Knights of Columbus host
first father-daughter dance
at St. Mary Magdalene
By Monique Zatcoff | Feb. 25, 2011 | The Catholic Sun
GILBERT — A new tradition was started Saturday night when the Knights of Columbus council
at St. Mary Magdalene hosted their first annual father-daughter dance.
More than 50 father-daughter couples attended the Valentine-themed dance held in Trilogy
Ballroom at Power Ranch.
Patrick Molloy, treasurer for the Knights of Columbus council at St. Mary Magdalene,
organized the event based on similar dances that other councils have held in the past.
“Everyone’s busy it seems like, and the opportunities for families — let alone fathers and
daughters — to do anything together is pretty rare,” Molloy said. “It’s an opportunity for
them to get out and have an event together.”
Tickets were $25 per couple or $35 for two or more daughters. The price included a corsage,
a professional photograph of dads and their daughters, refreshments and a live DJ.
Brian Towey, a St. Mary Magdalene parishioner, said one of his biggest reasons for attending
the dance was to show his 6-year-old daughter, Sarah, what it’s like to be treated like a
princess.
Towey also said Sarah had been looking forward to an evening of getting dressed up and
being silly together.
“I get to be with my daddy all night,” she said.
For some dads, it was a special one-on-one night with their daughter, while for others it
was a family event.
Russ Richardson, a new parishioner at St. Mary Magdalene, attended the dance with his five
daughters who ranged in age from 12 to 30-years-old.
Richardson said he wasn’t planning on attending the dance until his youngest daughter
brought up the idea.
It turned out to be an evening for Richardson to spend time with all five of his daughters
and his two granddaughters.
“Getting them all together is a chore,” he said. “But it’s nice having them all here.”
One father and his daughter turned the dance into a whole day’s event. Danny Gallegos
took his 13-year-old daughter, Danielle, shopping earlier that day to pick out a dress, shoes
and nail polish for the dance. Afterward they headed off to eat some wings together.
“Even though we are an organization of Catholic men, our council is firmly committed to
promoting family values and social opportunities for all members of our parish,” said Tim
Walters, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus council at St. Mary Magdalene in an e-mail.
The Knights plan to hold the dance each year around Valentine’s Day, although future
dances are anticipated to be held at St. Mary Magdalene.
“We hope that this is memorable to the father and daughter both and that it is something
that grows and becomes one of the church’s more popular events,” Molloy said.
Welcoming events draw Catholic
students to ASU Newman Center
By Monique Zatcoff | Sept. 15, 2010 | The Catholic Sun
TEMPE — With a brand-new semester at Arizona State University underway,
the All Saints Catholic Newman Center wanted to make sure new and
transfer students felt welcome.
The gothic-style church that sits adjacent to ASU’s Tempe campus hosted a
number of events to draw young people through its doors.
The effort kicked off Aug. 22 when students were invited to a 7 p.m. Mass
followed by dinner. The next few weeks of the semester offered a
different welcome event just about every day of the week.
“There are a variety of programs that support your faith,” said Clara
Szymanski, a junior at Arizona State University. “Not only is there a
supportive group of people, but there are worshiping activities, theology,
retreats — there’s something for everyone.”
The scheduled volleyball night on Tuesday Aug. 24 was brought inside due
to stormy weather. Still,, the event was a chance to break away from the
rigors of study and enjoy the company of old and new friends, not to
mention a showing of the movie “Sandlot,” and an indoor barbeque feast.
Sept. 1 saw the Newman Center celebrate the launch of its new website, a
place where students can find out about upcoming events, watch videos,
and have their questions answered.
The launch party was held outside where a large screen projected the new
site and students could maneuver their way around it for the first time.
Web cams, memory cards and other electronic devices were raffled off
during the night that included a college-student favorite: free food.
College Nights started back up again that same week, welcoming
freshmen, transfers and returning students for a night of prayer, fellowship
and snacks. The night consisted of student-led activities, small group
discussions and praise and worship.
Apart from the welcoming events, the Students Association Leadership
Team, or SALT, set up a table in front of Danforth Chapel on the Tempe
campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday as a place for
students to say hi, eat lunch and get to know each other.
This year two of the interns, Peter Bremer and Ashley Montag, formed a
men and women’s faith sharing group that focuses on fostering friendships
and coming together to share the mission of serving as a man or woman in
Christ.
The Newman Center also offers two annual retreats. The first retreat,
dubbed “The New Student Getaway,” is open to all freshmen and transfer
students. Participants will head up to the pines of Prescott Sept. 19- 21 for
a weekend of building community and making friends.
“My hope is to bring in a lot of new students and have them deepen their
relationship with God,” said Emily Kempe, an intern for the Newman
Center and senior at ASU. “We’re all hoping to keep building up the
community here.”
Even after the welcome festivities come to a halt, Newman students can
expect a set schedule of weekly events.
Weekday Mass is offered in the mornings at Danforth Chapel at 11:40 a.m.
and in the evenings at 5 p.m. in the Old Church.
Tuesdays, students can meet in the basement of the Old Church with their
own dinner and bring up any theological questions or issues they have in an
open discussion called Theology Underground.
A group meets on Wednesday to travel to the André House in downtown
Phoenix where they prepare and serve a meal to the local homeless.
Also on Wednesdays, at 9 p.m.in the Old Church, night prayer is offered
followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
College nights will continue throughout the semester every Thursday night
at 7 p.m. in the main chapel.
What started as a Catholic community more 100 years ago has grown into a
home away from home for Arizona State University students.
“When you’re here you’ve always got friends,” said sophomore Erin Marsh.
“It’s just home and people will always welcome you.”
Two parishes receive national
recognition for going green
ICF awards for St. Mary Magdalene and Immaculate
Conception
By Monique Zatcoff | Feb. 25, 2011 | The Catholic Sun
Insulating Concrete Forms’ 2010 National Builder Awards recognized two parishes in the
Phoenix Diocese for their innovative and sustainable building designs.
Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood and St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert both
made it into a winning category for using durable and highly insulated materials that help
reduce energy costs.
Immaculate Conception was one of the diocese’s first parishes built using the energy-saving
materials, said John Minieri, director of Building and Properties for the diocese.
The traditionally designed church won first runner up in the Heavy Commercial category.
All the exterior walls, plus 19,000 square feet of interior walls, used ICF insulation and
additional under-slab insulation.
The new parish building features a stained glass transfiguration window that incorporated
stained glass purchased from an old church in Philadelphia.
CCBG Architects worked to emulate the feeling of a small mission by using elements like
wooden doors, traditional detailing on the doors, and soft lighting.
Creating such a design for a growing parish came as a challenge to the architects.
“When you have a church this large, it was difficult to try and incorporate an old missionstyle feeling,” said CCBG architect Paul Ladensack. “We used a series of sketches and
drawings and made presentations to the diocese and parishioners to get approval.”
The area is still expected to grow with an anticipated grade school and high school in the
masterplan.
Likewise, St. Mary Magdalene parish has long-term goals of expanding.
When more funds become available, the Gilbert parish plans on building a church that will
seat 1,400 people along with a two-story school and courtyard, said Doug Peters, an
architect with BCDM Architects.
The Southwestern mission-style temporary building won second runner up in the Light
Commercial category.
Arches, tiling, stucco material, high windows and porch trellis are reflect the style of
historic Spanish missions.
For now, the building is serving as the church. Eventually it will be home to the future
school’s gymnasium.
“It’s one piece of the puzzle,” Peters said. “There’s certainly a vision for the long-term
plans but it has to function fully right now for the church and offices.”
St. Mary Magdalene’s future buildings are expected to incorporate sustainable ICF materials
while keeping the same architectural design of the temporary church building.
Eight of 9 new diocesan buildings were constructed using ICF materials and there are plans
to use it for schools and gyms as well.
“It’s energy efficient, very sturdy and durable,” Minieri said. “This is the way of moving
forward. It’s all about being good stewards of our resources and going green.”