St. John's Academy grads return this week

More than 100 alumni of St. John’s Academy in Colfax are slated to return to the city’s former Catholic school for an all-school reunion this weekend.

Organizer Susan Huber McGregor of San Francisco said more than 100 are expected for Friday evening’s events. She estimated 150 had responded for the lunch and special mass Saturday.

“We even have three nuns who used to teach there coming,” she said. The school operated under St. Patrick’s parish from 1915 through 1966.

Many of the Cuban kids, refugees who were sent here by their parents during the revolution, plan to attend.

Events begin Friday with hors d’oeuvres and beverages from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s reunion schedule starts with a breakfast at 10:30 a.m., a Knights of Columbus-prepared ham dinner at 2 p.m. and a special mass by Father Jake Morton at 5:30 p.m.

Photographs from the school’s opening to its closing will be displayed.

Organizers will ask attendees to help identify people in the photographs.

McGregor said they will soon go to the parish archives and the Whitman County Historical Society’s archives.