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Past Events

St. Augustine's 3^rd Annual Reunion

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

October 8-10, 1999

By Fr. Bob Kelley, SVD

        The alumni of St. Augustine Seminary gathered for their Third Annual Reunion in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on October 8-10, 1999. Eighty-five people attended the weekend including alumni, their guests and SVDs.

        Friday night, the alumni were welcomed with a social in the new Dining Room at St. Augustine's. Fathers Raymond Lennon, SVD, and Stephen Schuler, SVD, prepared delicious hors d'oeuvres for the Social. Old yearbooks, St. Augustine Messenger's and Mr. Paul Bruce's alumni photos from 1947-1950 were available for everyone to see. The evening ended around 10:30 P.M., and it was a great way to begin the alumni weekend.

        Saturday morning began with coffee and donuts in the Retreat Center Annex from 9:00-10:30 AM. It was a good time for all alumni to meet, share old stories and renew friendships.

        The alumni gathered at in the Conference Room of the retreat center for their first meeting of the weekend. Fr. Lennon, the new Rector of St. Augustine's, welcomed the alumni. He told them that St. Augustine's was a very special place in the life and history of the Society of the Divine Word. It changed the life of the Catholic Church in the United States and around the world. He wished the alumni well and told them that they were always welcome at St. Augustine's.

        Following Fr. Lennon's brief welcome, each alumnus introduced himself and any family or guests that were with him. They also told about the years that they attended St. Augustine Seminary, the significant SVDs and teachers who influenced their lives, and they spoke of what their current work or ministry is. It was a very special experience to hear the alumni sharing the positive influence St. Augustine's Seminary had in their lives.

        After the alumni sharing, we served lunch at 12:30 PM, followed by tours of the new Community Hall and renovated Christmann Hall. The weather was beautiful, so the grounds of St. Augustine's were a wonderful place to take a walk.

        The alumni met again at in the retreat center. After discussion of a proposed constitution for the St. Augustine Alumni Association, the alumni approved its use for one year. They went on under the direction of Mr. John Moore to select and vote on members to an Alumni Board. A Planning Committee was also chosen to plan next year's reunion.

        Fr. Bob Kelly, SVD, spoke to the alumni about their possible support of SVD Southern Province projects, e.g., the restoration of St. Augustine's Chapel and the Bishop Joseph A. Francis Scholarship Fund. Fr. Clifton Labbe then spoke to the alumni about the need for them to help make the St. Augustine's Alumni Association a reality. The afternoon meeting ended at 3:00 PM. The new Alumni Board and Planning Committee met for one hour afterward to plan for the future.

        An evening social for all the alumni and their guests began outside at 5:00 PM. Mr. John Moore brought many gifts for a raffle to benefit St. Augustine's. Fr. Lennon added a six-piece place setting of china decorated with the SVD logo from seminary days. Mr. Patrick Journet and Brother Bernard Dorade, SVD, (Brother B.B.) sold tickets for the raffle that raised $527.00. Thirty-five gifts were raffled after dinner Saturday night.

        A delicious dinner took place that evening. Fr. Schuler and Fr. Lennon were the "chefs" along with Mrs. Nellie Bell and Mrs. Florence Mitchell. A host of volunteers served the meal and worked hard to make the sit-down dinner a total success. We could not have done it without the talented cooks and volunteers!

        The alumni prayed together during the meal by singing the Salve Regina. It brought back many memories of chapel evening prayers from seminary days. The wives and guests were delighted to hear the strong, powerful voices of the alumni. The evening ended with each alumnus receiving an SVD platter or bowl with the SVD logo on it from seminary days. Everyone was very grateful to receive a small gift to remind them of their history in the seminary, especially the family-style dinners and the many dishes they labored to wash..

        Bishop Dominic Carmon, SVD, of New Orleans, Louisiana celebrated Sunday Mass. The Rev. Mr. Leon Bechet and the Rev. Mr. Eugene LeBoeuf were the Deacons for the liturgy in St. Augustine's Chapel at 9:00 AM. Father Labbe preached an uplifting homily, and Mr. Patrick Journet and Mr. Winfield Ledet joined in with St. Augustine's musicians to help with the music. After communion, the alumni sang Salve Regina, as they had every day during evening prayers in the same beautiful chapel. An alumni group picture and a wonderful continental breakfast in St. Augustine's Dining Room followed Mass.

        It was a moving experience for the alumni to again be back at St. Augustine's. They plan to keep coming back every year. Some possible plans for the future include a fundraiser on Friday evening for the restoration of the chapel, a retreat for all alumni, and a fitting memorial to remember the significance of the seminary and the SVDs who labored there for many years. The alumni want to continue to celebrate the difference that the SVDs and St. Augustine's Seminary made in their lives.