Intermountain Catholic Wins Awards
SALT LAKE CITY — It was a party long in the making for the Judge Memorial Catholic High School centennial celebration, which was held at the school Aug. 27. The event, twice delayed because of the pandemic, came off without a hitch. Hundreds of alumni, members of graduating classes from across much of the last century as well as this one, gathered to attend Mass, share a meal and wander the memory-filled halls of their alma mater.
Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided at the Mass in the school’s Wiegand Auditorium that opened the evening. Concelebrants Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; and three Judge alumni: Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, assistant to the bishop; Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, a retired priest of the diocese; and Father Jim McHugh, OSFS, who also taught at the school.
In his homily, Bishop Solis congratulated the school on its centennial.
“It is a great honor to be a part of this significant milestone not only for this academic institution but for this local Church in the Diocese of Salt Lake City,” he said. “Catholic schools are an essential component of the evangelizing mission of our Church and the people of God, especially in Utah. The pandemic postponed our celebration for these two years, but Divine Providence has allowed us to gather today with joy and thanksgiving for this special blessing from God.”
Bishop Solis expressed appreciation for the students, parents, teachers and administration, and donors who help ensure Judge continues to provide quality education for Utahns. He also shared highlights of the school’s history, recognized several classes of alumni, and commended the school for its tradition of service.
“In this holy Mass, we consider with gratitude that the Lord has been present in the 100-year history of Judge and is even here now during these contemporary times,” he said.
The Mass was followed by a catered meal in the school cafeteria and entertainment provided by live bands throughout the evening. Mike Gorrell, Class of ‘72, shared a digital database reflecting the academic accomplishments of the roughly 12,000 graduates of Judge and St. Mary’s over the past century. Gorrell’s database also documents, for each class, student participation in the school’s many activities, plays and sports.
More than 1,100 people purchased tickets for the event, school officials reported. As the night unfolded, the halls and classrooms of the school rang with laughter and exclamations of joy as former classmates reconnected with each other and former teachers. The newest generation of Judge students gave tours and shared their accomplishments, bonding with their forebearers across the years in their love of the school and its faculty.
“As a student, I always knew I was surrounded by teachers that not only were experts in their subjects, but I also knew they cared about me,” Principal Patrick Lambert said. “As principal, I see that firsthand every day. It’s an honor to be a part of this great legacy.”
At evening’s end, Centennial Celebration Committee Chair event chair MJ Ahlin let out a long sigh of relief over the successful celebration that she and her committee pulled off. For Ahlin, the centennial celebration had been more than 15 years in the making. While attending the Judge 2007 graduation exercises at Abravanel Hall, she realized her son Nicholas Falkner, then 4, would be graduating in 2021, the school’s centennial year.
“I leaned over to my mom, and I said, ‘I’m going to host that party; you bet I’m going to chair that party,” Ahlin said. “I am over the moon that we’re finally here.”
A member of JMCHS Class of 1981, Ahlin has a connection to her alma mater that is missing with friends who attended other schools, she said.
“Judge has given me a community, a confidence, an education – all part of the formula for success to feel good about my life and to have created relationships that I still maintain,” she said. “It has really been fulfilling to see the people that come back and to see the loyalty that exists at Judge. It really is like an extended family.”
As that extended family has grown, its legacy has been far-reaching, Lambert said. “It is so amazing to watch how active our alumni continue to be in the world. Judge Memorial has truly made this world a better place. We look forward to continuing this storied tradition.”
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