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Even after 39 years, monastery keeps alumnae connected
174 women from all over country reunite and help sisters
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| Members of the academy's Class of 1964 attending the reunion included Emily Geels Soller (back row, from left), Debbie Wewers Bentley, Celeste Avlos Corbin, Janette Hilton Dahlem (front row, from left) and Mary Kennedy Burns. |
By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent
FORT SMITH -- On July 13-15 "Scho' girls" from 35 graduating classes and from all over the United States came back home to St. Scholastica Monastery for their triennial reunion.
Because many of the 175 alumnae lived at the former St. Scholastica Academy during their high school years, it was a homecoming in more ways than one. St. Scholastica Academy, which opened in 1924 in the newly built St. Scholastica Monastery, was both a resident and day school, and both a novitiate for young Benedictine postulants, who often entered the convent at age 14, and a traditional academic high school.
But, whether they were boarders, townies or boarders with Fort Smith families, the "Scho' girls" shared a love of their school and teachers that brings them back home every three years, even 39 years after the school's 1968 closing.
'Scho' girls' honor former prioress, principal
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The weekend was a combination of socializing at a wine and cheese party Friday and a banquet Saturday evening, both held at Monsignor Galvin Center at Immaculate Conception Parish; prayer at Sunday Mass in the monastery; and business at St. Scholastica Center. Business is a big part of St. Scholastica Academy Alumnae Association's mission.
"Our purpose is to help the sisters in spiritual and material undertakings for their well-being," Dorothy Worner Sullivan, alumnae association president, said. This year, the alumnae association is renovating two rooms in St. Scholastica Infirmary for the two living past principals, Sister Consuella Bauer, OSB, and Sister Norbert Hoelting, OSB.
The association's gift of a third floor aviary has enchanted retired and active sisters and visitors to the monastery. A large screen television linked to a camera in the chapel allows the sisters in the infirmary to participate in Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Alumnae are active in the newly formed development board that has raised money for necessary repairs to the monastery's exterior brick and heating systems. One by one, third floor rooms are being renovated, widening doors to make them wheelchair accessible, adapting sinks and buying hospital beds for the sisters needing them.
"You have enriched our lives," prioress Sister Cabrini Schmitz, OSB, told the alumnae, "and I hope by our prayers we have enriched your lives."
Alumnae provide a helping hand to the sisters, cooking and serving meals at all retreats and workshops given at the Benedictine Spirituality Center. They help at the monastery's garage sale, bake sale and other fundraisers.
The banquet's theme was "Red Hatter Scho' Girls" because the last graduating class is celebrating its 39th anniversary. The association honored two of its oldest attendees, Frances "Chee" Gearhart Berry (1935) and Anna Marie Miller Meyers (1940.) Berry, who was accompanied by two of her children, alumnae Barbara Berry Flynn and Jane Berry Sanders, not only attended St. Scholastica but also taught physical education there after studying at Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kan. "Mrs. Berry was my gym teacher when I was in school," said Meyers, who is five years younger, said. "Such a lovely person."
Meyers, too, went to college after graduation, leaving to take a crash course in typing and to help in the war effort. She and her husband raised four children. In the years between reunions, the "Scho' girls" keep in touch by phone, e-mail and the association's publication, the Aluminator.
"I didn't appreciate St. Scho' when I was there," said Virginia Ricketts (1966) a boarding student from Clarksville, "but now when I come back, I do."
'Scho' girls' honor former prioress, principal
FORT SMITH -- Sister Norbert Hoelting, OSB, was honored by her beloved "Scho' girls" at the St. Scholastica Academy reunion for celebrating 75 years as a Benedictine nun.
The alumnae bought a lift chair, a push-button operated electric recliner, that gives Sister Norbert many hours of relaxation, but she still hasn't retired, even at age 93.
"I still teach classes in the (sisters') formation program," she said.
Sister Norbert, a former "Scho' girl" herself, entered the academy as a postulant in 1928. After teaching in elementary schools throughout the state, Sister Norbert returned to St. Scholastica in 1946 to teach and served as principal from 1958-1959.
She said, "I see the alumnae as women who are doing great things in the world. They are very appreciative of the education they got, not only in academics but in life. It's great to see that they are involved in church and community and in social justice."
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