2011 St. Ambrose Academy Benefit

Over 500 guests attended the dinner on Saturday night, Dec. 10, 2011, at the Madison Marriott Hotel West in Middleton.

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, over 500 guests gathered at the Marriot Hotel West in Middleton, for the fifth St. Ambrose Academy Benefit.

St. Ambrose Dean of Faculty Dr. Constance Nielsen was master of ceremonies.  After Bishop Morlino offered Grace, and the St. Ambrose Academy Schola, led by Aristole Esguerra sang two sacred songs, the diners sat down to a delicious chicken dinner.

The program began with new St. Ambrose Academy religion and math teacher Theresa Klinkhammer, M.Ed. (click on photo for video)

Next senior Winifred Hoerr, offered an ironic skit on the academic life at St. Ambrose Academy (click on photo for video).

Juniors Mary Duhn and Michael Carey performed a bilingual skit (click on photo for video)

St. Ambrose Academy Board Member Joan Carey thanked the many people who have helped the school.

Next Senior Clare Stiennon described her experience testifying before a Wisconsin State Senate panel (click on photo for video).

St. Ambrose Development Director Mrs. Laura Karlen drew the attention of  the guests

to how the students can bring light to dark regions of the local culture where it is much needed.

Bishop Morlino was presented with a spiritual bouquet by the guests, and

pointed out how St. Ambrose prepares students.  He encouraged the guests to refrain from purchasing a holiday bush.

The evening closed with three St. Paul's University Catholic Center students leading the guests in O Come O Come Emanuel.

Dinner Announcement Article

St. Ambrose Academy is excited to announce its Fifth Annual Benefit Dinner. “Catholic education is crucial for the survival of the Church in the modern world,” says Theresa Klinkhammer, who holds a Master of Arts degree in education and teaches religion and math at St. Ambrose Academy. “The school provides an atmosphere of faith for students to grow in their love of God and their knowledge of the world and fellow human beings.”

Investing in Joy

This year’s benefit dinner is being coordinated by St. Ambrose Academy’s new Director of Development, Laura Karlen. This year the benefit dinner will focus on Catholic education throughout the Diocese, inviting Catholic primary schools whose students have gone on to St. Ambrose or whose students are on the Academy waiting list to attend the dinner and set up informational tables. Those in attendance will thus have an opportunity to learn more about Catholic education throughout the Diocese.
Karlen, who also coordinates the 40 Days For Life prayer vigil outside Planned Parenthood, first learned about St. Ambrose Academy through Madison pro-life events at which Ambrose students were unfailingly present. “Every time my life intersected with Ambrose students, I could sense their closeness to Christ and their joy in their faith. Joy is a rare thing in our culture, and here at St. Ambrose, the students are radiantly on fire for the Faith. People want to invest in joy,” said Karlen; “it gives them hope for the future. People recognize the light in the eyes of St. Ambrose students. Too often people don’t consider joy in our culture; they only pursue material happiness. Joy is the spiritual lasting peace of knowing we are in union with God, whereas happiness is the fleeting satisfaction of our desires. Our students will build up the Church by radiating Christ and winning over those around them who find that joy infectious.”
Bill Schwoegler, whose family owns the Schwoegler bowling alley, has for many years been a daily communicant at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, which generously provides its religious education wing for the Academy’s use during the school day. Schwoegler has long enjoyed seeing the students at Mass; he is attracted by their joy and devotion. He recently attended one of the St. Ambrose Mission Breakfasts, held every few weeks to give benefactors an opportunity to learn more about the school. There he learned more about the Ambrose mission of making Catholic education to all, not just the wealthy. “I want to thank St. Ambrose Academy for doing that,” Schwoegler said. “It’s awesome.” Schwoegler has since decided that he and his family would provide three annual scholarship awards through the Ad Altare Dei scholarship program, which reduces tuition for students nominated by area priests. “I would love to help these Ambrose families along,” he said. “St. Ambrose is doing great work in encouraging vocations.”
Heeding the Holy Father’s Call to Faith
On October 11, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI declared a Year of Faith to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, inviting all people to cross the threshold of faith into a life of communion with God. The document Porta Fidei (The Door of Faith) especially encourages the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. At St. Ambrose, studying the Catechism is an every-day exercise. Thus, said Karlen, “Our students have the deep faith to support them and the education to stand firmly on two feet. St. Ambrose Academy demonstrates that the Church, which has an ancient form, is relevant and exciting to today’s youth because of what they can do in Christ.”
Bishop Robert Morlino continues to teach two high school courses at St. Ambrose Academy on the Faith in the world today, one for the girls and one for the boys. Please come to the Benefit Dinner, greet the Bishop, mix and mingle with the Catholic community and representatives of other schools in the Madison Diocese, and offer your support to one of the most crucial enterprises of our time: educating our young in the faith of Jesus Christ so they can help lead others through the door to faith.
Schools like St. Ambrose can’t exist without the support of many in the Catholic community. Scott Schmiesing, principal of St. Ambrose noted, “At the pace of our current growth rate, it won’t be long before we need to find more space. We will need a strong and committed benefactor base to ensure the future of our mission to make a solid Catholic education available to all.” The benefit dinner will be just the place to learn how to give hope to the world through an army of young people who are equipped to go out without fear and spread the joy they have in knowing Jesus Christ.