CUMMING—Pinecrest Academy in Cumming observed its 20th anniversary with a Mass on Friday, May 2, attended by the entire student body, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Past and present Pinecrest families and friends also joined in the celebration.

Several of Pinecrest Academy’s founding families were on hand for the special anniversary liturgy including (front row, l-r) Laura Kelley, Doug and Brenda Tollett, Stacey Persichetti and John Gannon. Persichetti is the daughter of John and Arlene Gannon. Photo By Michael Alexander

Bishop Luis R. Zarama presided at the Mass, which had been postponed from Jan. 31 due to winter weather. Legionaries of Christ Father Robert Presutti, who is head of school, concelebrated the Mass.

“The 20th anniversary celebration was a remarkable reliving of the miracles of Pinecrest history. In a short amount of time, Pinecrest has become an excellent school and a wonderful community,” said Father Presutti. “Bishop Zarama’s presence was a great blessing.”

Other concelebrants included the Legionaries of Christ who serve at the school and in other ministries in the archdiocese: Father Richard Sutter, Pinecrest head chaplain; Father Matthew Kaderabek, school chaplain; Father Matthew Van Smoorenburg, pastor of St. Brendan the Navigator Church, Cumming; Father Juan Gabriel Guerra, parochial vicar at St. Brendan; Father Timothy Moran; Father Javier Fayos; Father John Gannon; and Father Eamonn Shelley.

The Class of 2014 was recognized as Bishop Zarama touched on the richness of the school’s history and provided words of advice to the 55 graduating students, who were experiencing their last day of high school. Seniors offered the Mass readings, brought forward the offertory gifts, and recited the prayers of the faithful.

The Mass coincided with Pinecrest’s May crowning, a special day set aside to honor the Blessed Mother, and the high school choir sang a hymn to Mary.

Following the anniversary Mass four separate May crownings were held on various parts of the campus for the middle and high school boys and girls. Seniors Royall Tyler, left, and Liz Kilgore place flowers atop the statue of Mary just outside the high school building. Photo By Michael Alexander

At the close of Mass, attendees sang the Pinecrest anthem and fight song, “Arise, O Paladins,” written by a former Pinecrest teacher, Dr. Edward Mulholland and dedicated to Christ’s Sacred Heart and to the memory of Dr. Brian Tierney, Pinecrest’s first headmaster.

A 20th anniversary slideshow presentation was shown, introduced by Pinecrest junior Hannah Kelley, daughter of one of the founding families, followed by a brief address by Arlene Gannon, one of the school’s founders.

The morning culminated with a video to the tune of pop song, “Happy,” produced and directed by Pinecrest’s seventh-grade girls as part of a religion project.

Students proceeded to various Mary statues on campus to participate in the May crownings, and visiting priests were treated to a breakfast reception.

“Pinecrest Academy and all of its families, present and past, are truly blessed with so many beautiful memories of our 20 years as a school,” said Anne Hamilton, the school’s development coordinator and anniversary event coordinator.