On May 15, 2010, nearly 120 students, alumnae, and prospective students, were joined by parents, staff, and friends at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg for the 2010 St. Ambrose Academy All-Class Reunion, where they enjoyed games, activities, and a picnic lunch.

Before the Reunion, Diocese of Madison Vicar General Msgr. James Bartylla celebrated Mass, with servers including a St. Ambrose Academy alumnus, a current high school student, and a student enrolled to begin sixth grade in the fall. Listen to Msgr. Bartylla's homily below:

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Graduates, current students, and Waiting List, and prospective students gathered at the 2010 all-class reunion.


St. Ambrose Academy students formed the schola for the Mass celebrated by Msgr. Bartylla before the Reunion gathering.

Past, Present, and Future Classmates Brought Together at St. Ambrose All-Class Reunion
By Meg Matenaer

St. Ambrose Academy hosted an All-Class Reunion on Saturday, May 15 for its past, present, and future students and their parents.  The families and members of the St. Ambrose faculty and staff attended Mass at the Bishop O’Connor Center and later traveled to McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg, where students and parents got to know each other and the school through organized activities.

Msgr. Bartylla kicked off the day by celebrating Mass for the community.  During his homily, he admitted to feeling a little “holy envy” when thinking of the St. Ambrose students and their early start on the path of wisdom.  Msgr. Bartylla remarked that the students were “20 years ahead” of him in their search for truth and fulfillment, crediting for this the “good intellectual preparation” and the “infusion of acquired wisdom and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit” gained through their education at St. Ambrose.

After Mass, the community regrouped at McKee Farms Park, where attendees registered, received shirts for their children commemorating the day, and had the chance to purchase tickets to the upcoming St. Ambrose musical, The Pirates of Penzance..  After, pictures of the future graduating classes were taken, and children had the opportunity to participate in different activities with their future classmates according to their age level, ranging from circle games to soccer.  A picnic lunch followed.

St. Ambrose president David Stiennon was pleased with the turnout, estimating that around 200 people attended.  One goal of the day, he said, was to help foster friendships among children on the Active Waiting List.  “St. Ambrose Academy draws students from across the diocese in many different cities and towns,” said Stiennon. “We know that students will form strong friendships when they enroll at our school, but even more than that, we want the children who are anticipating enrolling in two, four, six or more years to know that they will have friends when they first walk into the classroom.”

Stiennon also hoped that parents of prospective students could “meet one another and participate even now in the Catholic community that will be assisting them with the middle school and high school education of their children.”

Laura Karlen, mother of Peter, age 3, enjoyed this opportunity to spend time with the school community and talk with other parents of current and potential students. The sentiment among those she talked with was that “St. Ambrose was a great environment for students, a place where their great potential for learning is tapped and developed.”

“We also marveled at the strong faith and values that St. Ambrose cultivates in the students,” said Karlen, sharing a story of a mother’s pleasant surprise when hearing of her St. Ambrose student’s plans for her future.  Her daughter’s goal?  Simply to do God’s will.

St. Ambrose principal Scott Schmiesing received many positive comments on the day.  Schmiesing said that parents were grateful for the opportunity to talk to each other about the school, and the children had fun playing with each other.  The school is planning to hold smaller get-togethers for individual classes throughout the year.

To place your children on the St. Ambrose Active Waiting List at no charge, visit www.ambroseacademy.org/wait.