Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the May 20, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)

Learning Fair at St. Aloysius

Nick Brozik, 2nd grader at St. Aloysius School, shares his Learning Fair project with Ryan Byrd and Daniel Fuchs. Recently, students in grades K-8 each researched a topic of their own selection and used the “I-SEARCH” model to create a project to share during a day and evening of presentations. Fellow students provided positive feed back to each of the presenters. (IR photo from St. Aloysius School, Spokane)

Father Tom Mele, a priest of the Spokane Diocese and a native of Walla Walla, Wash., was awarded a Master of Social Work Degree at the 128th commencement of Boston College on May 24. He was one of more than 3,000 graduates receiving degrees.

Father Mele is a graduate of Mater Cleri High School Seminary, Colbert, Wash.; Gonzaga University; The Sulpician Seminary of the Northwest, Kenmore, Wash.; and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.

At Boston College, Father Mele was selected by the deans of his college as “An Outstanding Graduate Student of 2003-2004,” an honor he shares with two other colleagues. While studying at the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), Father Mele served on the Academic Integrity Committee, the Strategic Planning and Steering Committee, and was active in the Student Collective, the student governing body of the GSSW. He co-chaired the HIV/AIDS Education and Awareness Committee for the Student Collective. The GSSW Graduating Class of 2004 selected Father Mele as their Clinical Student Graduation Speaker.

Media studies

Scott Steele, Marketing Director for Avista Corporation, visited the seventh and eighth grade media studies class at Cataldo School recently. He discussed advertising techniques and the corporation’s participation in the anti-drug competition Teens Against Substance Abuse Campaign (T.A.S.C.). (IR photo from Cataldo School, Spokane)

By the book

Sophia Johnson, student body president at St. Mary School, presents Msgr. John Steiner, St. Mary’s pastor, with a scrapbook of pictures created by the school’s students and staff. The gift was just one moment in the recent Pastor Appreciation Day. Each student drew a picture of the monsignor and included a caption describing what they had learned from him. (IR photo from St. Mary School, Spokane Valley)

‘Brown Bag’ lady

If you call Marcie Flanigan a bag lady, she’ll agree that it’s true – that is, if you call her a Brown Bag Lady. This 18-year employee of Catholic Charities’ Senior Services played a pivotal role in the genesis of the Brown Bag program, which partners with the food bank to deliver groceries to shut-ins, handicapped people, and anyone else who can’t make it to the food bank on their own. The Brown Bag program has been running successfully for over 20 years. “What’s fulfilling is going to someone’s home and seeing their needs,” says Flanigan. “Sometimes you look in the fridge and see that it’s empty, so you find ways to get them more food.” Though Flanigan is retiring to spend more time with her husband, Bob (pictured) and grandchildren, she’ll still be around as a volunteer, because helping out fills a gap. “If you see a need,” advises Flanigan, “do it.” (IR photo from Catholic Charities)

Crafty bunnies

The altar society of St. Paschal Parish, Spokane Valley, held an arts and crafts sale in early spring. Several vendors participated with candles, jewelry, gourmet food, along with Leon and Irene Bailly and their bunnies, just in time for Easter. (IR photo from St. Paschal School, Spokane Valley)