ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC School in Huntington Beach commemorated the start of the 2024-25 school year with a special Mass, featuring some notable guests among the congregants.
FR. VINCENT PHAM, PASTOR OF ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, COMMISSIONS STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING MASS CELEBRATED ON SEPT. 6. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALAN WENDELL
Administrators from several Diocese of Orange Catholic High Schools were in attendance on Sept. 6, with St. Bonaventure’s pastor, Fr. Vincent Pham, serving as the main celebrant.
Special guests also included Dr. Denise Valadez, associate superintendent of Orange County Catholic Schools, who was not only there in an official capacity, but as a proud parent of a St. Bonaventure student.
“I have a first grader, and it’s just so nice to be here,” Valadez said. “There was just such great positive energy here today. It was such a wonderful experience.”
A commissioning ceremony introducing the 2024-25 student council also took place during Mass.
As part of the ceremony, parents of the new student council members fastened leadership pins on their children’s lapels.
The Mass also provided the opportunity to commission and bless the new St. Bonaventure School principal to the parish community.
DR. RICHARD YOON, ST. BONAVENTURE CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S NEW PRINCIPAL, RECEIVES A BLESSING DURING MASS.
Dr. Richard Yoon came to St. Bonaventure from Rosary Academy, where he was the assistant principal of academics and head coach of the varsity basketball team, leading the Royals to CIF State, Regional and Southern Section championships.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with this community,” Dr. Yoon said. “There are some strong individuals who have helped me throughout the process of transitioning from high school to elementary school. So, it’s been a great experience. I’m so grateful that the high school principals and presidents made time to come and join us in the blessings.”
High School administrators included Mike Brennan, president of Mater Dei Catholic High School; Frances Clare, Mater Dei’s principal; Shawna Pautsch, head of School at Rosary Academy; Stephen Walswick, president of Servite High School and Nancy Windisch, principal of Servite High School.
The occasion took on added meaning for Pautsch, who worked with Yoon during his years at Rosary.
“I personally want to see Dr. Yoon thrive here because he was ready for this moment of leadership and I’m very excited for him to be able to do this,” Pautsch said.
As an administrator within the Diocese of Orange, Pautsch also said she felt compelled to support a fellow diocesan school.
“Our high schools need to support our partner schools however we can,” Pautsch said. “I think it’s a mutual relationship and I think we need to show that we’re here for whatever they might need. I firmly believe that Catholic education thrives because of the fact that we will partner with one another, elementary and high school administrators and schools, because we’re the future of the Church.”
Mater Dei president Michael Brennan said the Monarch community was humbled to be included in the Mass and the ceremony welcoming the new St. Bonaventure principal.
“We always enjoy seeing the students at every school that we go to,” said Brennan, who took over as president at Mater Dei in 2022. “We would also love to have all the school principals over to Mater Dei High School for Mass as well.”
Welcoming the presidents and principals of the local Catholic high schools highlighted the strong partnership between these institutions and the academic journey that begins in grade school. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to nurturing students from their early years through high school and beyond, paving the way for a bright future.