Alumni Newsletter
December 2002

En arche en ho logos, kai ho logos en pros ton theon, kai theos en ho logos
"In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God" (John 1:1).

LATEST ISSUE OF THE WORD ONLINE AT:
http://www.uiw.edu/thewordonline/

CATCH UP ON THE NEWS AT:
http://www.uiw.edu/news/newsarchive.html

GENERAL UIW NEWS: A new web format at: http://www.uiw.edu/

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
http://www.uiw.edu/skyroom/

UIW WELCOMES SISTER KATHLEEN COUGHLIN, CCVI
UIW’s New Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Sister Kathleen Coughlin was introduced as the next Vice President for Institutional Advancement of the University of the Incarnate Word during a public forum at the university on April 23. "A number of exceptional candidates were considered for this crucial position," said Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr., President of Incarnate Word. "We feel that Sister Kathleen possesses an unmatched combination of depth and breadth of professional experience as well as familiarity with Incarnate Word and San Antonio." Sister Kathleen, who was president of the Catholic Health Association of Texas, was President and CEO of the Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi from 1981 to 1995. She is also a past member of the university’s Board of Trustees and, from 1996 to 2000, served as Provincial Superior of the U.S. Province of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. She is a 1967 BSN alumna of UIW.

The Vice President for Institutional Advancement provides overall leadership and strategic direction of the university’s development activities as well as those at Incarnate Word High School and St. Anthony Catholic High School. Sister Kathleen succeeds Thomas K. Plofchan, who served as Vice President for 15 years until his death in December. Sister Kathleen began her duties on November 11, 2002.

IWHS MADRIGALS INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE
The Incarnate Word High School Madrigals under the direction of music alumna Mary Ann DeLaGarza were invited to sing at the White House in Washington in early December. The IWHS Christmas Choral concert here will be on December 12-13, 2002.

UIW CHORALE TO SING AT OUR HOUSE
The UIW Chorale and Madrigals will offer their Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 8, 2002 in Our Lady’s Chapel of the Administration Building at 3:00 p.m. Admission is free.

PHONATHON TOTALS AS OF NOVEMBER
As of this writing the total of alumni gifts and pledges to the UIW annual fund through Phonathon nears the $80,000 mark. There are still many calls for the students to make. Please be as generous as you can as out students are counting on you. And you need not wait for a call if you want your gift to be received before the end of 2002. Phonathons for UIW, IWHS and St. Anthony’s support the needs of students in the current academic year.

SECOND ALUMNA OF DISTINCTION FOR 2002
2002 Alumna of Distinction for Service in Mission
Mary Jo Quinn, B.S. in Medical Record Administration, 1966

Mary Jo and her mother, the late Josephine Quinn, have a long connection with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and Santa Rosa. For many, many years Mrs. Quinn had a distinguished nursing career at the Santa Rosa, and in fact both of them were at Santa Rosa when another Irish woman, Maureen Halligan, arrived in the United States and worked for a time at the hospital in medical records.

Mary Jo’s career in health care administration started in 1966 and her leadership role continued until a few years ago. At that point in time she decided to put her career on hold and volunteered to work with the Presentation Sisters in Africa, serving and living with the poor in a slum area of the capitol city. She and a Presentation Sister opened the first house in that city and Mary Jo taught English and reading in their private school.

In her private life Mary Jo’s Irish heritage translated into years of community service in San Antonio, and early active membership in the Harp and Shamrock Society. Now back in San Antonio, she wants to continue with her career, but this time in hand-on Christian service to those most in need.

DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT HONORS 1978 SILVER BELLS
The following alumni and alumnae of 1978 will represent their class at the morning commencement on December 14th:
William T. Barnett, Bachelor of Science in Biology
Edna-Mae Barrera, Bachelor of Business Administration
Sister Margaret Carew, CCVI , Master of Arts in Religious Studies
Esther A. Castro, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Antoinette V Franklin, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Berta Hilda Mancha Galan, Bachelor of Arts in Education/Spanish
Teresa Goguen Hotchkiss, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Susan Root Kiker, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Lucia A Hernandez Kitchen, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Sister Nadine Luebbert, CCVI, Master of Arts in Religious Studies
Antoinette Pollock Mulvaney, Bachelor of Arts in English
Joan Orosco, Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations
Roxanne Zertuche Ramsey, Bachelor of Arts in Education
Maria Angelica Pena Rocha, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Maria Socorro Sanchez, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Meland C. Harris Smith, Bachelor of Arts in Education
Melind D. Harris Sutherland, Bachelor of Science in Home Economics
Martha Patricia Valdes, Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Deborah Renee Young, Bachelor of Arts in Education

Rehearsal for December commencement is on Thursday, December 12th. Alumni are invited to join the new Alumni for a pizza party after rehearsal in the Dining Room of Marian Hall, about 8 p.m. RSVP to the Alumni Office if you would like to join us.

ST ANTHONY’S TAKES UP THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE
It all started in early November with a challenge to St. Anthony Catholic High School from Providence High School. The challenge was to help in raising the $20,000 needed for Inner City Development to help feed the hungry throughout the year, in an effort known as Thanksgiving 365. Now, St. Anthony officials, with the help of District 7 Councilman, Julian Castro, and his twin brother, Joaquin Castro, State Representative Elect for District 125, joined their efforts and sent out a call for help to the local community at a press conference Nov. 18 at St. Anthony. "We would like to show our support and our confidence in San Antonio by extending the challenge to the community and helping the Inner City Development raise the $20,000," said Alejandro Calderon, Director of Enrollment at St. Anthony. Each year, during this time, as most local families prepare for a Thanksgiving banquet, many families are wondering where or how they will make it through the day, questioning if they will survive the upcoming winter. Thanksgiving 365 is designed to encourage the community to think about such individuals.

UIW COOK BOOK---Unique Christmas Gift
UIW’s Campus Ministry Office has produced a cookbook full of favorite recipes entered by alumni, faculty, staff and students and it has arrived from the publisher. It is available for $10.00, tax and shipping included, at UIW Campus Ministry, UPO 29, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209. The books are $8 if you pick them up on campus.
Julie Engel, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry

AND A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
If you are in San Antonio or plan to be here for the holidays you should check out the San Antonio River as it rises on the UIW campus. The springs are active all around the Blue Hole and the water is clear and beautiful. Will it last? It will until the water level drops below 676 feet above sea level.

ALUMNI AUTHORS
Dr Irene McCrystal, BA ’52 reports that her book Sunshine in a Cup, a collection of true stories of her contact with animals and nature over the course of fifty years, has received an enthusiastic and heartwarming response. It is available through Bookstop or directly from the publisher, American Literary Press 1-800-873-2003, or the website http://www.erols.com/amerlit#

RETIRED HEARST EXECUTIVE HONORED
Frank A. Bennack Jr., retired CEO and president of The Hearst Corporation, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the Incarnate Word, the highest honor the university can bestow on an individual. A long-time supporter of education and of Incarnate Word’s academic programs, the San Antonio native received the award during an Oct. 24 academic ceremony at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. The university’s faculty donned their academic regalia at the ceremony, which will feature many dignitaries, including new Hearst CEO Victor Ganzi. “We are extremely pleased to be able to honor Frank Bennack for all the support he has given education throughout the years,“ said UIW President Dr. Louis Agnese Jr. Bennack turned Hearst into one of the premier media companies in the world during his 23-year tenure, the longest of any Hearst CEO except for that of company founder William Randolph Hearst. He was also honored later that evening as the special guest of a black tie gala event hosted by the World Affairs Council of San Antonio at the university’s newly completed Sky Room. Renowned CNBC commentator and economist Stuart Varney was the gala’s keynote speaker.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2002
Just to let you know that Incarnate Word has two Masses on Christmas Eve. One at 5:00 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel and we try to focus on children and the family. Midnight Mass is in the Motherhouse Chapel and the pre-liturgy music begins around 11:30 p.m. Both Masses are available for alumni and friends but we cannot guarantee or hold seating, and the Fire Department frowns on overcrowding.

M.A.R.S. $1,000 AWARD AVAILABLE FOR ALUMNI NOMINATIONS
Purpose:
The University of the Incarnate Word McCracken Alumni Referral Scholarship was established with the goal to recognize UIW alumni as an effective vehicle in the recruitment of new students, while strengthening the connection of our graduates to the university. Alumni will be involved in identifying prospective students who will benefit from an Incarnate Word education and uphold the mission of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

Program:
Starting immediately, any graduate of UIW can nominate one prospective freshmen or transfer student per year to receive a $1000 voucher towards the cost of attendance in their first year beginning Fall 2003. Deadline for nominations February 1, 2003.

The universe is ours and MARS has come to earth! Effective immediately the McCracken Alumni Referral Scholarship [MARS] is available for alumni/ae nominations. Under this plan any UIW alumnus or alumna can nominate one prospective freshman or transfer student per year a scholarship voucher of $1,000 towards the cost of attendance in their first year beginning with the fall of 2003. An incoming student may not have more than one MARS voucher. The nominated student must meet the UIW admissions standards, complete all appropriate admissions forms, and the voucher is good for the first year only and is not renewable. However, an alumnus/a may nominate another student the following year. It is preferred that the voucher accompany the student’s application for admission, but it can be forwarded to the Admissions Office before or after acceptance. If the voucher does accompany the application, the $20 admissions application fee will be waived.

This new program is designed to encourage our graduates to continue the Incarnate Word legacy and provide a financial incentive as well. The deadline for submission of nominations for the fall semester is February 1, 2002. To receive a M.A.R.S. packet with additional guidelines contact dickm@universe.uiwtx.edu and materials will be sent to you

FOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES
http://www.uiwtx.edu/~athletic/

UIW FITNESS FACILITIES
For a brochure on UIW Fitness Facilities [Cervera Wellness Center, Barshop Natatorium] with alumni/ae discounts email me your name and address: dickm@universe.uiwtx.edu

WOMEN’S GLOBAL CONNECTION and CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
Interconnections has initiated Women’s Global Connection (WGC) in partnership with UIW to offer a virtual gathering place for sharing women’s wisdom, experience, and spirituality for the purpose of nurturing transformative change and building a peaceful and sustainable global community. Please log on @www.womensglobalconnection.org to become involved in building this interactive site.
Print and fill out the Christmas ornament order form. (Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

HOUSTON ACTIVITY
David Mendoza, class of 1986, helped to spearhead this volunteer effort for the Houston Food Bank The event started at 8:00am on November 16, 2002, at the Bank of America lobby downtown and was completed around 10:00-10:30am. The volunteers collected food for the needy before the holidays. Sounds like an alumni Golden Harvest in Houston.

CORPUS CHRISTI ADCaP
A delegation of alumni and students from the ADCap Program in Corpus Christi made the pilgrimage to San Antonio to tour the main campus and attend the evening Light the Way ceremony. This is the second year a group has made the trip for this annual event.

The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre’s LATE NITE CATECHISM raises $12,000 for local community
Arts Center Enterprises, Inc. to present the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word with funds donated during the 3-week production of Late Nite Catechism at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Catechism classes are never as much fun – or as hilarious – as when they are led by Sister in the international hit comedy Late Nite Catechism, directed by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. Late Nite Catechism, directed by Patrick Trettenero, returns, as part of the AT&T Wireless Great Performances Series, to the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, located at 226 N. St Mary’s Street, on January 7, 2003 for 16 Performances! LATE NITE CATECHISM, the interactive comedy that ran at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre January 2 – 20, 2002, tickled San Antonio’s funny bone and opened audience’s hearts. “SISTER”, comedienne Amanda Hebert, humorously took audiences back to catechism class for almost 3-weeks at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. At the end of each performance, Amanda stood at the theatre doors and thanked audiences for taking her “class”. At that time she also accepted donations to benefit the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

In association with the show’s producers, Arts Center Enterprises, Inc., managing the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, selected the local Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as the beneficiaries of the funds. Kirk Feldmann, Executive Director of Arts Center Enterprises, Inc. said, “This is the perfect example of how theatre and the performing arts can nourish the community, not only by lifting spirits and enriching lives, but by also providing direct financial contributions back into the community.” Approximately 6,000 patrons attended the show during its run at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre and audiences donated $12,000.

In each city on LATE NITE CATECHISM’S touring schedule, “SISTER” adopts a congregation of retired Sisters for whom she collects an offering. Many retired sisters do not receive Social Security benefits. In San Antonio, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word prefer to direct their efforts toward helping others, since they are able to care for their own retired Sisters. Their ministry, Sisters Care, will utilize the $12,000 contribution in helping to care for the frail elderly, some of whom are retired Sisters, to help them remain in their homes and maintain their independence as long as possible.
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And to end the year on a light note, thanks to 1969 alumna Rosa Maria Vela Parra of Florida for:

ARE WE COMMUNICATING?? A man spoke frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "Is this her first child?" the doctor asked. "No!" the man shouted, "This is her husband!"

Have a safe and blessed holiday season.
Dick McCracken, Dean: dickm@universe.uiwtx.edu