Holy Trinity Saints
Social media buzzed immediately.
Reporters from Dubois County newspapers, Jasper radio stations and Evansville TV stations tweeted the news in seconds.
Usually, the concept of something going viral in a room full of youngsters isn’t good. In this case, however, the news of Holy Trinity Catholic School spread quickly across the Diocese of Evansville.
Just a minute earlier, Father Gary Kaiser addressed a gymnasium charged with anxious excitement. Hundreds of students from Jasper’s three Catholic schools waited for his opening comments to conclude.
“Now I ask our students to help in the countdown,” he said, finally.
“St. Mary….” “One!” cried the youngest of the students, from the parish preschool in Ireland.
“Precious Blood….” “Two!” shouted another group of youngster’s from this Jasper school.
“Holy Family….” “Three!” yelled the rest of the students in the room, from that parish school in Jasper.
“Three in One!” Father Gary said. “The newest member of the Dubois County Catholic community is … Holy Trinity Catholic School!
“Holy Trinity Catholic School will open in the fall of 2015 to serve all of Dubois County,” he added. “Teams will compete as the Saints, and the school colors will be purple, white and gold.”
As the name and logo came up on the huge rear-projection screen, the room erupted into cheers and applause – and those reporters started posting and Tweeting. “We had it live on our website within seconds of you saying it,” one of them told Father Gary after the joyous assembly concluded.
Before the announcement, students, faculty and families from the three schools gathered in Jasper’s St. Joseph Church for Mass. Father Gary, pastor of Precious Blood Parish in Jasper and St. Mary Parish in Ireland, concelebrated with Father John Boeglin, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Jasper; Father Ray Brenner, pastor of St. Joseph Parish; Father Jack Durcholz, pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish in Ferdinand; Father Ryan Hildebrand, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg; and Father Gene Schmitt, pastor of St. Peter Celestine Parish in Celestine and St. Raphael Parish in Dubois.
When Mass concluded, everyone moved to the gymnasium in St. Joseph’s Kundek Hall for the announcement. Dr. Daryl Hagan, Diocese of Evansville superintendent of Schools, welcomed those who packed the space and thanked everyone involved with the consolidation project.
“We did not get to this point without the guidance and leadership of so many,” he said, before recognizing pastors, parish pastoral and finance councils, volunteers who served on the school transition team and many others. He then introduced Father Kaiser, who discussed the history and accomplishments of Dubois County Catholic schools before leading the announcement.
“The purpose of Catholic education is the same in every Catholic school, and it is time to unite as one body to continue educate and spread the good news of Jesus Christ,” Father Kaiser said. “United as one school with the same vision, we will be able to achieve far more than any of us could ever dream. We look to the future of Catholic education in Dubois County as one united family with one united purpose. We are one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”
Immediately following the announcement, faculty and staff members from the consolidating schools passed out purple shirts with the Holy Trinity name and logo on them in gold and white.
“We will hold another meeting on Oct. 15 for the adults,” Father Kaiser said. “We will announce use of the existing building and additional school information. All of our students and their families are anxious to learn more about the home of the Saints, and we look forward to sharing lots of news with them in the coming weeks.”
