Our Lady of Lourdes School reaches out

Intermountain Catholic

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The school's new principal, Armando Venegas, speaks of the school's rich traditions as Judge Memorial Principal James Hamburge looks on. IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — There was plenty of good food and fellowship as parents, teachers, and friends of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Salt Lake City gathered Sept. 11 to celebrate the school's progress, its tradition, and its future.

The buffet supper, hosted by Tom Guinney, co-owner of the Gastronomy Restaurants at the Market Street Restaurant in the Cottonwood Complex, has become an annual fund raiser for the school. This is the second year Guinney has hosted the event.

"This event is Tom Guinney's way of saying thank you for the education his daughters received at Our Lady of Lourdes School," said Kathleen Leonard, advancement director for the school.

Parents, teachers, alumni, and friends of Our Lady of Lourdes School numbering more than 100, greeted each other at the buffet, then filled tables both inside the restaurant and on an outside patio.

"This year we have been hoping to draw participants from the larger community," Leonard said.

Our Lady of Lourdes School prides itself in a diverse student body and a commitment to providing a quality education to students of all economic groups.

"We have students who are refugees from Sudan and we have students from more affluent families," Leonard said. "We are the school where everybody is somebody."

The simple buffet fund raiser is designed so people can casually enjoy themselves, Leonard said. "There are no auctions and no pressure."

Our Lady of Lourdes School was built in 1962 and opened in 1963. Throughout its history it has drawn students, Catholic and non-Catholic from the downtown Salt Lake City and University of Utah areas. Twice Our Lady of Lourdes School has been honored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission.

"We believe that well-rounded students are the cornerstone for the future," Leonard said. "Instructional programs are designed with this primary goal as the focus. The faculty and staff strive to immerse students in experiences that develop a sense of responsibility for people in our community and the larger world."

This school year, Our Lady of Lourdes School begins the year with 223 students. It has the capacity for 260 students.

Dave Spatafore, immediate past president of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Council, welcomed guests to the event, thanking Tom Guinney and John Williams of Gastronomy Inc., for their generosity. He then introduced Father William Flegge, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

Fr. Flegge thanked those in attendance, especially parents of Lourdes students, whom he recognized for their great sacrifice in sending their children to a Catholic school.

"We ended the last year in the black," Fr. Flegge said. "That is due in a large part to the sacrifices made by our parents and teachers."

Spatafore introduced Judge Memorial Catholic high School Principal James Hamburge, Superintended of Catholic Schools Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kampaus and Holy Cross Sister Genevra Rolf, assistant superintendant of Catholic schools, Marty Schwartz, president of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Council, Former Lourdes Principal Catherine Moore, now a teacher at St. John the Baptist School in Draper, and Armando Venegas, the new principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School.

Transplants from Southern California, Venegas said he and his family are making a comfortable transition. "I am getting to know the students at this wonderful school, and I have found them kind and loving. It is exciting that we are on the same lot with Judge Memorial Catholic High School. We have been able to watch the progress of the new athletic field. With Judge Memorial, we offer quality Catholic education from kindergarten through grade 12 on the same lot."

Spatafore said this new annual fund raiser has become a wonderful event, and he challenged everyone there this year to bring another person with them next year.

Leonard said other fund raising events planned for the school are the annual round-up, a dinner and auction held later this year at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, and the annual sale of holiday gift wrap.

The school also sponsors the annual Leprechaun Lope, a 5-K and 10-K run and walk held in conjunction with the Hibernian Society's St. Patrick's Day parade.

All fund raising events, Leonard said, contribute to the maintenance of the school, school equipment, and programs.