grounds at the Academy are beautifully decked in snow, and we have plenty of it! Remember? Mother Nature is swathed in white and making up for the last three years.

I think of you often and remember you in prayer. Thanks to those who keep in touch. It’s great hearing from you. I’m looking forward to the 2022 Homecoming! Plan now and contact your classmates. Let’s have a grand reunion!

Love and happy memories, Sr. Donna Marie Ivanko, SSCM (’52)

BRIDGING THE GAP

My young cousins in McLean, VA, came across lots of old photos from a byegone era. Some of the people in them were quite elderly when the snaps were taken. Others were only just recognizable as parents long before they were, or aunts- and uncles-to-be from two families that would later unite as one. Anyway, I have been getting these snaps by e-mail and am asked for my recollections. To put a fine point on it: Geeze Louise! I was a gleam in the eye of God when many of these photos were taken! And, let’s face it, now in my 70s, I am full of mis- and non-at-all-rememberings (like what I had for lunch yesterday).

This COVID-19 thing messes with your memory. After you are shut in for a year, days and dates all run together. It’s a constant challenge to stay sharp. My brother and I read a lot, keep up with current events, do crosswords, jumbles, and jigsaw puzzles, and watch “Jeopardy” faithfully every evening. There are some “spirited” debates over answers, er, questions. Recently, after I pulled ahead in the contest, my brother went out and bought one of those frequently advertised, pricey, over-the-counter supplements to aide his brainpower. I don’t know how to break it to him, but I don’t think it’s working any better than tapping a forefinger to the side of his head. Perhaps memories fade because they are meant to. We seem programmed to look to the future, to have hopes and expectations, to work toward them, and to keep achieving good things. Isn’t that what Excelsior means? Or was it Veni. Vidi. Vici? Caveat emptor? Whatever. Our time will come for resting on our laurels. Until then, Carpe Diem, my SCA sisters! Mercy Kowalczyk (’64)

May They Rest In Peace:

 Please remember in your prayers the deceased and their families.

     . Sr. M. John Vianney Vraniak, SSCM—20 December 2020

     . Sr. M. Cyrilline Biel, SSCM—25 January 2021

Alumnae:

       .Margaret (Kingston) Smitherman (’57)—25 August 2020

      . Kathryn (DeGregorio) Pakuta (’58)—5 December 2020

     . Mary Catherine (Mihalik) Kies (’60)—23 December 2020

     . Anne (Misencik) Dancik (’50)—26 December 2020, sister of Gertrude (Misencik) Sinchak (’42) (dec.), Agnes (Misencik) Chinchar (’43) (dec.), Rose (Misencik) Mayton (’45) (dec.), and Sr. Theresa Misencik, SBS (dec.)

 . Elizabeth (Harmon) Strittmatter (’70)—13 January 2021, sister of Jane (Harmon) Martin (’71)

. Sr. M. Paul (Lucy) Kurator, SSCM (’49)—10 February 2021, sister of Pauline (Kurator) Packard (’45) (dec.), Mary Kurator (’54) (dec.), Theresa (Kurator) Mathis (’52), and Barbara Kurator (’62)

Family:

     . David Dik—1 March 2019, son of Margaret (Schott) Dik (’44) nephew of Irene (Schot) Mescan (’54) and Ethel (O’Brien) Schott (’49), and cousin of Kathleen (Mayan) Karchner (’68) and Ann Marie (Mayan) Stephens (’72)

     . Joseph Schott, Jr.—1 March 2020, son of Ethel (O’Brien) Schott (49), nephew of Margaret (Schott) Dik (’44), and Irene (Schott) Mescan (54), and cousin of Kathleen (Mayan) Karchner (’68) and Ann Marie (Mayan) Stephens (’72)

     . Thomas Schott, Sr.—12 May 2020, brother of Margaret (Schott) Dik (’44), and Irene (Schott) Mescan (’54), brother-in-law of Ethel (O’Brien) Schott (’49) and uncle to Kathleen (Mayan) Karchner (’68) and Ann Marie (Mayan) Stephens (’72).

     . Robert Kahler—9 November 2020, husband of Carolyn (Burkland) Kahler (’62)

     . Joseph M. Horecky—23 November 2020, father of Therese (Horecky) Hammond (’77)

     , Catherine (Horecky) O’Neill (’79), Florence Horecky (’85), and Margaret (Horecky) Knepper (’87); brother of Josephine (Horecky) Mamone (’46) (dec.)

     . Mark Molino—15 February 2021, husband of Mary Theresa Berrettini-Molino (’74)

Passages:

 * Weston James Scott was born on 6 April 2020 to parents, Jessica Stephens Scott and Rob Scott. His proud, maternal grandmother is Ann Marie (Mayan) Stephens (’72). His arrival was also feted by great aunt Kathleen (Mayan) Karchner (’68) and great-great aunts Margaret (Schott) Dik (’44), Irene (Schott) Mescan (’54), and Ethel (O’Brien) Schott (’49).

     * May 9, 2020 marked the 50th Anniversary of Susan (Gogolak) Rose (’64), and her husband, Tom. The all-family celebratory trip to Hawaii was shelved due to pandemic restrictions but the couple toasted the day with champagne at home before the fireplace.

* Also from the Rose Family, grandson Jordan Bell married Ariana Collins in an oceanside, sunset ceremony in September.

* Warm wishes go the happy new couple! Sharon (Fradkin) (Lowe) (’64) wed Vaughn Simon on 14 November 2020. The newlyweds now reside in Lake Worth, FL.

* Elizabeth (O’Neill) DiGiovanni (’62) and her husband, Ralph, Sr., celebrated 52 years of wedded bliss on 28 December 2020.

Adventure:

Christine (Valenta) Sams (’64) and her husband, Fred, live in Austin, TX, where the weather is almost always perfect for a game of golf. Thus, the week of 14 February proved quite an adventure when the State of Texas experienced snow and ice storms, sub-freezing temperatures for days, and the loss of light, heat, and power. Burst pipes and lack of drinking water added misery to the emergency. Christine reported they had power one day out of five and managed with radiant heat from two gas fireplaces; meals were cooked outside on a gas grill. “It was a whole new way of living, sleeping with three layers under four blankets, and hoping not to have to get up too often.” The couple also lost a 50 foot palm tree planted from a shoot 27 years ago but were grateful the heritage live oaks, though heavily ice-laden, were spared. This advice from Chris: “Enjoy the heat coming from your heating system tonight; it is a luxury we cannot take for granted.” VERY WARM thoughts to all of our Texas-based alumnae.

THE WEBSITE:

Our webmaster reports that rubber balls have nothing on the numbers of alumnae addresses that are bouncing all over the internet and back again. Ladies, ladies, please either update your e-mail address or delete it if you are no longer a user. Updating or removing your information is not something the webmaster can do for you. No kidding, it is a big headache having e-mail blasts bounce and it’s hard to get important information to you. Your help in this is urgently needed.

DUES: Please pay your dues. They are $10 annually and support all kinds of alumnae activities, including the publication of this newsletter. You are not liable for dues in arrears. Alumnae in religious communities do not pay dues. Please make your check out to the: SCA Alumnae Association. Your check should go directly to Treasurer Joanne Stahura (address below).

 SUBMITTING NEWS:

 When submitting your news, answer the questions: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. If you are announcing something that includes your family members, please let us know their names. We’d like to congratulate both partners to a marriage by listing both names; if you are announcing a birth, tell us the name of the child, whether it is a boy or girl (as names may not, themselves, be sufficiently informative), and the names of both parents, along with their connection to you. When reporting the passing of a loved one, please include the person’s full name and the date deceased. If you are reporting the death of an alumna, please also provide the year of graduation and family connection(s) to any other alumna/ae. I need to know who you are and how to reach you so include your full name, class, mailing address, phone, text, and e-mail (to help me contact you with any questions/clarifications). Rapid response to requests for clarifying details assists timely publication. Submit all items to Mercy Kowalczyk until a new editor is identified.

NEW EDITOR WANTED: It has been my pleasure to fill the editorial gap for the past three years. Now it is time for The Challenge to have a new voice. Please contact Joanne Stahura if you are interested in providing that voice to the SCA Alumnae.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE 2019-2021 EXECUTIVE BOARD

President: Mary Teresa Berrettini-Molino ’74 745 Arthur Street, Hazle Township, PA 18202 570.578.7507 coco.74530@yahoo.com

Treasurer: Joanne Stahura ‘59 1504 Poolside Drive, Hazle Township, PA 18202

570.436.1839 joannestahura1@verizon.net

Secretary: Vacant

Alumnae Moderator: Sister Donna Marie Ivanko, SSCM ’52

 Villa Sacred Heart, 1002 Railroad Street, Danville, PA 17821

570.275.3581 donnascasscm@hotmail.com

Newsletter Editor (Ret): Mercy Kowalczyk ’64, 441 Twin Streams Drive, Warminster, PA 18974 mercykowal@aol.com 215.880.2972

______________________________________________________________________________________

Click on link for pdf version of the Challenge Winter/Spring 2019:

/000/8/3/1/15138/userfiles/file/Challenge_Winter-Spring_2019_convert%20(1)(1).pdf

  Or read below.

THE CHALLENGE 

St. Cyril Academy Alumnae Association, Danville, PA 17821-1699      Winter/Spring 2019                                                        

FROM THE MODERATOR

Dear Alums,

School is out but I’m knee-deep in Summer Stage for the next three weeks.  All is well here and I hope you are as well.  It’s nice to hear from some of you from time to time.  It’s really great remembering happy times, and we did have many of them. Best wishes for a wonderful summer!  I look forward to seeing you at the Summer Festival and at the next reunion.  Contact some friends and make it a great weekend!

Lots of love and prayer,

Sr. Donna Marie Ivanko , SSCM (’52)                                                   

FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Friends,

Wow! Time has flown!  One minute I’m writing about homecoming and the next I’m announcing that the Summer Festival (JULY 13, see ad on last page) is almost here!  I haven’t been resting on my laurels; folks have been writing in about wedding anniversaries, First Communions, grandkids’ college plans and dreams, travel, etc.  There has also been sad news as our number continues to dwindle.  My recent birthday has caused me to think more about the importance of living every minute of every day (even during restorative, afternoon napping).  Now is the perfect time to complete old projects; plan a trip; join a gym; reach out to old friends.   Remember writing letters on Saturday mornings at school?  It was a painful exercise for me.  How much news is there to report from a girls’ boarding school, particularly when you are reminded to give your poor parents a break by being positive in your correspondence?  Really, from where I sat, not complaining made for a very skinny letter.  Only recently, I discovered that some of my schoolmates dabbled in “spycraft”, using predetermined code words to convey certain messages.  Imagine!  Still, the exercise of writing letters assured that we learned that gracious art as we practiced good penmanship.  Times have changed, but maybe not for the better. It would be great if each of us sat down today, handwrote a note on paper,  and sent it through the good old USPS to someone we’ve been thinking about for a while.  It doesn’t matter if the handwriting is wobbly and there are misspellings.  Written communication among friends is seldom perfect but always energizing and sometimes even cathartic.  Imagine the excitement of finding a return note among the bills and flyers in our mailboxes!  Who knows, the concept just might catch on!

Mercy Kowalczyk (’64)

 
ALUMNAE NEWS:

Warm congrats to Susan (Gogolak) Rose (64) and husband, Tom, who celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary of 4 May 19.

Rebecca Ann (Legler) Shelton (’60) has received the 2018 National Recognition from the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution in the sewing category under the American Heritage section.  Rebecca Ann demonstrated and displayed a worked piece of needlepoint featuring the floss technique used in the late 1800s and early 1900s by her ancestress.  Congratulations!

Gloria (Musil) Vadovic (’64) and husband, Joe, just returned from Las Vegas where they attended the First Communion of grandsons Bobby and Michael.  The twins’ parents are Gloria’s and Joe’s son Bob, and his wife Diane.

Anna (Kadvan) Cudrak (’64) wrote that her granddaughter, Sasha, has been accepted into a 5-year Masters Program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.  Sasha will study criminal science and law.  Anna is planning to research her Mother’s background in the Pittsburgh area during visits.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE:  

Please remember in your prayers the deceased and their families.

Alumnae:

Sr. Therese Misencik (’47)—30 June 18, sister of Gertrude (Misencik) Sinchak (d) (’42), Rose (Misencik) Mayton (’45), and Ann (Misencik) Dancik (’50).

Delores (Valenta) Casin (’54)—11 December 18, sister of Rosemarie (Valenta) Foytlin (’40), Eleanor (Valenta) Nelson (d) (’43), Mary Ann (Valenta) Hranek (’51), Lillian Valenta (’55), and Christine (Valenta) Sams (’64).  She was aunt to Linda (Foytlin) Sheehan (’64), Elizabeth (Valenta) Mandak (’68) and Marlene (Foytlin) Kearney (’68).  Her cousins were Dorothy (Foytlin) McMinn (d) (’48) and Carol (Foytlin) Brincka (’60).

Sr. M. Cabrini, SSCM (Mary Steber) (’45)—19 December 18

Clare Grinvalsky (’80)—11 March 19, sister of Roseann (Grinvalsky) Schink (’79) and Susan Grinvalsky (’82).

Elaine (Stancik) Kondracki (’65)—4 May 19, sister of Annette Stancik (’69)

Mary (Yenchick) Novotnak (’44)—22 May 19, mother of Mary Ann (Novotnak) Askam (’67) and Barbara (Novotnak) Mosca (’69).  Mary was the sister of Catherine (Yenchick) Bartol (d) (’40) and Frances (Yenchick) Polchin (d) (’46).  

Lori Ann (Lewis) Esposito (’82)—25 May 19.  Lori Ann was the sister of Wendy (Lewis) Bokrosh (’81).

Family Members:

Barbara Bach—29 August 18, mother of Mary Jane (Bach) Overmyer (’81)

Katherine Savery Gray—7 December 18, daughter of Susan (Lechner) Shwed (’64)

Brian Cannon—26 January 19, husband of Barbara Jean (BJ) Manns (’60)

Katherine M. Charleston Beck—26 January 19, mother of Jeannie Charleston (’61)
 

THE WEBSITE:

The number of alumnae joining the website is inching up.  This is a good thing!  Remember that The Challenge is published on the website!  The official website for the SCA Alumnae Association is:  www.stcyrilacademy.org.  The website gives access to a significant amount of password-protected information about us, our teachers, and our school and its heritage.  You can communicate with classmates and friends through the Facebook page.  Join the website today!

DUES:

Any day is a good day to pay your dues!  They are only $10 per year and you are not liable for dues in arrears (quite a deal).  Send your check to Joanne Stahura, Alumnae Treasurer.  Make it out to the SCA Alumnae Association.  Your dues support alumnae activities, the website, the newsletter (recall that only dues-paying members receive The Challenge in hard copy), and so much more.  

SUBMITTING NEWS:

Please include your full name, class, mailing address, phone, and e-mail (we will use this to keep mailing lists current as well as confirm receipt of your item and contact you with any questions/clarifications). If you are reporting a death, please give the full name of the individual, their connection to you and other alumnae, the date of death, and any other salient information.  We are interested in the births of children/grandchildren and their educational and other major achievements.  If you travel, we’d like to hear about your adventures. 

Please submit all items to Mercy Kowalczyk. 
 
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE 2019-2021 EXECUTIVE BOARD

President:  Mary Teresa Berrettini-Molino ’74   745 Arthur Street, Hazle Township, PA 18202 570.578.7507   coco.74530@yahoo.com

Treasurer:  Joanne Stahura ‘59   1504 Poolside Drive, Hazle Township, PA 18202 570.436.1839   joannestahura1@verizon.net

Secretary:  Vacant

Alumnae Moderator: Sister Donna Marie Ivanko, SSCM ’52  Villa Sacred Heart, 1002 Railroad Street, Danville, PA 17821   570.275.3581 donnascasscm@hotmail.com
 

Newsletter Editor:  Mercy Kowalczyk ’64, 441 Twin Streams Drive, Warminster, PA 18974   mercykowal@aol.com  215.880.2972

Please click on the links below to view past newsletters.  You should be able to read each in Word.

The Challenge Fall 2018

/000/8/3/1/15138/userfiles/file/Challenge%20%20Fall%202018.docx

The Challenge Summer 2018

/000/8/3/1/15138/userfiles/file/Challenge%20%20Summer%202018_final2.docx

The Challenge Spring 2018

/000/8/3/1/15138/userfiles/file/Challenge%20%20Spring%202018_final%20(Autosaved).docx

Please participate if you are in the teaching or nursing field.  Thank you.

Educators Questionnaire

/000/8/3/1/15138/userfiles/file/Educators%20Questionnaire_final_Spring%202018.docx

Nursing Questionnaire

/000/8/3/1/15138/userfiles/file/Nursing%20Questionnaire_final_Spring%202018.docx