Cardinal Newman School celebrates ‘triple header’
By KATHY SCHMUGGE
COLUMBIA — It was a “triple header” at Cardinal Newman High School on Feb. 21 as the school celebrated the rededication of the Harold Bayerl Building, the 40th year of the school on Forest Drive and the 201st birthday of its namesake, Cardinal John Henry Newman.
The choir from St. Martin de Porres School sang the sentiments of the Cardinal Newman student body, parents, and community who gathered to celebrate their past, present and future accomplishments. Bishop Robert J. Baker presided over the event accompanied by Msgr. Charles Rowland, canonical administrator, and Father Tim Lijewski as the master of ceremonies.
“Today we celebrate another milestone in the great institution of Cardinal Newman,” said Bishop Baker during the homily, acknowledging the historical significance of the day and commending the school for its renovated building that contains a new library, new computer lab, cafeteria and chapel. He was especially glad that students now have a chapel that he called the “heart of all Catholic institutions.”
“Find the time to make a bee line to the chapel to help you refocus on the Lord,” advised the bishop, who transferred the Eucharist to the school chapel before blessing other spaces. “God gave us the Eucharist so we could discover him and refocus our lives around him. If we know the Lord and he is in our hearts, we will be able to say, ‘life is beautiful’ even during the difficult times.”
Principal Jim McIntyre also was grateful to have “a place where our students can pause and take time to reflect in God’s presence.” He said, “The placement of the Blessed Sacrament on our campus outwardly expresses God’s presence on our campus, and it is the culmination of work by many people over the last 18 months.”
As the chapel will provide opportunities for the school community to get closer to God, Cardinal Newman was commended this day on bringing God closer to the outside community through their service.
Betty Davidson, a representative from the education division of Gov. Jim Hodges, read the citation from the governor that proclaimed Feb. 21 as Cardinal Newman Day throughout the state and “encouraged all South Carolinians to recognize the many contributions made by the faculty, staff, students and parents of Cardinal Newman.” The school also received a congressional recognition from Earl Brown, a representative from Rep. Joe Wilson’s office, for their contributions to the community.
Another special guest was Harold Bayerl, who had been principal for many years at Cardinal Newman and whose name was given to the renovated building. McIntyre presented Bayerl with a token of appreciation while mentioning Bayerl’s many accomplishments as principal at Cardinal Newman.
It was indeed fitting to celebrate the school’s past achievements and to look forward to future ones on the birth of its patron, Cardinal Newman, who was ever mindful of his duty as a Christian. “O may we ever bear in mind that we are not sent into this world to stand all the day idle, but to go forth to our work and to our labor until the evening! Until the evening, not in the evening only of life, but serving God from our youth, and not waiting till our years fail us. Until the evening, not in the daytime only, lest we begin to run well, but fall away before our course is ended.” (Cardinal John Henry Newman, The Work of the Christian)