St. Augustine Church - The Catholic Student Center of Gainesville, Florida                                    

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Celebrate Alpha's 30th Anniversary!    ∙   Alpha Pod Chairs    ∙    Commemorative T-shirts   ∙  Alpha Dinner & Serenade

Let's Celebrate!
 over 30 years of ALPHA
at St. Augustine Catholic Student Center

Since 1977, college students have built lasting friendships and experienced the amazing love of God by attending the retreats and often serving on the leadership Teams. There are many ways that past Team members and past Candidates (all those in the Alpha Community) can support the current and future Retreats.

Alpha Community Dinner & Serenade
Save the Date: Fall Alpha Alumni Dinner & Serenade: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Each semester Alumni of the Alpha Community are invited to join current students in the Alpha Community in supporting the Alpha Retreat Team and Candidates with prayer (Palancas) and the traditional "Serenade."

From 6:00-6:30 p.m. we gather for a delicious meal in Hurley Hall over which we recall memories of Alpha, catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Dinner will be followed by Evening Prayer before we assemble carpools to leave for Camp Crystal to "serenade" the new students on the Alpha Retreat, helping make their experience memorable.

Consider joining in this special activity by marking your calendars for the next Alpha Community Dinner & Serenade: Saturday, October 3. When the date draws near, please RSVP to the Alpha Dinner & Serenade via this form.

A lasting impact on the future of Alpha...
In honor of Alpha’s 30th Anniversary, St. Augustine launched a campaign to support the future of Alpha retreats. Financial gifts continue to be accepted to fund scholarships for those students who can't afford the retreat fee and gifts to offset the rising retreat expenses such as camp facilities, food, and other supplies.

As part of the Alpha Campaign, members of the Alpha Community had the opportunity to sponsor new Alpha Pod Chairs which replaced worn out couch cushions that had been used for 30 years. The new, lightweight, portable seats were a big hit with the students on the Fall '08 retreat. The students say the chairs are comfortable and they love the back support. They also appreciate seeing the names and candidate years of people in the Alpha Community who sponsored the chairs.

Thank you to the following sponsors:

Erin Andres (Spring 2001)
Sarah Ashley (Spring 2000)
Wendy (Clark) Bethancourt (Fall 1998)
Mark Brissette (Spring 1988)
Susan (Hilder) Burianek (Fall 1994) and Francois Burianek (Fall 1995)
   In honor of
        Magda (Buszko) Schoenfeld (Fall 1994) and Winston Schoenfeld (Fall 1994)
        Michael Schreiner (Fall 1988, TL Fall 1989)
        Allison (Eckert) Blay (Fall 1994, TL Spring 1998) and Steve Blay (Fall 1992, TL Spring 1995)
        Jennifer Ribachonek (Fall 1994) and Tim Trotter (Fall 1994)
        Wayne Trotter  (Fall 1994)
        Sarah (Mendonca) McCoy (Spring 1993, TL Spring 1996) and Josh McCoy (Spring 1995, TL Spring 1997)
        Jonathan Wrubel (Fall 1995)
        Shirley (Martinez) Smith (Fall 1994) and Tony Smith (Spring 1995)
        Linda (Sapienza) Biles (Spring 1995) and Peter Biles (Spring 1995)
        Nemer Abohasen
   In Loving Memory of
        Mel Cuadra
Katie Cole (Fall 2003)
   In honor of
        Patrick Barthle (Spring 2006)
   In Loving Memory of
        Ehren Murburg (Fall 2006)
MaryGail (Dufresne) Coffee (Fall 1993, TL Fall 1996)
   In honor of
        Paul Villavisanis (Spring 1994)
Matt Cullen (Fall 2000, TL Spring 2006)
Ligeia (Rivera) Damaso (Fall 1999) and Eugene Damaso (Fall 2000)
Megan Dubee (Fall 2001, TL Fall 2004)
Sarah (Busciglio) Fradkin (Spring 2004, TL Fall 2007)
Tony Gammichia (Spring 2003, TL Fall 2005)
Cristina (Silva) Giammarinaro (Fall 1999, TL Fall 2002) and Paul Giammarinaro (Fall 2000)
Marie Gill (Spring 2001, TL Fall 1993)
Amy and David Grabosky (Fall 1983)
   In honor of
        Kristi Grabosky (Spring 2008)
        Giana Court (Spring 2008)
        Christine Savage (Spring 2008)
James and Janetze Hart
   In honor of
        Mary Hart (Spring 2008)
Erin Judge (Spring 2002)
Jenny Kiesel (Spring 2000, TL Fall 2005)
Tuyet Lam-Hansen (Fall 1993)
Richard and Karen Larsen
   In honor of
        Chris Larsen (Spring 2007)
Larry Lataif (Fall 2003)
   In honor of
        Bobby Angel (Fall 2003)
        Ashley Beck (Fall 2001)
        Katie Flanagan (Fall 2002)
        Megan (McCaffrey) Estes (Fall 2003)
        Abrea Mitchell (Fall 2001, TL Spring 2005)
        Katherine Murphy (Spring 2002, TL Spring 2005)
        Sr. Margaret Harig (Campus Minister Fall 1999- Spring 2008)Emma Lauren (Spring 2006)
Fr. Tim Lozier (Alpha Spiritual Director Spring 1992 – Spring 2005)
Jeannette Maatouk (Fall 2000, TL Fall 2004)
Jeannie Macaluso (Fall 1977, TL Fall 1979)
   In honor of
        Fr. Phil Egitto (Fall 1977, TL Fall 1981)
        Lourdes Rodriguez  (Fall 1978)
Diane Mashburn (Fall 2007)
Katherine Murphy (Spring 2002, TL Spring 2005)
   In honor of
        Jen Varela (Fall 1998, TL Fall 2002)
Will Sanchez (Fall 2004, TL Spring 2007)
Gary Sanford (Spring 2005, TL Spring 2008)
   In honor of
        Ashley D’Emo (Spring 2006, TL Spring 2008)
Richard Schlitt (TL Fall 1977)
   In honor of
        Paul Schlitt Spring 2007
Michelle (Thresher) Taylor (Spring 1994)
   In loving memory of
        David G. Taylor, Jr.
   In honor of
        Erica (Lynne) Hannah (Fall 1993)
        Mike Demko (Fall 1993, TL Spring 1996)
Margaret Truitt (Fall 2002, TL Spring 2006)
Jennifer (Valdes) Vina (Fall 2000) and Robel Vina (Fall 1997)

There are only a few chairs remaining for sponsorship, but contributions are also needed to offer scholarships and offset retreat expenses. Please include the following information with your check.
    

Your Name(s): _______________________________
Your Candidate Alpha Semester(s): ______________
Enclosed is $___ to fund  #___ Alpha chair(s)
To Honor: ________________________
To Memorialize: ________________________
Honoree's Alpha Candidate Semester: __________________
Enclosed is $____________ toward the Alpha Campaign to support the future of the Alpha Retreat program.

Mail to:
St. Augustine Church
Attn: Kathleen Cole
PO BOX 13888
Gainesville, FL 32604

For more information on the Alpha Campaign, please contact Katie Cole (UF ’06), Director of Development, at AugustineAlumni@yahoo.com

Purchase your Commemorative Alpha 30th Anniversary T-shirts!

Front: at center is the 30th Anniversary Logo with the text: "Celebrating 30 years of Alpha Love" Back: at center is a desert scene with a mile marker 30 sign with text: "They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts  burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?' - Luke 24:32"

Cost: $12 per shirt + $5 shipping fee = $17 per shirt (if shipped)

SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE ORDER FORM VIA THIS LINK.
Drop-off or mail your payment to: St. Augustine Church PO BOX 13888 Gainesville, FL 32604. You can then choose to pick-up your shirt(s) or  have your shirt(s) shipped to you.


Questions? Contact Gail Fitzsimmons, Director of Stewardship & Development, at (352) 372-3533 or AugustineAlumni@yahoo.com