St Joseph High School - Viking Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

Page 12 text:

DEDICATION BROTHER MICHAEL VOELKER, S.M. GOLDEN JUBILARIAN

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The purpose in any sport is to beat the opponent; St. Joseph’s doesn’t just beat them; it buries them. At game’s end, the exhausted combatants leave. Next week, they will attack again. And win again. St. Joseph’s forces people to the discovery of self. That is a beginning and a strength. It sustains, through experiences that herald the coming day.

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Brother Michael L. Voelker, S.M., faculty member of St. Joseph High School, celebrated his Golden Jubilee of religious profession in the Society of Mary this year on the 15th of August. On Thursday, May 1, a Mass was offered in the school auditorium in Bro. Voelker’s honor. The entire student body and school staff was in attendance. Bro. Michael is from a family of nine children and a native of Baltimore, Md. On July 16, 1916, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Brother entered the postu¬ late of the Society of Mary. At this time, he was just fourteen years of age, and had just graduated from the eighth grade. Brother Voelker is a graduate of the University of Dayton. His first teaching assignment was at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, where he was also business manager and moderator of the school paper, “The Burr.” After five years there, he taught for one year at University of Dayton Prep. A year later in 1927, Brother was a pioneer in the organization of the newly-built Chaminade High School in Dayton. During his three years there, he was athletic director. In 1930 Brother Michael came to Cleveland to teach at Cathedral Latin School. During his twelve years at Latin, he held posts of athletic director and moderator of the “Purple and Gold” yearbook. Several of his yearbooks won highest national honors. In 1942, Brother moved to North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. He taught there for fifteen years, during which time he directed the football program and was moderator of the “Trojan” yearbook. Brother came back to Cleveland in 1957 to teach at St. Joe’s. He was student council moderator here for several years. In his years of teaching, Brother has taught chemistry, biology, mathematics and English, but says that he specializes in German and mechanical drawing. When asked about his philosophy of life, Brother said, “My vision, my vocation, my life began with Christ and will end with Christ. He is the Center of my life. I dedi¬ cated myself to the Blessed Mother. All my efforts were made to promote devotion to her and to make her better known, loved, and served.” Brother Voelker also said that he always impressed upon his students that, “What we are is God’s gift to us; what we become is our gift to God.” We thank God for the gift He has sent us in this dedicated teacher, and we thank and congratulate Brother “Mike” on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. Ad multos annos!