AFTER 60 YEARS OF SERVING its community, St. Norbert Catholic School in Orange decided the perfect place to celebrate its diamond anniversary was at home.
FR. JOHN MONEYPENNY, PASTOR OF OF ST. NORBERT CHURCH IN ORANGE, LEADS A PRAYER FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER. PHOTOS BY STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
With string lights illuminating the inner courtyard and decorative balls hanging from the trees, more than 250 parents and grandparents came together on Nov. 8 alongside alumni, teachers and staff decked out in denim and diamonds for the special night.
VANESSA AND TRAVIS ANDREW OF ORANGE USE THEIR SMARTPHONES TO PLACE A BID DURING A PAPERLESS SILENT AUCTION FOR ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER BANQUET IN ORANGE. THE LARGE OBJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE IS A 7TH GRADE CLASSROOM PROJECT, GALVANIZED BEVERAGE TUB UP FOR SILENT AUCTION.
“Tonight is amazing because we’re here back at the school,” said gala co-chair Megan Heiman, who also serves as St. Norbert’s development director. “It feels magical having our community here, in our school. It feels very comfortable and it’s a really great way to usher in the 60th year.”
St. Norbert hosted its 60th anniversary to raise money for the campus and honor the service of those who have supported the school over the years. The school honored the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the religious order who founded the school in 1965 and staffed it for half of its tenure. In attendance were Sr. Catherine Burke, one of the founding Sisters of the Presentation; former principal Sr. Kathleen Pritchard; former teacher Sr. Rosemary O’Sullivan; former teacher Niamh Kelly; Sr. Mary Dunlea; Sr. Angela Callanan; and Sr. Debbie Gumina. The school also honored two longtime teachers, Sally Debevec and Connie Thomas.
Assistant Principal Marian Quiroz said the school doesn’t currently have any sisters on the teaching staff, but the charisma of the Presentation Sisters is still incorporated and taught.
“Their pillars of truth, service, family and peace are still the essence of St. Norbert,” Quiroz said. “Because of what they started, we are still here 60 years later. And we want to honor that legacy.”
This year’s event forwent the live auction to pay tribute to the honorees. The gala also brought out an extraordinary number of alumni.
“We’re bringing everyone home,” said mom and auction chair Vanessa Tagle. “We’re bringing in our alumni, teachers, staff and families, having them all come in and really emphasize we are one parish, one family.”
Attendees caught up, nibbled on hors d’oeuvres, snapped their pictures in a photo booth, perused tables set up with 60 years of school pictures and trophies and bid on silent auction items. From baskets of cooking supplies and wine bottles to cookies and milk with a teacher, Star Wars lightsabers and a vacation in Italy, family and friends bid to support Catholic education.
St. Norbert was hoping to raise $30,000 to fund new Chromebooks for younger students, new Chromebook carts and upgrade the gym’s sound system, said Quiroz.
One alumna who came back was Emma Pearson, Class of 2013. She volunteered at the gala in the past, but this was her first time attending as a guest. Pearson said it was exciting to see people she attended school with, especially her eighth-grade teacher, Ms. Debevec, whom she admired.
“I grew up in these halls, so to be back, I feel at home,” Pearson said. “I feel at home every time I turn onto Taft and drive into this parking lot. It just feels like a warm hug every time I come back.”