February 9, 2026

LET IT SNOW…LET IT SNOW
The black-and-white photo is undated.  The color photo is from the early 1960’s.
Click on a photo for a larger version.

REMINDER:
NEXT ALUMNI ZOOM – FEBRUARY 11
The session will take place on  Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.  Some alumni who didn’t opened the January 28, 2026 Update may have recently received an  Update from 2024 with the incorrect date of Feruary 5. Sorry for the confusion.

The url is https://bit.ly/4aj3AQ4  The password, if asked is #212771.
Hope you will join in the comradery!
(Please note that the “bitly” shortened link to the Zoom url may ask you to confirm that you want to go to the Zoom destination.) 

NOTES FROM / ABOUT ALUMNI
Joe Fodor (Class of 1978) – “I appreciate receiving the alumni update.  I would ask you  to pray on behalf of my wife, Millie, currently receiving palliative care as she is partially crippled, bed-bound, experiencing a host of conditions / complications affecting chronic pain and weakness.  After working in corrections – both juvenile and adult – for the state of Ohio as a mental health social worker, for 39 years, I had to retire to fulfill the role of in-home health care provider for Millie.  My education and experiences as a St. Joe’s seminarian profoundly affected me, throughout life, thus probably the reason my career path led me with working with people afflicted with special needs, e.g., mental health, addiction, trauma history, delinquency, etc. Thank you for listening.  Sincerely, and Go St. Joe Rogues!”  Joe can be reached by email at Thefode@gmail.com.

Mike Stein (Class of 1978) – “I took a look at your last [December 5 Zoom] meeting, and there were some questions about life on Burton Street, in mid/late 70s.  You were correct we were offered opportunities to view service in many ways not just priesthood.  For me I got involved in jail ministry and teaching CCD. The irony of the jail ministry is my adult career was as a prosecutor.  In truth, the jail ministry, taught me that even though the inmates made some bad decisions, it did not change that each  person deserved respect.  Sadly, the A.G’s report brought to light many very dark issues that also occurred during those years.  God bless.” Mike can be reached at mstein1960@yahoo.com.
Bob Bieszka (Class of 1974) – “Nice job on all the continued work of collecting and posting the St Joe’s memorabilia. It is a small world because I graduated from St. Joe’s in 1974 and some years later went on to partner a dental office in Plainwell with Bob Tisch (Class of 1961). Bob Bieszka can be reached by e-mail at rbieszka@juno.com.
Jerry Stein (Class of 1966) sent along a note reminding Bill Yagerlener (me) that I was in the Class of 1966 not 1961, the typo in the last Alumni Update.

January 28, 2026

NOTE: Because of problem that arose when we sent the January 28 issue, some alumni did not receive this month’s Alumni Update. Instead they received a newsletter from 2024. Sorry for the mixup.

DECEMBER 10 ALUMNI ZOOM
This session can be viewed and downloaded from the alumni YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAWI7CimkPU

PARTICIPANTS
+ Paul Banner (Class of 1966)
+ Jim Blanchard (Christopher House Class of 1973)
+ Norb Bufka (Class of 1961)
+ Mike Donnelly (High School Class of 1966)
+ Dick Gallant (Class of 1965)
+ Bill Gebhard (Class of 1966)
+ Pete Garthe (Class of 1966)
+ Mike Murphy (Class of 1966) (Participated by audio only.  His photo doesn’t appear in the recording
+ Stas’ Popowich (Class of 1966)
+ Tony Pruss (Class of 1970) (Joined the session at approximately 1 hour)
+ Jerry Stein (Class of 1966)
+ Bill Yagerlener (Class of 1966)

ABBREVIATED LIST OF TOPICS
+ Health Updates
+ Health care at St. Joe’s: the Infirmary
+ Dick Galant’s military experience in Turkey: the location of Pope Leo’s recent trip
+ The Council of Nicea
+ St. Joe’s as a preparatory school in the final years of St. Joe’s
+ The closing of parishes and the shortage of priests
+ The Nicene Creed
+ Training of new priests and their knowledge of Latin
+ Status of the fomer St. John’s Seminary
+ The Pulte Family – St. Anne’s Basilica, the Trump Admnistration
+ Maintenance tat St. Joe’s – Tom Kibildis. Tony Pruss, Bill Gebhard
+ Mark Kahns’ health (attended 1965-66)
+ Recalling underclassmen: Phil France and others
+ Overlooked resource: seminarians who were not ordained
+ The Latin Mass, memories of using Latin and Greek
+ Memories: Fr. Fay,  Msgr. Martin
+ Incardination of priests
+ Back issues of The Recorder and The Bulletin  The Recorder is at https://saintjosephseminary.com/the-recorder/  The Bulletin is at  https://saintjosephseminary.com/the-bulletin/

NEXT ALUMNI ZOOM – FEBRUARY 11
The session will take place on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
The url is https://bit.ly/4aj3AQ4  The password, if asked is #212771.
Hope you will join in the comradery!
(Please note that the “bitly” shortened link to the Zoom url may ask you to confirm that you want to go to the Zoom destination.) 

In its December 25, 2025 edition, The Washington Post examined a topic that has been discussed in alumni Zoom sessions from time to time.  The article is at https://wapo.st/3LRXX26

AS PRIESTS FACE BURNOUT, CATHOLIC U. GRANT AIMS TO BOOST TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Catholic University received over $7 million from the Lilly Endowment to address clergy shortages and burnout by enhancing priest training. The grant supports mentorship programs to develop leadership skills among seminarians.  Enrollment in seminaries has declined, and the number of priests in the U.S. has dropped significantly.  Experts attribute this to a less religious, more fragmented society and increasing demands on clergy.

Read the full article for more on:

• How the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative is reshaping theological education.
• The impact of declining seminary enrollment on the future of the Catholic Church.
• Challenges faced by clergy in a changing religious landscape.

NOTES FROM ALUMNI
Jim Hammond (Class of 1966) is requesting our prayers.  “I have been ill for a few months.  And have just been placed on hospice. The prognosis is no longer than 18 months.  Ask the Lord to watch over me and my caregivers. To grant me mercy. Thank you all.”
Jim can be reached by email at jnjhammond@comcast.net and by phone at 540-574-0041
Mick Hawkins (Class of 1961) sends along the class photo and notes “In our first year, the athletic building and St. Henry’s Hall weren’t there yet, we were still using the old refectory, and the whole house crammed into the main chapel.  Father Rose was completing his studies in Rome, and we had him for Latin in second year.”
[Click on the photo for a larger view.]