St. John LaLande
50 Years of Catholic Education Celebrated at St. John LaLande School
By Jennie Gaffney
On Saturday, August 21st, parishioners, alumni, and current members of St. John LaLande School in Blue Springs spent from the wee hours of the morning up until dark celebrating fifty years of faith, service, and education for life.
The day started with a 5K Viking Voyage run with both the starting and finish line in the St. John LaLande parking lot. With over 200 runners, joggers, and walkers, this inaugural event kicked off a fun-filled day as well as a healthy start to the new school year. Co-coordinators of the race Trish Totta and Barbra Bush were elated by the impressive number of participants and immense support of numerous volunteers. Bush stated, “ St. Mary's High School's principal Jeff Lynch along with a few coaches came out with many of their athletes to help as volunteers along the course, along with the St. John LaLande staff and families, and the Boy Scout Troop 362. The volunteers we had were wonderful, energetic and, as we all know, the race could not have run smoothly without them.”
Bishop Finn presided over St. John’s Saturday evening 5:00 Mass with a powerful homily echoing the importance of Catholic education. Just before the Mass, Bishop Finn toured the beautiful gardens and grounds of St. John LaLande Parish and School chauffeured in a golf cart. Immediately following Mass, the grounds were abuzz with various supporters of this wonderful school. Moonwalks, delicious foods, a talent show, and many other attractions delighted God’s children from young to old with a feeling of good, clean fun in the air and the current school principal, Ms. Natalie Helm, in the dunk tank.
It’s the amazing people that make St. John’s an excellent educational and spiritual facility. Here’s to fifty more years of Catholic education, St. John’s!
By Jennie Gaffney
On Saturday, August 21st, parishioners, alumni, and current members of St. John LaLande School in Blue Springs spent from the wee hours of the morning up until dark celebrating fifty years of faith, service, and education for life.
The day started with a 5K Viking Voyage run with both the starting and finish line in the St. John LaLande parking lot. With over 200 runners, joggers, and walkers, this inaugural event kicked off a fun-filled day as well as a healthy start to the new school year. Co-coordinators of the race Trish Totta and Barbra Bush were elated by the impressive number of participants and immense support of numerous volunteers. Bush stated, “ St. Mary's High School's principal Jeff Lynch along with a few coaches came out with many of their athletes to help as volunteers along the course, along with the St. John LaLande staff and families, and the Boy Scout Troop 362. The volunteers we had were wonderful, energetic and, as we all know, the race could not have run smoothly without them.”
Bishop Finn presided over St. John’s Saturday evening 5:00 Mass with a powerful homily echoing the importance of Catholic education. Just before the Mass, Bishop Finn toured the beautiful gardens and grounds of St. John LaLande Parish and School chauffeured in a golf cart. Immediately following Mass, the grounds were abuzz with various supporters of this wonderful school. Moonwalks, delicious foods, a talent show, and many other attractions delighted God’s children from young to old with a feeling of good, clean fun in the air and the current school principal, Ms. Natalie Helm, in the dunk tank.
It’s the amazing people that make St. John’s an excellent educational and spiritual facility. Here’s to fifty more years of Catholic education, St. John’s!