Moments at the Mount

Day of reflection and renewal
On Oct. 30, the senior class of Mount St. Mary Catholic High School gathered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Camp for their Senior Retreat.

Four esteemed MSM staff members – Francois Boda, Kathryn Pickens, Coach Jay Suber, and Mark Woodward – were invited by the class to impart their wisdom. A common thread throughout their messages was a powerful “reality check” aimed at preparing students for future challenges. Each speaker emphasized that success requires perseverance and diligence. 

"Life is hard work," Boda shared, "and to achieve your dreams, you must commit wholeheartedly, avoiding shortcuts that will, at the end of the day, only hold you back."

A particularly profound moment came when Woodward, affectionately known as “Mr. Woo,” took the stage.

“How do I put this?” he began. “One day, each of you will die.”

The audience, composed of both students and teachers, listened intently as he underscored the significance of “the little dash between the two dates” on a gravestone, reminding everyone that it is this small mark that ultimately reflects the life we’ve led. Students and teachers appeared moved by his words, a reminder of the lasting impact of our daily choices and actions.

Embracing faith and friendship
The women’s 2024 Kairos retreat, held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, was a success, filled with late-night fellowship, meaningful conversations over meals and opportunities for spiritual growth in community and prayer.

As the 90th Kairos retreat, this gathering, officially named “Kairos 90,” continued a longstanding tradition while fostering new friendships and connections.

Although certain elements of each retreat remain confidential, Kairos 90 brought together upperclassmen from Mount St. Mary, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and Cristo Rey OKC Catholic High School for a transformative four-day experience.

Participants were blessed to attend a vigil Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints, celebrated by Father Rick Stansberry, enhancing the retreat’s spiritual depth. For their Sunday obligation, the Kairos participants attended a Mass celebrated by Mount St. Mary’s Father Jerome Krug. 

In his homily, Fr. Krug explored how humans, as physical beings, can cultivate a relationship with God, who does not have a physical form we can see, hug, or interact with as we do with family and friends.

He acknowledged the challenges in building a relationship with God, yet emphasized that it is not impossible.

“Because we possess a soul, we are spiritual beings, capable of forming a friendship with the Being who created us in such a way that our physical nature does not limit our ability to grow closer to him,” Fr. Krug said.

An unofficial saying holds that “each Kairos brings something new,” and this year was no exception. For seemingly the first time, two adult participants joined the students: Frances White, a special education teacher at Mount St. Mary, and Sister Christine Nguyen, the school’s mental health counselor.

Initially unfamiliar, the group grew close, clinging together for support in the early morning hours of Nov. 3 when tornado sirens sounded near Luther. Thankfully, no harm came to the campgrounds or participants, though the women were disappointed to miss the promised extra hour of sleep that night.

Veterans’ Day 2024
On Monday, Nov. 11, Mount St. Mary commemorated Veterans Day with a parade through the student parking lot.

The entire MSM community lined the sidewalks, waving American flags and holding handmade signs, including one that read, “We are the land of the free because of the brave.”

Among the crowd, Ignacio Ruiz, a Spanish III teacher for both on-level and honors classes, was seen enthusiastically dancing and singing along to “Danger Zone” from “Top Gun,” performed by the school band. 

“Aside from the military tunes the band played,” Ruiz said, “nothing feels more patriotic than ‘Top Gun’ these days.”


Photo: Mount St. Mary Catholic High School's Kairos 90 retreatants and leaders. Photo Valeria Ochoa, Class of 2026