Tick-tock, Tick-tock! Where did the year go?

Academic

The textbooks have been turned in, the last class day will be on Monday, the seniors have left the building and tests begin in earnest on Tuesday. Watching the students in extra study sessions, preparing for the “conversational” parts of their exams, and planning their summer schedules has brought back vivid memories from 40 years ago. Some good memories and one memory of summer school in particular. As our students prepare for their regents exams next week let us make the commitment to take a moment each day to ask for God’s grace that they will remember what they have been taught and be calm enough to let their best work come out.

Sports

All is very quiet on this front. I have seen some interesting sporting events in the various Gym classes this week. Mr. Rodgers has invented a number of ways to entertain the troops and help them to blow off a little pressure as they study for tests… one in particular comes to mind; Extreme Dodgeball — no center line in this game — it’s an all out 360° assault game. Fun to watch…

Spiritual

Mass is celebrated each morning in the chapel. Attendance varies, and it gives me cause to pause about the wide variety of things that are on the minds of our students, staff, and alumni who attend these masses. Whatever the reason, I know that it is intensely important to keep this part of our spiritual life available to our community. Prayers of concern, thanksgiving and the simple comfort of knowing that God is part of our day here become evident in the Peace that comes from the prayers of those in attendance.

As we close out this year, I have made a commitment to follow the lives of two Stanners who are starting the vocational discernment process. One is a Jim Shelton ’00 who has begun preparation for the Priesthood. Jim stopped by the other day to talk about the next five years of study and what that process looks like. It was a fascinating two hours. Another Stanner has started the journey to become a Marist Brother. This is the first novice in many years, and as these two men set out on their journey we will follow their footsteps and make the commitment to support them with our prayers.

John Sherry ’61 presents Jim Shelton ’00 with a Stanner Alumni hat. (photo: Tom Harrison)

Breaking News!

John Diorio enters Cyber Space…

Yes, it is true. Mr. “D” is wired… I believe these three pictures tell it all.

Photos: Tom Harrison

What this means to the academic life at Molloy is that Mr. Diorio’s days of saying things like - “yeah, computer, I know about those… Oh, Teresa!”. And, “So, How do I get my grades from this piece of paper into this screen…” are over! And, no, hell did not freeze over — but it might explain global warming.

Photo: Charlie Flood

Class of 1998 — Einstein Machado stopped in to find out about the reunions for his class… all classes ending in 8’s and 3’s should mark November 1st on their calendar for this grand event. Einstein will serve as class chair for this group and will perform on stage that night… check his video out on Google Video — type in Einstein Machado and watch this guy work the crowd… He is with Univision 41 in sales and works the circuit at night… he can be reached at einsteinmachado@yahoo.com.

Class of 1975 — Tom Smith stopped in the other day while making sales calls in the area… he works for Dellon Sales as a manufacturers rep selling plumbing supplies. Life must be treating him well and might I say he looked great in his new Stanner Alumni cap.