Coming Home to Cascia for Christmas

The Cascia Hall Parent Faculty Association will host Cascia Christmas Walk 2010 – “Coming Home for Christmas,” a tour of the Cascia Hall campus.

Director of School Advancement Heather Duncan, Cascia Hall seniors Will Edwards and Addison Jezek, and ­Headmaster Roger Carter invite you to this year’s Cascia Christmas Walk – “Coming Home for Christmas.”

Every December, Cascia Hall hosts its annual Cascia Christmas Walk, a fundraiser in which a few volunteer families open their homes to the public after the homes are beautifully decorated for the holidays by local florists. “This year’s 28th annual event will be a little different,” explains Director of School Advancement Heather Duncan. “This school year kicks off the 85th anniversary of Cascia Hall Preparatory School, and Cascia Hall and the Augustinians would like to say ‘thank you’ to the Tulsa community for their support all these years. Our campus is not usually open to the public, but for this year’s Cascia Christmas Walk, we will open our ‘home’ to the public, with no ticket charge.”

Many people frequently drive by the midtown campus and never have the opportunity to view its beauty – until now. On Sunday, December 5, the Cascia Hall Parent Faculty Association will host Cascia Christmas Walk 2010 – “Coming Home for Christmas,” a tour of the Cascia Hall campus.

“The morning will begin at 10:30 a.m. with mass led by Father Bernie Scianna, who was the headmaster of Cascia Hall for 13 years. In June, he was promoted to Prior Provincial of the Augustinians of the Midwest, and now lives in Chicago. We are so thrilled he is returning home for this event,” says Heather.

Immediately following mass, the tour will begin at St. Rita Chapel, decorated by Toni’s Flowers and Gifts. “Cascia Hall has a long-standing relationship with Toni, who along with parents Stephanie Garrett and Nancy Vaughn has worked many years on the Christmas Walk.”

The tour then continues to the monastery, decorated by Petal Pushers. “This is where the Augustinians live, and have lived for 85 years,” says Heather.

Next, participants will make their way to the Cascia Boutique, which has been expanded this year and will be held in both the gymnasium and dining hall. The last stop on the tour is the Scianna Performing Arts Center, decorated by various local florists and friends.

The holiday gift boutique is the perfect place to get your Christmas shopping started, or even completed! The boutique will be bigger and better than ever, with over 80 fabulous vendors, including long-standing Cascia supporters like Tapestry of Faith, The Glass Slipper, Spiffy Spoons and Happy First Clothing, as well as new vendors such as BlaireB Designs. “We have also expanded Cascia Hall merchandise this year. We will offer fabulous baskets, beautiful greenery including garland and wreaths from Sherwood Farm, poinsettias from Ted & Debbie’s, custom gift bows, and Kringles,” says Heather. “You are sure to find wonderful Christmas gifts for all your friends, family members, co-workers and clients at the expanded boutique.”

While touring the Scianna Performing Arts Center, attendees will enjoy live performances from talented Cascia students, and – just in time for Christmas cards – children can get their photos taken with Santa Claus, for a small donation.

Shopping and touring all afternoon will certainly build up your appetite, so be sure to stop by Cascia Café for lunch. From noon to 4:30 p.m., lunch will be catered by Hebert’s Specialty Meats, serving up some delicious old favorites – Cascia White Chili and hot chocolate.

After the tour at 5 p.m., be sure to enjoy the wonderful winter musical “Miracle on 34th Street” in the PAC. Vern Stefanik, the original playwright and a native Tulsan, will be directing the student play. “This will be an amazing musical production that you and your family will not want to miss!” says Heather. Tickets are available on the school website, www.casciahall.org, or at the door the day of the show. Ticket prices range from $5 to $10 in advance, and $10 to $15 at the door.

Proceeds from the show and the gift boutique benefit the Augustinian education offered by Cascia Hall, and will be applied to the school’s financial aid program and the numerous projects enhancing the educational environment.

“We welcome everyone to come and tour our beautiful and historical facility,” says Headmaster Roger Carter. “The chapel was built in the 1950s, and the monastery was built in the 1920s. There is a lot of curiosity about our campus, and this is an exciting opportunity that the community will really enjoy.”

This is Carter’s first year as headmaster, but he has been at Cascia Hall for over 20 years, serving as teacher, coach, counselor, athletic director and dean of students. He and his wife, Phyllis, have been married for 34 years. They have a daughter, Kelli, who graduated from Cascia Hall in 2002, and a granddaughter, Mazie, “a Cascia graduate of 2026,” he says with a laugh.      

The Cascia Christmas Walk 2010 – “Coming Home for Christmas” takes place Sunday, December 5 from noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, and valet parking will be available. For more information, please email Heather Duncan at eat1@eau1eav1eaw1 or visit www.casciahall.org.

For more information, contact

Cascia Hall ­Preparatory School

eat1@eau1eav1eaw1www.casciahall.org

About Author Sheryl Sowell

Sheryl Sowell was born and raised in Tulsa, OK. She graduated from Will Rogers High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern State University in 2007. She has worked for Value News as editor, writer and advertising copywriter since 2008. She enjoys meeting and interviewing people for Value News articles, learning about their backgrounds, and helping to promote their businesses and local events. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes and crafts from Pinterest, attending concerts and sporting events, and spending time with family and friends. Sheryl lives in Tulsa with her fiancé Paul, their daughter Scarlett, and their two dogs, Gunner and Boo.