STUDENTS, ALUMS CELEBRATE ALEMANY HS's 50th ANNIVERSARY
By Paula Doyle

Published: Friday, June 2, 2006, in The Tidings
http://www.the-tidings.com/2006/0602/alemany.htm

Under fluttering cardinal and gold flags, Bishop Alemany High School's student body, faculty, staff, alumni members and guests gathered on the school's sun washed football field in Mission Hills May 25 for a 50th anniversary celebration Mass.

Participants filing into Fr. Robert Milbauer Stadium received gold visors commemorating the school's jubilee anniversary and cardboard fans imprinted with the school's mission "…to develop a community of intellectually accomplished persons who are conscientious leaders and morally courageous agents of peace and justice."

Descending the altar dais occupied by several clergy --- among them, San Fernando Region Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson and former Alemany principal Father Robert Milbauer --- Cardinal Roger Mahony began his sermon on the field by reflecting on Alemany's half-century of service.

"So many alumni have gone forth with all of the things that make Alemany a very special school," said Cardinal Mahony. In response to his request that students contribute their ideas on how Alemany is special, several volunteered answers such as "nice religious community," "good faculty," "family atmosphere" and "beautiful campus."

Affirming the "nice grounds" of the campus, the cardinal elicited laughter when he added, "You also have a beautiful cemetery [San Fernando Mission Cemetery] to remind you what the end of the road looks like."

Commenting on Alemany's tradition of community service, Cardinal Mahony declared, "The spirit of Jesus Christ raised from the dead takes us forward to continue those wonderful works of caring for the poor."

He encouraged the students to take their Christian leadership skills out into the world for the betterment of others. "It is up to you as alumni and students to continue what makes Alemany special. Be committed to that spirit and make it something really exciting," said Cardinal Mahony.

Following the liturgy, Los Angeles City Councilmember Tony Cardenas and San Fernando City Councilmember Maribel De La Torre, representing her sister Assembly Member Cindy Montenez, presented Cardinal Mahony with resolutions commending Alemany for its 50 years of dedication to students in the northeast San Fernando Valley. De La Torre said she was proud to don the Alemany visor as her son will be attending the school next year.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Alex Padilla added his congratulations saying "…I know in my heart that Alemany High School and the extended Alemany family will play many roles at all levels of the community in business, in government, in the non-profit sector, in education and beyond, because that is God's will done on earth."

As an expression of the school's commitment to the future, Cardinal Mahony formally installed the new Bishop Alemany High School Council led by chairperson Hal Barlow. Members of the council, "formed in the spirit of collaborative ministry," will meet quarterly to work on strategic planning.

Alemany's new incoming principal, Frank Ferry, told The Tidings after the ceremony he's "coming home to the place that gave me leadership skills." A 1983 Alemany graduate who worked on the school's 25th anniversary planning committee under then-principal Father Stephen Blaire (now bishop of Stockton), Ferry is a Santa Clarita City Councilmember who spent the last four years as an assistant principal at Saugus High School.

The retiring principal, Dr. John Monnig, said recent anniversary celebrations and alumni reunions have been a "tremendous experience. In the past few weeks, we've met hundreds of alumni and gone over all their traditions. They talk about their wonderful memories and how they want to get involved again. They're showing a lot of interest in forming mentorships with the students.

Anniversary Mass cantor Jessica Gallucci, class of 1993, fondly recalled her time at Alemany. "The best thing about Alemany when I was here was that Father Milbauer as our principal really went out of his way to make this place a community --- it was home. There were roses around the library and he walked out among the students during the recesses and lunches. You really felt a sense of connectivity and community," said Gallucci.

She noted her class was the last graduating class before the 1994 Northridge earthquake devastated the north campus, requiring Father Milbauer to oversee the move to the south campus where students shared quarters with seminarians attending Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary High School. Rebuilding Alemany involved the transfer of 1,585 students and the renovation of several buildings.

Fellow class of 1968 alums Kathy Anderson and Patti Petralia were delighted to reconnect at the anniversary Mass. "I loved it, the people and the friendships," said Anderson, who has a son who's an Alemany junior. She's still in regular touch with 10 classmates and helps coordinate reunions.

Petralia, who said she was reminiscing about the football games and the sock hops before Mass, remembered how co-ed lunches were a big event at the school since students were taught in segregated boy and girl classes. "It was such a sense of family. It's something that's carried through with me for all of my life," said Petralia.