CrossRoads - Mennonite Collegiate Institute

CrossRoads
O God, thank you for being with us.
We sing praise in your name.
Everything that breathes
praises your name
and witnesses
to your persistent glory.
Come! Join us!
Celebrate with us, you faithful folk!
We will exalt God’s name
and thank our Creator for promises kept.
O God,
Your people praise you.
Your creation rejoices.
You listen to us in times of trouble.
You lift us up.
You give us strength.
You do not allow us to fall
Come, all faithful folk!
We will invite God to join us
wherever we walk.
God is our guide,
our light,
our peace.
From years long since poured out,
and flowing into this present moment,
We worship, exalt,
and bless your holy name.
March 12
Prospective Student
Open House
March 12, 13,14
Beauty & The Beast Musical
April 12
Chamber Choir Church Visit
For full event
calendars, visit
the Buhler Hall
and MCI websites.
www.buhlerhall.com
&
www.mciblues.net
June 5-7
MCI 125th Anniversary
Celebrations
June 7
Saengerfest
June 21
Graduation
The poem/original psalm was first written, in Spanish,
by Grade 12 student Diana Muela as part of her Grade
12 Religion Psalm Project. The poem was translated by
Grade 12 student, Justin Loewen. The psalm has been
adapted to address the MCI community as we approach
our 125th year celebration!
Attention Classes of
1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995,
& 2005:
This is a BiG reunion year
for you.
Contact us to see about getting
plans going for your reunion
gathering.
(204) 327-5891
alumni@mciblues.net
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1969
1994
1957 “Two birds supporting the hydro pole”
1986
2009
2000 Basketball team
1976
2005
2005
1976 In Res
We invite MCI Alumni to submit original works of art for
publication in CrossRoads.
Photos of visual art should be submitted in JPEG or PNG formats.
Written works should be 200 words or less, if possible. Art can be
submitted via email to alumni@mciblues.net.
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2000
1957 Uniform Modelling
1946 Volleyball
1994
1986
2005
1976 Cheerleaders
2000 Colleen and James Loewen
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Celebration Time!
Join us June 5-7...
MCI125th Anniversary
We really, Really, REALLY need your email
address to keep you informed of upcoming
anniversary events.
Email us at alumni@mciblues.net today!
bewith
c oanme
a st o o k i e sustain er
automatic monthly gift of
& belong to a circle of 1,000
$10/month
$25/month
$100/month
stookie sustainers
building a stronger MCI.
Visit CanadaHelps.org OR Set up bill payment online for
Access Credit Union members.
Did you know that if you send us your email address we can send you CrossRoads electronically?
Did you know that now e-CrossRoads contains all kinds of great links to
information, pictures, and video?
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growing connection
I am sure by the time you have reached
this article in Crossroads you have been
convinced to join us for MCI’s 125th
Celebration. My invite is simple. This
event is filled with time to reunite and
celebrate MCI’s stories and history. You
don’t want to miss this event.
I have a story that I feel needs sharing.
I have had the opportunity to share it
in a couple of smaller settings, but I feel
a need to share it with all CrossRoad
readers. For those of you who have
heard these words before – my
apologies.
One of my main tasks here at
MCI is fundraising…fundraising is a
curious thing…it is encouraging and
discouraging. It requires a level of
tolerance for rejection. It requires
trust, faith, hope, and on occasion, I am
banking on a prayer or two. Sometimes
fundraising generates a fist pump…like
a non-solicited gift, or maybe a gift that
has a large sum, or the envelope that
has a loonie in it with a note that says
“that is all I have”.
Harold Schlegel gifted me with a book
called... A Spirituality of Fundraising.
Here is a part of what it says about
fundraising.
From the Desk of Conley Kehler
Fundraising is proclaiming what
we believe…in such a way that we
offer other people an opportunity to
participate with us in our vision and
mission. Fundraising is precisely the
opposite of begging. When we seek
to raise funds here at MCI we are not
saying “Please could you help us out
because lately it’s been hard.” Rather,
we are declaring…”We have a vision
that is amazing and exciting. We are
inviting you to invest yourself through
the resources that God has given you –
your energy – your prayers – and your
money –all of which God has called us”.
Last year with a few weeks leading
up to Saengerfest, I had two very
different encounters with two people
from very different backgrounds and
circumstances. They both wished they
had what the other possessed. Here
are those encounters.
During a church retreat I was part of
a small group discussion. One of the
group members was new to Canada.
The question that was posed to the
group used the word ABUNDANCE. I
don’t remember the context, but it
is the word that is important. Until
that point this person was quiet, but
when hearing that word abundance
1966 - Conley, Age 3, Behind him is the MCI Auditorium and MCI Outdoor Arena.
He is visiting his grandparents Rev AA Teichroeb who lived across the street.
– she spoke up “what does this word
abundance mean”.
Someone in
our group explained. This was the
response to the definition given ”I see
much abundance now that I am here in
Canada. Everywhere I go there is food,
there is medicine, there is education.”
This person then replied “I sometimes
think, God has a watering can, and he
started watering here in Canada and
ran out before he got to my country…I
often pray he would start watering
from the other side first”.
Move the clock ahead a couple of
weeks…
On a parking lot next to a ball diamond
in Winnipeg. I approached the coach
of my sons’ AAA Baseball team. He is
newly retired, and financially secure.
He travels to Africa for a few weeks
every year in early spring. So I asked
him the standard question. So how
was your trip and I then waited for the
standard answer that the trip was great.
Instead this is what he said…”Conley,
these people are amazing. They greet
you every day with hospitality that very
few people I know have. They give to
me from what little they have. Their
bed, their food, their water. They work
hard, they sing hard, they pray hard,
and they worship hard. They trust
everything to GOD. Everything”. He
finished by saying ”For a people that
have so little why do I feel that they
have so much. I find myself wishing I
had what they have”.
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Please email us at 125@mciblues.net if you plan to attend!
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Please take time to Like us on Facebook!
We’re always entertaining and it’s a great way to stay connected
with MCI and the 125 Celebration!
Saengerfest 1932
1959 Kitchen Staff
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Alumni News and Updates
births
Oliver Jae was born December 5,
2014 to Peter Epp (class of 1998, staff
2004-2007; 2010-2014) and Shanda
Hochstetler (Staff 2013-2014). The Ryker Gordon Sansom was born June 6th, 2014
three of them recently moved to to parents Kevin Sansom and Kerri Harms (2005).
Ada Rose Wiens was born on Winnipeg, where Peter is pursuing He arrived weighing 8lbs, 15oz and 23 inches.
October 21, 2014 at 1:01pm to his masters degree in theology at Proud grandparents are Art (‘69) and Elaine
(Bergen) Harms (‘72).
Ashley and Lyle Wiens (‘03).
CMU.
Nicholas Louis was born on November 6, 2014 to Matt (‘94) & Christine Wiebe.
celebrations & engagements
Alvin (‘60) and Lydia (Loeppky) (‘62)
Falk of Niverville, MB celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary with
family and friends at the Niverville
Mennonite Brethern Church (now
Fourth Ave Bible Church) with a dinner
and program on July 13, 2014. They
were married on August 1, 1964 at
the Niverville Mennonite Church (now
Niverville Community Fellowship).
Their four children with their spouses and
twelve grandchildren were all present
as well as extended family from B.C.,
church family and many relatives and
friends from various areas in Manitoba.
All these years Alvin has been farming,
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first with his father and
brothers and now with his sons.
Lydia has always been at his
fingertips on the farm, as
well as substitute teaching.
They have been serving
in a variety of areas in
the Niverville MB Church
during these 50 years.
They are still farming near
Niverville and serving in the
MB church in Niverville and
enjoying their children and Katie Ridley (‘09) engaged to Aaron Saint-Cyr of
grandchildren, all living in the Winnipeg. The wedding date is planned for July
area.
24, 2015.
Where are you living? What are you up to?
What experiences would you like to share with MCI
alumni & friends of the school?
Email us:
alumni@mciblues.net
Know anyone who’d like to check out MCI?
Let them know about
Day in the Life!
Come visit us for the day and see what we’re all about!
www.mciblues.net for more info
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deaths
Dr. David Penner (‘56) passed
away peacefully, after a short
illness, on October 28, 2014.
He is survived by his wife of
58 years, Margaret, children,
Randy (fiancee Cecilia Lopez),
Carol (Barry) Timbury, and
Philip, grandchildren, Angela
Timbury, Joseph Timbury, David
Penner, Regan (Charity) Edser,
and Jordache (fiancee Jackie
Wills) Edser, four sisters, one
brother, seven sisters-in-law, and seven brothers-in-law.
He was predeceased by both parents, both parents-in-law, one
sister, one brother, six sisters-in-law, and seven brothers-in-law.
David was born in Gnadenthal, MB, on May 1, 1930, and
moved with his family to a farm near Winnipegosis, MB,
three months later. In his early adulthood, he was a dragline
operator and worked in bush camps until he could afford to
go back to school. He took Grades 11 and 12 at Mennonite
Collegiate Institute in Gretna, MB, and graduated from the
University of Manitoba with his MD degree in 1963. After
several years as a general physician, he went on to get his
Diploma of Public Health at the University of Toronto in
1967, after which he spent the last 15 years of his medical
career working in Public Health.
John Herman Sawatzky
(Student 1962-1963)
passed away peacefully at
Hamiota Hospital on June
26, 2014 at the age of 67
after a short battle with
cancer. He is survived by
his wife Ruth (Kolodka),
sisters,
Ruth
O’Hara
(Claude), Edna Edwards
(Marsden), brother-in-law
Ernesto Carillo, and nieces
and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, John and
Anne Sawatzky, and his sister Frieda Carillo. John attended
MCI for one year, 1962-1963. He was a gentle soul who
loved making music with his guitar. He is greatly missed by
all who knew and loved him.
CrossRoads is printed in Canada by:
FRIESENS FAST PRINT, Altona, MB
Managing Editor: Kayla Giesbrecht
MCI Box 250 Gretna, MB R0G 0V0
204-327-5891
mci@mciblues.net
www.mciblues.net
June (Wilson) Hayward, passed
away peacefully with her family by
her side on October 15, 2014 at St.
Boniface Hospital. She is survived
by her husband Allan (‘47) of 62
years, son Richard, wife Diane,
granddaughters Kelsie, Kendal, and
Haley, daughter Donna, husband
Randy (Storoschuk), grandchildren
Jennifer (Cole), Jason, and Jessica
(Mike) and many cousins, nieces and
nephews. June was predeceased by
her father James A.C. Wilson, her
mother Margaret, brother Harold (Orla), sister Hazel (Bert)
and brother Artie. June was born in Winnipeg on March
6, 1931, a date she shared with her mother and maternal
grandmother. She was educated in West Kildonan and
Winnipeg. She graduated from Success Business College
in 1948 where she met Allan and worked at the Canada
Farm Loan Board until Richard was born. She returned to
the workforce after many years of raising their children and
retired in 1993. June loved sewing, knitting, crocheting, and
crafting, especially for her family. June and Allan enjoyed
travel throughout Canada and the United States, and in
later years enjoyed many cruises together, including several
to Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Iceland, and the U.K.
Summers were spent at the summer house at Sandy Hook
in the company of grandchildren, pets, and good friends
over the canasta table. June and Allan enjoyed many years
as season ticket holders for the Bombers. Always an active
participant in the interests of her children, she volunteered
with the Grant Park High School Orchestra and the River
Heights Speed Skating Club. For many years June was
active with the Manitoba Land Surveyors Wives group.
June was diagnosed with end stage renal failure in 2002.
She entered the dialysis program at St. Boniface Hospital in
2005, which ended in her passing.
JoAnn Engbrecht, wife of Karl
Engbrecht (‘88), passed away after
a lengthy battle with cancer on
October 5, 2014 in Calgary, Alberta.
She leaves to mourn their son
Kolton, 5 years old, 3 children from a
previous marriage, 2 grand-children,
Karl’s daughter Ashley and in-laws
George (‘62) and Rita Engbrecht, Boissevain. She will be
sadly missed, but is rejoicing in heaven pain free.
Correction: In the October 2014 issue of
CrossRoads, we wrongly identified Peter Fast
and Jake Siemens in the class of 1949 photo
on page 11. Our apologies for this error.
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1957
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1962 Guys Volleyball
1968 Girls Volleyball
1994
2000
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Contact MCI Toll free in Manitoba:
1-877-MCI-BLUE (1-877-624-2583)
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