Homecoming Week Celebrates Raider Pride With the Entire CDH Community
October 4, 2024
Homecoming Week at Cretin-Derham Hall was a mix of school spirit, community events, and alumni gatherings. From the opening Mass on Monday morning to the school dance on Saturday night, the week was filled with activities that brought the entire CDH community together to celebrate their shared Raider pride. Watch this video with highlights from the week!
Monday Morning Mass
The week kicked off with a special Homecoming Mass, officiated by Father Pat Kennedy ‘69, with the theme of “Home.” The Mass united the school community in prayer, reminding everyone of the sense of belonging that CDH provides. An impressive 50 students contributed to the music ministry.
School-Day Homecoming Activities
Throughout the week, Student Council organized a series of events that kept the students engaged. Dress-up days added some fun, while Flex time activities like an outdoor picnic, a movie screening, and an Activities Fair provided opportunities to relax and connect. The school week wrapped up with a Friday Pep Fest, where school spirit was on full display.
CDH Athletic Hall of Fame
On Thursday, September 26, the CDH community gathered in the Joe Mauer Field House for the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. More than 450 people attended, including past inductees and their families, to honor the 2024 class. This memorable event celebrated the legacy of excellence in CDH athletics, recognizing those who have made a lasting impact. The sold-out event was a huge success. Read more about the 2024 Hall of Fame and the inductees.
"Welcome Home Alumni" Events
Friday’s Homecoming festivities brought over 100 Cretin, Derham Hall and CDH alumni together for an Alumni Mass, lunch, and school tours. Father Pat Kennedy ‘69 and Father John Forliti ‘54, celebrated the Mass and the classes of 1954 (70th reunion) and 1964 (60th reunion) were honored at the luncheon. Alumni were treated to tours of the school’s newly updated spaces, and many had fun walking through the halls looking for their class pictures on the walls. Lindsay Miesbauer Wilhelmy ‘99, reflecting on the event, said, “CDH is a special place that brings us home to connect with one another again and again.”
Scott Anderson ‘84, President of the CDH Alumni Board, shared, “We all have our own version of a ‘lifelong relationship’ with the school, whether it’s Derham Hall, Cretin, or Cretin-Derham Hall. We come home to remember and celebrate together.” The day was a meaningful celebration of the lasting relationships formed at CDH, with Matt Bona ‘06 adding, “I had such a wonderful time. This was the highlight of my week!”
Homecoming Football Game
Friday evening featured the highly anticipated Homecoming football game, which opened with the CDH Choir singing the national anthem and the JROTC Color guard presenting the colors. Several Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were honored and the new Performance Dance Team performed during half-time. The CDH band kept the energy going with lively music. It was a tough one point loss for the Raiders after a huge second half comeback, but they played hard and made the Raider fans proud.
Raider Family Fest
On Saturday afternoon, the Raider Family Fest brought hundreds of CDH community members together, including current students, alumni, and future Raiders. Alumni-owned food trucks, including El Burrito Mercado, Peppers & Fries, and Brick Oven Pizza Bus, served up delicious meals, while activities like face painting, spike ball, and Robotics demonstrations entertained the crowd. One of the highlights was the dunk tank, where Jerry Kline Jr. ‘93, Amy Bellus ‘90, and President Jeb Myers were popular targets.
Courtney Marek Rankin '05 reflected on the event, saying, “It was so nice to see families and students enjoying the festivities! Best of all, I was thoroughly impressed with the students who interacted with my little girl—painting her face, making art projects, and playing with robots.”
MJ Dougherty '25, who spent the day helping with STEM activities, spoke enthusiastically about the event, saying, “Raider Fest was a great opportunity to spend time with our community— from alumni to future Raiders. It was a lovely day of face painting, creative building, arts and crafts, and soccer! I really look forward to coming back in future years to see what CDH continues to bring to it.”
Homecoming Dance
Homecoming Week wrapped up with the traditional Homecoming Dance held in the Joe Mauer Field House. Seniors wore their traditional black and green and students danced the night away.
A Successful Week
Whether you were a student experiencing Homecoming for the first time or an alum reconnecting with old friends, the week was a beautiful celebration of legacy of CDH. Lisa Battis O'Connell '97 summed it up beautifully, saying, “It was nice to run into friends you may not have seen in awhile and you can pick up right where you left off. It’s those relationships and the sense of community that makes CDH so special.”