St Joseph High School - Torch Yearbook (Bay City, MI)

Page 7 text:

FOREWORD Even as we Seniors marked the close of St. Joseph's first Centennial Anniversary, we awakened to the realization that the culmina- tion of that one century meant only the advent of a new century. As our forefathers were the pioneers of the first hundred year period, WE are the pioneers of the coming hundred years. Yes, we are pioneers, but in a dif- ferent sense than the pioneers of years ago. Ours is not the task of establishing the Faith in virgin territory, rather we must strive to propagate this Faith in the world that dia- bolically defies its every principle. We shall not have an easy road to travel, but the bearers of the Torch of Truth shall ever have a diflicult course. The atheistic forces arrayed against us have advanced strategically in power and influence and will have to be met with an aggressively militant offensive. This offensive must be launched immediately if our century is to preserve and intensify the Faith which was established in this area a hundred years ago. The need for this offensive is critical. Even a casual glance will reveal the alarming conditions and trends existing in the world today. Our nation mobilizing for war in time of peace, our society staunchly and pitifully materialistic, our fellow men, hard, cynical pagans, these are the conditions with which we are faced. This anti-Christian atmosphere is inherent in the modern world and must be dealt powerful blows if Truth is to survive. We, graduates of a Catholic school, possessors of Truth, must counter-attack our secularistic environment and determinedly fight to re-establish Truth in the hearts and minds of men. Dynamic action on the part of Christian youth is the only force which can successfully meet the challenges of modern atheism. Thus our vocation as pioneers in the 20th century is obvious. Our forefathers estab- lished the Faith, we must re-establish and re- vitalize that Faith in our modern world. Although this task is a tremendous one, let us persistently try to live up to the traditions of our forefathers. Let us pattern our lives after these first pioneers and carry the Torch of Truth courageously and undauntedly. Mary Ann Seward

Page 6 text:

The Class of T951 dedicates this TORCH to all those who, for the first one hundred years of St. Joseph Parish, were generous in underwriting spiritually and materially the development of the Church and school of which we are so proud. ln reviewing the accomplishments of these one hundred years, we grew in the realization that St. Joseph Parish is what it is today because of the prayers, labor, and sacrifices of the priests who worked with and for the parishoners, the selflessness of the religious who were un- tiring in building an enviable educational program for us, and the persistence and generosity with which the people of the parish have co-operated with the Fathers and the DEDICATION Sisters from generation to generation. God's blessing is manifest in the fruits of their labors. The leadership of St. Joseph Parish in the advance of the Church in the Saginaw Valley since l85O is self-evident. We who are about to enter the ranks of those who are making the history of the parish's second century must pledge our- selves to imitate the virtues of all those to whom we dedicate this T951 TORCH. By following their example and by living up to the Christian education which their efforts have made available to us, we hope to meet the challenge of the new era in which we are now living. Mary Lou King

Page 8 text:

THE SHEPHERD OF OUR DIOCESE The Most Reverend Stephen S. Woznicki, D.D. We pray Thee Who alone art good ami holy, to endow him with heavenly krzoufledge, sincere zeal, and mnctity of life .- ARCHBISHOP CARROLL 4