A Look Back at 75 Years of Religious Education

November 18, 2020

This year, San Joaquin Memorial High School celebrates 75 years. We take a look back at 75 years of religious history by telling the stories of two former instructors: a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who operated SJM for much of its 75 years.

Brother Mark Murphy

By the time Brother Mark Murphy began teaching English, Math and Religion at San Joaquin Memorial High School in 1965, SJM was already 20 years old. In some ways, the school was still finding its footing: for instance, while Brother Mark taught at SJM, the school made the decision to switch from a gender-segregated school to a mixed-gender school. Boys and girls began attending classes together for the first time.

“At the beginning, everyone was thinking ‘oh how will this work,’” Murphy said. “We’d take up 10 minutes of each faculty meeting and talk to each other. We were told by the Sisters what it was like to work with the girls in class. Then next time, it would be reversed. When it actually happened I think we were pleased.”

Brother Mark would teach at SJM for five years. In that time, he saw some of the best of what SJM had to offer its students. He moderated the Young Christian Students Club, helped students to perform scenes from musicals including Hello, Dolly! as part of the theater program, and generally found himself connecting with his students as a young teacher.

“Those were wonderful years, especially as a first-time teacher,” he said. “The staff and teachers were all incredible. It felt like there was a whole new dimension to their education and mine.”

From supervising volunteer opportunities to taking the students on hiking and tubing trips on the Kings River, the days were filled with fun and connection. One of Brother Mark’s favorite memories is his introduction to frog gigging, also known as frog hunting.

“I was teaching Steinbeck’s Cannery Row and there is a moment in that book where frog gigging is mentioned,” said the San Francisco born Murphy. “The students found out I hadn’t done that, so one night they took me down to the Kings River and we caught frogs. A student’s father was a sous chef at a place downtown so we went down to his kitchen and cooked frog legs.”

SJM alumnus Patrick Beggs was one of Brother Mark’s students and still has a strong relationship with the Brother to this day. Beggs said Brother Mark was endlessly helpful. That helpful nature inspired Beggs to pursue a decades-long career in education of his own.

“He was always available to anyone, especially people like me that weren’t math wizzes,” said Beggs. “Without his extra help outside of class, I don't think I would have passed those math classes. To underscore things, I think subconsciously I became a teacher because I wanted to emulate what he did for me. I wanted to help students too.” Beggs went on to work as a teacher and education administrator and is still involved in education.

Beggs said the Brother made a significant impact on his life.

“There should be a statue at SJM dedicated to Brother Mark,” Beggs said. “Of all the teachers that I had, he was the most empathetic, consistent and he was a very strong disciplinarian. You knew where you stood with Mark at any given time.”

Sister Joanne Bauer

Sister Joanne Bauer had roots in San Joaquin Memorial before it even opened. When she was just three years old, her father was one of the original school supporters who helped to raise funds for its opening in 1945. That connection only strengthened when she went on to attend SJM herself in the late 1950s.

“My parents, both father and mother, valued Catholic education, Christian values, strong character, family life, and community,” said Bauer. “I experienced the family spirit in the school environment and in the Holy Cross Sisters’ friendly down to earth outreach to students and to their families though the teaching, meetings, activities, sports, and other organizations. The education was outstanding and a high value for my parents.”

Her experience at SJM also encouraged Sister Joanne to make a life-changing decision that had been of interest to her since the 7^th grade: to join a religious community as a Sister. It was during her Junior year of high school when she seriously began to consider this calling and during her college years that she finally decided to join the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

“I had personal contact with the sisters at SJM and that helped me make my decision” Bauer said. “They were very outgoing, very down-to-earth and very welcoming. It was that charism that came across.”

After becoming a Sister, Sister Joanne Bauer found herself at another crossroads: where to teach. Once again, she found herself turning to SJM.

She began teaching English, Religion and Journalism at SJM in 1973, overseeing The Red and Blue student newspaper.

Her work had a great impact on her students, including Sara Streeter. Streeter was on Bauer’s newspaper staff and still has a wonderful friendship with Bauer today.

“She was and is a very and warm and caring person,” Streeter said. “She was a lifeline at times. We got very close when I was in high school and she became my first real adult friend. I find it nothing short of a miracle that we’ve kept in touch over four decades but I’m grateful. It helped my high school experience greatly to be able to connect with a teacher like that, to be able to have someone there for me.”

Bauer left SJM as a teacher in the 1970s, but stayed connected in many ways over the years, including coming back to work for the Diocese of Fresno as the Coordinator of Family Life Ministry, a position she retired from in 2019.