catholic schools week 2018 - faith

www.licatholic.org | www.drvc.org | January 2018

First grader Lauryn Crowe and her class at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School.

catholic schools week 2018

Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. Jan. 28 — Feb. 3, 2018

Catholic Identity Strengthened by Three Priests at St. Patrick’s Elementary School, Huntington Nurturing Souls at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School, Uniondale A Legacy of Catholic Education by Kathleen Walsh, Ed.D., superintendent of schools

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The Long Island Catholic | January 2018 | www.licatholic.org

The Relationship between Catholic sacramental theology and Catholic social justice teaching: The sacrament of penance in Service of ‘Welcoming the Stranger

YOUR COMMUNITY HOLINESS AND MISSION

A Founder’s Week Convocation Keynote Address given at St. John’s University on Sept. 21, 2017 At Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, there is a unique baptismal font in the chapel. Before the Civil War, there was a block of stone on what later became the Abbey property. It was called the “Slave Stone” because slaves being sold at auction were made to stand on that stone so that potential buyers could see them. BISHOP Imprinted in this stone was the JOHN O. BARRES emotional memory of the coarse cruelty is the fifth bishop of the slave traders and the anguish and of the Catholic Diocese trauma of slave families being separated of Rockville Centre. and further stripped of their human Follow him on Twitter, dignity. The Slave Stone carried some of @BishopBarres the emotional imprint of the stones of Calvary itself. Years later, in the 19th century, the Benedictines purchased the land, discovered the history of the Slave Stone and made an inspired connection between Catholic sacramental theology and Catholic social justice teaching. The stone was turned and refashioned into a baptismal font. A plaque was placed on this baptismal font that is there to this day. It reads: “UPON THIS ROCK, MEN ONCE WERE SOLD INTO SLAVERY. NOW UPON THIS ROCK, THROUGH THE WATERS OF BAPTISM, MEN BECOME FREE CHILDREN OF GOD.” The Benedictine Monks of Belmont Abbey saw clearly, both historically and prophetically, the connection between Catholic sacramental theology and Catholic social justice teaching. They saw the connection between the theology of baptism and the Church’s insistence that all human beings are entitled by their very existence to dignity and freedom. They saw clearly that slavery, racism and the commodification of humans in all its forms and in all its moments in world history are grave offenses against God and are rejected by the sacramental theology of baptism as theological heresy. The purpose of this address is to begin to explore the relationship between Catholic sacramental theology and Catholic social justice teaching. It is not a subject that ordinarily receives much attention, but consider the image of that slave rock transformed into a baptismal font. I submit that the connections between sacramental theology and social justice teaching are in fact profound and potentially very powerful for New Evangelization dramatic missionary growth. That is often the case with our faith. One part of Christian teaching might, on the surface, seem to have little to do with another part, but on deeper inspection we find that, in fact, the first can cast great light on the second. As Pope Francis emphasizes in The Joy of the Gospel, “Each truth (of our Catholic faith) is better understood when related to the harmonious totality of the Christian message; in this context all the truths are important and illumine one another.” Very often, a detailed, linear approach to theology helps us to understand the great truths of our faith. But the Lord also works in

ways that are not always easily understood by linear reasoning, and if we trap ourselves into such a one-dimensional approach to faith, we can easily miss the profound truth of Pope Francis’ statement — a truth that can revolutionize and elevate our approach to faith. For example, in Laudato Si’, Pope Francis discusses the relationship between the Eucharist and an integral ecology and care for the environment. He writes: It is in the Eucharist that all that has been created finds its greatest exaltation. Grace, which tends to manifest itself tangibly, found unsurpassable expression when God himself became man and gave himself as food for his creatures. The Lord, in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach the intimate depths through a fragment of matter. … Indeed the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love; … because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world. The Eucharist joins heaven and earth; it embraces and penetrates all creation. … Thus, the Eucharist is also a source of light and motivation for our concerns for the environment, directing us to be stewards of all creation. The splendor of Catholic truth is synthetic, holistic and harmonious. Laudato Si’ shows the connection between sacramental eucharistic theology and Catholic social justice teaching concerning integral ecology and care for the environment. In the light of that redeemed rock and Pope Francis’ integrated approach, we now examine a third example which is the focus of this address: the relationship between our Catholic sacramental theology of the sacrament of penance and our Catholic social justice teaching concerning the themes around “Welcoming the Stranger.” Throughout the recent Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asked us to be missionary disciples of the sacrament of penance. That was a special call for the Year of Mercy, but of course it is a constant daily call for every Catholic in every moment of history. The Holy Spirit calls us to constant conversion. Deep and transforming experiences of the sacrament of penance are a critical dimension of those person-transforming and Churchreforming conversions. So much of a Catholic’s capacity to engage in meaningful integral ecology conversions, social justice and social change conversions, racism conversions, Gospel of human life conversions and conversions from the seven capital sins hinges on consistent, deep and transforming experiences of the sacrament of penance. The transforming conversions experienced in the sacrament of penance can also help us as Catholics to be a societal fulcrum — to be Catholic American leaders in “Welcoming the Stranger.” The question thus becomes this: Can the sacrament of penance help us to break through what Pope Francis calls “global indifference” — the type of indifference toward the refugee and immigrant family that he put a global spotlight on when, in the first days of his pontificate, he celebrated Mass at Lampedusa on the remains of a boat that sank off CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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the coast of Italy, resulting in the deaths of so many refugees? It is, of course, also a matter of indifference to the plight of refugees and immigrants before they become refugees and immigrants. No refugee would risk taking a leaky boat across the Mediterranean Sea, or ride underneath a freight car from Central America to the American border, if the risks at home were not worse than those they face on their journeys. The sacrament of penance can be a critical catalyst in helping penitents to break through their own indifference and to embrace at a much deeper level our call to welcome refugee-immigrant families and serve them with the feet-washing spirit of Jesus. That includes helping them to confront the issues they face from unemployment to housing to education to medical care to a true and authentic appreciation and love for their leadership, charisms and gifts so generously shared in our Catholic parishes. It also includes helping people in their own countries so that they are not forced to leave their families, friends and homes and travel thousands of miles in order to survive. The sacrament of penance is intensely personal and private — so private that we have a sacramental seal in our theology and canon law. But we also know that the sacrament of penance is intensely communal as well. Our individual experiences of the sacrament have invisible ripple effects in our families, our workplaces and the way we approach the Church’s mission of mercy expressed in Catholic social justice teaching. If we cannot acknowledge and address our own sins, we cannot effectively pursue social justice. In his February 17, 2016, homily at Ciudad Juarez, on the border of Mexico and the United States, Pope Francis said:

force of law, or — as unfortunately more often happens — by the law of force, the change in fact proves to be incomplete, or of short duration, and ultimately vain and ineffective — not to say counterproductive — if the people directly or indirectly responsible for that situation are not converted.” And this, I believe, is the key. It is a constellation of individual but connected human sins that leads to refugees and immigrants being forced out of their homes and families and driven to travel long and often dangerous roads to foreign countries in which they are strangers. And it is a constellation of individual, but connected, human sins that leads others to victimize immigrants and refugees as they make their way to, and try to build new lives in, those strange lands. It is the Pauline logic of the body of Christ image in reverse where sin gets the upper hand and creates an evil momentum. As Catholic Christians, we are called to break that momentum of evil and to live the image of the body of Christ as St. Paul wanted us to live it. We realize that every grace, every decision to forgive, every conversion impacts, lifts up and energizes the body of Christ and the people of God in history. The sacrament of penance follows the logic of St. Paul’s body of Christ imagery. Each individual and heartfelt confession has an immediate ripple effect in the individual soul and in the body of Christ. The grace-filled momentum of these sacrament of penance driven conversions can help lead to real and lasting social change. This real and lasting social change has many dimensions. What CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

The human tragedy that is forced migration is a global phenomenon today. This crisis which can be measured in numbers and statistics, we want instead to measure with names, stories, families. They are the brothers and sisters of those expelled by poverty and violence, by drug trafficking and criminal organizations. Being faced with so many legal vacuums, they get caught up in a web that ensnares and always destroys the poorest. Not only do they suffer poverty but they must also endure all these forms of violence ... Let us together ask our God for the gift of conversion, the gift of tears, let us ask him to give us open hearts like the Ninevites, open to his call heard in the suffering faces of countless men and women. No more death! No more exploitation! There is always time to change, always a way out and always an opportunity, there is always the time to implore the mercy of God. Pope Francis diagnoses the spiral of evil and sin that destroys refugees, rather than serves them. He calls for “the gift of conversion” from the tragic sins that directly violate human life and dignity and he calls for that same gift of conversion for sins involving “global indifference,” the failure to take the stance of the good Samaritan and the failure to acknowledge “what I have done and what I have failed to do.” In his 1984 post-synodal apostolic exhortation Reconciliation and Penance, Pope St. John Paul II stated: At the heart of every situation of sin are always to be found sinful people. So true is this that even when such a situation can be changed in its structural and institutional aspects … by the

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we are saying here is something that, I believe, has been, to some extent, overlooked — that the sacrament of penance is a critical dimension of truth-driven social change. Perhaps this seems to be asking a lot. But, in fact, like all sacraments, the sacrament of penance is powerful — if we allow it to be. The sacrament of penance is liberating and consoling. It strengthens us and gives us a new and fresh start. It strengthens us to be peacemakers and forgivers. When we allow the graces of the sacrament of penance to work in us, these Spirit-driven graces help lead us to not only profess and promote the Gospel of life but to live it practically and holistically in the way we give reverence and respect to every human being we meet and the environment in which they live. Each time each of us avails ourselves of the sacrament of penance we further open ourselves to the work we need to do personally to help the refugees and immigrants in our midst. We make a good examination of conscience and a verbal confession of sins that helps us to take responsibility for those sins maturely. We receive a priest’s counsel and a penance for the reparation of sin. A heartfelt act of contrition leads to our hearing the words of peace and absolution that wash over and strengthen us: “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The door of every confessional around the world is a “door of mercy”, a door to forgiveness and conversion, a door to the transformation of our minds, hearts, lives, marriages and families. The door of every confessional is a door to the purification, reform and transformation of the Church and the world, a door that breaks

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through global indifference. As a fellow penitent who goes to the sacrament of penance frequently — I ask the people of God I serve to walk through that door of mercy frequently. Mercy and mission always go together. We are called to be missionary disciples of Christ’s mercy who gently, but boldly propose and encourage those around us to celebrate the sacrament of penance. As that slave rock saw transformation into a font of grace, we experience the redeeming, reconciling grace of God as we leave the door of mercy of the confessional. We rise to a new and resurrected spirit of forgiveness, humility, charity and mercy that leads to deeper grace-filled patterns and conversions in all of our human relationships. And the door of mercy of the confessional helps to transform every marriage and family to transform the world and history, and so often to transform the world and history by welcoming, supporting, serving and celebrating the immigrant families, the refugee families in crisis, the families of strangers in our midst. A few weeks ago, the Catholic Church on Long Island hosted Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez, an auxiliary bishop in El Salvador who was recently made a cardinal by Pope Francis. Cardinal Rosa Chavez was a close friend of Archbishop Blessed Oscar Romero, who was martyred while celebrating Mass because he told soldiers to refuse to participate in torture and murder. It was while offering the holy sacrifice of the Mass that Blessed Oscar Romero made the holy sacrifice of his life for Christ, the Church’s mission and the people of God of that moment — and every subsequent moment in Church history. With Cardinal Rosa Chavez, we, the Church on Long Island, made an appeal for comprehensive immigration reform in this country and globally, grounding that appeal in the principles of the dignity of the human person, the sanctity of all human life and the family and Catholic social justice concerning our belief in a preferential option for the poor. We made an appeal to gang members on Long Island, and gang members from Los Angeles to New York, to leave the culture of death and embrace the culture of life. We also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Archbishop Romero, and prayed for his canonization. Archbishop Romero once said: “The most profound social revolution is the serious, supernatural, interior reform of a Christian.” And here we return to the sacrament of penance. Although Blessed Romero has become embraced as an ecumenical and interreligious figure of inspiration who is known for his courage, his humanity and his solidarity with the poor, what is often forgotten is that he was a deeply humble man and priest who was profoundly committed to the sacrament of penance in his personal life — and who deeply promoted it among the people he served. Blessed Romero understood both the power of conversion in the sacrament of penance and how that conversion could help provide for the social change El Salvador desperately needed. Like Blessed Romero, when we embrace the personal conversions of the sacrament of penance, we see the global challenges of migration through the lens of the kingdom of God and the prophetic mission of mercy of the Catholic Church on earth, rather than through our own limited vision. We begin to better understand our own role in welcoming strangers as we follow Jesus’ call and build a genuine culture of life and civilization of love.

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YOUR COMMUNITY LOCAL NEWS

Dedication of Joe Lapchick statue that wise and virtuous prophets pay in history for taking enlightened stances that result in positive social change (see Gus Alfieri’s Lapchick: The Life Of A Legendary Player And Coach In The Glory Days Of Basketball. Lyons Press, 2006). Perhaps the symbolism of the statue depicting him holding a basketball and pointing into the distance is an appeal to us in the present moment of racial tension to rediscover interracial peace and harmony.

Photo courtesy of St. Johns University Sports Information

On Dec. 2, 2017, Bishop John O. Barres and Bishop Robert Brennan (St. John’s University Class of 1984) attended the dedication of the coach Joe Lapchick statue at St. John’s University. They were present to support the New Evangelization mission of St. John’s University and the leadership of St. John’s University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw. The Diocese of Rockville Centre has always had, and always will have, a very close friendship and partnership with St. John’s University. Bishop Barres also thought it very important to be present to honor the memory of coach Joe Lapchick (1900-1970) and his prophetic, centered and lived approach to interracial harmony and dignity. Both as a teammate and a coach, Joe Lapchick treated African Americans with consummate respect and dignity. He helped pioneer the integration of the National Basketball Association. He paid the price The newly unveiled statue of legendary player and coach Joe Lapchick, outside of Carnesecca Arena at St. John’s University, Queens. From left: Bishop Robert J. Brennan, auxiliary bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, Rev. Richard Rock, C.M., Anton Goff (Athletic Director at St. John’s), Barbara Lapcek (Daughter of Coach Joe Lapchick… Richard Lapchick (son of Coach Joe Lapchick) Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D., President of St. John’s, Mr. Kevin Reed (benefactor of St. John’s) and Bishop John Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre.

Diocese of Rockville Centre names Chief Operating Officer Thomas G. Renker to assume expanded position as COO-General Counsel In a strategic move to assist Bishop Barres in his Dramatic Missionary Growth initiative in the Diocese of Rockville Centre (www.drvc.org), the diocese announced the appointment of Thomas G. Renker, Esq. to the position of Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Diocese of Rockville Centre. Since 2007, Mr. Renker has served as General Counsel for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. His new appointment, effective Dec. 1, 2017, expands Mr. Renker’s role within the diocese. As COO, Mr. Renker assumes responsibility for all temporal functions of the diocese. The position works closely with the diocesan Bishop and diocesan Vicar General.

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“I am grateful to Tom for agreeing to serve in the expanded role of Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel,” said Bishop Barres. “Tom’s dedicated and accomplished service, his keen intellect, strategic mind-set and deep and broad understanding of the diocese make him ideally suited to this key leadership position. Temporally, Tom will help drive Dramatic Missionary Growth initiatives across the diocese.” “I have enjoyed working with Bishop Barres and I look forward to assisting him in the implementation of his vision and goals for Dramatic Missionary Growth in the Diocese of Rockville Centre,” said Mr. Renker. “Meaningful growth is a critical aspiration for the Church on Long Island and, with Bishop Barres’ leadership, I am confident that Dramatic Missionary Growth is an achievable aspiration.”

YOUR COMMUNITY FEATURE STORY

Grand opening of

The Gianna Center of Long Island for Women’s Health and Fertility brings hope to women in DRVC

The ribbon is cut on the new Gianna Center of Long Island. From left: Jamey Hutchinson, RN, BSN, CFCP, Fertility Care Coordinator, Gianna Center of Long Island; Barbara Meier, RN; Anne Nolte, MD, founder and physician for the National Gianna Center for Women’s Health and Fertility; Alan D. Guerci, MD, Catholic Health Services (CHS) President and CEO; Bishop John Barres, bishop of Rockville Centre; Richard Sullivan, Former Chairman, CHS Board of Directors; Virginia Ewen, RN, CHS Board of Directors; Gail Sullivan; (front, center) Paul Carpentier, MD, Medical Director, Gianna Center of Long Island; (back row)Brian McGuire, CHS Board of Directors; James Spencer, Senior Vice President for Mission and Ministry, CHS; Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, Executive VP and System Chief Medical Officer, CHS; Sr. Mary Alice Piil, CSJ, Director of Faith Formation, Diocese of Rockville Centre; Bob Wahl, Knights of Columbus; (foreground)Thomas Ockers, Executive VP and Chief Administrative Officer, Good Samaritan Hospital; Dennis Verzi, CHS Executive VP and COO; Allison O’Brien, Director, Respect Life Office, DRVC.

Catholic Health Services, in conjunction with the Diocese of Rockville Centre, recently celebrated the grand opening of The Gianna Center of Long Island for Women’s Health & Fertility. The only facility of its kind on Long Island, this innovative program offers families highly specialized restorative reproductive medicine in accordance with Catholic teachings. As part of the celebration, Bishop John Barres gave a special blessing and presented the Gianna Center with relics from St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a famed pediatrician and namesake of the nationally affiliated center. Representatives from the Nassau/Suffolk chapters of Knights of Columbus were present and donated $58,000 for a new ultrasound machine. Paul Carpentier, MD, the facility’s medical director, has helped numerous couples, including Darielle D’Amico,

who shared her story at the ribbon-cutting. Mrs. D’Amico suffered two miscarriages before seeking a natural alternative in line with her Catholic beliefs. Thanks to Dr. Carpentier and the Gianna team, she was able to conceive and gave birth to a healthy boy, Thomas. Located in Babylon, the center delivers preventive and specialized obstetric and gynecologic care to women, honoring their dignity and the sanctity of human life. The team is uniquely qualified to care for women of all ages, at all stages of life, and has services to address male infertility. Named after St. Gianna Beretta Molla, The Gianna Center of Long Island features two unique women’s health services — the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System and NaProTECHNOLOGY™, both of which provide women with a natural, restorative, scientifically based approach to improving health and respecting fertility.

Learn more at www.chsli.org/gianna-center-long-island. You are invited to join a 12-day Pilgrimage to

Sicily, Southern Italy & Rome July 1 – 12, 2018 Spiritual Leaders

Bishop James Massa

Bishop Barres shows the relic of St. Gianna Molla to Angelina D’Amico and her mother, Danielle D’Amico.

Msgr. Peter Vaccari

Msgr. Andrew Vaccari

Peter’s Way Tours Contact us to request a brochure!

516-605-1551 • Email: [email protected]

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YOUR STORIES FEATURE STORY

Priests from St. Patrick parish are a constant presence in the halls and classrooms of the parish elementary school. L to R: Fr. Scott Daniels, associate pastor; Rev. Msgr. Steven Camp, pastor; Fr. Michael Bissex, associate pastor.

Clergy Key to Building Family of Faith at St. Patrick’s School, Huntington With the patter of small feet in a bustling, chatter-filled hallway, a young child approached an adult and motioned her to bend down for a message. With tiny hand cupped to tiny face, the child said, “They’re all here!” This remark, made not long ago to one of the administrators of the parochial school St. Patrick’s in Huntington, sums up well what’s been going on there. The child’s meaning must be understood in the context of an evolutionary approach to education at this highly relational based parish school. While initially, the child’s statement that “they’re all here” referred to the three parish priests, it could just as well have referred to the ever-present reality of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this community. The parish’s clergy are increasing real occasions of grace during the school day to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the frequent physical presence of three priests within the school building is making its mark. St. Patrick’s pastor, Rev. Msgr. Steven Camp, and Principal, Sister Maureen McDade made it clear their approach to increase Catholic identification, also called Hard Identity Catholicism, is well under way and grounded in Catholic witness and prayer. The focus is beginning to bear fruit. This development and opportunity at St. Patrick’s began with Msgr. Camp’s arrival at the parish this past June, when he began adapting and

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STORY AN D PHOTOS

BY E D C A S E Y

modifying the approach to fit the specific needs of the parish. He made similar moves in his last parish, St. Christopher’s in Baldwin, and, through steady work, improvements were made with the help of the parish priests, religious, faculty and families of the parish. The ultimate goal then, as now, was to build one family of faith, celebrated in liturgy, sacraments, prayer and service. Contributing to the success of this goal is building relationships, one-on-one, one soul at a time. Since September, the three priest-servant-leaders of St. Patrick’s, Msgr. Camp and Fathers Michael Bissex and Scott Daniels, have ramped up their involvement in the lives of the children in the parish school and faith formation program. Each priest now teaches religion classes on multiple grade levels at least once per week. This means every student is seeing the presence of holiness and witness of the parish priests throughout their week at school and for longer durations in their individual classrooms, as well as during weekend Masses. Faith formation students also see the priests through regular visits. Grade-level Masses at 10 a.m. on Sundays invite children, whether in the parish school or public/private school setting, to share in the Eucharist with their families. Attendance at the weekend children’s Mass is growing. Perhaps even more impactful long-term, students have increased their frequency in celebrating the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance. The source and summit of the Catholic prayer life is now being offered at gradelevel, division and school-wide monthly Masses much more often, and additional opportunities to visit the parish church have begun. Msgr. Camp gives tours of the church to students, explaining the elements of the Mass in physical terms and the mysteries and faith aspects of the liturgy, and answering the many questions that naturally

St. John Paul II and Catholic education “In order that the Catholic school and the Catholic teachers may truly make their irreplaceable contribution to the Church and to the world, the goal of Catholic education itself must be crystal clear. Beloved sons and daughters of the Catholic Church, brothers and sisters in the faith: Catholic education is above all a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in the lives of others.” — Message of St. John Paul II to the National Catholic Educational Association of the United States, April 16, 1979

L to R: Sr. Maureen McDade, principal with Mrs. Stacy Serino and students, Logan, (kindergarten) (left) and Lucas Serino (2nd grade).

L to R: Rev. Msgr. Steven Camp, pastor; Brett Higgins (coach); Quintin Vizza, Casey Johnson (front); Phillip Wolff (partially obscured); Matthew Roberts; Ben Higgins (Harvard shirt); Brennan Spillane, Jack Jozefowski, James Camacho, Matthew McManus(rear); Patrick Quilty (middle row); Christopher Chelius (foreground); Alex Peluso; Sr. Maureen McDade, principal; Fr. Scott Daniels and Fr. Michael Bissex.

come up. Prayer services and retreats for the older children are also ongoing means of formation. Students in grades 3-8 are making regular use of the sacrament of penance during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. By coming to church as a class and taking advantage of priest availability to hear confessions, the students experience the grace Our Lord intended for mercy in their young souls. Sister Maureen explained the effort to integrate and examine the synergy of faith happens through knowledge, worship and action. One way this finds expression is the community is fully inclusive in practice, and she and her team make a great effort for no one to feel excluded. Social action is accomplished through a number of service opportunities for children and their families. For instance, the recent diocesan Respect Life Maternity Advent Program coin boxes allow students to donate small amounts of money toward expenses of expectant mothers. This activity focuses students on the value of human life from conception onward. CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

“The greatest challenge to Catholic education in the United States today, and the greatest contribution that authentically Catholic education can make to American culture, is to restore to that culture the conviction that human beings can grasp the truth of things, and in grasping that truth can know their duties to God, to themselves, and their neighbors. In meeting that challenge, the Catholic educator will hear an echo of Christ’s words: ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ (Jn 8:32)” — Address of the Holy Father Pope St. John Paul II to the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Regions of Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee (USA) on their ad limina visit (May 30, 1998)

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YOUR COMMUNITY COVER STORY

MAKING THE EXTRAORDINARY, ORDINARY St. Martin de Porres

Marianist School in Uniondale nurtures the souls of students

S

omething remarkable is happening at a school in Uniondale. Forget what you’ve heard about the state of modern education. Enter this building and get a sense of joy, of enthusiasm, of energy. More than that, there’s a sense of true community — a school that has to be experienced.

St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Uniondale serves pre-K through grade 8 education to a wide range of towns, villages in the area. With an enrollment of nearly 400 students, it is one of the largest Catholic elementary and middle schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Run by the Marianist Order and a group of committed lay people, St. Martin’s has become a model for a successful Catholic school — growing significantly in enrollment from the time the Marianists took on the school. Today, there are two classes for every grade, an impressive list of faculty and courses offered and hundreds of lively, engaged students. In 2004, a new pastor at St. Martha’s reached out to the Marianists and asked if they would be willing to take on St. Martin’s school. Low enrollment numbers meant the

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school was in trouble. “In the beginning, it was a new experience for us,” said Brother Timothy Driscoll, a Marianist brother and chaplain at St. Martin’s. “We had no experience with elementary schools, but when the opportunity came about, we felt that it would be necessary to take on the school.” The Marianists had an excellent reputation for running two high schools in the diocese, Chaminade High School and Kellenberg Memorial High School. They have a charism centered on education. This school was clearly important, as it was the only Catholic elementary school serving some of the most disadvantaged areas of the diocese. “I remember when I got the call,” said Mr. John Holian, headmaster of


St. Martin de Porres Marianist School. “I was upstate fishing with my father-in-law, and Brother Kenneth Hoagland got his number and said that they were taking on an elementary school and would I be interested [in helping out]. At the time, I was teaching 10th grade history at Kellenberg, but before that, I had been teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade social studies in a school in Queens.” The call came through two weeks before the school year was to begin, but together with the Marianist brothers, Mr. Holian jumped into the new venture with full

Pre-kindergarten students Caitlynn Thomas and Noelle Brereton.

Mr. John Holian, headmaster, St. Martin de Porres Marianist School, Uniondale.

Students take violin at St. Martin de Porres School. L to R: Kayla Mombrun, (7th); Ashley Gifuentes, (7th); Jasmin Grande, 7th grade; Romy Limonta, (8th).

enthusiasm. Their first task was to make the school as inviting as possible, so they cleaned the building and made it reflect the Marianist philosophy. “Father Chaminade, our founder, said our main objective was to be formation in faith,” Brother Driscoll said. “That we were to form communities of faith and that we do it in a family spirit.” The team wanted to create a joyful school that radiated Christian goodness and inspired the students to respond in kind. “Our philosophy is the extraordinary has to be ordinary,” said Mr. Holian.

“We’ve been able to create an atmosphere of virtue and beauty, which is going to set a tone for the students. The old saying, when in Rome you act like a Roman — you create a beautiful school, and the students act like beautiful students.” Nurturing souls is the primary concern of the faculty and administration of St. Martin’s. “We’re sending students off to the Ivy League, and great colleges and universities,” Mr. Holian said, “but it’s more important that they get into heaven than Harvard.” This focus on educating the whole

person, beginning with nurturing spirit and educating minds, is a hallmark of the Marianist approach. “The Catholic identity is central to St. Martin’s,” said Brother Driscoll. “We felt that an intentionally Catholic school would be attractive, and we felt it was very important to create a sense of what it means to be Catholic.” He explained everything from the artwork, projects, decorations for the liturgical seasons, music classes, prayer services and even feast day processions, such as for St. Martin’s Day on Nov. 3, offer

Music study is an important part of the St. Martin de Porres education experience. L to R – Samantha Mejia, (4th); Jamie Mason, (4th); Nadege Lawrence, (5th) and Gemma Posillico, (5th).

L to R: First graders Arielle Beauharnais, Kaelyn Jean-Raymond and Jacqueline Blanchard.

Student taking chorus lessons. L to R: Alexander Morgan, (4th); David Saint Louis, (4th); Brayan Guevara Viscarra, (4th); Jvary Flamer, (5th); Christian Gomez Felix, (4th); Caroline Blatti, (5th) and Kyara Diaz, (4th).

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Kindergarten students represent saints on St. Martin Day. From left: Adriana Chen-Phang, Michael Holian, David Hidalgo and Cedric Noel.

daily examples of the Catholic faith. None of this could happen without the backing of the parents, faculty and supporters of the school. St. Martin’s operates as a true community. “Having quality Catholic men and women on board is most important,” said Mr. Holian. “One thing I’m sure of, more important than the curriculum, more important than the technology, is the people.” Raymond Haller is a long-time donor, supporter and spouse of first grade teacher Lisa Haller. He has assisted the Marianists with projects ranging from building a minigolf course to cooking at alumni barbecues to running a hayride for the fall family day. He is one of many volunteers and supporters staying involved because they believe in the school’s mission. “I watched St. Martin’s be transformed from a school building into a warm, loving school in a few years. The Marianist community, let’s face it, they have the market on education — education is what they do best!” Mr. Haller said. “There’s something warm and wonderful about the community, it’s a place you want to be. I have to be honest, my faith has deepened since I’ve been there, there’s no doubt about it.”

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Many teachers are graduates of Kellenberg or Chaminade and understand the Marianist approach. Creativity is rewarded and encouraged. “We are able to get things done, we’re not part of a bureaucracy. If we want to build a greenhouse, we build it — one of my science teachers and two former students built a greenhouse,” said Mr. Holian. “If we want to raise puppies, we raise puppies — and absolutely we’ve done that! We have 50 different clubs and activities. All the programs are run by the teachers, so that human relationship is fostered and encouraged.” After-school programs like after-care are offered without charge to all the students, and staffed by teachers, which allows for programs and activities that “educate the heart.” Mrs. Chrissie O’Grady is the parent of a current St. Martin student, and two of her older children have graduated from the school. She witnessed the approach to education inside and outside the classroom. “There was something for them at school or after school, whether it was math club, sports or activities,” she said. “They really nurtured the whole child. Not just academically, or activities after school, or


spiritually — everything was important, so that the whole child was developing.” With a very low faculty turnover rate, the teachers can build on their experiences and use personal interests in their work. Beautiful gardens, artwork, even the carpentry and maintenance done in the summer are courtesy of teachers and volunteers. Over a dozen teachers have bus licenses, so buses can be borrowed from Kellenberg for class trips. Creativity is rewarded and celebrated, which means teachers get excited about their plans for the following year. “The Marianist charism really encourages and supports motivated

Some eighth grade students play soccer on the field. From left: Bryan McBean, Christian Sanango and Stephan Loiseau.

ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Seventh graders (L to R) Marilyn Bonilla, Lynn Boulin and Kristen Banfield along with Gus, a black Labrador retriever.

people who want to take ownership — people who want to work with the brothers,” Mr. Holian said. Since the school is not tied to the common core curriculum, and they do not participate in state exams, they focus on improving curriculum each year. As Mr. Holian is quick to remind students and teachers, there is no finish line to excellence. Curriculum focuses on a core of classic education and weaves in art, band and chorus. Students in the early grades have chorus daily, and then take violin lessons in third grade. From there, they can choose to focus on chorus, string orchestra or band as they move up in classes. All of the graduating students the past few years have gone to Catholic high schools, including Kellenberg and Chaminade. Students at those high schools, and St. Martin’s alumni, come back regularly to mentor and help St. Martin students. As each student is treated as a beloved child of God and an important member of the St. Martin’s community, they grow to be confident, joyful, caring and giving. The motto “Charity Above All” is emblazoned on the school crest and on the recognizable purple student shirts, a reminder to be their best so they can give their best. St. Martin’s aims to form young minds into men and women who will be good parents, community members, employers, employees and Christians. Perhaps that’s the secret that makes St. Martin’s such a vibrant and joyful place. But as any of the teachers or administrators would say, it really isn’t a secret at all. It’s what they live fully each day in this Catholic school. “The bottom line is we look at the work we’re doing as holy work,” Mr. John Holian said. “This is an opportunity to nurture souls. We’re able to look at the students and simply look at the silhouette of holiness around them, and we want them to grow into that.”

Another example of the missionary aspect of faith is in the service to community through the Huntington Family Service League, which collects toys for families at Christmas. In a partnership with various groups, including St. Hugh of Lincoln in Huntington Station, the school again contributed to a successful drive for deserving children. Other yearly causes driven by faith in action include bake sales, fundraising for wounded warriors and two collections for victims of hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico this past fall. The effort toward deepening faith has not been limited to the students. Recently, an in-service was held for school faculty, staff and administrators to update them on theology and the holy sacrifice of the Mass. This refresher given by the pastor was another opportunity to reinforce the goals of Catholic identity, explain the nuances of faith matters and answer questions. Reaction was positive and encouraging. The parochial school and faith formation teams now build on past foundations and increasing engagement with students and families. The increased presence of the priests of the parish affects the confirmation program, a two-year period of preparation for seventh- and eighth-graders to fully appreciate the grace of the sacrament. More altar servers have been recruited from the school and are working at both daily and weekend Masses. Newly ordained Father Bissex has trained the students, who have shown themselves to be fine altar servers. The presence and example of Catholic faith provided by the priests-leaders-servants has created hope in both St. Patrick’s school and faith formation programs. It should not be lost to modern readers that the patron of the parish and school, St. Patrick, used the three-leaf clover to convey the mystery of the Trinity. The logic of our Catholic faith and the dynamism of the holy sacrifice of the Mass, coupled with the education of young souls, create a winning combination of three, which is sure to continue to bear much fruit in the months and years ahead in Huntington.

B Y PA U L M C AVOY PH OTOG R APH Y BY ALE JAN D R A VI LL A

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YOUR LIFE EDUCATION

A LEGACY OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION: Generations of success start in Catholic Elementary School

A

s the most important week in Catholic education, Catholic Schools Week, approaches, I am reminded that so much of our success comes from legacy families. Legacy families are those families with parents, and sometimes grandparents, who are alums of Catholic elementary schools. They are among our greatest supporters because they understand, from personal experience, the benefits of a Catholic education. They have been leaders in dramatic missionary growth and their faith and passion have been cornerstones on which our schools have thrived.

Legacy families have a parent or parents who have graduated from Catholic school, often from the very same community and parish. They understand the difference between mastering information and developing the “whole person” in mind, in body, and in spirit. It is these legacy families whose involvement in parish and school life enriches not just their lives, but provides nourishment for all of the members of their parish community. It is these individuals who are often the most outspoken supporters of Catholic education because they’ve been given the experience of learning and growing in faith and knowledge. Today, I am inviting you, the Catholic school alums out there, to step forward and re-embrace Catholic education. I am asking you to share the story of your successes, and of your children’s success, as a result of Catholic education. The majority of the new students and families we welcome into our schools are there based on

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a personal recommendation from a trusted friend, neighbor or family member. You are that trusted friend! You are the evangelizer, you are the person who helps to build our schools as faith communities and participates in the growth of our Church. Of course, there are plenty of ways that you can support Catholic education. First and foremost, you can support with your prayers and asking for the blessings needed to sustain and build opportunities for future generations. When the time comes, you can send your children to a Catholic school, you can help your children send their children to Catholic school … or you can leave a financial gift to your school. Or, make a gift through charitable organizations like the Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation that simply helps others cover some of the cost of tuition. The most important thing to do is share your experiences with others making school decisions today. Share


how you developed the faith that sustains you and the role your school played in that journey. Reflect on who instilled your confidence that you are indeed a unique child of God and here in this world to fulfill a special purpose. Let them know who helped you succeed academically, got you into the high school of your choice and prepared you with the study skills and discipline needed to succeed in college, and in life. Share the story of your faith and invite others to be touched by God’s grace. Our shared responsibility is to our children and to our Church. Your experience with Catholic education makes you an apostle, a bearer of the good news, a person of hope. As you reflect on the gift of a Catholic education that you have received, I ask you to consider sharing that gift with the students of the future, who will lead our world and lead our Church. Whenever you have the time, please visit our schools where you will see faith and learning in action, each and every day. May God bless each DR. KATHLEEN of you and the work WALSH you do for the good of is superintendent of schools, our students and the Diocese of future of our Church.

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EAST END HOLY HOUR FOR YOUNG ADULTS

In the first prayer service of its kind at St. John the Evangelist Church in Center Moriches, a Holy Hour designed for worshippers in their late teens and young adults was celebrated at the parish on Dec. 1.

YOUR COMMUNITY LOCAL NEWS STORY AND PHOTOS BY G R EG O RY SHEMITZ

Father Michael Plona, a first-year priest and a member of the parish’s pastoral staff, planned the service, which was held in the parish auditorium and drew about 50 participants of various ages. “I wanted to gather young people around the Lord,” explained Father Plona, who presided at the Holy Hour. “There hasn’t been something like this out here. Hopefully, it will be the start of something beautiful and will keep growing.” Paul Clores, the parish’s seminarianin-residence, assisted Father Plona at eucharistic adoration while St. John’s pastor, Father John Sureau, administered the sacrament of reconciliation in the adjoining school building. Fathers Edward Sheridan and John Wachowicz of St. Rosalie Church in Hampton Bays were also present to hear confessions. After the service, participants were treated to hot chocolate, pastries and cookies at an outdoor reception prepared by parish Business Manager Katie Waller. Father Plona said the next Holy Hour will likely take place in February.

O FFI C I AL NOTI C E Rockville Centre — Dr. Kathleen Walsh, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools, is recognized as the official with authority to respond to Revenue Procedure (7550) which was published in the Internal Revenue bulletin dated Dec. 8, 1975. In conformity with the IRS regulation, notice is hereby given that the schools of the Diocese of Rockville Centre admit students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the schools and that the schools do not discriminate on the basis of race in administration of their education policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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