AN E-NEWSLETTER FOR BORGIA ALUMS
A Message from Fr. Mike Boehm
Dear Borgia Alumni,

Greetings during this wonderful time of the year!

I hope this newsletter finds you well and you are enjoying these days of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus into our world and into our hearts. My prayer for all of us is that we continue to open ourselves to the Lord and make room for Him in our hearts and lives.

Our students are hard at work finishing their assignments and projects for the fall semester while they prepare for final exams. Our teachers, as always, are busy teaching, mentoring, and helping our students. While there might be a bit of anxiousness and nervousness as we approach the end of the semester, I love to see how our students help and support each other through these challenges. Borgia is indeed a family! It is so wonderful to witness and experience the supportive atmosphere around here day after day.

Thank you for your support of Borgia. We pray for our Alumni every day during our afternoon prayer, and I certainly invite you to pray for us.

I wish each of you a happy and holy Advent and Christmas. And I hope 2020 is a year filled with blessings for you and those you love.

Sincerely in the Newborn Christ,

Fr. Mike Boehm
MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS CHRISTMAS
As Christmas approaches, we hope that you remember St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in your holiday giving. It is during this joyous season that we reflect on the blessings we have, and, for many of us, the time we spent at Borgia as students has made a huge difference in our lives. Please consider making a personal gift to our school, or for the person who simply has everything, make a gift to our school in his/her honor.
Every gift matters!
Won't you decide to make a difference ?
MEGA RAFFLE
Each year St. Francis Borgia Regional High School gives away $25,000 in cash prizes through our annual Borgia Mega Raffle. There are $1,000 drawings on the 1st and 15th of each month and an additional $1,000 drawing in October to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Borgia. In addition, each student who sells a winning ticket receives lunch credit for a week.

Tickets for the 2020 drive are being sold now until 11:59 p.m. on January 6! You may purchase your ticket(s) from one of our students or online by clicking the link above. Our goal is $136,000, which will significantly help to keep our tuition affordable for all of our families.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Bridget (Schulte)
Callahan '92, Director of Advancement, at 636-239-7871 ext. 123 or bridget.callahan@borgia.com.



November Raffle Winners
November 1 - Susan Lange sold by Brooke Lange '20
November 15- Darrell Piontek '77 sold by Jackson Piontek '19
DINNER AUCTION HELP NEEDED
Join in the fun of our annual Dinner Auction! We rely on our parents to be a part of this annual event that is so important to our school. All proceeds other than Fund-A-Need go towards tuition assistance. If your family is a recipient of assistance, this is a great opportunity to give back. Please review the available slots and click on the button to sign up. If you signed up at Back to School Night, we have your information and will be reaching out to you soon. Unless otherwise stated, most jobs take place the night of the Auction on February 15, 2020. Thank you for helping make this a successful event!
DAVE NEIER '71, WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME
Our beloved boys basketball coach, Dave Neier '71, will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at a reception in Springfield, MO on January 26.

Dave is in his 34th season as the boys basketball coach of St. Francis Borgia Regional High School, with a record of 722-212 and five state championships (1993, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2009). The state titles are tied with four others for fourth-most in state history.
Dave has guided the program to four Final Fours, earning three runner-up finishes (1998, 2010, 2011) and third place in 1995. His teams have also earned 24 district titles. 
A CULTURE OF GIVING
During our 2018-2019 school year, our students performed over 12,000 hours of service. This is equivalent to 6.03 years of full time work!

In addition to the 100 community service hours required for each one of our students to graduate, our students also participate in many outreach programs over and above these hours. Here are just a few of the ways they give back.

Blood Drive
This fall, our Student Council hosted a blood drive through Mercy Blood Donor Services. In total, 78 students, faculty, and community members gave unselfishly to make a big difference in the lives of others.

Borgia Campus Food Pantry
Over one year ago, Borgia started to stock our own walk up food pantry under the pavilion on the east side of our campus. This pantry is available for anyone to use or contribute to. We have found that it is used daily by members of our community in need of food.

This year, our Fall sports teams participated in a canned good drive challenge aimed at keeping our pantry stocked. This drive, along with our Reverse Advent Project through Campus Ministry, and many private donation, should allow us to keep the pantry stocked well into the new year.

Box of Joy - Catholic Outreach
Through the Cross Catholic Outreach's Box of Joy program, our students packed Christmas gift boxes and sponsored the cost of its shipping to 50 children living in poverty in developing countries. This program enabled our students to deliver a "Box of Joy" to a child oversees who would otherwise receive nothing.

Dress Down Days
One Friday each month, our students are allowed to "dress down" for $1. The money collected from these dress down days benefits a different charity each month. So far this year, our students have donated over $6,000 to the following causes:

September
  • Alzheimer's Association
  • Tim Buchheit
October
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (In memory of Jack Post)
  • United Way
November
  • Honor Flight
Giving Tree
Our students also are participating in an Advent Giving Tree through the Pregnancy Assistance Center in Washington. Our students pick one of 100 ornaments with the name of a specific gift item. These items are wrapped and delivered to families in our community who have physical impairments or are going through a hardship.

Glove and Sock Drive
Our students were given the opportunity to donate new pairs of gloves and socks or cash for this drive. The items collected were given to the Peter and Paul Community Services in St. Louis for distribution among those served.

The Halloween Candy Drive
Once again this year, we participated in the St. Louis City Play It Safe Halloween (now in its 18th year; it has been taken over by the Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis). We collected over 250 bags of fun-sized candies to donate to the indoor event in St. Louis.

Harvest Table
Two-three times per year, our students help prepare and serve a meal with the Harvest Table in Washington. This ministry offers a a free and open community meal served every Saturday 5-6 p.m. in the dining room of St. Peter's United Church of Christ - corner of Fifth and Market Street. Their mission seeks to provide a nourishing meal in a safe and welcoming environment to all who desire to take part. In particular, those served are those who may be alone at mealtime, those who may be struggling to provide adequate food for their families, and those who may be unable to prepare meals for themselves.

Peter and Paul Community Services
For several years now, on the 8th of each month, our students travel to St. Louis to prepare and serve a meal as part of Peter and Paul's meals program. This program is an ecumenical human service agency committed to providing transitional housing and supportive services to the homeless, especially those experiencing mental illness, HIV/AIDS, or drug or alcohol addiction. Our group of volunteers provides a meal for up to 200 clients at Peter & Paul in the Soulard neighborhood.

Scarves for the Homeless
This year, our Leadership Class learned how to knit scarves. These scarves will be distributed to the homeless in our community.

Warner's Warm-Up
This annual drive is designed to help thousands of men, women, and children who struggle and live in poverty in our region and brave the cold temperatures. During the drive this year, our students helped collect over 1,500 new or gently used coats that will be distributed through Operation Food Search’s network of food pantries, schools, social service centers, and shelters.
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
Dane Huxel '02
Article from the Southeast Missouri
State University News

The Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association presented Dane Huxel '02 of St. Charles, Missouri, with a Distinguished Young Alumni Service Award at the Copper Dome Society/Merit Recognition Dinner Oct. 25 during the University’s Homecoming celebration.

The award honors alumni under the age of 37 for their outstanding service to and support of the University. Huxel graduated from Southeast in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in manufacturing engineering technology, mechanical/manufacturing systems option.

Huxel opened his own State Farm Agency in January 2013 in South St. Louis County, where he enjoys living out the State Farm mission of helping clients manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. He is committed to helping his clients develop their personal insurance and retirement plans.

The desire to own his own business surfaced after four years of employment with AT&T Advertising Solutions. In 2010, he began exploring self-employment when State Farm Agent Matt Tobben presented an opportunity to begin training to operate his own State Farm Agency. Dane is an entrepreneur at heart. Throughout high school, he ran his own business, Dane’s Lawn Care, that with the support of family and friends, he continued to run throughout college.

At Southeast, he served as Student Government president, which offered him the opportunity to serve as a member of the Retirement Ceremony Committee of the University’s former mascot, the Indians. He also was active in the committee to design and name Southeast’s Rowdy the Redhawk mascot.

He made several trips to Jefferson City, Missouri, as Student Government president to discuss student issues and funding for the River Campus with state lawmakers. He was involved in a student fee initiative to build the Student Aquatic Center adjacent to the Student Recreation Center and to fund athletics, the former Speakers Series, and the Redhawk sign on the pedestrian bridge over New Madrid Street.

At Southeast, Huxel also was a bass drummer in the Golden Eagles Marching Band during his freshman and sophomore years, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity his freshman year, and the Roller Hockey Club for four years. He also was an active member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, launched Club Tech, participated in Presidential Ambassadors, and was employed in the Office of Residence Life.

Huxel is married to his college sweetheart, Sarah Martin Huxel, and they are the parents of four children, Eli, Olivia, Clay, and Felix.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
By Dynamic Catholic
The Catholic Church celebrates the season of Christmas over a span of twelve days. The twelve days of Christmas begin on December 25 and end on January 5, the day before the feast of the Epiphany (which celebrates the day when the magi discovered Jesus). These two important feast days and the twelve days of Christmas give us time to celebrate Jesus’ birth at Mass and discover how we can bring his love to people in our everyday lives.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a popular Christmas song. In the sixteenth century, the religious wars in England made it dangerous to be a Christian. The well-known song was used to teach children about the Catholic Church. Although the lyrics may sound like nonsense, the song actually contains hidden references:

A Partridge in a Pear Tree
Jesus

Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love

Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Five Golden Rings
The First Five Books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Six Geese A-Laying
The Six Days of Creation

Seven Swans A-Swimming
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord

Eight Maids A-Milking
The Eight Beatitudes:
  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
  4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
  5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
  6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
  8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Nine Ladies Dancing
The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

Ten Lords A-Leaping
The Ten Commandments:
  1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Eleven Pipers Piping
The Eleven Faithful Apostles: Peter, Andrew, James the Elder, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Younger, Simon, and Jude

Twelve Drummers Drumming
Twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed:
  1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
  2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
  3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
  4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
  5. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
  6. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
  7. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
  8. the holy catholic Church,
  9. the communion of saints,
  10. the forgiveness of sins,
  11. the resurrection of the body,
  12. and life everlasting. Amen.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
ADVENT PRAYER
O God, Who gladdens us by the annual expectation of our Redemption, grant that we, who now receive with joy Your only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may behold him without fear when He comes as our judge, even the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the ways of Your Only begotten Son, that we may attain to serve You with purified minds, through His advent. Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, world without end. Amen.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION
Click the elf above to view a hilarious holiday greeting from our Administration. Fr. Mike Boehm, President/Chaplain; Mrs. Pam Tholen, Principal, Mr. Todd Dempsey, Vice Principal, and Mr. Chris Arand, Activities Director.
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Welcome to another exciting year of Borgia Athletics. Together, let’s always, and in all ways, celebrate the efforts of our players and coaches as they strive to make Borgia #1 in class, style, sportsmanship, and competitiveness. Go, Knights!!

Click on the logo at right for a comprehensive sports schedule.
ALUMNI PRAYERS
In thanksgiving for the sacrifices and contributions offered by those before us on our behalf, we at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School offer our afternoon prayer for different members of our alumni each day.
St. Francis Borgia Regional High School 

1000 Borgia Drive, Washington, MO 63090
P: 636-239-7871 
F: 636-239-1198