The Governor's Proclamation

State of Kansas

Proclamation of the Governor

TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, in September 1848, the Mission of St. Mary's of the Potawatomi was founded by the Jesuit Fathers in the heart of the Oregon Trail, to serve the needs of the Potawatomi tribe; and

WHEREAS, in September 1849, at the Seventh Provincial Council of Baltimore, the "Indian Country," in that immense stretch of the Great Plains between the western border of Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, was organized into an Apostolic Vicariate; and

WHEREAS, in September 1850, Pope Pius IX appointed Bishop John Baptist Miege as Apostolic Vicar, with St. Mary's Mission as his Episcopal see and cathedral; and

WHEREAS, in September 1870, the Ladies of the Sacred Heart opened in the Mission the first academy for girls, while the Jesuit Fathers started at the same time a college for boys, which soon became renowned in North America, with illustrious alumni like heroic Lieutenant Williams Fitzsimons, first American soldier to die win World War I; Charles Cominskey, founder of the American Baseball League; Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore; actor Spencer Tracy, and other relevant figures in our country's history; and

WHEREAS, in September 1932, a seminary for the education of future priests replaced the old college, ordaining over one thousand Jesuit Fathers until its closure in 1967; and

WHEREAS, in September 1978, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre reopened the campus for his Priestly Society of St. Pius X to continue those traditions of excellence in education, forming the souls of the children of traditional Catholic families, attracting candidates from all over the world, and presently counting over eight hundred students; and

WHEREAS, in September 1989, Father Ramon Angles established a Liberal Arts and Education college to preserve and to foster a classical curriculum of higher education; and

WHEREAS, on September 1st 2003, St. Mary's Academy & College will observe with popular, academic, and religious celebrations the 155th anniversary of the founding of its campus, along with the Silver Jubilee of the foundation of the new college;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby proclaim the first day of September 2003, as

St. Mary's Academy & College Day

in Kansas, and congratulate President Ramon Angles, Dean Barbara Berfanger, the Faculty, Students, Alumni, and all the friends and visitors who will attend the festivities.

DONE:

At the Capitol in Topeka
under the Great Seal of
the State this 29th day of
August, A.D. 2003

BY THE GOVERNOR:   (signed)