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Dear Cathedral Family,
The greatest gift of all is…?
December is upon us. And with it comes the season of giving and receiving gifts. As Catholics, we have the season of Advent as we prepare for the absolute greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. As we enter this season of gifting, I have much good news to share with you from our beloved school, Cathedral.
I “googled” quotes about “the greatest gift” and found many interesting responses; health, friendship, surprise, the ability to forget, unconditional love, others’ belief in you, and many others. But keeping in mind the two Great Commandments, I settled that love is truly the greatest gift. Two quotes that really stayed with me are, “The greatest gift is a portion of thyself," attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, and “Love is the greatest gift that God has given us. It’s free”, from Taraji Henson. Giving of ourselves to others is the love that God commands us to do, and this December and Advent, I believe this is the way to stay above the stress and anxiety of the season.
Here at Cathedral, we have our Catholic and Holy Cross traditions to guide us, and of course, this is magnified this time of year. Being grateful for all of our blessings at Thanksgiving rolls right into the season of giving and receiving, and this year we are emphasizing this in two unique ways: our 2nd annual Christmas on the Hill on December 9 and a special Christmas Toy Drive for two Catholic schools in western North Carolina, Immaculata Catholic School, and Asheville Catholic School, who both had their communities devastated by the severe storms this past September. Through our connections with the Sisters of Providence and our own Sr. Mary Ann Stewart, we connected with both of these schools. We were told that families “are not even thinking about Christmas this year,” as the immediate concerns of daily survival dominate the thoughts and actions of the families there. Our toy drive will stock the Christmas Store the schools are hosting, allowing them to celebrate the season of giving and receiving despite their hardships.
Our broadcasting class, under the direction of Marc Quaranta, coordinated with our Marketing Department to prepare a short video to bring the situation to our eyes and hearts. Please view it here. We are asking our students to bring at least one gift for a 3-13-year-old at the schools (They are both Pre-K through 8th-grade schools, with around 200 students in each school.) We are collecting the toys here at Cathedral and will be delivering them to the schools on Wednesday, December 11. For those unable to bring their gifts to us, please use this Amazon Wish List if you want to donate.
I was a part of a similar effort twenty years ago for a Catholic school in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I believed then and still do now that this type of endeavor is impactful for students and helps them see and experience the joy of giving in a selfless act of love.
The work on our grotto, which is truly a labor of love, continues and will be completed later this month, just a few weeks later than expected. Please watch for a new date for the dedication ceremony in 2025. Special thanks to the Ryan Hasbrook '92 family for making this project possible.The impact of Our Lady’s Grotto will provide a way to honor Mary, the Mother of God, as she points us to the greatest gift of all, her Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. And, speaking of blessed babies, I am happy to share that four of our Educators are preparing for the birth of a child this month. The greatest gift of all: Christ Jesus and any newborn child. What a wonderful gift for these families and the Cathedral family.
In closing, I invite you to click here to read the monthly message from our Chief Mission Integration Officer, Matt Gring.
As we graciously receive and selflessly give, may this upcoming holy season be simple and full of love for you and yours.
Humbly and gratefully,
Rob Bridges, PhD
President
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Cole Hocker '19 Comes Home to the Hill
Cathedral was proud to welcome home 1500m Olympic Gold Medalist Cole
Hocker '19! Cole returned to the Hill on November 12 to a warm Irish welcome. During an all-school assembly, he answered questions and talked about his faith, handling adversity, and the importance of teamwork, even in an individual sport like track. He also thanked his coaches and educators, including a special shout-out to Math Educator Lisa Ford. Please click here to view WRTV's coverage of Cole's visit.
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Meghan Jackson '25 - 2024 Debutante Queen
Please join us in congratulating the 2024 Debutante Queen, Meghan Jackson ’25! The 39th Annual Debutante Cotillion and Scholarship Ball celebrates elegance, dedication, and achievement after the debutantes completed a six-month journey of leadership workshops, community service, and character building. Cathedral was well represented with eight debutantes. Pictured from left to right in the far left photo: Jemila Perkins ’26, London Murray ’26, Sydney Davis ’25, Debutante Queen Meghan Jackson ’25, Kennedy Drake ’26, A’Rynn Halliburton ’26, and Gabrielle Wells '26. Amariya Forbes' 27 was also a debutante. The lovely ladies in pink are Rosebuds, freshmen and sophomores who participate in programs that prepare them for the more rigorous cotillion program. Rosebuds pictured from left to right are Rebecca Jones ’27, Kennedy Smith ’27, and McKenzie Jordan '27. Other Rosebuds included Blaine Adams ’28, Mya Jones ’27, Kamryn Hyche ’27, and Lily Schilling ’27. Two Cathedral gentlemen, Kendal Coleman' 25 and Alijah Poston ’25, served as escorts to the debutantes.
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KurzawaNamed
Player of the Year!
Congratulations to Calvin Kurzawa '25 on being named Player of the Year by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association. The Mr. Soccer Award is given annually to the state's most outstanding player. This season, Calvin scored 28 goals and accumulated 68 points. He was a captain of the boys soccer team and helped them to a 14-4-2 record. He is pictured above with his coach, Joel Russell.
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IHSVCA Coach of the Year
Congratulations to Gene Murray '90, who was named Class 3A Assistant Coach of the Year by the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association!
In addition to serving as the assistant coach for Cathedral's girls volleyball team, he is a member of Cathedral's Advancement Team. We are so proud of Coach Murray.
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Student-Athletes Sign Letters of Intent
Congratulations to our student-athletes who signed their Letters of Intent to continue playing in college. Cathedral has a long tradition of student-athletes continuing their athletic careers while pursuing a degree. We are excited to recognize the latest group of seniors who have answered the call to greatness in academics and athletics.
Pictured front row, left to right:
MacKenzie Land - Tusculum University (volleyball)
Angie Valentine - University of Evansville (softball)
Maddie Liter - Austin Peay State University (softball)
Anna Moore - Purdue University (softball)
Annah Wasiak - Indiana State University (soccer)
Keira Bradford - Purdue University Fort Wayne (soccer)
Abby Beasley - University of New Hampshire (soccer)
(Back row)
Jude Klein - Navy (soccer)
Brady Koehler - University of Notre Dame (basketball)
Ryan Peterson - Northern Kentucky University (volleyball)
Nick Whitley - Northern Kentucky University (volleyball)
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CYO & Youth Nights
Grade school students are invited to watch a game and see what playing for the Irish is like. Mark your calendars now for the upcoming CYO & Youth Nights.
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Congratulations, Holy Cross Award Winners
Please help us congratulate these amazing students who received a Holy Cross award! Educators nominated students for living out the Holy Cross Core Values. Congratulations to all of these incredible students and their families.The Blessed Father Basil Moreau Award is given to students who demonstrate leadership, excel in the classroom, and serve the Cathedral family and their community. The Blessed Basil Moreau Award recipients are Paul Arthur '25, David Nevins '25, Mary Eifert '26, Michael Gallagher '26, Lillian Monahan '27, Braydon Miles '27, Chase McCloud '28, and Jay Brooks '28. The Saint Brother André Bessette Award is given to students who provide generous service to others, involve themselves in student activities, and demonstrate Christian values. The St. André Bessette Award recipients are Olivia Uskert '25, Chloe Shadiow '25, Alex Batt '26, Ingrid Cardoza '26, Grant DeFrantz '27, JC Pohlman '27, Betsy Lindner '28, and Ryder Carpenter '28.
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Winter Camps
Cathedral is thrilled to bring back our Winter Camps over Christmas break. We're offering several camps from December 29 - January 5, including Baseball, CaTheatre Drama Camp, Cheerleading, Minecraft Adventure Camp, Serving Indy Camp, Boys Volleyball Clinic, and VolleyTots. Click here and register today!
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Don't miss out on Christmas Cheer!
As it is always a favorite, register today for Art of Christmas: Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 14, in Cathedral's Dining Hall. After meeting Santa Claus, enjoy breakfast, arts and crafts, and the festive Christmas music provided by our talented Cathedral Choirs. There is only one session at 9 a.m. this year. We hope to see you on the Hill on December 14!
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Buy Your Raffle Ticket Today!
We are revved up for our 48th annual ShamrAuction: It's Electrifying! The cash raffle is underway, and you could be the next $15,000 winner! This is a wonderful opportunity to support our students and have some fun at the same time.
Raffle tickets are $100 each. The Grand Prize will be drawn live at ShamrAuction on February 22, 2025. The first early bird drawing is December 13. Click here to learn more and purchase your raffle ticket today!
*Grand prize payment based on a maximum of 900 tickets sold. All proceeds benefit the Cathedral Family of Funds. (License #003287)
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Coming Up on the Hill
December 3 - Cathedral Strings and Jazz Christmas Concert - 6:30 p.m.*December 8 - Pride of the Irish Christmas Concert - 1:00 p.m.*
December 9 - Christmas on the Hill
December 12 - Choir Christmas Concert - 7:00 p.m.*
December 16 - All-School Adoration - 1:00 p.m.December 17-20 - Final ExamsDecember 23-January 5 - Christmas BreakJanuary 6-10 - J-TermJanuary 13 - Second Semester Begins
*All Christmas concerts will be held in the Joe O'Malia Performing Arts Center at Cathedral. The Strings Concert and the Band Concert are free of charge.
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