Manhattan's St. Joseph Celebrates 100 Years With Student Fun, Mass, Dinner & Dancing

MANHATTAN, IL — Manhattan's St. Joseph is celebrating its 100th anniversary, with activities for students, staff and leadership, wrapping up with a Mass and reception planned for Sunday, Sept. 14.

Tickets still remain for the reception at CD&ME Sunday, said Principal Colleen Domke, a night for adults to dine and dance in commemoration of the centennial. The party will follow a Mass celebrated by Bishop Ronald Hicks along with Father Mike, Father John, and Father McGeean.

Kids have been in on the fun all week, she said, as staff planned fun throughout the school days. Monday included a picnic lunch with pizza and ice cream for the whole school, piñatas in every classroom—and a chance to dunk Fr. Mike McMahon in the tank.

"That's the one thing I wouldn't do for the school," Domke joked. "Fr. Mike's a trooper."

Kids have also enjoyed bouncy houses, temporary "100" tattoos and face painting, said Domke, who's been principal at the school for nearly 12 years.

"It flew by, being out here," Domke told Patch.

In preparing for the celebration, school and parish leaders detailed St. Joe's history, dating back to its founding in 1925 when just 40 students were enrolled. Early class lists hint at the future legacies of Manhattan families within the parish.

"St. Joseph School started its first year on September 8, 1925, with 40 students enrolled," a booklet reads. "Three nuns from the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate were the total staff. Three classrooms were located in the back part of the church, where the present sacristy is now located.

"The sisters lived in a small but adequate convent on the second floor above the three classrooms. There they cooked, slept, prayed and corrected homework. The early class lists are replete with family names of present-day residents of the Manhattan area."

The school has come so far, Domke said, with enrollment now at 200. It offers 10 grades, including a full-day kindergarten and a 3- and 4-year-old preschool.

The school facilities have seen much-needed upgrades. In 1998, a very much-needed gym was added along with the new preschool, the booklet reads. In the most recent years, air conditioning was added, as well as new floors throughout and new lockers this year.

"As we approach the 100th year, the need for more class space and a preschool waiting list includes the conversion of our current garage into the newly renovated Nazareth Hall, home to the school’s fine arts, resource and band allowing our current music and art room to be converted to a second preschool," the booklet reads.

Though not complete, the building will be blessed by Bishop Ronald Hicks on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Also in the works on Monday was a drone flyover photo of students standing in the formation of a "100." The last time they'd attempted something similar was on their 90th, Domke said. For that, the school's Advancement Director had taken to a step ladder atop the roof, she remembered.

Domke invites the community, families, alumni to join them on Sunday at 3 p.m. Adults and children are welcome.

The adults-only reception begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m, at CD&ME in Frankfort. Dinner is catered buffet-style from Scrementi's.

This week's festivities are a continuation of the year's fundraising efforts, including a golf outing and Slammers baseball game outing. Upcoming events include the Pints and Pork Challenge and a 5K, Domke said.

"For 100 years, this school has remained steadfast in its mission: to form students in faith and knowledge, to guide them in the pursuit of academic excellence, and to encourage them to live lives of integrity and service," the booklet reads. "In our classrooms, in our athletic programs, and in every aspect of school life, young people have been given the opportunity to grow not only in skill and intellect, but also in character and virtue.

"Today, we give thanks to God for the generations of teachers, students, families, and parish leaders whose dedication and sacrifice have sustained this school. We also look ahead with great hope, confident that the same Spirit who has blessed us for the past century will continue to guide us into the future."