Reunion Wrap-up

Nearly 225 Stanners attended the Mass of Remembrance and close to 400 people packed the Curran Gymnasium last Saturday evening at the reunion for classes graduating in years ending in a 3 or 8. The Silver Anniversary Class of 1983 won the honor of a private cocktail party in the Murphy Library with more than 60 class members and additional guests attending the party that night. Jim Lynch and his team of researchers found updated addresses and e-mail addresses for nearly every member of their class. From the numbers of e-mails that have passed back and forth since Saturday, those that came had a great time and those that couldn’t make it realized they missed out on a great gathering of friends.

The Pipe Band escorted everyone into the Curran Gym and Brother Pat Hogan led us in prayer as we started the party. You can see a ton of pictures on our web-site in the online gallery.

As we de-briefed the evening, we learned a valuable lesson about running a successful reunion. It takes a committee from each class to bring the various groups together. Sports, SAC, Sodality, or any other “group” that formed while here at Molloy. And so, we ask the classes graduating in years ending in a 4 or 9 to step up as we recruit class captains for next year’s reunions… it takes about six months to get one of these parties off the ground. Please e-mail me at cflood@molloyhs.org if you are interested in becoming a leader once again.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Thanksgiving Liturgy — Open House — November 26th

Our annual Thanksgiving Liturgy is just around the corner. It will be held Wednesday, November 26th at 8:00 AM. The Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Administration and Faculty of Molloy invite you back to participate in the Liturgy and visit your former teachers. You will be allowed upstairs immediately following the Mass in the Curran Gym. Please be respectful of the school policy for this event. When a classroom door is closed or a “no visitors” sign is posted that you do not disturb that class and teacher. It’s not that the teacher’s do not want to visit with you but that they are attempting to complete an assignment or lesson prior to the holiday.

If you would like to have a light breakfast in the cafeteria that morning, Stanner Alumni Association vouchers will be available for any visiting Alumni completing a Stanner Alumni Association registration Update Form that morning. Just hand it to any Office of Advancement staff member and you will be given a “Welcome Home” breakfast voucher.

Veteran’s Day Thoughts — Tuesday, November 11th 2008

As we approach Veteran’s Day 2008 let’s keep in mind those who have served and continue to serve here and overseas. We received the following note and picture of Carmine Naccarellli ’80 forwarded by Brother Pat Hogan via James Bermudez and another friend, John. According to the note, Carmine just went over to Iraq. He joins Frank Tedeschi ’83 who is in Afghanistan on a military assignment and also involved in some humanitarian work soliciting school supplies for future generations of Afghan children. Frank is working on getting a list of supplies together. We hope to support him in this mission work in the near future. His guiding thought is, “With literacy at the rate it is here, this is probably the best way to give this next generation a chance at a better life”.

We found out at the reunion that Paul Bailey ’83 is also in training or en route to Iraq. This year we added two additional pictures to our cafeteria display of notable Alumni. Kristen Connor and Sarah Kuehl both recent graduates of the Naval Academy are on military assignments in Florida and on the high seas. We know that there are many, many more Stanners in the military and to them and all who serve our country let us ask God’s blessing. Our prayer is that they return safely to their loved ones when their work is done.

If you know of any Stanners serving in the military, please send a picture and story to me at: cflood@molloyhs.org and I will post it on our site in the Veteran’s Community section.

Mike McCleary’s Sports Update

• Boys Varsity Soccer is in State Playoffs today.
• The semifinals are tonight 5:30 PM vs. Iona Prep @ Adelphi University and Finals are on Sunday.
• Girls Varsity Volleyball is in the state playoffs on Saturday 11/8 at Spellman HS Pool. Play begins at 10:00 AM.
• Cross-Country Intersectionals are on Sat 11/8 at Vancortland Park.
• The swimming season is just beginning.

Soccer Update!

A Molloy Soccer Reunion has been scheduled for Friday, November 28th, 2008 at Francis Lewis High School. (Utopia Parkway, Fresh Meadows) Warm-up time is scheduled for 11:00 AM and the Game starts promptly at 11:30 am . If you are interested in this game and reunion, please contact Coach Kostel at jassd@verizon.net.

DIRECTIONS

1. Throgs Neck Bridge onto Clearview Expressway
2. To Long Island Expressway West (495)
3. To exit for Utopia Parkway
4. Turn right onto Utopia Parkway (north).
5. Francis Lewis High School is on your left.
6. Turn left before the school. The field is at the back of the school.

Around the School

Mike Germano’s Campus Ministry Update

Our Right-to-Life club focused on Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. From wearing ribbons, to raising money through our first bake sale in quite some time, we were able to educate the student body and raise $1000. in the process. All funds went to breast cancer research.

Our annual Coat Drive is underway. Last year we saw a record number of coats (620) and we hope to do even better this year. We accept brand new and slightly used coats. The last day for our coat drive is November 17th.

The Operation Christmas Child program is also going on— (this is where we ask the whole Molloy community to make care packages for children around the world). Anyone is invited to make a package. Please feel free to check online @ www.samaritanspurse.org if you need more information about this wonderful project.

Our Annual Toy Drive will begin December 1st. Sponsor-a-child forms will go out to students in homeroom on that day. The form has the name, gender and age of a child to buy a toy for. Additional forms will always be available in the general office or Campus Ministry office. Please note that a form is not needed- anyone can buy a new toy and bring it to the school. Please, no used toys will be accepted. Toys will be donated to the Briarwood Shelter, Catholic Charities, St. John’s Bread and Life, Heart Share and local parishes/hospitals. With the help of the incredible generosity of our Molloy community, we hope to surpass 2007’s record total of 1610 toys.

Mr. Harrison’s Students Debate Foreign Policy

Election eve at Molloy brought three sets of students together to spend part of the afternoon debating foreign policy issues based on three points of view. Republicans, Democrats and Independents all did an admirable job of identifying the many challenges facing the new administration. Though they will not be at the policy table, they presented an interesting defense of their candidates positions.

Faculty Spotlight - Brother James Vagan

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brother James Vagan. Generally quiet and reserved, I found him to be most willing to share his story. He grew up in Bayonne, NJ. His mom and dad were next door neighbors as they grew up. After a while, they fell in love and eventually married.

He attended public elementary school and then went on to Marist High School in Bayonne. While there he had a Spanish teacher who asked him what he wanted to do with his life and they started a dialog about becoming a teacher. He then asked him if he had given any thought to becoming a Marist brother. That thought stayed with him and after serious discernment he decided to make the commitment. We discussed his decision to become a brother and he spoke about his love of teaching and the schools and students he has served.

After Bayonne he attended Lafayette College in Easton, PA where he ran on the track team. He was county champion in the two mile run in H.S., and served as Captain of the Cross Country team at Lafayette. Brother graduated with a dual major in Spanish and History. Throughout his career he has only taught one History class. The remainder of his career has been spent teaching Spanish. He taught at Roselle Catholic for eight years, and saw changes there when in his final year, they went co-ed. In fact, it seems that wherever he has taught they eventually became co-ed institutions. After Roselle, he spent a year at the Instituto Hidalguense in Pachuca, Hidalgo ( Mexico). He took an instant liking to Mexico and loved the teaching assignment there. While there the Provincial called him and re-assigned him to work as a simultaneous translator for the Marist Order in Rome. He spent about four months there and in his spare time he read every Agatha Christie novel (that’s all that was available at the time), and worked translating some of Marcellin Champagnat’s writings into Spanish.

When he is not teaching, Brother James spends a good deal of time organizing the book store and keeping that part of the school running efficiently. When he came to Molloy 23 years ago he recalls sitting with Coach Curran in the faculty dining room one day. After some sports talk the coach asked him if he would consider becoming an assistant basketball coach. He declined that offer whereupon Coach asked him to become his first assistant baseball coach. And the rest, as they say is history. His other favorite pastime is working at Camp Marist in New Hampshire. He works as a Red Cross and Canoeing instructor on the waterfront staff. His work with the international campers has been a big part of his life and one he looks forward to each summer.

As he looks into the future, he sees continued good things for Molloy. He likes the fact that Molloy is now a co-ed institution. He claims it “brings out the best in the boys”. In today’s world it is good to know that the feeling for this school has been a constant through-line for our alumni. He likes the idea that they consider Molloy home. It has always been a safe place to grow and become the best you can be. He appreciates the fact that our students continue to strive for both academic and athletic excellence.

St. Ann’s Corner — 1948 and 1958 Reunions!

There were about 25 members from the St. Ann’s years at the reunion last weekend. Both the 60th and 50th Anniversary classes received their 50th anniversary medallions. Monsignor Thomas Healy ’58 and Deacon George Logan ’58 were celebrants at the Mass. Based on the pictures, everyone had a good time. See the pictures posted in the online gallery.

Non Scholae — Sed Vitae

Dan Mc Grath ’01 ran 25th in the New York City Marathon. The picture is from the NYC Marathon a couple of years ago. The morning after the reunion some Stanners did not sleep in. Dan Mc Grath, former Captain of the Track Team here at Molloy put in a time of - 2 Hours, 23 Minutes, and 4 Seconds. A few years his senior — his brother Shaun’97 clocked in at number 163 with a time of 2 Hours, 41 Minutes and 47 Seconds.

Ad Gentes — Marist Mission Drive

Every Marist school has been asked to support the Ad Gentes project, a fund to support 100 Marist Missionaries in Asia. Our goal is to try and reach $10,000, which is the cost of sponsoring one Marist Brother for a year in Asia.

So far, we have received a donation of $1,000 from Mr. Jim Faro ’70, an alumnus who donated a portion of the ticket sales to his local Halloween Fright house — Blood Manor. We have also received almost $100 from the faculty and staff. Please keep our students in your prayers as they continue to raise funds in support of this most important work.

Richard Avolanti and Jason Del Pilar from the class of 2007 stopped in to visit some of their favorite teachers and to look into the possibility of securing an internship in Accounting this summer. We began our search immediately and will hopefully have these two Stanners placed in mid-sized firms this summer as they transition into their third year at St. John’s University. It is never too early to start your career development plan, and the Alumni Office has 20,000 + leads in our data base. If your accounting firm is looking for capable student interns, please call our office and we will make the connections.