Andrean High School - Decussata Yearbook (Merrillville, IN)

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A Talk With Bishop Grutka To prepare its twenty-fifth anniver- iry issue, the Andrean Decussata :nt seniors Tom Jagiella, Chai ulsakdinun, and photographer ichard Verduzco to interview His Ex- dlency Bishop Andrew G. Grutka. nder the Bishop’s able direction, the ocese united in 1959 in a great spirit sacrifice to establish the first atholic high school in the Gary area, nee that time, the Bishop, who will tire this year, has spiritually over- men and guided us, while Andrean is flourished as a symbol of ex- :llence in education. : Why was Andrean built? : Originally Bible studies were per- mitted in Gary public high schools so there was no need for any Catholic school in the Merrillville area. The theological instruction was sufficient. Academically, Gary high schools were sound; Froebel was nationally respected. However, need for a Catholic high school arose when the Supreme Court ruled that Bible studies had no place in public schools. What were your hopes for Andrean? To be an outstanding Catholic school, promoting all principles of Christian living. What are your expectations now? A: Although I an never satisfied, An- drean has lived up to my expecta- tions. Yet, there could be more vocations; quite a few young peo- ple are not listening to the call. Q: What do you foresee for Andrean after pour retirement? A: For it to continue to excel and to produce the type of person that at- tracts attention to things divine. Q: What is pour opinion on public aid to Catholic education? A: It would be a good thing, because it helps, I think, to gain more students, but not if this brought government intervention into the curriculum. Then, we would prob- ably be better off without it. After all, in the past, we built, staffed, and maintained our high schools without government support. If we continue as we presently are, we will still produce the kind of people that are not only good citizens of their country, but good citizens of heaven. Q: Is the Garp Diocese progressive? A: We simply respect the freedom of will which God has given every human being and what we try to do is to have our people conform their wills to Divine Will, which is the essence of religion. Q: Do you see the role of computers in education as important? A: I cannot agree to all that. There is nothing in a computer that was not put there. They can serve a pur- pose, but how do you explain the unemployment in this area? Is this an attempt to do away with menial labor? Who will do the work that will always be necessary as long as human nature remains the same? How can a computer change a flat tire? Computers are good for stor- ing data and bringing it to our atten- tion quickly, but what if everyone forgot how to write and type? Q: What is the primarp purpose for Andrean? A: To show Catholic values to the out- side world. Students have to act well to all people, to show a good example. The purpose is not what you know but what you show. This should be love for God, and love for each other. God put all of us here and God never makes mistakes, so we cannot condemn anyone. We must make the necessary ad- justments to get along with others. He wants us to show our love for God and for one another. After that, everything else will fall into place. Andrean is here to help in this endeavor. In a lighter mood, the Bishop shares in an in- Tom Jagiella interviews the Bishop for the formal conversation with his Andrean Andrean Decussata. interviewers. Introduction — 9

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8 — Introduction

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Down in the gym our footsteps echo on the empty floor, evoking thoughts of aspiring young musicians, actors, and athletes who took their first steps toward careers here. Other scenes fill the mind’s eye, and we think of dances and sock-hops, Masses, and pep assemblies. Almost every important activity at Andrean has found its way into this gym, and we remember our own first nervous orientation assembly as freshmen. We look forward to that day of our last assembly here, our own commencement, and all the excitement remain- ing between these two events. By the time we are seniors, the halls seem smaller and a bit warmer, more like home. We know where the light switches are, and the corners aren’t quite so dark. The faces we see to- day are those of people we call our friends. The ghosts are here, but they, too, are the faces of friends ... the ghosts of Andrean past. 10 — Introduction