| | 150th Anniversary of St. Mary's School | St. Mary’s School opened for the first time August 26, 1856. Franz Stein was the teacher, and there were seven students. On August 26, 2006 there was a banquet at the Hangar Hotel to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the school’s founding. Brother Robert Bimonte, the president of the National Catholic Education Association, and Archbishop Jose Gomez were present for that celebration. The next day there was a picnic at Marktplatz for students and families, parishioners, friends, and alumni. A special historical display was set up in St. Joseph’s Hall throughout the weekend.
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| “Always and everywhere, it was and is the endeavor of the Catholic Church to bring the young under her leadership according to the old, well-known proverb: “Whoever has the youth holds the future.” For that reason she always had taken care that, next to the church, a school would also be built." Rev. H. Gerlach, Pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Fredericksburg, Texas 1913 -1925 |
| A Message From the Principal | Anniversaries are milestones, and anniversaries stir memories. St. Mary's School celebrates the one hundred and fifty year anniversary of its founding this year, and surely every person associated with the school will have a favorite memory or a haunting memory of an event in the context of the school. Memories that are now laughable or ones that might have changed a life. My own St. Mary's School years spanned from1953 to 1967. I can remember, as a first grader, not being able to find my tie to wear to Mass and running away from school for fear of the trouble I was in. I can remember in the sixth grade being able to listen to the final World Series game on a transistor radio in Coach Loth's class. It was a big secret, and I'm a little nervous telling about it even now. I can remember, as a fourteen year old, having a crush on a teacher; she was so nice and smart and pretty, I'm sure Sister Sylvia never knew. I can remember, as a freshman, being dangled from the top floor stairwell; two seniors were holding my ankles and threatening to let go. I can remember writing an essay in the eighth grade about the possible end of the world during the missile crisis in Cuba. I can remember the "duck and cover" drills we had to prepare for the event of a nuclear war. I can remember, as a freshman, walking silently from our classroom to church with teacher Clem Gully - having just received the announcement that President Kennedy had been shot. I can remember being continuously supported and encouraged by teachers in all of my school years. I can remember personal and global crises, and I can remember through my school experiences that faith and prayer were always the appropriate responses to any life situation. I can remember being told to respect myself and to respect others. I can remember being told to "aim high" with career plans and goals. St. Mary's School served as an extension of my family, enriching and complementing the lessons I received at home. Other eras will have different memories; I can only imagine the experiences of students during the World Wars and the Depression. Today's students will have memories of how terrorism is shaping the world. St. Mary's School is still here to nurture and encourage today's students. It is still here to help students see their world and their life through the lenses of faith and prayer. It is still here to complement the efforts of families to form the next generation of Christian leaders. Happy Anniversary, St. Mary's School! |  |
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