Rockhurst High School - Quarry Chancellor Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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astoral department nurtures | Catholic traditionT J I spirit of heritage H BY JAMES HOOPER, JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rockhurst’s Roman Catholic heritage and tradition of ministry was energized and renewed through the 1988 Pastoral Program. Mr. Larry Ruby, pastoral director, stated, “What we really wanted to do was nurture a special spirit and tradition at RHS. We don’t want to form, really so much as nurture the heritage that is already there. We’re heirs of a heritage and we wanted to nurture it through our program.” One of the main ways that this was accomplished was through work with small groups and committees that allowed student input and participation. And all areas of the pastoral program felt the effects of this newly maturing philosophy. Perhaps the effect of this devotion to work in with specialized groups and committees was most apparent to the student body in the all-school and class Masses throughout the year. The Pastoral Committee— headed by senior Michael Connor, Liturgical Choir—represented by fellow seniors Jim Hooper and Lynn Gallagher, and Special Events Committee—headed by seniors Chris Lewer and Vince O’Halloran together with many support staff engineered each Mass. “All of the Masses were student organized. We gave the students a lot of leeway in choosing the celebrant 20 Pastoral and the format of the celebration ... I am really pleased with the student pastoral committee. Each Mass was different and I hoped they increased the spirituality of the school ... You could feel the electricity at that last Mass; it was great,” said Ruby. Retreats had a marked effect on the students as well. Ruby said, “Retreats are a special experience. I think we made a difference. I don’t want to hit the kids over the head with it; we are a seed-planting organization.” And, much of this seed-planting was done also through allowances for student input. “The students review committee made a lot of suggestion for changes in the retreats. The meetings were really a chance for some informal group discussion on how to improve from a student’s standpoint,” Ruby commented. As a part of the overall nurturing process through small groups, the Pastoral Program expanded and integrated with other student groups. Ruby stated, “We were a part of the nurturing process throughout the school. We worked with FCA in sponsoring the breakfast and in the dedication of the sports program at the beginning of the year. We also supported and sponsored S.A.D.D. in their all-school assemblies.” He concluded, “We have much to look back to with pride, and much to look forward to with hope.”

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(far left) The Big Three conduct a Stuco meeting, (left) A terrified Joe Spencer gives blood in the Stuco blood drive. left) Spirit Chairman Paul Freeman rehashes he previous year. above) Moderator Rick Stair talks to the nffirp Student Council 19

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(above) “Stark Truth (right) Principle Celebrant Fr. Joseph Snyder, S.J., makes a visible point about priorities. (top) Jesuit Fathers Thomas Jost, Paul Stark, Mark McKenzie, Thomas Melancoln and Thomas Cummings break bread at Thanksgiving Mass. Pastoral 21