“It takes a shared effort of the pastor, the principal and the people to make it possible over the long haul to make a fine school — a lot of hard work,” the archbishop said.
About 450 people — many of them alumni in addition to current school staff and families — filled St. Raphael Church for the Mass, while more than two dozen others watched and listened on closed-circuit television in an overflow room.
They were then able to enjoy refreshments in the school’s buildings, the rooms of which were decorated with blow-ups of graduation class pictures and other historical photos from throughout its history.
The oldest of the alumni attending the event was Rita (Rochette) DiVitto, 82, a 1944 graduate, who recalled her school days.
“My family moved here from Massachusetts in 1943, so I went here for just one year,” DeVitto said. “I remember it was a little yellow wooden school building, with four rooms and two classes per room.”
“I’ve been a parishioner here all these years. I love our church and school, and two of my sons went through school here,” DeVitto added.
Susan McGraw, a 1981 alumna who is now active as a school parent, said she continues to value her St. Raphael experience.
“Every day, I think of ways that this Catholic educational foundation affects me. That’s why I wanted to give it to (my son, Johnny), because of the positive effect it has had on my life,” she said.
McGraw said she has fond memories of “the goodness of the sisters,” referring to the Sylvania Franciscans who used to staff the school.
“I miss them, but Fr. Ray (Lewandowski, St. Raphael’s pastor) is a constant presence in the school, and Sr. Rita Mary Pyzic, (OSF), pastoral minister for the parish, coordinates the altar servers and connects the seniors of the parish with the students through the Senior Friends Program,” McGraw continued.
Each class at St. Raphael School has a senior citizen in the parish as its senior friend. The students pray for their senior friend and get to know him or her.
Johnny McGraw, 11, a sixth grader, said of his school, “I love it. It’s kind of strict and the work is hard, but the school is really clean, the teachers are really nice, and the principal’s really nice.”
He said the teachers “really care about how you’re doing in class, and if you’re having trouble, they try to help you.”
Fr. Lewandowski attributed the school’s continued success to having great teachers and a great principal in DeAnn Brzezinski, as well as strong support from parents.
Brzezinski called it “a joy and a pleasure to serve this community under the leadership of Fr. Ray.”
A number of Sylvania Franciscan sisters who once worked at the school returned for the anniversary celebration, including Sr. Winifred Templin, OSF, who was principal from 1969-75.
“I have wonderful memories of St. Raphael – the school and the parish. They supported us 100 percent. I had a very happy time here; it was a beautiful parish,” she said.
St. Raphael School is at 31500 Beechwood, off Merriman Road north of Ford Road, in Garden City. For information, call (734) 425-9771 or go to www.straphael-gc.org/school/.
