What's Happening in Cougar Country

Looking out at a congregation of more than 5,000 high school students at the Cleveland Public Auditorium, Bishop Edward Malesic reflected on the building’s history - concerts, political rallies, basketball games, and even boxing matches. 

But on Thursday, October 23, it was the host of the Diocese of Cleveland’s Catholic High School Rally and Mass. 

The entire Lake Catholic student body, faculty, and staff traveled downtown on 11 buses to join the more than 20 other high schools for a day of music, reflection, and worship.

This is the second time Bishop Malesic has hosted the event. Two years ago, nearly 100 Lake Catholic students and a handful of faculty members attended. This year, Principal Tom McKrill (’07) made it a priority for everyone to experience the celebration.

“The Jubilee of Hope was an incredible chance for our students to see faith come alive in a real way,” McKrill said. “As a Catholic school, we do our best every day to help students encounter Christ, but this event gave them the chance to experience that on a much bigger scale — surrounded by thousands of other young people celebrating the same faith. I wanted every Lake Catholic student to feel that sense of belonging, joy, and hope firsthand.”

In this, the Jubilee Year 2025, the Church’s motto is “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee Year is a sacred time to rediscover God’s mercy, and the theme reminds Catholics to walk in faith, bring hope to others, and move forward together toward God.

Before the mass began, Damascus Worship, a missionary movement devoted to bringing revival to the Catholic Church, led the crowd in upbeat praise and worship. Students sang, clapped, and even danced in their seats.

Fr. Eric Garris, a 2008 Lake Catholic graduate and the Diocese’s Vocation Coordinator, served as emcee and introduced testimonial speakers Claire Green, a senior at Stow-Monroe Falls High School and a member of the Diocesan Youth Council, and Meg Hunter-Kilmer, an author and national speaker. Both spoke about self-worth, especially that of high school-aged people.

“Jesus doesn’t need me, but he wants me,” Green said. “It’s real, undeserved love – not based on performance or anything, just about me. You don’t have to do anything, or prove anything, to be loved by God.”

“The hope that Jesus brings is when he sees all of you – all of your sins, your suffering, your goodness – and he loves you,” Hunter-Kilmer said.

The speakers set the tone for Bishop Malesic’s Mass, which began with a procession of nearly 100 people, including representatives of each high school carrying their school flag as well as petitions from their students, priests representing the participating schools and areas, and seminarians leading Bishop Malesic to the altar on the stage.

During his homily, Bishop Malesic mixed humor and heart, referencing Taylor Swift lyrics and even revealing his Cleveland Browns loyalty, despite being born and raised near Pittsburgh. He then outlined four practices that will help keep the fire of faith alive:

1. Pray daily – through Scripture, the Rosary, or even quiet reflection in nature. Prayer also means listening to God.
2. Let Jesus plan your life. Invite Him into every part of it.
3. Share your faith with others
4. Ask God your purpose. Why are you here, in this time and this place?

Echoing the earlier speakers, he encouraged his “youngest brothers and youngest sisters” to be aware of their purpose and that no one can determine that besides themselves and God.

“You be you. That’s what God wants,” Bishop Malesic said. “That’s why He put you here.”
 

The Lake Catholic community gathered in faith and celebration for the Class of 2025 during the annual Baccalaureate Mass last night at St. John Vianney. 

Held as a spiritual send-off for the graduating seniors, the Mass offered a moment of reflection, gratitude, and blessing. Students, families, faculty, and staff came together to honor the accomplishments of the class and to pray for guidance and strength as they prepare to embark on their next chapter. The ceremony was a meaningful reminder of Lake Catholic’s commitment to faith, service, and community.

During his homily, Lake Catholic Chaplain Fr. Joshua Trefney told the Class of 2025, "I'm so excited for you as you continue to grow and for you to share your gifts with so many other people. Wherever you're going, those places need you.

“Thank you for being the people God called you to be.”

After mass, Lake Catholic awarded seniors Holly Suponcic and Maximus Barnes the school’s highest honor – The Christian Life Award.

The Lake Catholic High School Christian Life Award is the most prestigious recognition presented by our school community.  With the inception of this award in 1972, a tradition was established to focus on the active expression of the Lake Catholic Mission Statement and Gospel values both within our school environment and in the greater community. The criteria for the Lake Catholic High School Christian Life Award are as follows:

• The student is an extraordinary witness to the Gospel message and the Spirit of Jesus.
• The student is a person of great integrity who dynamically lives his or her faith, both within the Lake Catholic Community and in the greater community at large. 
• The student lives an exemplary life consistent with the Lake Catholic Mission Statement and Core Values.
• The student actively expresses a willingness to serve within the Lake Catholic Campus Ministry and Spiritual Life areas, Lake Catholic Community, Church Community, and our greater community at large.

The school's Campus Ministry also presented two other awards after the mass - the St. Thomas Aquinas Distinction and the Christian Leadership Recognition.

St. Thomas Aquinas Distinction

Lake Catholic’s Mission and Core Values are exemplified through the life and work of our Patron, St. Thomas Aquinas. It is fitting that this Spiritual Life award is named for his exceptional example of faith and his constant quest for academic excellence. This award is granted to extraordinary seniors who have excelled in faith, leadership, and scholarship. They have consistently acted as leaders in Campus Ministry committees, events, retreats, and activities. Incorporating faith, scholarship, integrity, and commitment throughout all Lake Catholic Spiritual Life areas.

Congratulations to: Connor Aurand, Maximus Barnes, Natalya Bergant, Caden Boyes, Ava Budrys Rini, Avery Budrys Rini, George Csepegi, Maria Gallo, Jack Gogala, Brecklin Harrold, Allyson Huber, Luke Joy, Megan Joy, Olivia Kitchen, Devon Keeper, Isabella Leffel, Jimmy Meden, Jazmin Moses, Dakota Mudrauskas, Julia Oster, Annie Owens, George Prosuch, Nick Prostak, Patrick Radigan, Brandon Rangel, Carmella Sowers, Shea Sievers, Gavin Snyder, Caleb Stein, Holly Suponcic, Trey Siepka, Frankie Trinetti, Isabella Trem, Ray Troha, Alexa Udovicic, Nikole Valentino, Audrey Vamos, and Brian Zalar.

Christian Leadership Recognition

Lake Catholic promotes the dynamic expression of our Catholic Faith through exceptional positive actions and solid decisions. Seniors are recognized for embodying the ideals of Lake Catholic High School by consistently acting with faith and leadership throughout all aspects of their high school careers. These students have earned a GPA of 3.5 while consistently acting with extraordinary leadership and holding a leadership position in an extracurricular activity.

Congratulations to: Caden Boyes, George Csepegi, Luke Joy, Megan Joy, Annie Owens, Isabella Trem, Audrey Vamos, and Brian Zalar.

Earlier in the evening, Fr. Trefney also blessed the Service and Academic Honors cords, which will be worn on Saturday at the school's 52nd Annual Commencement Ceremony. 

Academic Honors Cords

To earn the Honors Diploma, students must have achieved all six of the following: 

• Four credits in English
• Four credits in math
• Four credits in science or four credits in social studies
• Three credits in world languages or two credits in two different languages
• One and a half credits in fine arts
• Maintained an overall high school GPA of at least 3.75 through the last grading period of their senior year.

The following students earned the Honors Diploma, which will be represented by a gold cord and worn at Commencement: Maximus Barnes, Caden Boyes, Ivana Cmeljesevic, Juliette Cowger, George Csepegi, Morgan Davis, Shaun Foley, Brecklin Harrold, Allyson Huber, Sophia Iannini, Megan Joy, Isabella Leffel, Dakota Mudrauskas, Julia Oster, Lily Parrish, Emily Schoen, Caleb Stein, Zachary Stossel, Holly Suponcic, Isabella Trem, and Alexa Udovicic

Service Cords

All seniors must complete the required 50 hours of service in order to graduate. Any student who completes 80 or more hours of service throughout his/her four years at Lake Catholic will wear the service cord for commencement. 

Congratulations to the following for earning their service cord: Hannah Aliff, Maximus Barnes, Natalya Bergant, Ava Budrys Rini, Avery Budrys Rini, Cali Cantrell, Filip Cindric, Ivana Cmeljesevic, Juliette Cowger, Shaun Foley, Maria Gallo, Carson Gilbert, Brecklin Harrold, Allyson Huber, Sophia Iannini, Luke Joy, Megan Joy, Rhiannon Kasunic, Olivia Kitchen, Mason Krauss-Kerr, Isabella Leffel, Andrea Leon-Moscosa, Jazmin Moses, Dakota Mudrauskas, Daniel Nguyen, Cross Nimmo, Julia Oster, Annabella Owens, Valentino Perkovic, Ace Peterlin, Patrick Radigan, Meghan Rowan, Carmella Sowers, Caleb Stein, Holly Suponcic, Isabella Trem, Frankie Trinetti, Alexa Udovicic, Audrey Vamos, and Brian Zalar.

The Class of 2025

It may be Lake Catholic’s longest-standing tradition. 

This year marked the 50th year.

Yesterday, the senior class took its turn with Turkey Day. 

What had started back in 1974 as a Thanksgiving feast for friends to enjoy each other as an entire class, has turned into much more for Lake Catholic students, as they live out one of the school’s core values – its willingness to serve.

“This is a very important day for our school and our senior class,” said Mrs. Cari Foster, the school’s Director of Mission and Formation. “We want to carry out our core values every day, but in particular this day, serving those in need is very important. Everything our seniors did today matters.”

The day started with a small prayer service, where there were prayers not only for the senior class but also for those who it was going to help. The seniors chose between eight different service projects and headed out into the community. 

The groups headed to:

• Lake Farmpark, where the students helped set up Christmas trees for breakfast with Santa and cleaned up the barns for when families go for country lights and horse races.
• Outdoor YMCA in Perry, where they cleaned up the area by raking and blowing leaves and moving large tree branches.
• Botanical Gardens, where they also helped with fall clean-up of the garden areas.
• Camp Red Oak, where they worked on various maintenance projects both inside and out
• Vocational Guidance Center, where they worked with those who have developmental disabilities by playing games and making crafts. 
• Deepwood Industries, where they also worked with those who have developmental disabilities by playing games and making crafts. 
• Broadmoor School, where they worked and played with the children.
• Project Hope, where the students, after a tour of the facility, made cards for the packed lunches that are handed out every day, as well as sorting donations and organizing their storage room.

When the students returned to school, they were served a Thanksgiving feast, which was what Turkey Day started as back in the ‘70s. Lunch was served by some parents of the students, who also served as chaperones throughout the morning.

The day ended with the seniors joining the rest of the student body for a presentation from Mrs. Caitlin Alifirenka, co-author of I Will Always Write Back – the summer reading book for the entire school, which focuses on the power of friendship and how it can change lives.
 

The end of the school year marks the time for many different awards and honors to be bestowed upon students within clubs and teams, departments, and even the greater school at large.

At Tuesday’s Baccalaureate Mass and Senior Awards, Lake Catholic awarded senior Gianna Rubino the school’s highest honor – The Christian Life Award.

The Lake Catholic High School Christian Life Award is the most prestigious recognition presented by our school community.  With the inception of this award in 1972, a tradition was established to focus on the active expression of the Lake Catholic Mission Statement and Gospel values both within our school environment and in the greater community. Criteria for the Lake Catholic High School Christian Life Award are as follows:

• The student is an extraordinary witness to the Gospel message and the Spirit of Jesus.
• The student is a person of great integrity who dynamically lives his or her faith, both within the Lake Catholic Community and in the greater community at large. 
• The student lives an exemplary life consistent with the Lake Catholic Mission Statement and Core Values.
• The student actively expresses a willingness to serve within the Lake Catholic Campus Ministry and Spiritual Life areas, Lake Catholic Community, Church Community, and our greater community at large.

Congratulations to Gianna for such a deserving honor.

Other senior award winners were: 

• President’s Award for Educational Achievement - Kyan Harrold, Domonic Orlando, Anthony Reynoso, Taylor Scharf, Olivia Switalski, Daniel Tomic, and Charlie Trinetti
• President’s Award of Educational Excellence - Jonathan Bokausek, Caroline Brown, Haley Horen, Garrett Knisely, Stephen Parrish, Zoe Pesek, Joseph Powaski, Luke Richards, Kathryn Ridler, and Chloe Stossel
• Service Cord - Greg Bares, Mya Brannen, Kira Brennan, Makenna Bretz, Johnathan Bokausek, Caroline Brown, Kayla Calvey, Delaney Charlton, Juliana Conforte, Gianna Coreno, Parker DiCello, GiGi DiDomenico, Claire Duricky, Ryan Ginley, Kyan Harrold, Egypt Kamara, Tessa Koenig, Allison Komosa, Isabelle Langer, Theresa Lazanich, Joey Lonchar, Grace McCalligan, Katie Morgan, Cassie Nagy, Alexandra Newnes, Stephen Parrish, Andrew Pellecchia, Parker Pikor, Sutton Pikor, Meadow Pontius, Joseph Powaski, McKenzie Prosuch, Luke Richards, Kathryn Ridler, Gianna Rubino, Mia Schaefer, Taylor Scharf, Madeline Spies, Chloe Stossel, Josh Styles, Charlie Trinetti, Christopher Vanjo, Olivia Viskovic, and Kelly Ward
• Happy Moose / Monday’s With Malta Scholarship - Parker Pikor
• John Peyton Meritorious Award - Christina Lombardo
• OHSAA Scholar Athlete - Zoe Pesek and Greg Bares
• OHSAA Courageous Athlete Award - Mia Schaefer
• OHSAA Award of Excellence - Stephen Parrish
• OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award - Claire Duricky and Luke Snider
• Nick D’Angelo Award - Caroline Brown, Gianna Koenig, Josh Styles, Daniel Tomic, and Olivia Viskovic
• Willoughby Junior Women’s Club Award - Mia Schaefer and Charlie Trinetti
• Mentor Chamber of Commerce Foundation Scholarship - Mya Brannen and Madeline Spies
• Red Cross Scholarship - Emily Aliff and Davide Patriarca
• Cardinal Credit Union Scholarship - Joey Lonchar, Greg Bares, Charlie Trinetti, Chloe Stossel, Jonathan Bokausek, Meadow Pontius, Andrew Pellecchia, Parker Pikor, and Dominic Orlando
• P.E.O. Star Scholarship Award - Kayla Calvey
• Phi Beta Kappa Award - Zoe Pesek
• Academic Honors Diploma - Johnathan Bokausek, Caroline Brown, Kayla Calvey, Juliana Conforte, GiGi DiDomenico, Garrett Knisely, Tessa Koenig, Allison Komosa, Isabelle Langer, Theresa Lazanich, Grace McCalligan, Marko Odorcic, Domonic Orlando, Stephen Parrish, Zoe Pesek, Cooper Pikor, Parker Pikor, Joseph Powaski, Kate Powaski, Nicholas Powaski, Anthony Reynoso, Taylor Scharf, Chloe Stossel, Olivia Switalski, and Daniel Tomic
• Art Honors Diploma - Kathryn Ridler
• St. Thomas Aquinas Distinction - Ivan Blazevic, Caroline Brown, Juliana Conforte, Parker DiCello, Gigi DiDominico, Tyler Duricky, Ryan Ginley, Kyan Harrold, Tessa Koenig, Joey Lonchar, Dominic Orlando, Stephen Parrish, Hannah Pattie, Andrew Pellecchia, Zoe Pesek, Joe Powaski, Anthony Reynoso, Gianna Rubino, Jarred Smith, Josh Styles, Charlie Trinetti, Isaiah Tyree, Chloe Stossel, Oliva Switalski, Chris Vanjo, and Dani Villa
• Christian Leadership Recognition - Chloe Stossel and Dominic Orlando

More photos from the evening, including ones of all the winners, can be found on our Senior Awards page.

One of Lake Catholic’s longest-standing traditions continued Monday, Nov. 20, as the Class of 2024 participated in the 49th Annual Turkey Day.

What had started back in 1974 as a Thanksgiving feast for friends to enjoy each other as an entire class, has turned into much more for Lake Catholic students, as they live out one of the school’s core values – its willingness to serve.

“This is a very important day for our school and our senior class,” Mrs. Brandi Mandzak, a Theology teacher who coordinated the entire day, said to the seniors. “Everything you did today matters.”

The day started with a small prayer service, where there were prayers not only for the senior class but also for those who it was going to help. The seniors chose between 10 different service projects and headed out into the community. 

The groups headed to:

• Lake Farmpark, where the students helped set up Christmas trees for breakfast with Santa and cleaned up the barns for when families go for country lights and horse races.
• Outdoor YMCA in Perry, where they cleaned up the area by raking and blowing leaves and moving large tree branches.
• Holden Arboretum, where they mulched 300 trees for protection during the winter.
• Lake Humane Society, where they cleaned cages, swept the floor, mailed envelopes to donors, but most importantly got to play with the cats and dogs. 
  “It was so fun,” Hannah Pattie said. “I really enjoyed seeing all the little dogs and cats, and how their faces lit up when we were playing with them.”
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where they sorted drinks and eventually packed 14,000 pounds of beverages.
• Broadmoor School, where they worked and played with the children.
• Karpos Ministry, where they baked desserts for Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless at St. Mary’s in Painesville. 
• Willoughby Workshop, where they read to the adults there.
• Grateful Giving, where students baked in the school’s Campus Ministry center that will be brought to first responders.
• Project Hope, where the students, after a tour of the facility, made cards for the packed lunches that are handed out every day, as well as sorting donations and organizing their storage room.
  “It was wonderful to have so many kids writing messages of positivity to put in the lunches of the homeless to help encourage them as they leave for the day after staying the night,” said Bryan Bossert, the property manager at Project Hope.

When the students returned to school, there was an all-class mass in the Chapel with Fr. Andy Gonzalez.

They then all moved to the Atrium for a catered Thanksgiving feast, which was what Turkey Day started as back in the ‘70s. Lunch was served by some parents of the students, who also served as chaperones throughout the morning.

The day ended in silence in the Auditorium as each student had time to reflect on their day, what their service meant to the community, and how thankful they were to be able to help those who need it. 

“It really is a great day for all of us,” Pattie said. “I’ve never heard of other schools doing this kind of service for their communities. And it’s great that we can give back to places around here, keeping that connection with our entire community.”

All the pictures from today can be found on the Student Life / Traditions page of the website under Turkey Day.

This is the second in a series introducing new members of the Lake Catholic community.

When Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated the school year-opening mass at Lake Catholic, he made two important announcements – one that received loud cheers and applause from the students and one that will have a more lasting impact on the students.

As he typically does when he visits, Bishop Malesic let everyone know that the students, faculty and staff can have a day off of school/work on him. Mr. McKrill, after conferring with members of the senior class, announced that day would be October 16.

That day will come and go though.

But it was the second announcement that will have a more lasting effect on the students. Bishop Malesic made public that Fr. Andy Gonzalez, the newly appointed vicar at St. Gabriel Parish, will also serve as chaplain here at Lake Catholic.

“Once my move was announced to St. Gabriel Parish (from Holy Family in Stow, Ohio), I was asked if I would be willing to be a regular presence here at Lake Catholic,” Fr. Andy said. “It’s very open-ended from my perspective. My main mission is to offer mass, but I could be present in other ways too.”

Fr. Andy has already started celebrating mass every Thursday morning at 715a in the school’s chapel. He might also be spotted in a few theology classes or the Campus Ministry office.

“I have two older brothers and 10 nieces and nephews, who range from preschool to college,” he said. “Those experiences have helped me with my work with kids and teens. I’m comfortable with them and I hope they’re comfortable with me.”

Working with kids and teens, or even being a priest for that matter, is a far stretch from where Fr. Andy was 10-15 years ago.

After graduating from Olmsted Falls High School in 2002, Fr. Andy (or just Andy at that point) enrolled at Baldwin Wallace University, where we would earn his undergraduate degree in computer information systems.

He even had a job after college at a software company in Westlake. He worked in that industry for six years. But in 2013, he made the decision to leave that world and entered St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology.

“I was just in a job and a place in my life where I knew I needed a change,” he said.

So there he was, a 29-year-old entering the seminary to become a priest.

“Moving from one point in my life to this one wasn’t easy,” he said. “There was a lot of formation. I created a lot of strong relationships. They taught me how to be a priest.”

While in the seminary, he did help support Campus Ministry at St. Edward for a semester. And he said he sees similarities between that brief time and how he views his role here at Lake Catholic.

“I can be on the ground, in the field, wherever there are needs,” he said. “How can I help have Jesus enter these halls.”

He’ll continue to have his “normal priestly duties” – saying mass, confession, etc. – at St. Gabes. But both there and here, he said he’s going to continue to find his way and see how he best fits.

“There’s something oddly freeing about it, about being new,” he said. “There’s no hardened fast rules or expectations. I can just go where my attention needs to be.”

Quick Hits

• Enjoys exercising and working out. Enjoys the outdoors. He is a part of the Holy Hiking club at St. Gabes.
• Loves reading. He’s currently in the middle of five different books, including working through Dante’s Divine Comedy.
   

Eighteen Lake Catholic students were honored and awarded scholarships last night by the Christ Child Society of the Western Reserve. 

The award ceremony was held at St. John Vianney and then Fr. Tom Johns held a mass for the students, their families and the Christ Child Society.

The chapter of the Christ Christ Child Society of the Western Reserve is an organization primarily dedicated to child welfare. Its motive and spirit shall be a love of Christ expressing itself in personal service for children and youth regardless of race or creed to honor the childhood of Christ.

The 40-year-old chapter serves "one child at a time" through many different programs, including scholarships. Scholarships are offered to students currently enrolled at Lake Catholic and Ursuline College for their current tuition.

Those receiving the scholarships for the 2023-24 school year are: Victor Arenas (Sr.), Carley Dondorfer (Sr.), Joey Lonchar (Sr.), Katie Morgan (Sr.), Alyssa Naro (Sr.), Mia Schaefer (Sr.), Katie Sowko (Sr.), Kyle Boyd (Jr.), Caden Boyes (Jr.), Carson Gilbert (Jr.), Megan Joy (Jr.), Luke Joy (Jr.), Jimmy Meden (Jr.), Angelina Capra (So.), Kaelyn Nemeth (So.), Kiera Nemeth (So.), Brayden Mann (So.) and Robert Vidmar (Fr.).