How well do you know your CYO? |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
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Friday, 09 April 2010 12:47 |
The April 11, 2010, print edition of the Catholic Chronicle features an article on the history behind the Catholic Youth Organization in the Diocese of Toledo.
Here are a few other interesting facts we learned in the course of our research but were not able to include in the main article. All of the following information comes from the CYO office:
The late Msgr. Jerome E. Schmit, renowned for his service to the diocesan youth department including CYO for 38 years, almost never became a priest.
After enrolling in a seminary, he was originally asked to leave because he was told his speech impediment — caused by a cleft palate — would prevent him from preaching. He took a job as a social worker, but returned to the seminary several years later.
He was ordained in 1941. A year later, Msgr. Schmit was named director of the diocesan youth department and given $27 to organize a program for youth. Under his guidance, the CYO evolved into the most successful unit in the state. An original four basketball teams eventually grew to more than 600, and today the CYO program involves more than 10,000 youth annually.
Msgr. Schmit died April 10, 1997. The following year, ground was broken at the Msgr. Schmit CYO Outdoor Athletic Complex in Toledo, which bears the priest’s name in recognition of his service to the youth of the diocese.
The first CYO associate director was Paul Johnson, who joined the Catholic Club staff in the 1950s.
Mr. Johnson played a large role in getting many CYO programs started, including the football program and the Toy Bowls, as well as the High School State Basketball Tournament for boys in 1953. The state tournament was not run in 1955, but the following year Mr. Johnson and other volunteers from Toledo hosted the CYO Boys’ State Tournament and it has been run every year since then.
Mr. Johnson later served as a consultant to the CYO program until his death in 1986.
CYO programming began in 1935 but was only offered to boys until 1947, when Msgr. Schmit hired Mary Kurucz to start a CYO program for girls. The first girls basketball program for eighth graders was introduced during the 1947-48 season, and four teams participated that year.
Ms. Kurucz was also instrumental in starting many other programs, including the High School CYO State Basketball Tournament for girls in 1967.
She remained active in the CYO program until her death in June 1986.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 12:31 |
