On the feast of St. Peter Chanel (April 28), 63 seniors made a five-year commitment to The Notre Dame Fund and to their fellow students at their soon-to-be alma mater. “Pledge the Prep” is Notre Dame's newest initiative in support of The Notre Dame Fund. The Class of 2015 will be the first class to commit to an incremental total gift of $100 over the next five years.
“Way to go, seniors! We appreciate your generosity and commitment to our school community,” said Gregory Simon, director of The Notre Dame Fund.
Simon said The Notre Dame Fund is the major annual fundraising effort for the school. “Therefore, every gift to the fund has an immediate impact on the quality of programming offered to our students in the lower, middle and upper divisions of Notre Dame,” he said.
About The Notre Dame Fund
The Notre Dame Fund is a mission-driven fundraising appeal geared toward supporting and enhancing programs for students at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy. The appeal empowers donors to give by directing their gift to one of the fund’s “ways.”
About St. Peter Chanel, s.m. (1803-1841)
St. Peter ChanelPeter Chanel was born in France on July 12, 1803. He entered the seminary at a time when the missionary spirit was developing in France. He was ordained in 1827. Following a brief period of parish work, he joined a group of diocesan priests who were eager to establish a religious order called the Marists. During this time, the Vatican was searching for missionaries to evangelize Western Oceania. Fr. Jean Claude Colin, s.m., founder of the Marists, agreed to furnish personnel for this effort if the Vatican would recognize the Marists as a religious congregation under the Pope’s authority. Rome agreed, and Peter Chanel arrived in Oceania to the island of Futuna in 1837. Peter met with severe resistance and his ministry was unproductive. When the chief’s son asked to be baptized, the chief sent a band of warriors to “remove” the missionary. Peter was martyred on April 28, 1841. Within two years of his death, the island converted to Catholicism. Peter Chanel was canonized on June 12, 1954, by Pope Pius XII. The Catholic Church celebrates his feast day on April 28.
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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.