St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools Celebrates Mrs. Debbie Butler’s Retirement After 35 Years of Service
St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools proudly announces the retirement of beloved educator Mrs. Debbie Butler, who graduated her final class of 8th grade students from St. Mary’s Junior High School last night. After 35 years of dedicated service to Catholic education, Mrs. Butler will officially retire next Wednesday.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Butler has been a pillar of faith-based education and a guiding light for generations of students. Known for her commitment to academic excellence and spiritual formation, she has played a significant role in preparing students not only for high school, but for life beyond the classroom.
"Mrs. Butler has devoted 35 years to SMC as a teacher who has filled so many minds and helped guide students in their faith formation," said Principal Tim Conrad. "Her influence had a positive impact and guided students to become prepared for high school and life. She has been an inspiration to many and will be missed, but we wish her well and joy in her well-deserved retirement."
The entire St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools and Our Lady of Lourdes communities extends our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Butler for her unwavering dedication and wishes her a retirement filled with happiness, rest, and continued blessings.
Good luck to our SMC Panther track & field athletes as they compete at the CNC League Meet today (5/15) in Frontenac! Field events start at 3pm, with running events beginning at 4:30pm. Let’s go, Panthers! 💙🤍
SMC PANTHER SOFTBALL 🥎
Last Regular Season Game!
It’s your last chance to catch the girls at home before they head to Regionals next week in Oswego—let’s pack the stands!
📅 Friday, 5/16
📍 Stice Field
⏰ EARLY START! 4:00pm vs Iola (DH)
🎟️ Free Admission
5/14 League Meet at Osawatomie 🏊♀️
Kaila took 1st in the 100 Fly and 50 Free (2nd year in a row!)
Her team also won 1st in the 200 and 400 Free Relays
Team placed 3rd overall!
Next up: STATE next week!! 💙
8thgrade Mass is now live at https://youtube.com/live/E5g_qZOrcgk?feature=share
5/14 Panther Golf ⛳️ – Galena Invitational
🥇 SMC 1st (tied)
Grant Hite 1st
Jamie 4th (tied)
Jack Krusich 12th
Max Imhof 19th
CNC League:
🏆 SMC 1st
Jamie Hamilton 2nd
Grant Hite 3rd
Honorable Mentions: Jack Krusich and Max Imhof
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Maddy (VanBecelaere) Cedeño will be joining the staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year. Mrs. Cedeño comes to us with 5 years of teaching experience. She taught kindergarten at Westside Elementary in Pittsburg for 2 years, 1st grade at St. Gerard Majella in St. Louis for 2 years, and is most recently teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages in a virtual school. Maddy is a 2016 graduate of St. Mary’s Colgan High School and in 2020 she graduated with an elementary education degree from Pittsburg State University. She will be teaching 1st grade. Mrs. Cedeño and her husband, Ryan, will be moving to Pittsburg in June. We are very excited to have Mrs. Cedeño join our faculty!
Mrs. Emily Lone will be moving to teach 5th grade. She has been teaching our 1st graders for the past 3 years. Before she came to SME she taught 5th grade at St. Mary’s in Joplin. Mrs. Lone is an amazing teacher and will bring a wealth of knowledge to our 5th grade!
⚾️ SMC Panther Baseball – Quarterfinal Regionals ⚾️
📅 Today, May 14
📍 Jaycee Ballpark
🕔 5pm vs Pleasanton
🎟 $8/adults | $6/students
🚫 No passes accepted (KSHSAA event)
Let’s go, Panthers! Show up in blue and white and bring the energy as we battle for the semifinals! 💙🤍
2025–2026 Sports Physical Forms Are Now Online
All incoming 7th–12th grade SMC student-athletes (including JH, cheer, and dance) must complete both the Physical Form and Concussion Form after May 1, 2025.
Forms are available in English and Spanish at OLLsmc.org/panthers — click the "SPORTS PHYSICALS: REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENT ATHLETES" button.
Forms must be submitted before the first official fall practice. Printed copies are in the HS office.
⛳️5/12 Columbus Tourney
Our team tied for 1st with a total score of 353!
🏆 Grant placed 4th individually with an 83, and Jamie tied for 1st with 77.
Please note we have only two remaining 11:30am Masses for this school year:
Tuesday, May 13
Friday, May 16
Our 11:30am Mass will resume in August with the start of the new school year.
Happy Mother’s Day to all our amazing Panther Moms! 💐
Thank you for your endless love, strength, and support, you inspire us every day. We’re so grateful for everything you do. 💙
Mrs. Angie Brill, one of our kindergarten teachers and a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes, has become seriously ill. She was taken to KU Medical Center and is currently on a ventilator. Angie is the wife of Brandon Brill.
The St. Mary’s PTO and Our Lady of Lourdes Kapaun’s Men invite you to join us in praying a Rosary for Angie on Monday, May 12, immediately following the 6:30am Mass (around 7:05–7:10am) in the church.
Please keep Angie, Brandon, and their family in your prayers.
Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony is now live: https://youtube.com/live/pOVe-kZ9VDA?feature=share
Class of 2025 Baccalaureate Mass is now live.
https://youtube.com/live/aHQXlKNgTeI?feature=share
Your SMC Panthers are CNC League Co-Champions for the 2025 season! They will wrap up the regular season on Monday with a single Varsity game against Ft. Scott.
🎓 SMC Class of 2025 Graduation Events 🎓 Saturday, May 10
10am – Baccalaureate Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
12pm – Graduation Ceremony at St. Mary's Colgan Fieldhouse
Livestreams available at: OLLsmcschools.org/classof25
5.09.25: Pray for Blake Wilkes
Please take a moment to pray one Hail Mary for Blake today. Let’s surround him with prayers and well wishes—drop a comment to show your support!
#Classof2025 #PrayForSeniors
Kaila crushed it last night in Osawatomie!
🥇 1st in the 50 Free – 25.85
🥇 1st in the 100 Fly – 1:04.51
Amazing swims!
Tonight was Senior Night for PHS Soccer Co-Op player Mariah Harris.
Congratulations, Mariah, we are proud of you! ⚽🎓💙
