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As with any anniversary article, there’s rarely room to be inclusive. The St. Vincent de Paul School’s 50th anniversary story is no exception.

I learned some fascinating tidbits during an interview with the principal and development director about recent steps the school has taken to memorialize past leaders. The article correctly states that the school campus is largely unchanged in the last 50 years, but there it has received minor facelifts in recent months.

• Memorial trees — Current students and their families held a “Plant, paint and picnic” day this weekend. I don’t remember what was painted, but they dedicated a pre-planted tree to Sr. Theresa McDermott, DC, who served as principal in the ‘90s. They also planted a new tree in honor of Sr. Louise Camous, DC. She was St. Vincent de Paul’s most recent principal. She passed away in October.
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  Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal first appeared to a Daughter of Charity in the 1930s. The sisters opened St. Vincent de Paul School, where this statue resides, in 1959.

  Meditation Grotto — Parishioners pooled their talents this summer to create a meditation grotto. It faces the courtyard just outside the multipurpose room. It features Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which is a Vincentian devotion because she first appeared to a Sister of Charity in 1930. Sr. Julie Kubasak, DC, likes that she has a view of it from her office window. “Then I can pray for them too for whatever they’re praying for. You can tell people just pour their heart out,” she said. Several marigold flowers — a teacher gift from Sr. Julie at the beginning of the school year — rests at Our Lady’s feet. Sr. Julie noticed a penny at Our Lady’s feet too when she showed me the grotto. She noted that the Blessed Mother had already produced a penny to share with the poor.

Even if you’re not an alumni or don’t even know where the Maryvale school is, the longevity of the sisters’ service to the school, and how they preserved some history, seemed impressive to remember.

For those who are alumni, I hope you have already inked in Feb. 13 on your calendars. Organizers have been hard at work contacting alumni and sprucing up the campus a bit for the school’s 50th anniversary celebration.

We get on the phone and an hour later it’s like we talked a week ago

That’s how John Campbell, St. Vincent de Paul Class of ‘69, described his interaction with alumni while coordinating “The Big Event” next weekend. Regardless of their age difference, the campus and school experience has served as common ground for genuine conversation. “It’s just such a unique bond to that school,” he said.

Apparently, that bond was instantaneous. Rose DeFer, the school’s development director, recently met a St. Vincent de Paul alum who took on a paper route to pay his way through Catholic school. He only went to the school for eighth grade, yet he formed such a bond with the community that he counted himself among the alumni.

The school’s 50th anniversary celebration continues in March with community-wide service projects including making lunches for Habitat for Humanity volunteers.