MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—Students, benefactors and leaders in Catholic education from across West Virginia will convene for the 17th annual Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools March 27 at the Morgantown Event Center at Waterfront Place in Morgantown, W.Va. Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, will present the Bishop’s Cross to seven lay persons and two priests and the Aquinas Medal, the highest award a student can receive from the diocese, to 30 students.
“Catholic schools are unique because parents make an investment in their children's future when their children are very young,” said Bishop Bransfield. “This investment comes in many cases through great sacrifice. They see the importance of sending children to an environment that is conducive to both educational as well as spiritual growth.”
“Catholic schools are distinctive in that they generate a nurturing environment--an environment in which teachers have high expectations for all students and an environment where spiritual development is of the utmost importance,” said Rick Barnabei, acting superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. “It is also an environment which greatly encourages community outreach programs that prepare students to become productive citizens. High expectations, spiritual development and productive citizenship are all essential components of Catholic education. The Bishop’s Cross and the Aquinas Medal recipients characterize all that is good about Catholic schools and each is a shining example of how a Catholic education can transform lives.”
The Bishop’s Cross is presented to ordinary individuals who, through their lives and works, have demonstrated, in extraordinary ways, their commitment to the mission of Catholic education in West Virginia. Bishop Bransfield will present each recipient with a replica of Bishop Emeritus Bernard W. Schmitt’s pectoral cross, representing his role and responsibility as teacher. Bishop Schmitt began this annual event in 1995.
The following individuals will receive the Bishop’s Cross:
Kathleen “Kathy” Boyle has been actively involved with St. Patrick School and Parish in Weston, W.Va., for the last 19 years and has served the students at St. Patrick School as the volunteer art teacher for the past four years. A committed and gifted art teacher, Boyle’s art curriculum combines the basic elements and principles of art as well as art history and art appreciation. Her classes provide students with the opportunity to participate in creative and carefully planned art projects and experiences. As an active member of both the school and parish, Boyle has served as the secretary for school’s Advisory Council, officer for the Home School Association, Altar Society leader, Liturgical Decorator, director for annual silhouette reenactment of the Stations of the Cross and chairperson for the Advisory Council’s largest annual fundraising event. Boyle resides in Weston, W.Va., with her two sons.
Kathy Gazzola has been a teacher at St. Vincent de Paul Parish School in Wheeling, W.Va., since she began the pre-school program 23 years ago. She is involved in many aspects of the school where she serves as the Early Childhood Director, a 4 year old pre-school teacher, After- Care Director, Cheerleading Coach, Forensics Coach and Summer Office Secretary. Additionally, Gazzola is a part-time instructor at Belmont Technical College where she teaches Child Development. She has also served on the planning committee for the Ohio Catholic Education Association Convention and has been a workshop presenter on several occasions. Gazzola is an active member of St. Mary Parish in Martins Ferry, Ohio where she resides with her husband, Craig, and their daughter.
Veronica “Vern” Kobulnicky has been a teacher at St. Paul School in Weirton, W.Va., for 33 years. During her long tenure, she taught several current faculty members, the Advancement Director, the current principal, and has been a mentor for many new teachers. As a math teacher, she works diligently to keep abreast of the technologies available to advance teaching and learning in the field of mathematics. Kolbinicky also incorporates the “Moral Compass” program into her classroom, which teaches middle school students how to apply ethical principles to real life situations. In addition to her teaching duties, Kobulnicky has served as the teacher representative on the school board and co-chair of the North Central Association Committee for Accreditation. She is a member of St. Paul Parish where she serves as a Eucharistic minister and actively participates in parish activities and events. Kobulnicky resides in Weirton with her husband, Michael, and their son.
Thomas and Leta McCarty have been involved with Parkersburg Catholic Schools in Parkersburg, W.Va., for the past 29 years. Tom McCarty has served as a member of the Parkersburg Catholic School Board of Education and president of the Parkersburg Catholic Athletic Association. He is currently a member of the Diocesan school board. Leta McCarty is the coordinator of Matthew 25, the St. Margret Mary Parish food pantry for those in need. She was a member of the Parkersburg Catholic Schools Ladies Auxiliary. Both were co-chairs of the Parkersburg Catholic Schools “Our Faith…Our Future” capital campaign. They currently reside in Parkersburg and are the parents of five children Erin, Tommy, Kathleen, Nick and Meg. They are also the proud grandparents of 15 grandchildren.
Tomasina “Tomi” Schaffer has been a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Huntington, W.Va., for 24 years. She has dedicated her career to teaching young children and, with each new class, adapts her teaching style to meet the needs of every student. With enthusiasm, Schaffer works to implement new technology initiatives into the core curriculum. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves as a mentor to beginning teachers as well as on the school’s curriculum committee, the North Central Association Committee for Accreditation and various religion committees. Schaffer is active in both the summer care and afterschool programs at St. Joseph Catholic School. She is an avid supporter of all school and parish fundraisers and activities and has served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Parish in Huntington for many years. Schaffer currently resides in Huntington, W.Va., with her husband, Joe, and their two sons.
Edmund “Ed” Yahn Jr. has served Our Lady of Peace School in Wheeling for the past 28 years serving on the parish’s and school’s maintenance committee. In addition, he served on both the parish finance council and school budget committee for 15 years as well as the school board for six years. He was also responsible for fundraising, planning and installing the school air conditioning in 1990 and enabling a school internet network in 1998. Yahn was on the executive committee credited with the school gym addition in 1990, installed SMART boards in every classroom from 2005-2008 and co-directed the church renovation project in 2009. Yahn and his wife, Cindee, reside in Wheeling. They have three children, Brandon, Eddie and Nichole.
Rev. Walter Buckius, S.J. has been at Wheeling Jesuit University since 1973 when he arrived on campus as an academic advisor. He took care of students as they prepared for graduate work, working closely with students who needed academic help. He was also the advisor for pre-law students. Eventually he went into campus ministry, until he retired from active ministry in 2004.
Buckius was ordained on June 22, 1952. His first priestly assignment was in Wernersville, Pa. working with Jesuit novices. Then he moved to Washington, D.C., to the Jesuit house of studies, Carroll House, where he was superior. He later moved to the Bishop’s Latin School in Pittsburgh, where he served as president and headmaster.
Rev. James O’Brien, S.J. entered the Society of Jesus on September 27, 1947, and was ordained on June 19, 1960. He joined the faculty of Wheeling College in August 1962. Throughout his tenure at WJU, he has taught in the Philosophy Department, been a member of numerous faculty committees, a counselor in the residence halls and moderator of co-curricular and extracurricular student organizations.
O'Brien also served as WJU chaplain from 1971 until 1978 and remains active in spiritual and priestly ministries both on and off campus. He has been the moderator of the WJU Alumni Association since its founding, and is a member of its Alumni Council, as well as remaining in active contact with a number of graduates. He continues to serve on the ethics committee at Wheeling Hospital and on the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center board of directors.
Bishop Bransfield will also present the Aquinas Medal to 30 students from Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Medal recipients have been chosen in recognition of their outstanding qualities of faithful discipleship, academic excellence, leadership and service to school, parish and community, reflecting the ideals of Catholic education epitomized by St. Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic patron saint of students.
Bishop Bransfield will celebrate Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Morgantown at 10 a.m. March 27. Immediately following Mass, the formal program will begin with a reception at the Morgantown Event Center at Waterfront Place in Morgantown and will conclude with a dinner and the award presentations. All media are welcome to attend a question-and-answer session from 11:45 p.m.-12:15 p.m. in Waterfront Room AB in the Waterfront Place Hotel.
The West Virginia Knights of Columbus are the primary sponsors of the dinner and have contributed more than $162,000 over the past 16 years. Other generous benefactors have made contributions toward the dinner as well. Proceeds from the dinner are deposited into the Great Futures Fund, which advances student programs in each of the 32 diocesan Catholic elementary and secondary schools