By Thomas More Prep-Marian

Thomas More Prep-Marian has announced its 2014 Point of Light Award recipients.

The Point of Light Award is given annually at homecoming to people who have contributed to the traditions of excellence of Thomas More Prep-Marian through their service, stewardship and example. Homecoming festivities are this week.

The following will be honored as Points of Light:

Fr. Harvey Dinkel
teacher and devoted alumnus

Fr. Harvey Dinkel, O.F.M. Capuchin, is being honored as a Point of Light for his deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian. He graduated in 1953 from St. Francis Seminary in Victoria. Fr. Harvey was ordained into the priesthood on May 20, 1961 by Bishop Frederick Freking at St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria. After completing his training, Fr. Harvey joined the staff of St. Francis Seminary in Victoria teaching math, Latin, music, religion and acting as prefect of discipline.

When the seminary became part of Thomas More Prep-Marian in 1970, he became the school’s first business manager and registrar and continued to teach math. Fr. Harvey initiated the school’s computer programming curriculum. He served at Thomas More Prep from 1970 to 1976 and again from 1978 to 1985. He served in various ministries throughout the Province of St. Conrad including as pastor for St. Catherine’s Church, Catharine, until 1985. Fr. Harvey was then assigned to the Capuchin’s provincial staff serving as provincial executive secretary and treasurer from 1985 to 2004 and as chaplain at Mother Cabrini Shrine in Littleton, Colo.

Since 2004, Fr. Harvey has been a chaplain for the Via Christi Village and serves in several different Provential capacities. Fr. Harvey Dinkel is deservedly recognized for his love, dedication and commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian.

Sister Paul Ann Dinkel
devoted and faithful servant

Sr. Paul Ann Dinkel’s life has been that of service to others. She was baptized Agnese Dinkel in Victoria to Frank M. and Rosa (Hertel) Dinkel and graduated from Victoria High School. Her siblings are Julietta (Dinkel) Dechant, Hilarius Dinkel, Clarence Dinkel, Bertha (Dinkel) Prewo, Edward Dinkel, Sr. Frances Rose Dinkel, George Dinkel, Irene (Dinkel) Scruggs, Melinda (Dinkel) Griebel, Regina (Dinkel) Dechant, Mary (Dinkel) Younker, Viola (Dinkel) Richmeier, Fr. Harvey Dinkel O.F.M. Capuchin, and Rita (Dinkel) Rohr.

Agnese entered the convent in 1951, professing her religious vows in 1954. She worked in food service in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Indiana for the sisters including Fond du Lac and at the Leo House in New York City before serving at St. John’s Assisted Living and Nursing Home in Hays for 15 years.

Joining the staff of Thomas More Prep-Marian in 2009, she was involved in campus ministry, clerical assistance, kitchen help and as a willing volunteer for any project needing an extra set of hands. Sister quickly became a favorite with the students and children of faculty and staff, who would lend assistance to her projects while being gently supervised and tutored. It was a sad day when Sr. Paul Ann retired to Fond du Lac in January 2014 as she was the final Sister of St. Agnes to work at Thomas More Prep-Marian. This marked the end of an era full of the blessings to the school from the Sisters and their presence will be sincerely missed.

Sister Paul Ann Dinkel’s smile and quiet example of dedication and commitment to the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian will live on in the memories of the lives she touched.

Sister Francis Rose Dinkel
devoted teacher, faithful assistant

Exemplifying devotion to the Lord and dedication to education, Sr. Francis Rose Dinkel’s life has been that of service to others. She was born Isabel Marie Dinkel in Victoria, KS to Frank M. and Rosa (Hertel) Dinkel. Isabel was a 1943 graduate of Victoria High School. She received her lifelong education at Marymount in Salina 1943-1945, Fort Hays State University; Marian College of Fond du Lac, Wis., where she earned her BS in Education in 1961; Kansas University, Manhattan, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wis., and the University of NM Extension, Window Rock, AZ. Joining the St. Agnes Convent in Fond du Lac in 1950, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Agnes in 1951 receiving the religious name Sister M. Francis Rose, CSA.

Sr. Francis Rose made her first profession of vows in 1953 and pronounced perpetual vows in the congregation in 1959. Sister was a primary teacher during most of her active ministry. She served from 1952-1956 at the Holy Family Orphans Home, Marquette, MI as a housemother for the older boys and teaching first and second grades in schools throughout Kansas and Wisconsin. Sister Francis Rose spent 1991-1995 as the local coordinator and cook for a group of retired Sisters of St. Agnes at the St. Mary Convent, Decatur, IN; followed by parish ministry at the St. Michael Parish, Michaels, AZ from 1995-2005.

Sister returned to Hays, KS in 2005 as an office aide, prayer warrior and all around volunteer at TMP-Marian until 2009 when she was called back to Fond du Lac, WI to live at the Nazareth Center and later the St. Francis Home until her death in 2013. Sister Francis Rose dedicated her life to the education of young children, setting an incredible example of dedication and commitment to the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian.

Lillian Schumacher
good steward and faithful alumna

Lillian (Dreiling) Schumacher is a 1951 graduate of Girl’s Catholic High School and no stranger to hard work and giving of her time, talents and treasure. Lillian, daughter of Leo J. and Albina (Jacobs) Dreiling, learned her work ethic and generosity first hand from her parents, who created the Dreiling Trust.

She married Leland Schumacher and they lived in Victoria. Leland passed away in August 2014.

Just as her parents before her, Lillian has given substantial donations to many causes in the Ellis County area, including the Catholic Church, Hays Medical Center, Via Christi facilities, Hays Arts Council and Thomas More Prep-Marian. Giving back is something that makes Lillian happy and yet she remains very humble and unpretentious. Her gifts continue the legacy started by her parents, whose charitable trust has contributed millions of dollars over the years to Catholic education and the entire Hays community.

We honor this faithful and loyal alumna for her service, love, and commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian and the various civic organizations that she has blessed with her contributions. We thank God for the gift of His good steward.

Robert and Susan Wolf
dedicated alumnus and faithful friends

Robert ‘Bob’ and Susan (Bauer) Wolf are being honored as Points of Light for their deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian. Bob is a 1968 graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy and a 1972 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in Business Administration. In 1976, they opened Robert L. Wolf PA Inc., an accounting firm.

All four of their children attended TMP-Marian: Jeff Wolf 1993, Chrissy (Wolf) Bandel 1995, Curtis Wolf 1998 and Shelly (Wolf) Duell 2002.

Susan works from home and does the business payroll and accounting. Bob served on the Endowment Foundation of Thomas More Prep-Marian from 1984 to 2009 as a representative of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and as President of the Endowment Board from 1998-2009. He has participated on several different search committees for the president and principal positions as well as the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee. Bob and Susan belong to Sports Booster Club, Fine Arts Booster Club and Parents, Teachers and Friends. Bob is the President of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Memorial Trust, and was President on their Pastoral and Finance Councils and is a 3rd Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus-Schoenchen Council.

Bob and Susan members of the Sunflower Chapter of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Hays Arts Council and Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays. We thank Bob and Susan for their devotion and deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian and the Hays community.

John and Shannon Allen
journalist and alumnus

John L. Allen Jr. is a 1983 graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian. He is married to Shannon Levitt.

John is an American journalist who accepted a position in 2014 as associate editor of The Boston Globe, specializing in news about the Catholic Church. For the previous 16 years, John worked in Rome as a Vatican watcher, covering news about the Holy See and the Pope. He was senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and an analyst of Vatican affairs for CNN and NPR. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Fort Hays State University and a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Kansas.

He is the author of several books including “Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church” and two biographies of Pope Benedict XVI, the first when the Pope was still a cardinal and the second was after his election to papacy.