Bishop Noll High School - Marquette Yearbook (Hammond, IN)

Page 12 text:

St. Margaret Mary ' s Church The church of St. Margaret Mary is situated on the west end of the school campus between the grotto and the rectory. On July 8, 1947, Bishop John Francis Noll authorized the Rev. Everard N. Klein, at that time a member of Noll ' s faculty, to form a new parish de¬ dicated to St. Margaret Mary in the vicinity of the school. In the beginning a converted classroom served as a church for the new parish. Pastor and parishioners dreamed, worked, and prayed for a parish church. Finally their dreams became a reality in this structure of Wisconsin Lannon stone. The church has the simple dignity and charm of the Nor¬ man French Gothic style after which it is fashioned. Ground breaking ceremonies for the new church took place on Oct. 15, 1950. On July 15, 1951, Bishop Leo A. Pursley, Auxiliary Bishop of Fort Wayne, laid the cornerstone of the new church. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 24, 1952. Dedication ceremonies were held on Sept. 21, 1952, five years after the first Mass was offered in the newly established parish of St. Margaret Mary. Each morning Mass is offered at an hour which enables students to attend Mass and receive Christ before they begin their daily studies. This is the first year that the students have had the advantage of an actual church on the campus grounds. Heretofore Mass has always been offered in the gym for the stu¬ dents, but now the church is a much more apropos setting for this sacred ceremony. At noontime the students have an opportunity to make visits or the Way of the Cross. Different groups say the Rosary in the quiet peace of the church. Countless problems of students have been solved here. Many more graces are at the disposal of the students of Bishop Noll High . School since St. Mar¬ garet Mary ' s has graced the campus.

Page 14 text:

Campus Grotto In October, 1941, some of the students of Noll, under the direction of Sister Mary Ivan, then and now a member of the faculty, took upon themselves the task of building a grotto in honor of the Mother of God. Some of the more artistic students designed and drew the plans for. it On October 12 they broke ground and the project was under way. All worked diligently. The boys hauled rocks, mixed cement, installed wiring, etc., while the girls supplied them with the needed energy by bringing food for them. It is interesting to note that in the grotto is a stone from the grotto at Lourdes, France. The work pro¬ gressed slowly because it was done by students in their spare time with no outside help of any kind. The project finally reached completion and was dedicated in September, 1942. Since that time the grotto has played a most important role in every student ' s school life. There Mary receives the re¬ peated visits of her devotees. In October the students form the Living Rosary and pray for peace. In May thev pay tribute to the Blessed Virgin by taking part in her crowning, singing her praises, and attending Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at her grotto. So today the grotto comes to be an important part of the school and school life. Thus does it stand on the campus as a symbol of Faith, Hope, and Understanding, beckoning to all of Mary ' s children to bring to her their problems and their joys that she may share them.