Saint Bede Academy - Via Baeda Yearbook (Peru, IL)

Page 27 text:

Memories of October... Highlighting the month of October was the annual St. Becie Homecoming, which was held on the last day of the month. Many alumni re- turned to their “alma mater” for the annual reunion in order to renew friend- ships with former teachers and classmates. Homecoming festivities began on the evening: before, with the spirited lighting: of a huge bonfire. Members of the coaches’ phy ed classes emptied the woods of fallen logs to prepare the 45 ft. pyre.

Page 26 text:

Memories of September... September, of course, meant the beginning of school. Its beginning in the fall of ’54 brought an all-time high in the enrollment in the high school, and the Junior College also showed a size- able increase. Students returning from their summer vacations saw numerous changes in their “alma mater.” The familiar faces of last spring’s graduates were replaced by the beaming countenances of the freshmen. The faculty was increased by the addition of several members. The Rev. Owen Frederickson, O.S.B., dean of men, and the Rev. Sebastian Lewis, O.S.B., academy prefect, returned from the Catholic University of America to resume their teaching duties. New members of the staff in- cluded Frs. Adam Raley, O.S.B., Placid Hatfield, O.S.B., and Andrew Snyder, O.S.B., and the new football coach, Mr. Bernie Behrendt. The newly organized minor seminary department made its appearance in the Academy, while collegians in the minor seminary made their debut appearance in cassock and collar. Very noticeable at the beginning of the school year were the many physical changes around school, representing the remodeling and redecorating jobs carried on duringthe summer-months. Other noteworthy events during this month were the organization of the Via Baeda and Records staffs, the beginning of the football season, and the student elections. n The death of the Rev. Simon Rakauskas, O.S.B. on Sept. 26, 1954, injected a note of sadness into the be- ginning of the school year. The deceased priest was 59 years old at the time of his death, and had spent the last 34 years of his life as a member of St. Bede Abbey. Father Simon is best remembered for his untiring work with the St. Bede Drama Club, which he headed for 25 years. In addition to his work with the Drama Club, he served as instructor in English in the Col- lege, Academy, and Seminary. Another member of the St. Bede Community was called to his eternal reward since the publication of the last volume of the Via Baeda. He was the Ven. Brother John Dimpfl, O.S.B., the oldest lay brother at St. Bede at the time of his death. Brother John died on August 22, 1954, after spend- ing thirty years of his life as a member of the mon- astic family. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord! —22—

Page 28 text:

Another bright feature of the homecoming day was the benefit spaghetti supper served to the public by the St. Bede Mothers’ Club. Taking over the students’ refectory, the mothers served about 1500 people and netted about $1100 for improvements in the school. Chairmen of the Mothers’ Club Supper were Mrs. Leo Schultz and Mrs. Primo Baracani. who arc pictured at the right. Five of the many members of the Moth- ers’ Club, who helped make the homecoming supper so highly suc- cessful, were the ladies who cooked the spagh- etti. They are: Mes- dames A. Scnica. V. Jasiek, A. Pattarozzi, .1. Sabatini, and L. Mini. A dance held in the K.C. Hall. La Salle, climaxed the eventful homecoming day.