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Cretin-Derham Hall Honors the Christian Brothers on Founders Day

May 15, 2017

Many Christian Brothers gathered to celebrate Founders Day at Cretin-Derham Hall on May 15, 2017. (top row) Brothers Pat Conway’71, Ephrain Martinez, Douglas Hawkins’63, Dominic Ehrmantraut’63. (bottom row) Brothers Larry Schatz, Fred Dillenburg, Michael Rivers, Denis Galvin, Robert Smith’72.

A special Founders' Day Celebration in honor of the Brothers of the Christian Schools was held on May 15, 2017, the traditional day the Brothers celebrate St. John Baptist de La Salle. The day included an all-school assembly in the Joe Mauer Field House.

The celebration included a number of Christian Brothers, joined by Sisters of St. Joseph and retired faculty and staff, including current CDH faculty members Brother Pat Conway’71, Brother Michael Rivers, Brother Douglas Hawkins’63 and de La Salle volunteer Sam Vetch. Joining them were Brother Larry Schatz, Provincial Visitor, and Brothers Dominic Ehrmantraut’63, Fred Dillenburg, Robert Smith’72, Ephrain Martinez, Dennis Galvin, Milton Barker and Dick Engler, AFSC (Affiliated member of the Christian Brothers.)

A special recognition was given to Brother Michael Rivers, who is celebrating his 50^th Jubilee as a Christian Brother. He is the longest serving, consecutive teaching Brother in the history of Cretin and Cretin-Derham Hall.

This year, CDH honored their co-founders with a dedicated effort to educate the community about the history of the Christian Brothers and the impact on current day Cretin-Derham Hall. Students and faculty focused on the Christian Brothers’ humble beginnings as well as the charisms that have carried the Brothers forth into schools all over the world. Christian Brothers currently run hundreds of schools worldwide, including 5 high schools, one university and one retreat center in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The Christian Brothers came to St. Paul in 1871 and have served the CDH community ever since.

The assembly concluded with recognition of students and faculty who embody the values of the Christian Brothers and their contributions to Catholic education.

Students had the opportunity to select a faculty or staff member who they believe best embodies the values of the Christian Brothers. In addition, two students per grade were selected by the faculty and staff in recognition of the same.

Those selected for recognition are:

Ninth Grade: Teddy Meutzel and Isabel Basurto

Sophomore: Louis McGee and Frances Hottinger

Junior: Amy Rueter and Matt Voight

Senior: Tom Czech and Riley Domler

Faculty/Staff: Susan Vaughan-Fier, Paul Nyberg, Suzanne Zobitz and Peter Watkin

The celebration was followed by a reception in the McCloughan Carondelet Conference Room of the Sunberg Leadership Center.

Special thanks to Brian Nalipinski '96, owner of Dairy Queen in Morris, Minnesota for donating dilly bars for the entire CDH school community in honor of the day.