THE BEAR FACTS
DECEMBER 17, 2022


 Good morning! I’m Ella Schaaf!

 I’m Avery Lichter!

 And I’m Violet Bode! This is the “Bear Facts”. Thanks for joining us to hear the news from Bishop Garrigan High School.

 This past week Golden Bear basketball star Audi Crooks reached another milestone. During Monday night’s victory at Belmond—Klemme, Audi shot a free throw to score her 2,000th varsity point. Coach Schwab immediately called a time-out, and both the Garrigan and Belmond fans congratulated Audi on this rare achievement. In the history of 5 on 5 basketball in Iowa, covering classes 1-A through 5-A, only 21 girls have reached the 2,000 point threshold.

 Audi also passed 1,000 rebounds earlier this season, and her teammate Molly Joyce is on pace to break the school record in assists. They’ll be leading the Bears throughout the season, and the team is hoping for another conference championship and—if things go right—their fourth straight trip to state.



 This afternoon the Golden Bears will be across town for the annual basketball showdown with the Algona High Bulldogs. There will actually be five basketball games played between Algona and Garrigan today—JJV boys, JV girls and boys, and varsity girls and boys. The varsity girls game will start at 2:15, and with varsity boys following around 3:45.

 Last Wednesday the seniors on the Bishop Garrigan Student Council went over to Mason City. They joined with students from all over the Top of Iowa Conference to help make the holidays nicer for children in north central Iowa. For many years now the conference has teamed up with Toys for Tots to provide toys for needy kids. The student council helped sort through donated toys so kids in need could get the Christmas gifts they want.

 Last Monday all the students at Garrigan joined together to package meals to help feed hungry people. We packaged high protein versions of oatmeal and Spanish rice. The food will go to missions run by Franciscan sisters in the towns of Morton and Okolona, Mississippi. Garrigan seniors will be traveling south next spring to deliver the food and work at the missions. We hope that the food we package will really help the people who need it.

 Garrigan’s relationship with the missions in Mississippi was started by former religion teacher Jake Rosenmeyer. A former Golden Bear, Jake left the Garrigan staff to enter the Kenrick—Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. Seminary is a long process, but Jake is making good progress, and he says he has come to realize his calling more definitely. He is now on track to be ordained to the temporary diaconate in 2024 and to be ordained a full priest in 2025.

 Jake is one of two former Garrigan students who is now in seminary. The other seminarian is Tommy Kollasch, who is currently studying at the Immaculate Heart Seminary in southeast Minnesota. They join a long line of Garrigan alumni who have gone into vocations, serving as priests, nuns, monks, and deacons. We prayer for them at our school masses, in our class prayers, and in our times of adoration.

 We had a special religious event at Garrigan this past week. As part of our Advent celebration we held a Eucharistic procession Friday morning. Students lined the hallway, and kneeled reverently when Father Matthew went past with the consecrated host on display. This is the second time we’ve had a Eucharistic procession, and it’s set to become an annual tradition.

 Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Savannah Waechter. Savannah is probably best known for her accomplishments in the fine arts. She’s won awards in choir, band, and speech, and she’s been in every theatre production the school has put on during her high school career. Savannah is also a cheerleader, and in the past she spent several years in dance. Savannah plans to go to the University of Iowa next year, where she’ll major in theatre arts and creative writing. We wish her all the best in the future.

 On our Golden Bear calendar this week, there’s the big crosstown basketball battle this afternoon at Algona High. Also today there’s wrestling at Waukee.

 Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of Advent, and we’ll have our fourth Advent prayer service Monday morning at school. Monday night there’s a basketball quad, with the Bears hosting North Union.

 There’s mass scheduled on Tuesday. That night there’s more basketball, with the Bears traveling to Buffalo Center to play the North Iowa Bison.

 Wednesday we’ll have reconciliation. This was postponed from last week because of weather. That night the choir will have their Christmas concert in Friedmann Auditorium.

 Thursday we’ll have an out-of-uniform day to help support our twin parish in Haiti. We’ll dismiss early on Thursday for the start of Christmas vacation.

 That’s the “Bear Facts” for another week. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to join us next week when we’ll be back with a special Christmas Eve show to celebrate the holidays here at Bishop Garrigan High School.