St Phillip Neri High School - Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

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1936 --mini. ir ST. PHILIP NERI YEAR BOOK The Department of Music St. Philip Neri School has always recognized the religious and cultural value of music in the training of children, therefore music has ever been given a prominent place in the school curriculum. The outstanding musical activity is the Children's Choir made up of the entire student body, and it is recognized as comparable to the best. Witli the increased enrollment, both in the school and in the music class, the orchestra has reached such proportions that this year in order to give everyone who wishes to do ensemble work an opportunity, the orchestra has been divided into a High School and a Grade School Orchestra. A new music room has been equipped to teach piano according to the noted Robyn Method used so successfully at the American Conservatory in Chicago. Knowing the nature of the child, taking into consideration his vivid imagination, his love ofgmake believe, the author has interwoven the story element with all the technical principles, thereby making music study for the child a joy. Two subjects have been added to the high school curriculum this year to stimulate a love for and an appreciation of music: The History and Appreciation of Music, and a class in Glee Club work. These advantages are placed at the disposal of the children attending St. Philip Neri School in order that their characters may be strengthened by a love for the music of the Church, and their whole lives enriched by the cultural and refining influence of music. Catechism Classes Our Catholic Faith rests on a reasonable foundation. As Catholics, we should learn about that foundation and be able to explain the reason for the truths that we believe. Catholic parents have the added responsibility of seeing that their children are taught the truths of their Faith. This, of course, can best be accomplished in the Catholic school. Catholic parents must send their children to the Catholic school if they have the opportunity of doing so. They must have the permission of the Bishop if they are to send their children to the Public School. livery Catholic child who attends the Public School receives the necessary instruction in the weekly Catechism Class that is held at St. Philip's school on Saturday morning. Catholic parents are obliged to send their children to these classes. l Page Twenty-onel

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ST. PHILIP NERI YEAR BOOK 1936 DEBATING TEAM Last October St. Philip School entered the Debating Division of the Michigan High School Forensic Association. This marked the Hrst time that the school team ever entered an elimination debating contest. Mr. Williaiaa Brandt, a parishioner, was engaged as coach. The first debate, with St. Alphonsus of Dearborn, resulted in a victory for St. Philip's team. Another victory followed over the team from Visitation. St. Philip's team met their Hrst defeat at the hands of St. Paul's of Grosse Pointe. Victory over St. Mary's of Royal Oak gained a chance to take part in the final elimination contest. Paired with the South Lake team from St. Clair Shores, St. Philipis was again Victorious. In the quarter finals the team from Plymouth, runner-up for State honors, defeated and eliminated that of St. Philip's. Our school was awarded a bronze trophy by the University of Michigan and the Detroit Free Press. The members of the team were awarded gold pins for excellence in debating. lPagc Twentyll

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ST. PHILIP NERI YEAR BOOK 1936 Catholic Student Mission Crusade Mildred Ferguson , ,.,.... Prefer! Gregory Halford . . . . ,Vice-Prefeef Noreen Caren . . . ,.....,.. Secretary Richard Heron ...,..,.,... Spirifzml Tl'FHS1lTf'1' Virginia Egan, of the junior Class, has been chosen secretary of the Detroit Diocesan Unit for this year. The challenge of the times to Catholic youth is certainly one of militancy. It was not merely out of a love for imaginative language that Pope Pius XI made the watchword of his reign: Catholic Action!', Warfare has ever been the province of youth. In the spiritual warfare of our times there is no exception to this tradition. Anti-Christian leaders are centering their attention upon organizations of the young people, and the defense of Christianity must likewise rest upon the young. The Catholic Church looks to the Catholic students of this generation for the mental energy and the strength of soul to overcome the enemies of the Faith and to push forward the standard of the Cross. Our High School was affiliated with the diocesan unit of the Mission Crusade in 1930. This organization, world-wide in its scope, has for its purpose that cause which is dearest to the heart of Our Holy Father, viz.: The spread of Christ,s kingdom upon earth. This purpose is to be accomplished by a three-fold means-prayer, study and sacrifice. Monthly meetings have been held at which reports and talks have been given and missionary activities discussed. Occasionally we have been honored by the presence of missionary priests who have told us of their work among people of foreign and home missions. Paladin Round Tablesi' for mission study have been formed and have aided greatly in helping us achieve our objective. In 1934, the unit sent a delegate to Dubuque, Iowa, to represent our school in the National Convention held in that city. The Junior C. S. M. C. The purpose of the Catholic Students, Mission Crusade is to help Catholic students in the United States to learn about the missions, so that they may love the missionaries and their people more deeply, pray for them more earnestly, and contribute in a small degree to the works that the missionaries carry on. Being truly mission-minded, they will at all times feel it part of their Christian duty to display the attractions of he Catholc faith, and will be intending, at least virtually, to make Catholics out of their neighbors, friends, and even, their enemies. The Crusade is concerned primarily with students, because it is a students' organization, and the theory behind the organization, is that, if the students are properly directed, the rest of the Catholic populace will take care of itself-at least in the future. Last November, the grammar school was officially affiliated with the Catholic Students' Mission Crusade and became known as the St. Philip Neri Junior C. S. M. C. The work of this junior division is the same as that of the senior division-to promote mission interest among the students. The members are called Junior Crusaders and their societies or branches are called junior units. Each class room has a branch unit and conducts its own meetings and projects. Ap- proximately every two months all the branch units gather together for a rally, the purpose of which is to renew and stimulate greater interest in the missions. Each unit reports the acivities conducted, projects completed, and the prayers offered for the missions. Crusade songs add spirit to these rallies. ln order to provide added incentive to the students, the Crusade has originated i1 unior Honor Club, admission to which is obtained only by the performance of approved mission projects. One hundred and fifty of our junior Crusaders are members of this Honor Club. lPage Twenty-twoj