Boys Town High School - Pylon Yearbook (Boys Town, NE)

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THB MosT Rev. GERALD T. BERGAN ARCHBISHOP OF OM.-XHA The Most Rev. Gerald T. Bergan, Archbishop of Omaha, is President of the Board of Trustees of Father Flanagan's Boys' Home. Since his elevation as Archbishop of Omaha, Arch- bishop Bergan has taken an active interest in the affairs of the home, and visits Boys Town frequently. He was the commencement speaker at the 1950 graduation ex- ercises of the Boys Town grade and high schools, and in 1951 he celebrated the Solemn Pontifical High Mass on Christmas Eve which was televised from Boys Town over the nationwide facilities of the Columbia Broad- casting Company television network. In Appreciation Archbishop Bergan Archbishop Bergan was born january 6, 1892, in Peoria, Illinois. He was graduated there from Spaulding Institute in 1909. In the fall of that year he enrolled at St. Viator's College, Bourbonnais, Illinois. After re- ceiving his degree of Bachelor of Arts, he studied at the North American College in Rome. His excellence as a student was so great that he was selected for ordi- nation at the end of his third year, despite the fact that his youth ihe was only 231 made a special dispensation necessary. He was ordained in Rome on October 28, 1915, by the Cardinal Vicar, and celebrated his first Mass October 29 at the Tomb of St. Peter. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he continued his studies in Rome, specializing in canon law and Church history. In 1916 he returned to the United States, and was appointed assistant pastor of St. Marys Cathedral in Four years later he was named Chancelor of the diocese, and in 1926 he became pastor of St. The following year he became Vicar General Peoria. Peoria Mary's. of the diocese, and upon the death of the Most Rev. Dunne, Bishop of Peoria, he was the adminis- E. M. trator of the diocese. I-Ie was reappointed Vicar Gen- eral by the Most Rev. J. H. Schlarman, and soon there- after was named a Monsignor. In 1934. after 18 years in his native city, he was appointed Bishop of Des Moines by Pope Plus XI. In February, 1948 he became Archbishop of Omaha, succeeding the late Most Rev. james H. Ryan. During the interim between the death of Archbishop Ryan and the installation of Archbishop Bergan, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Nicholas H. Wegner, then Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and now director of Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, was administrator of the Arch- diocese of Omaha.

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Administration

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A Message From Monsignor Wegner Fortunate is a college, and doubly fortunate is a high school that has the facilities and whose students have the courage and ability to publish an annual year book describing the school and its various programs and activities. Some years ago Father Flanagan conceived the idea of editing an annual year book, but due to the many problems confronting him and the demands con- stantly made on his time, he found it impossible to put his intention into a fail accompli' or into action. For me. the faculty and all the boys it is a real privilege to publish the first annual year book in honor of Father Flanagan, the founder of Father Flanagans Boys' Home, Boys Town, Nebraska, and all its former citizens and alumni. The year book of any school reveals the events which took place and gives an account of that which it has accomplished for its students, over that period, in spiritual, mental and physical calisthenics. Father Flanagan's Boys' Home is a home and school with many fine and noteworthy traditions gath- ered and accumulated during the 35 years of its being. Its most precious tradition, however, is that thousands of boys have here experienced happiness thru kind- ness and understanding. Here their minds and hearts were nurtured with a sound Christian philosophy of life, in consequence of which thousands of boys have become prominent and useful citizens, and a lasting bond of love and friendship created between them and their Alma Mater, Father Flanagan's Boys' Home. I realize that the publishing of the first annual year book is a new adventure and experience for our boys. They put in many extra hours in getting together all the material and it gives me much pleasure to compliment them, and extend them in my name, and that of our school faculty, a vote of thanks. I trust that our first annual year book will be cordially received and favored with many commedations. RT. REV. MONSIGNOR NICHOLAS H. WEGNER Dtruscrott OF Boys TowN If the publication of the first annual year book will help to preserve more vividly and enduringly the oppor- tunities and advantages Boys Town has given to former boys and the graduating class of 1952, and make for greater nobility of their virtues and character, I would say, it has accomplished its aim and purpose. Thar God's blessing may accompany this volume is my fer- vent wish and prayer. To the boys of the 1952 graduating class may I quote a stanza from Ella XV. Wilcox's poem Do You Wish : Do you wish the world were better? Let me tell you what to do. Set a watch upon your actions Keep them always straight and true: Rid your mind of selfish motives, Let your thought be clean and highg You can make a little Eden Of the sphere you occupy.