By Sal Lema Contributors: Denis Ancel and Very Reverend John Welch, O.Carm. Since 1999, the Hall of Fame of Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet, Illinois, annually honors those who have made significant contributions to the Academy (and its predecessor schools). Hall of Fame inductees were not aware of the honor that was about to be bestowed upon them by Joliet Catholic Academy. In Father Bernie’s case he was asked to be the presenter himself. Then the table was turned around as Father John Welch, the Prior Provincial of the Order made the presentation to Father Bernie. “Father Bernhard ‘Bernie’ Bauerle was the first principal of the merged schools, Saint Francis Academy and Joliet Catholic High School, said Very Reverend John Welch, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Carmelites. In 1951, he came from Germany to live with his aunt and uncle in Wilmington. “His relatives had a wonderful bakery in town,” said Father Welch. Father Bernie traveled by bus from Wilmington to attend Joliet Catholic High School. “We were classmates,” Father Welch said.”After graduation, we both entered the Carmelite seminary.” In 1964, Father Bernie was ordained and began his Carmelite ministry as a teacher at DeSales High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He was then assigned to Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein where he taught for seven years. He then went back to DeSales High School in Louisville to become the chair of the religion department. In 1976, Father Bernie was assigned to his alma mater, Joliet Catholic High School, where he was first a counselor, then Assistant Principal, and in 1987 he became Principal. During these years of teaching and administration in Carmelite high schools, Father Bernie also continued to study, earning graduate degrees in German Literature from the University of Notre Dame and Religious Education from Loyola University in Chicago. The Carmelite community has had the service of Father Bernie in a number of capacities. He served for six years as the regional superior of the Midwest Carmelites, and from 2002 he has been the treasurer for the province. And now, once again, he is a member of the provincial council, the provinces’ leadership team. Through his many years, Father Bernie has played an important role in the development of Joliet Catholic Academy. He served as the principal of Joliet Catholic High School for two years, when the Franciscans and the Carmelites decided to merge their two schools. Together, they created a new form of administration. The school would have a president, who would represent the school in its relationship with communities outside the school; and the school would have a principal, someone who led the daily activities of the school itself. Franciscan Sister Lucille Krippel was asked to be the first president of JCA. And Father Bernie, who was then principal of the Hill, was asked if he would consider being the first principal of JCA. They both generously agreed to serve, and to bring into reality this new school in Joliet. Merging two institutions with long traditions and loyal graduates was a complicated, difficult process which called for great patience, understanding, collaboration, and a strong belief in the vision. The success of that vision, the outcome of that hard work, is present in JCA today. From 1990-1998, Father Bernie served as principal. His was a dedicated, steady presence. He brought good will, good sense, and determination to the project. Along with other administrators, the faculty and the staff, guided JCA through its early stages into the mature institution we admire so much today. “Father Bernhard Bauerle richly deserves being in the first group of individuals inducted into the JCA Hall of Fame, and we congratulate him,” said Father John Welch. The Joliet Catholic Academy family is grateful for the gifts Father Bernie has shared with them. As all of the inaugural Hall of Fame inductees were introduced, Angels & Hillman; the students of Joliet Catholic Academy filled the Student Activity Center with loads of applause, admiration, respect, and love.
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