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

Page 27 text:

Gathering Together One more time an annual Thanksgiving Mass was held on November 22 by the Bishop Noll community. The mass was geared to celebrate Thanksgiv¬ ing and to show our thanks to our Bishop. This year’s mass was a very special occasion. Our Bishop, Andrew Grutka, went forth in his 50th year in the cler¬ gy and also his retirement. The mood was set as Bishop Grutka walked in the procession with the priests following closely behind. The mass continued along when the Bishop gave his final speech to the B.N.I. stu¬ dents. It was entitled “Life Dur¬ ing Homily.” His speech consist¬ ed of ways to spiritually and physically change our lives and to give thanks to those that help us. During offertory, the class re¬ presentatives presented the gifts of thanks. Seniors offered a bou¬ quet of flowers, and the Papal Flag, while Juniors gave a ban¬ ner and gift certificate; the Sophomore class presented a Horn of Plenty and a Fruit Bas¬ ket, and Freshmen gave wine and cheese, all for the Bishop’s personal enjoyment. After communion, the Bishop gave final words and the concert choir, along with the entire stu¬ dent body, sang Happy Birthday to the Bishop. Unity makes us one. Unity is an important factor in an all-school mass. Here, representatives from each class join together to form a procession of offering gifts. Give thanks with joyful hearts. After many long hours of practice, members of the Concert Choir assemble to provide music for the special day. Dedication makes perfection. Father Winterlin strives to accomplish the best performance on this very special occasion of the Bishop’s last liturgy at BNI. All School Mass 23

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Solemn Personas. Sitting until the reading of the gospel, Father Connolly and Bishop Grutka listen to the first reading of the Mass. Gathering together. The line to receive communion was very long. The Bishop and many priests offered communion at different locations in the fieldhouse. Sophomore, Amy Stojak lifts her hands to receive the host from Fr. Connolly. 22 All School Mass

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Father Ambre explains the theme of trust to Eddie Perez on Junior Retreat. Getting Away Throughout the years, the re¬ ligion department has formed the retreat program to help stu¬ dents grow spiritually outside the classroom. This program was built to supplement the aca¬ demic side of religio us educa¬ tion. The basement of St. Margaret and Mary Church is the site of the Freshmen and Sophomore Retreats. These retreats last for the five hours of the school day. The theme of Freshman Retreat is friendship since making friends in a new school is an inte¬ gral part of enjoying it. Sopho¬ mores experience the theme of affirmation, or acceptance, through group and individual talks and skits. Although re¬ treats are held very close to school, they have a relaxed at¬ mosphere and let students for¬ get the eight-to-five routine of the school day. Junior Retreat is a more in- depth look at one’s self and oth¬ ers through the theme of trust. Juniors spend approximately twelve hours at Optimist Park “getting away” from the usual school day. Junior Retreat has a more accepting atmosphere which leads up to Senior Re¬ treat. Senior Retreat is a special time that each Senior is invited to attend. Held at the All Saints School, the theme for Senior Re¬ treat is the “church communi¬ ty.” This retreat is very special to all who attend. Starting at eight a.m. on a Friday morning, students leave for their weekend home. By Friday night, many rela¬ tionships have been so strength¬ ened that no one is willing to leave. Seniors come back at eight a.m. on Saturday willing to spend another twelve hours sharing and learning more about the friends that they thought they knew so well. Seniors trea¬ sure this forty-eight hour exper¬ ience and leave wishing it could have lasted longer. While caught up in the aura of retreats, many don’t realize the time and effort put forward to create such special moments. Seniors form teams to guide the Freshmen and Sophomores on their retreats. With this task, they spend their time during lunch organizing and acquaint¬ ing themselves with the mood they are asked to create. A group of Juniors, along with faculty members spend time in preparing for the Junior Re¬ treat. Together they form skits and get an overall view of what’s going on. For the Senior Retreat, sen¬ iors and faculty members con¬ gregate about twice a week for a month to organize their retreat. Skits have to be rehearsed, songs chosen, and things need to be or¬ ganized in order for the weekend to run smoothly. With all this time and effort put into the re¬ treats, it is no wonder that they run smoothly at Noll. 24 Retreat