All-School Reunion At St. Cajetan Is This Weekend

CHICAGO — Alumni of all years will be welcomed back to St. Cajetan School, 2447 W. 112th St. in Morgan Park on Saturday, Sept. 28. That's when the first all-school reunion, an event that's been in the works for more than a year now, will take place.

Colleen Kozubowski, president of the St. Cajetan school board, said she and Principal Michelle Nitsche came up with the idea when thinking about ways the school could better connect with its alumni. A committee of 10 was formed and as a result comes what some would call an epic reunion planned at the school from 4-11 p.m. on Saturday.

Kozubowski says food will be provided by Chuck's BBQ and entertainment by the local band The Ron Burgundy's, which includes two Cajetan alums as members. A photographer will be on hand to take class photos of all the graduating classes, year by year, and have them available soon after for purchase.

"This took a lot of planning and logistics... so we are all really excited about this reunion," Kozubowski said.

Things will get started at 4 p.m. with a mass said by 1981 St. Cajetan alum Father Tom Hurley. The party starts right after and will unfold throughout the entire campus. The parking lot will be tented and all classrooms and the gymnasium will be open to hold as many alums as possible.

Kozubowski says she hopes about 1,000 Warriors attend.

"It was a big challenge to make sure we have enough space for everyone, so we will be using the whole school," she said. "We know many alums will want to walk through the grounds, see the classrooms and find out what has changed since they've last been here."

The people of St. Cajetan make up a tight-knit community. It's the parish that brought us iconic neighborhood events like the South Side Irish Parade and the Papa Hops 16'' Softball Tournament, as well as the Queen of Hearts game that brought the fad to neighborhood bars across the South Side and south suburbs.

Many families are multi-generational at St. Cajetan. Like the Fitzpatricks, who have alums and current students that cross three generations.

Mary Fitzpatrick says her parents met as third graders at St. Cajetan and graduated from the grammar school in 1968. Mary and her brother, sister-in-law and children are all Warriors as well.

"Many of my favorite people in this world are Warriors in some part," Fitzpatrick said. "The people of this community are the most generous, hardworking and genuine people I know.

"There is nowhere I'd rather be than surrounded by Warriors Saturday night."

If You Go

Ticket sales for the All-School St. Cajetan Reunion are $60 apiece when purchased online at https://www.stcajetanschool.org/ through Thursday at midnight. Tickets will be $65 at the door on the day of the event. They include all food, beer and wine, soft drinks and entertainment.