SEWARD (SNR) – St. Vincent de Paul School in Seward celebrated 20 years of Catholic education June 6, with nearly 250 people in attendance.
The school opened its doors Aug. 16, 2001, with 35 students in grades K-3. The fourth grade was added the following year and the fifth grade was added as a shared classroom with the fourth grade in 2015-2017. The fifth grade will be re-established as a permanent part of the school for the 2021-22 school year, with the addition of a fifth grade teacher.
St. Vincent began under the direction of Father Bradley Zitek, who died in 2019. Janet Bohaty served as the first principal of the school. The School Sisters of Christ the King were active in the very beginning, assisting with the administration of the school as well as helping teach religion once a week. In 2005, the Sisters began serving the school full time as principals and fourth-grade teachers. In 2016 the Sisters returned to a part time role in the school, visiting and teaching religion once a month.
Sister Mary Guadalupe, who taught fourth grade from 2011-15 and the combined fourth/fifth grade in 2015-2016, shared some of her favorite memories, such as “taking the children to make a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every day after lunch and singing the spiritual communion song and making rosaries with the students in the rosary group after school.”
In addition to the Sisters’ visits, seminarians from St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward teach religion once a week, and the parish priests make frequent classroom visits.
The June 6 anniversary celebration began with 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Msgr. Robert Tucker and concelebrated with previous pastor Father Christopher Barak. Alumni students assisted with Mass by helping with the readings, bringing up offertory gifts, and leading music.
A Eucharistic procession was held to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi.
After Mass, a meal was served outside, catered by Chez Bubba’s restaurant of Goehner. Prayers, words of welcome and introductions were given by Msgr Robert Tucker, principal Denise Ray and Msgr. John Perkinton.
The afternoon festivities included bounce houses, face painting, balloon figures, Spirit Catholic Radio booth, yard games and entertainment by the Polka Dudes and Ukulele Ladies. The school hallway was decorated as a “Hall of Fame” and included pictures from the past 20 years, class quilts and other memorabilia.
Msgr. Perkinton was superintendent of schools when the plans for the beginning of the school were made. He recalled that while coming up with a school mascot, “...one student suggested the Ladybugs.” Later, he said, Father Zitek announced the school mascot would be the Firehawk.
Msgr. Perkinton made many visits to St. Vincent School over the years, especially while helping with plans for the school. He said the school has always been “a very joyful place with wonderful support,” and said the most moving part of the 20th anniversary celebration was the alumni picture, and seeing the young men and women so happy to be there and to be together again.
“It’s clear they formed a lasting community,” he said.
In addition to celebrating the school’s 20th anniversary, two current teachers, Lisa Crane (kindergarten) and Marilyn Bohaty (second grade) also celebrated 20 years of teaching at St. Vincent’s school.
Near the end of the celebration, former school librarian Fran Ehlers, opened the time capsule put together during the 10th anniversary of the school. The contents included newspaper articles, pictures and drawings the students created in 2010-11.
