A Grand Time Had By All At Anniversary Celebration

Hundreds enjoy great food and the NDP jazz band on Oct. 20 under the big top. The event was held October 19-20 and celebrated five different anniversaries related to the school and to the Marist Fathers and Brothers, who operate NDPMA.

A weekend of celebration ended Sunday evening as the caterer tucked away the last of the table linens for his next event. But it might be hard for his next event to top what happened at Notre Dame during the two days of its big “Grand Anniversary Celebration.”

Frs. Joe Hindelang and Jim Strasz concelebrated a Mass on Oct. 20 in the school gymnasium.

NDPMA’s head of school Fr. Leon Olszamowski’s vision for a “grand” celebration of a number of milestones came to life October 19-20 on Notre Dame’s Pontiac campus after much planning, hard work and accommodating weather. Hundreds of alumni, parents, children and staff enjoyed food, drink, music and a general good vibe on the grounds of a school that continues to flourish and grow.

The event celebrated five different important milestones in the history of Notre Dame: the 150-year anniversary of the Marist Fathers Apostolate in the United States; the 60-year anniversary of Notre Dame High School; the 45-year anniversary of Pontiac/Oakland Catholic; the 20-year anniversary of Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy; and the 10-year anniversary of Notre Dame Marist Academy – Lower Division.

The two days of celebration kicked off with an alumni event Saturday night, featuring a catered dinner and music supplied by a blues-rock band fronted by two Notre Dame High School alums, and an all-family Mass and pig roast on Sunday.

“Today is a day of fulfilled mystery and great joy to many, including our loving God,” Olszamowski said on Sunday. “Please enjoy our Marist hospitality. We thank you all for your wonderful support of this great Catholic school founded in honor of Our Lady 20 years ago."

Follow Notre Dame at @NDPMA.

About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.