Alumni Contact Updates Being Sought By PCI:

St. Benedict has partnered with PCI to update all our alumni contacts with the purpose of reconnecting and obtaining stories / fond memories of everyone's time at St. Ben's.  It could be from high school days or even grade school times here on the block that has been St. Benedict for almost 125 years.  As that anniversary approaches in 2027, we have partnered with PCI to do this oral history project which will provide a digital and hardcover version of all the stories and memories recorded by those reaching out to our alumni until March of 2026.  We will have all the information on our website along with a FAQ about this project for the parish and school's quasquicentennial (125th) in 2027.  If you don't receive the postcard or email, please call (866) 497-0953 and provide your contact information and share a wonderful story about St. Benedict High School or Grade School or even a moving experience at St. Benedict Church.  Once alumni call PCI, they are asked to review their basic contact information – residence address, phone, email address – then go into the story recording. PCI will have prompts available if necessary.  PCI will then send a follow up email with a link to their story for review (after it is transcribed and edited) and request a photo as well.   During the call, alumni will be given the opportunity to reserve their copy of the book and/or digital publication before the end of the phone call. Alumni Apparel can be packaged with the physical book for additional savings or purchased separately.  We hope you help us to make this oral history project a huge success.  Recognize the Bengal on the materials?  This is the Bengal painted by the late Ms. Carol Molenda, HS art teacher until her passing in 2011, that is on the north wall of the Gym.  Questions please call Joe Accardi, director of alumni relations, at St. Ben's: (773) 509-3832.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AN EXAMPLE OF A FINAL PROJECT!

A Bengal Alumni Oral History Project

 

“Proud To Be A St. Ben’s Bengal” is a 12-month project that recently launched and is seeking to collect hundreds and hundreds of alumni oral histories, archiving them in a digital archive. Many of the stories will be printed in a commemorative book. We appreciate the participation of so many alumni in this project and thank you in advance for sharing your stories. With the commemorative book and the digital archive, your memories will live on for generations of Bengals to come.

The Project

Every Bengal has a story, and our Alumni Association wants to hear yours. However, with thousands and thousands of living alumni, it would take many years to meet with each of you individually. That’s why we’ve decided to embark on a new project called “Proud To Be A St. Ben’s Bengal” to collect the stories of alumni like you in your own words. These stories will be preserved in a book that celebrates the impact St. Ben’s has had on your lives and who you are today. Every year we don’t capture and preserve these stories feels like another opportunity lost, so we’re excited to get started today!

Have You Moved?

As part of this project, we are also taking this opportunity to help make it easier for you to stay connected to St. Ben’s. PCI will help us collect updated contact information from those of you who may have moved and inadvertently lost touch with your alma mater.

Your Story

So what favorite Bengal memory will you tell?

  • Did a special faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?

  • Did you find your sweetheart at St. Ben’s?

  • Can you trace your career path back to a defining moment at our alma mater?

  • Have connections you made on campus turned into lifelong friendships?

  • Were you on campus during a historical moment?

  • Are you part of a Bengal legacy with two or even three generations that went through St. Ben’s?

PCI Partnership

With our limited resources, we’d never be able to tackle a project like this. By partnering with PCI, we’re able to access their trained staff of real, live human beings who are excited to listen to what you have to share. PCI will also help collect and assemble the stories into the “Proud to Be a St. Ben’s Bengal” Memories book that we can share with all alumni. Please note, we have only shared your contact information with PCI in conjunction with this project. We have NOT sold your contact information, or otherwise used it for outside marketing purposes.

Do I Have to Buy Something?

No. This project is being done at NO COST to St. Ben’s. The project is completely funded by the alumni who choose to purchase the Memories book that will be produced at the end of the project. Various book packages will be offered. PCI will also offer you the option to purchase other St. Ben’s alumni branded merchandise such as a blanket and pullover.. You are welcome to purchase these items, but you are not required to do so to participate in the project or order the Memories book. Again, we’d never be able to embark on a project like this without the support of our amazing alumni and the partnership with PCI. We sincerely thank every person that participates and chooses to purchase the book.

What’s Next?

Alumni should be receiving email and postcard communications from the PCI team with instructions on how to participate. We’d like to invite you to share one of your stories with us and take part in this first of its kind project to honor the experiences and voices of our alumni. The PCI team will collect stories until March of 2026. After that, they will enter a post-production phase editing the data. We hope to have the book distributed in late 2026 or early 2027.

We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you regarding your memories of “the school we love so dearly!”

What to Look For

Below is an example of a postcard you will receive in the mail. This is an official postcard from St. Ben’s with a Bengal designed by the late Ms. Carol Molenda, HS art teacher until her passing in 2011, which is on the north wall of the Gym. It is being distributed by our partner PCI. Once you receive the postcard, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your Bengal Memories.

Below is an example of the postcard and email you will receive in your inbox. Once you receive the email, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your St. Ben’s memories. If you do not receive it, please take this opportunity to call PCI at 1-866-497-0953 and update your contact information so we can stay connected.

As alumni have asked for alumni branded items from St. Ben’s, we are glad to partner with PCI for many options. The logo also features the St. Benedict Church Bell Tower designed by Ms. Molenda, the landmark in the neighborhood that everyone fondly remembers as St. Ben’s.