Category : May 2025

Congratulations to our Cardinal softball team, Section 1A Champions and heading to the state tournament next week! Games will be held at Mankato's Caswell Field, with the first game next Tuesday, likely at 5:30pm. Click HERE for the MSHSL tournament bracket, including ticket and other state tournament information. GO, CARDINALS!!

Summer has begun! We hope you enjoy time together spent relaxing with family and friends. See below for a few details as we wrap up the year and look forward to fall 2025.

Summer read: Reminder that each grade has an assigned summer book to read. Find the list of books and summer reading guides for each grade/class at this summer read link. 

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

We are looking forward to welcoming many new students to BA next fall, including 10 new freshmen, 38 new 6th graders, and new students at nearly every grade level!  A reminder to please complete enrollment packets for next year (look for an email from Catholic Schools of Faribault) to lock in your seat and join these great new students. Tuition agreements have been set up in EduTrak, please see below for more information. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or any other questions. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

25-26 Tuition Agreements: Tuition agreements for enrolled grade 6-12 students are now available via Wordware/EduTrak. The agreements include tuition, fees, and any credits that may be applied to your account for each student at BA. Note that RaiseRight (Scrip) credits earned will be applied to your account in June. For students participating in the high school summer work program, credits earned will be applied in August. Parents are asked to use their existing account username and password to log in. (Click HERE) Once logged in, look for a purple tuition icon. Click on it and follow the prompts. You will be asked to choose a payment plan and method of payment before submitting the contract. All students are included on the same parent account, although each student has a separate tuition contract. Please reach out to Lisa Moon lmoon@bacards.org) with any questions on this process.

Summer Band: Mr. Lorence is offering summer band lessons in July and August at $10/lesson. Find music lesson sign up link here. Rising 8th-12th grade band students: summer band camp will be held August 7, 12, and 14 from 4-6 pm. 

JULY 16-20: Lots of parent and student volunteer shifts! Find the daily Cardinal Cafe sign ups at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/.
Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.
All are welcome to join us for this great celebration of our 160th year of providing a college prep Catholic education in Faribault. This FREE event features live music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, school tours, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Community Info:
 

Calendars:

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

We hope you enjoyed your long Memorial Day weekend. We are grateful for all those who have served our country, and send prayers and blessing to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Commencement Friday was nothing short of wonderful. It was such a joy to share the accomplishments of this class of students! Hard work and dedication earned our seniors over $1.9 million in college and local scholarships – over $85,000/college-bound graduate! This class included a 5th generation BA graduate, an Eagle Scout, an Associate of Arts graduate from South Central College, 3 future college athletes, 10 National Honor Society members, 12 who earned a service cord (8 earned 2 or more), and 12 who were three-sport athletes! We are so proud of all of all of them! Thank you to Bishop Kevin Kenney for his inspiring words, to the alumni choir led by Will McIntrye ‘19 and the BA band for the music, and to our valedictorians Zachary McCabe and salutatorian Anne Azelton for so eloquently representing the Class of 2025.

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

We are looking forward to welcoming many new students to BA next fall, including 10 new freshmen, 38 new 6th graders, and new students at nearly every grade level!  A reminder to please complete enrollment packets for next year (look for an email from Catholic Schools of Faribault) to lock in your seat and join these great new students. Tuition agreements have been set up in EduTrak, please see below for more information. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or any other questions. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

25-26 Tuition Agreements: Tuition agreements for enrolled grade 7-12 students are now available via Wordware/EduTrak. The agreements include tuition, fees, and any credits that may be applied to your account for each student at BA. Note that RaiseRight (Scrip) credits earned will be applied to your account in June. For students participating in the high school summer work program, credits earned will be applied in August. Parents are asked to use their existing account username and password to log in. (Click HERE) Once logged in, look for a purple tuition icon. Click on it and follow the prompts. You will be asked to choose a payment plan and method of payment before submitting the contract. All students are included on the same parent account, although each student has a separate tuition contract. Please reach out to Lisa Moon lmoon@bacards.org) with any questions on this process.

JULY 16-20: Lots of parent and student volunteer shifts! Find the daily Cardinal Cafe sign ups at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/.
Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.
All are welcome to join us for this great celebration of our 160th year of providing a college prep Catholic education in Faribault. This FREE event features live music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, school tours, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Next week marks one of the busiest, but most rewarding weeks of the year. We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating Class of 2025, whose hard work and high character embody our pillars of prayer, study, community, and service. All are welcome to join us for these celebrations in honor of our graduating class, including: Mary Ceremony (Wed, 1pm), Baccalaureate (Wed, 7:30pm @ DMCC), Awards Day (Fri, 9:30am) and Commencement (Fri 7:30pm) with Bishop Kevin Kenney addressing the Class of 2025.

A few reminders for this special week: 

• No parking in the main BA parking lot Wednesday and Friday in order that our family and guests may join us.
• ALL students should be in Mass dress code Friday for Awards Day.
• On Friday, students grades 6-11 will be dismissed at the end of the Awards Day ceremony, at approximately 11:15 am. No lunch will be served. 

Upcoming Events
May 26: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
May 28: 1:05 pm dismissal
May 29: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, 1:05 dismissal 

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Tuition agreements have been set up in EduTrak, please see below for more information. A reminder to please complete enrollment packets for next year (look for an email from Catholic Schools of Faribault). Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or any other questions. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

25-26 Tuition Agreements: Tuition agreements for enrolled grade 7-12 students are now available via Wordware/EduTrak. 6th grade contracts should be available next week. The agreements include tuition, fees, and any credits that may be applied to your account for each student at BA. Note that RaiseRight (Scrip) credits earned will be applied to your account in June. For students participating in the high school summer work program, credits earned will be applied in August. Parents are asked to use your existing account username and password to log in. (Click HERE) Once logged in, look for a purple tuition icon. Click on it and follow the prompts. You will be asked to choose a payment plan and method of payment before submitting the contract. All students are included on the same parent account, although each student has a separate tuition contract. Please reach out to Lisa Moon lmoon@bacards.org) with any questions on this process.

JULY 16-20: Lots of parent and student volunteer shifts! Find the daily Cardinal Cafe sign ups at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/.
Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.
Save the date! All are welcome to join us for this great celebration. This FREE event features live music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, school tours, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Habemus papam! We have a new pope! Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is a native of Chicago, making him the first American pope. He spent much of his ministry in Latin America and came to the conclave as the Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. We pray for him as he begins to lead our church through this challenging time. May God bless him.

Thank you to the Junior Class for planning a fantastic prom - the gym looked amazing (and so did all our students)! Gratitude as well to the parents who helped with post-prom. FFA hosted Baby Animal/Ag day at DMCS yesterday. Traditions like these are what help us bond as a community. Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms this Sunday. Blessings to you and thanks for all you do for your children.

Upcoming Events
May 19-20: Senior Exams Period 1, 2, 3
May 2: 1pm Mary Ceremony, 7:30pm Baccalaureate: all are welcome
May 23: 9:30am Awards Day Ceremony; Gr 9-11 dismissed @ 11:15, no lunch served; 7:30pm Commencement. All are welcome!
May 26: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
May 28: 1:05 pm dismissal
May 29: Last day of School, 1:05 dismissal 

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Reminder to please complete enrollment packets for next year (look for an email from Catholic Schools of Faribault). Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or any other questions. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

JULY 16-20: Lots of parent and student volunteer shifts! Find the daily Cardinal Cafe sign ups at: https://pointapp.org/sign-in/.
Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.
Save the date! All are welcome to join us for this great celebration. This FREE event features live music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, school tours, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well. See below for more information. Click HERE to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard. Thank you!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/

Prom is tomorrow! Grand March is at 4pm in the BA gym and all are welcome to attend. We thank Prom Advisor Mrs. Nettie Battles and the junior class for their work in planning this event. We pray for a fun and safe prom and thank SADD officers and SADD Advisor Mrs. Donlon and Counselor Mr. Bienias for promoting good decision making and safe driving this week.

National Teacher Appreciation Week starts Monday! Please take a moment to thank a teacher for their hard work wtih our students. 

There have been instances this year where student and staff emails have been compromised, most recently an email sent this week "from" Dave Wollin of our staff. We will be requiring students and staff to change their passwords and adding an extra layer of authentication to staff logins. A reminder that if an email looks suspicious or has unexpected attachments, to trust your instinct and delete the email. 

Ms. Jolene Beske has stepped away from her position at Bethlehem Academy. We are fortunate that Mrs. Melinda O'Connor, an experienced teacher and former BA staff member, is filling in for Ms. Beske starting this past Wednesday through the end of the school year. 

Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have not yet re-enrolled, please do so as soon as possible. Award letters have been mailed to students who are enrolled. Tuition contracts should be sent next week. Contact Kris Sauer if you are having problems with the registrations process, are not planning to return, have questions about the award letter you have received, or have any questions. Thank you for your partnership!

2025 -2026 School Calendar: Find it HERE. Other BA news on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 

In partnership, 
Kris Sauer, Ed Friesen, 
Interim Co-Heads of School

• Golf Tournament Committee: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277566
• 160th Anniversary Committee:  https://dash.pointapp.org/events/277131

JULY 16-20: Log in to POINT (https://pointapp.org/sign-in/) to find the daily Fair shift and job volunteer options.	Bike for BA! Click HERE for routes and info. The Saturday, July 26 ride has some great options - and participating parents earn service hours! Registration opening soon. Email Jason Hillesheim with questions.
Get your foursome together to play in this great event! Register HERE.  Help us plan this fun event (you can help us plan AND still golf the day of the tournament)! Sign up HERE.	Save the date - all are welcome to join us for this great celebration! Live Music on the Back 40 from Pop Prohibition, food trucks, and fun. Help needed to plan this event. Volunteer HERE.

Summer Camps at BA! Click HERE for info and forms.

Governor Walz has proposed the elimination of funding for counselors, nurses, transportation, and textbooks for non-public school students. This will reduce critical funding for BA but also for our local school district as well. See below for more information. Click HERE to be connected to your state legislators and make your views heard. Thank you!

Click here for other Divine Mercy Catholic Church youth events.

Online BA School Calendar:
https://gopherconference.org/public/genie/7/school/7/

Online Faribault Falcons Calendar:
https://big9conference.org/public/genie/4/school/7/