Holy Childhood School celebrates 63 years of history Print E-mail
By Gina Dolski   
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Holy Childhood School in St. Paul celebrated 63 years of history Aug. 8, following the closing of the school this past spring.

News Notes

The Catholic Spirit Staff
The school began its first year in the fall of 1947, although the school building was not fully completed. Students went to class at the nearby fairgrounds until October, when the building could be used.

The first class graduated in 1948 with nine students, and, coincidently,  the final eighth-grade class also had nine students.

Holy Childhood parishioner George Corbey was in the first eighth-grade class to graduate, and is still active in the parish as an usher. There are six members of the class left and they still get together to talk about their memories, including their baseball team.

“The important thing about the remembrance of the school is that we still get together and talk about the good times we had,” Corbey said.

The celebration included an orchestral choral Mass, tours of the school and a picnic lunch.

50th anniversary


Father Gordon Doffing will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to priesthood at the 10 a.m. Mass at Holy Childhood in St. Paul Sept. 19. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Father Doffing attended school at St. James and St. Agnes in St. Paul before going to the College of St. Thomas and the St. Paul Seminary. He ministered at St. Joseph in West St. Paul, St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights as a teacher and administer, St. Augustine in St. Paul and Holy Childhood, where he was pastor for 14 years until his retirement in 2000.

Humanitarian sister honored


Sister Alice Zachmann of St. Michael received the James Cardinal Gibbons Medal from the alumni association of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for her continued efforts to combat violations of human rights. The award is the association’s highest honor, and it recognizes individuals for distinguished service to the church, the nation or The Catholic University of America.

40 years of priesthood


Father Jim Deegan, a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate, will celebrate 40 years of priesthood Aug. 29 with a 2 p.m. Mass at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo. Father Deegan was chaplain at Divine Redeemer Hospital in South St. Paul and Ramsey Hospital in St. Paul, and he ministered at St. Casimir in St. Paul. He was director of Christ the King Retreat Center for nine years and currently serves on the preaching team at King’s House.

Peacemaker award


Sister Mary Jo Mike, a former member of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood, was selected to receive the 2010 Peacemaker Award from the Franciscan Federation, which promotes Franciscan evangelical life. Sister Mary Jo, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, will receive the award based on her involvement with the Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.

New foundation position


The Ministry Foundations of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet has appointed Ralph Scorpio as executive director. Sister Irene O’Neill, CSJ, was appointed principal foundations officer. Both positions will provide support for the sisters’ work in health care, education, immigration and safety for women in transition.

Catholic Daughters’ contribution


Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Mother Teresa 2592 of St. Paul, recently contributed $1,000 to the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul. The seminary is one of many projects supported by CDA locally. The donation was given to Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan, rector and vice president of the seminary.

Donate school supplies


The Cathedral of Saint Paul will conduct its annual back-to-school collection of school supplies for grades 10-12 who participate in Catholic Charities’ programs. Supplies will be collected after Masses Aug. 14-15 at the Shared Mission Table, and Aug. 16 at the Welcome Center. Cash or check donations made out to Catholic Charities will also be accepted.