Christian Brothers Today

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America Province

Spring 2018 u Vol. 24 u No. 14

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SCHOOL LEADERS MEETING MARCH 19 - 23, 2018

O’DEA HIGH SCHOOL, SEATTLE, WA

During the week of March 19, 2018, presidents, principals, board chairs,provinceleadershipteammembersandpresentersgatheredatO’DeaHighSchoolinSeattle,WAfortheannualSchoolLeadersMeetingoftheERCBNAconsortium of schools. The meeting was organized by the Office ofEducationalServices.AccommodationswereattheSilverCloudBroadwayHotelwhereeachguestreceiveda“swag”boxofitemsthatfeaturedlocalbusinessesandfoods.The meeting began on Monday evening with a welcome reception wherePrincipalJimWalkergreetedeveryoneandensuredthegroupwaswell-takencareof.Afterprayeron Tuesday morning Mary Foley of Christian Brothers Services gave the keynote address onEnrollmentManagementandMarketing. Student toursof theschool followed lunchand intheafternoonBrotherKevinGriffith,ProvinceLeader,gaveaprovinceupdate,andMaureenKiers,AssociateDirectoroftheOfficeofEducationalServices(OES),gaveanupdateonOESactivitiesandtheneededsupportofitsprogramsandservices.FollowingthatthepresidentsandboardchairsattendedaGovernanceupdatebyBrotherThomasMurphy,DirectorofGovernance forOES. ApresentationonChristianBrotherSupportandtheannualappealbyMr.DonChapin,Chairmanofthe Board of Palma School, and Colleen Noonan, Director of Edmund Rice Christian BrothersFoundation,followed.PrincipalsattendedameetingofapresentationbyMr.CamSylvesteronLattitudeGlobalLearningandparticipatedinadiscussiononchallengingteacherstokeepfresh.ThiswasledbyMr.TomBeatty (Catholic Memorial), Mr. Johnny Bevacqua (Vancouver College), Mr. Jim Muting (St.Laurence)andMr.DavidSullivan(Palma).ThateveningdinnerwasheldatSalty’sonAlkiwheretheviewofthecityofSeattlewasspectacular.Mr.JimAntos,retiringprincipalofBr.Rice,Chicago,washonoredforhiscontributionstotheschoolandhisdedicationtothecharismoftheChristianBrothers.

OnWednesdaymorningBrotherTimSmyth,MissionFrèreEdmundRiceYoungAdultMinistry,led a reflection on the Essential Elements, pairing each one with a section of the CatholicCatechism.Mr.BrianGarroneofEdmundRiceEducationAustraliathengaveapresentationonEdmundRiceEducationBeyondBordersandshowedallthatisbeingdonearoundtheworldtopromotetheEdmundRiceschoolsandthecharismoftheChristianBrothers.LaterinthemorningthegroupattendedMasswiththeO’DeacommunityatSt.JamesCathedral.Afterlunchtherewastheopportunitytoattendtwoofthesixroundtablediscussionsbeingoffered. Reportsfromallgroupsfollowed.DinnerthateveningwashostedbytheschoolattheArchdiocesanOrrCenter.

AfterprayeronThursdayeachoftheschoolleadershadthechancetorespondtothequestion“WhatAreWeDoingRight?” Theleaderssharedtheirsuccesses,andeveryoneagreedthatthesharingwasagreatexerciseinkeepingothersinformedaboutwhatwashappeninginthedifferentschools.Themeetingendedthatmorning,withtheafternoonlefttoseeSeattleortomeetwithdonorsoralumsfromthearea.

ThenextmeetingoftheschoolleaderswilltakeplaceattheannualretreatfromOctober09–12,2018attheQCenterinSt.CharlesIL.The2019SchoolLeadersMeetingwillbehostedbyIonaPreparatorySchoolinNewRochelle,NYfromApril08–11,2019.

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There are a number of photos available from this meeting; and, they can be accessed athttps://photos.app.goo.gl/YcGGbm7jhMwMp7g33Schoolsrepresentedattheconferencewere:

FromtheUnitedStates:AllHallowsHighSchool,Bronx,NY BishopKearney,Rochester,NY

IonaPreparatorySchool,NewRochelle,NY BergenCatholic,Oradell,NJ

Br.RiceHighSchool,BloomfieldHills,MI Br.RiceHighSchool,Chicago,ILSt.LaurenceHighSchool,Burbank,IL CatholicMemorialSchool,WestRoxbury,MA

TampaCatholicHighSchool,Tampa,FL DamienMemorialSchool,Honolulu,HI

O’DeaHighSchool,Seattle,WA PalmaSchool,Salinas,CASt.Patrick-St.VincentHighSchool,Vallejo,CA

FromCanada:St.ThomasMoreCollegiate,Burnaby,BC VancouverCollege,Vancouver,BC

FromSouthAmerica:

ColegioCardenalNewman,BuenosAires,Argentina ColegioStellaMaris,Montevideo,Uruguay

Check out our new website www.ercbna.org

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ThoseWhoServe:BrotherPatrickMcCormack,CFCEducatorhonoredfor75yearsofreligiouslife

ByROSEYBARRATheValleyCatholic

ThecongregationattheMassforWorldDayforConsecratedLifeeruptedwithaloudchorusof,“wows”whenitwasannouncedBrotherPatrickD.McCormackoftheCongregationofChristianBrotherswascelebrating75yearsofreligiouslife.ThecongregationjumpedtoitsfeetandapplaudedasaspritelyBrotherMcCormack,92,walkeduptothealtaroftheBasilicaofOurLadyofSanJuandelValle-NationalShrinetoacceptacrucifixandcongratulationsfromBishopDanielE.FloresandAuxiliaryBishop-electMarioA.AvilesattheFeb.4Mass.

BrotherMcCormacksaidhewashumbledbythereactionofthepeopleandadmittedhetooisindisbeliefthatithasbeen75yearssincehe,atjust17-years-old,hoppedatrainfromhishometownofButte,MontanatoWestPark,NewYorktojointheCongregationofChristianBrothers,whosecharismistheChristianeducationofyouth.

Brother Patrick McCormack, CFC with Bishop Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, TX (on his left) and Bishop Mario Alberto Aviles, C.O, auxiliary Bishop of Brownsville (on his right).

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“I’mstillamazedthatIhavethisvocationandthatGodhasblessedmesorichly,”hesaid.BrotherMcCormacksaiditwasGodandthewitnessoftheChristianBrothers,whooperatedthehighschoolheattended,thatfosteredhisvocation.“Iwasreallyimpressedbythebrothersandlikedbeingaroundthem,”hesaid.“Theypositivelyimpactedgenerationsofstudentsinmyhometown.

“Weoftenhaveformerstudentstellusthatthebrothersmadeabigdifferenceintheirlives,notonlyinButtebutinalltheplacesweserve.”BrotherMcCormack’sparents,whowerebothIrishimmigrants,metonablinddatearrangedbyamutualIrishfriend.Theymarriedandhadsixchildren.Hewasafreshmaninhighschoolwhenhisfatherdiedfromawork-relatedillnessborneoutofyearsworkinginthecoppermines.BrotherMcCormackandhissiblingsbandedtogethertohelptheirmotherwithexpensesandhouseholdduties.

Thoughhelefthomeat17,hehasremainedcloseto this family. His nieces and nephews areplanningacelebrationforhis75thanniversaryinMontana, which will be held in June.BrotherMcCormackdedicatedhisministryasareligiousbrothertoCatholicschooleducation.Heserved in high schools in Vancouver, Canada;Illinois,Montana,Hawai’iandWashingtonstate.HetaughtEnglish,religion, typingandbusinessclassesandlaterservedasaschoolprincipal.Hewas also an advisor for many extracurricularactivities, including band and the schoolnewspaper.Today, BrotherMcCormack lives in community

withBrotherArthurWilliams,ateacheratGuadalupeRegionalMiddleSchoolinBrownsvilleandBrotherRossWielatz,acounseloratCatholicCharitiesoftheRioGrandeValleyattheoldrectoryofOurLadyofGuadalupeParishinBrownsville.

ThoughBrotherMcCormack is retired, he volunteers at GuadalupeRegionalMiddleSchoolonoccasion, especiallyonMassdaysand iswellknownandbelovedby the students, saidLupitaAlvarado,principaloftheschool.Healsoenjoyscheeringonthevarioussportsteamsatathleticevents.“Heisfullofenergyandhassuchapositiveattitude,”shesaid.“He’saninspirationtousall.”

BrotherWielatzcreditsBrotherMcCormack’slongevitytoAdorationandstayingactive.BrotherMcCormackspendstwohoursatthegymandatleastonehourbeforetheBlessedSacramenteveryday.“He isvery faithful to thespiritof thevowand the spiritof community life andprayers,” saidBrother Wielatz, who was a student at Leo Catholic High School in Chicago when he firstencounteredBrotherMcCormack,ateacherthereatthetime.“Heisupbeatandcheerfulandajoytobewith.Hisprayerlifeandpositiveattitudehavenodoubtcontributedtohisgoodhealth.”BrotherMcCormacksaidservinginCatholicschoolshasbeenatrueblessinginhislife.

Bishop Flores (left) and Brother McCormack

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“Thefaithchangesthewholeatmosphereofaschool,”hesaid.“AtCatholicschool,webegineachdaywithprayeroverthePAsystem.Wepraybeforethegameandafterthegameandthefanspraywithus.Thefaithispartofeverythingwedo.

“It’sawonderfullife.”

Mission Frère

East Harlem – The Brothers of East Harlem have recently extendedhospitalitytolocalgroupsandindividuals.

The first was a celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day when the Brothers hostedfifteen localministers of various denominations for an untraditional lasagnadinnerwithBrotherBenMcDonoughservingasheadchef.OnanotheroccasiontheBrothersinvitedthepriestsofSaintCecilia’sParishfordinner.ThepriestsaremembersoftheApostlesofJesuswhosemembersserveinanumberofcountriesofAfricaandSouthAmerica.DuringdinneroneofthepriestsexpressedthathehadworkedwithChristianBrothersinTanzaniaandwassurprisedtolearnthatwewereofthesamecongregation.Smallworld!

ThethirdinvitationhasbeenextendedtotwovolunteerswhowillbecomingtoministertotheelderlyintheneighborhoodthroughtheChurchofLivingHopeon104thStreet.ChrisandNaomiLawrenceweregratefulthatweareabletoprovidehousingfortheirsummervolunteerswithoutthetypical“Manhattan”pricetag.BrotherJohnCaseycontinuestoreachouttolocalparishionersthroughhisinvolvementintheprayer group at Saint Francis DeSales Parish and Brother Eugenio DeLorenzo maintains hispositionasProvinceArchivisttravelingbetweenEastHarlemandNewRochellemostdaysoftheweek.YoungAdults–BrotherTimSmythhasbeenontheroadquiteabitinthelastfewmonths.Asa member of the Office of Educational Services he assisted Maureen Kiers with the CampusMinistersRetreatandtheSchoolLeadersMeetingduringMarch.BotheventsprovidedTimtheopportunitytomeetwithschoolpersonnelwhoprovideconnectionstocurrentstudentsaswellasrecentgraduateswhoarethetargetsofhisministry.Earlier in the year Tim visited Cardinal Hayes High School, Iona Prep, Tampa Catholic, SaintThomas More, Vancouver College, and Jericho House joining in on panels and makingpresentationsinvariousvenuestoelementaryandhighschoolstudents.As calendars are developed for the next school year, Tim hopes to develop summer serviceprograms forourhighschool students in thesummerof2019. Brownsville,EastHarlem,andJerichoHousearebeingconsideredaspossiblesitesfortheseprojects.TimhasalsobeenattendingsomelocalandregionalmeetingsofVocationDirectorsandCampusMinistersinanattempttolearntheropesindealingwiththeMillennialandsubsequentgeneration(iGen).Hesayshe’slearninghowdifferentcohortsusesocialmediadifferentlyandistryingtobecomeasfluentinTwitterasPresidentTrumphasbecome.

Br. Tim Smyth

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NINETY-EIGHTANDHOLDING(BrotherJ.B.Darcy'sBirthday-March3,2018)

OnSaturday,March03,201BrotherJosephBertrandDarcycelebratedhis98thbirthdayatMt.St.FrancisinSt.John’s,Newfoundland.Bertwasinfineform and had two days of celebrations. On Saturday, the AlumniAssociationofSt.Bonaventure’sCollegetreatedBertandthecommunitytoalunchatMt.St.Francis.ThePresidentofSt.Bonaventure’sandtwootherstaffmembersassociatedwiththeAlumniAssociationattended,aswellasten“oldboys”,alumnifromthedayswhenSt.Bon’swasaBrothers’school.Therewasmuchrememberingofdaysoflongago.

OnSunday,thecommunityhostedBert’sfamily(hisbrotherandhisfamily)toabirthdaydinner.

(l to r) Father Bill Brown, SJ, Br. Bert Darcy, Br. Raph Bellows Preparingtocutthecake.

(ltor)AnnBowen(niece)HarryBowen,Dr.JimDarcy(brother)Br.Darcy,Br.Bellows,IrisDarcy,Dr.SteveDarcy(nephew).

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WiththeSt.Bonaventure’sCollegeAlumni:Itwasagreatweekend,celebratingthelonglifeofouroldestBrotherintheCongregation.Andtheweekendwouldnothavebeencompletewithoutanoriginalpoem fromour residentPoetLaureate.

WhatcanwesayAboutBerttoday,ExceptthatitlooksLikehe'sheretostay?

ExceptforhisbackWhichisalloutofwhack,TherestofhimseemsImmunefromattack.

Whenhehitsahundred,Thosewhoarestillhere,

Rejoicewithhimandcelebrate,Andhaveanotherbeer.

WethankBertfortheexampleOfthereligiouslifehe'sled,

Heisfaithfultohisdailyprayers,Buthecan'tmakehisbed.

Butlet'snot'wait,He'sninety-eight,It'stimeforusTocelebrate.

E.B.Wakeham,CFC(2018.03.03)

Seated(ltor)Br.HarryFrench,Fr.BillBrown,SJ,Br.BertDarcy,Br.RaphBellows,Mr.TomMcGrath,PresidentofSt.Bon’s,andDermWhelanStanding(ltor)Br.GeorgeFitzpatrick,SteveJackman,GaryWalsh,DaveJackman(AlumnicommitteeChair),GerryPuddister,GrahamWakeham,Br.BoscoWakeham,BrianKennedy,RonO’Brien,Br.DaveMurphy,JessicaWhelan(St.Bon’sAlumniAffairsOfficer)

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CardinalHayesHighSchoolBronx,NY

The Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSA) inductedsevenmembersintoitsHallofFameatthe33rdannualCHSAAGolfOutingandHallofFameDinneratInwoodCountryClubinNassauCountyThursday,May10.The 2018 Hall of Fame class includes John Brennan, St. FrancisPrep, Fresh Meadows, Queens, tennis; James Hughes, MooreCatholic High School, Staten Island, track and field; VinnyLeonardo, Archbishop Molloy, Briarwood, Queens, bowling andhandball;BrotherWilliamSherlog,C.F.C.,CardinalHayesHighSchool, the Bronx, and the former Rice High School, Harlem,baseball;AlanWharton,CHSAAsoccerreferee;MaryScott,CHSAAtrack official; and Maurice Hicks, Rice and Msgr. Scanlan HighSchool,theBronx,basketball.Hicks,whoplayedatRice,returnedtoRicetocoachfor16seasons,compilingarecordof352-86andwinningfivestatechampionships.BrotherSherlogcoachesbaseballandteachesatCardinalHayes,andformerlycoachedbaseballandservedasathleticdirectoratRice.HugheshascoachedtrackandcrosscountryatMooreCatholicsince1977.Ms.ScottwasaCHSAAtrackmeetorganizerandadministrator formorethan20yearsbeforeherdeath inMarch.Whartonwasa longtimesoccerrefereewhoalsoassignedofficialsforCHSAAmatches.

Br. Sherlog addressed students at Cardinal Hayes HS

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GuadalupeRegionalMiddleSchoolBrownsville,Texas

MarchforLife:StudentsAgainstGunViolence

ByBrotherArthurWilliams,CFC

UponhearingthenewsofthedeathsatMarjoryDouglasHighSchoolinParklandFlorida,Iandseveralofmycolleaguesdiscussedhowweandourstudentsmightrespondasaschool to thistragedy.EncouragedbyaletterbyBr.KevinGriffithandouradministrationwebegantoplanamarchinprotesttogunviolenceandsupportforthevictimsandtheirfamilies.Usingthisasour focalpoint, ideasbegantotake form.Wewere facedwithseveralschedulingchallenges:springbreak,afieldtripforoureighth-graders,andIowastandardizedtesting.Thislimitedourschedulingoptions.TimebecamepreciouswithApril6thbecomingsetasourtargetdate.Thiswasalsoadaywehadpreviouslyscheduledforourannualserviceday.Inlinewithourfocus,wepreparedmaterialstohonorandnamevictimsofColumbineHighSchool,SandyHookElementary,and,ofcourse,MarjoryDouglasHighSchool.Wewishedtoalsohonorthemanyun-namedchildrenwhohavealsobeenvictimsofgunviolenceinschoolssinceColumbine.

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We did notwish tomerely give studentsthe opportunity to ‘walk out of class’ inprotest.Ourplaninsteadinvolvedseveralactivities. As GRMS has a House System,our House groups in their normallyscheduled meeting times, Edmundians,Matel,andChampagnat,preparedpostersandbannersintheweeksleadinguptoourtargetdate.Eachstudentpreparedasmallposter with the name of a victim, whichthey wore during our march. Reflectionswere prepared by our seventh-gradestudents in their Social Studies class.

StudentsalsohadtimetoreflectandlearnaboutthepurposeofthedayinourHousemeetings.Our day began with students assembling in ourcafeteria.Seventh-graderswereselectedtobegintheday presenting their reflections before the studentbody. Following this, we formed into our Housegroups, each with their posters and banners. Eachstudentworetheposterwiththenameofoneofthevictims throughout the walk. Faculty members andparentswhoaccompaniedusworeaposterwiththesymbol“?”torepresentun-namedvictims.Accompaniedbyapoliceescort,webeganourwalkthrough parts of downtown Brownsville. Our stopsincluded the Federal CourtHouse, CameronCountyCourt House, and the Cathedral of the ImmaculateConception.Westoppedoutsidethecathedraltopraya decade of the Rosary and for prayerful, silentreflection. After about tenminuteswe leftwith ourpolice and returned back to the school for a shortwaterbreak.Aftera short restweconvenedatourparishchurch,OurLadyofGuadalupe,for a short memorial service. OurHouseCaptainsreadseveralpreparedstatements. They then began ameditative reading of the names ofvictims from Columbine, Sandy Hook,andMarjoryDouglas.We also pausedtorememberthemanyotherchildrenvictims of gun violence whose liveswerecutshort.After a period of silent prayer, wereturnedtotheschoolcafeteriawherestudentshadtheopportunity towritereflections about themorning using a series of writing prompts thatwere prepared by somemembersofthestaff.

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AsCatholicswearecalledupontoprotectthesanctityoflife.AsaCatholicschoolwearecalledupontohelpstudentsdiscussimportantissuesanddevelopcriticalthinkingskills.Whilestudentsweregiventheoptiontonotparticipate,allstudentstookpartinconversationsandreflectionsleading

uptotheeventaboutgunviolence,thesanctityoflife,andotherimportantcurrenteventsrelatedtotheChurchandourcountry

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VancouverCollegeVancouver,BCCanada

BrownsvilleFaithinActionTripTheUSborderagentfrowned.

'Brownsville?Areyousure?Youreallydon'twannagothere...'Butwedid:fourteenofusrepresentingtheVCcommunityonourannualspringbreakoutreachtrip, connecting for the first time with Guadalupe Regional Middle School, an Edmund RiceChristianBrothersschoollocatedontheverytipofTexas.Whatwefaced,though-andwhatthecustomsofficialwasreferringto-wasthehot-buttonissueofimmigration,asBrownsvillesitsontheRioGrande, right across fromMatamoros, amuch larger citywith ahigh crime rate. TheBrownsvilleborderitselfisaconduitforrefugeesseekingasylumintheUSfrommainlyCentralAmericancountries.

Overthenexteightdays,whiletheirpeerssleptin,layonbeaches,orgenerallyrelaxed,ourboyspaintedandcleanedoutstoragesheds,tendedcommunitygardens,cookedandservedmeals,anddistributed clothing, all in aid of refugees and other 'undocumented' immigrants. However,although therewas a plethora of physical tasks, themost impactful experiences for our boysoccurredwhenthey interacteddirectlywiththesemarginalizedpeople. Thetwomost intenseopportunitiesforthesewereatSacredShelterinMcAllen,Texas,andatLaPosadaProvidenciainnearbySanBenito. AtSacredHeart,ourboyswelcomedasylumseekersarriving fromseveralharrowingweeksormonthsoflivinginfearandharassmentontheroad.Theyfed,clothed,andprovided showers for folks from newborn tomiddle age, butmost importantly, treated thesebeatendownpeoplewithdignity,playingwith the childrenandsharingawelcoming smileorsimpleSpanishphrasewiththeolderones.AtLaPosada,theboysspentthedayteachingEnglish

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onaone-on-onebasis.Here,again,thesimpletaskofpracticingthealphabetquicklyturnedintowitnessingastoundingpersonalstoriesofhardshipfortheselonger-termrefugeesfromasdiverseculturesastheCongo,Cuba,andtheUkraine.Whatimpressedmemostofallonthistripwasnothowhardourboysworkedorhowopentheirheartsweretothesedowntrodden(thoughbothofthesewerehighlyimpressiveaswell!),buthowtheystruggleddeeplywiththeshockingrealitiestheywerefacing.Thelongandintenseworkdaysinevitablyturnedintodeepandinvolveddiscussionsthatoftenlasteduntilmidnight.Iwatchedasourboysgrappledwiththecomplexissuesofimmigrationafterhavingwitnessedthepersonaland tragic stories of the victims caught in an unjust system exacerbated by politicalgamesmanship. Their global outlook went from ignorance to oversimplification to genuineempathyandoutrightrageoverthecourseofafewdaysofactionandreflection.Theyfounditdifficulttoacceptthattheycouldnotsolvetheproblemstheyencounteredbutwereultimatelyempoweredinunderstandingtheirmissiontowitnessandadvocate,trulybethevoiceforthesevoicelessastheyreturntoourlivesofprivilege.Iencourageyoutoreadmoreaboutoneyoungman'sexperiencesinBrownsvilleandhisstoryofadvocacyhere.Inmymind,thesekindsoftransformativeexperiencesintheserviceofotherarethe true capstones on a VC education. Encourage your sons to get involved early with ourrelationshipswithBrownsvilleandPeruand look forwardtomoreof theseexperiencesasweconnectfurtherwithourglobalEdmundRicenetworkintheyearsahead.TheultimateexpressionofourBetterManaspirationsliesintheseopportunitiesasweequipourboyswiththeawareness,skills,andfaith,totrulymakeadifferenceinourworld.

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FromGrade12studentStephenZelis:"Over the course of our seven days inBrownsville, we served at GuadalupeRegional Middle School, helped atimmigration centres, worked with alocal parish and community,participated in the communitygardenprogram, and celebrated Mass.Throughoutthetrip,weconstantlyhadthe opportunity to put ourselves insolidaritywiththepoorandtolistentotheir stories. By connecting with thepeopleonapersonallevel,wewereabletogetaglimpseintotheirlivesandtheimmensestrugglestheyfaceeveryday.

Itreallyfeltlikeweweremakinganimpactontheirlives.Althoughthetripisover,weknowthatthereisstillmuchworkneededinthisarea.OurtriptoBrownsvillewasthefirststepthatopenedoureyestothemanyissueswithimmigrationtoday.Wearesogratefulforthisexperience,whichhaswidenedourperspectiveandhelpedusgrowemotionallyandspiritually."

ToorderemailRichardCarteratrcarter@cbfoundation.orgEdmundRiceChristianBrothersFoundation260WilmotRoad,NewRochelle,NY10804

Blessed Edmund Rice Prayer Cards

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St. Thomas More Collegiate

Burnaby, BC, Canada

Coach Steve De Lazzari Honoured at 15th Orange Helmet Awards

Congratulations to Coach Steve De Lazzari for being recognized as theScholastic Coach of the Year at the 15th Annual Orange HelmetAwards. The Orange Helmet Awards, awarded by the BC Lions of theCanadian Football League, celebrate the achievements of individualsinvolvedinamateurfootballinBritishColumbia.TheOrangeHelmetAwardsCommitteechoseCoachDeLazzaribasedonhis commitment and dedication to coaching amateur football. With thepassing of STMC head football coach Bernie Kully, Class of 1994, in

Septemberafterayear-longbattlewithcancer,CoachDeLazzaiguidedthepre-seasonunrankedVarsityfootballteamtoanundefeatedseasonuntilalossintheprovincialsemi-finals.TheOrangeHelmetAwardCommitteegenerouslybestowedagiftinCoachDeLazzari'snametotheSt.ThomasMooreKnightsFootballprogram.

Education Technology and New Website Updates Educationaltechnologyattheschoolhastakenagiantstepforwardthisyear.Amajorupgradeofcomputersystems inthe libraryprovidedagreatstart to theyear.Wecontinued inthe fallbyimplementingGoogle’sGSuiteforEducationasacorecomponentofouronlineblendedlearningpackage for improved student outcomes. Following on this successful development, wesignificantlyimprovedstudentaccess,byacquiringthreenewclassroomChromebooksets.Student applications and registrations are now fully online, bringingconvenienceandaccuracyaccesstotheseessentialschoolprocedures.Currently,weareworkingonamajornetworkupgradethatwillensurefast, reliable access to online resources. Report cards are also movingonline,toprovideeasy,archivedaccess.Forthe2018-19schoolyear,wewillbetakingeducationaltechnologytoanevenhigherlevelwiththeintroductionofour1:1Chromebookprogram.This exciting development will assign a Chromebook to every student,providing access to a wide range of collaborative learning tools andactivitiesineveryclass!Anotherexcitingdevelopmenttounfoldin timefor the2018-19schoolyearwillbetheimplementationofabrandnewSTMCWebsite!ThenewsiteisbeingdesignedbyaVancouverbasedITsolutionsfirm,andweareveryexcited.Thenewwebsiteiscurrentlyinthediscoveryphaseofitsbuild,soyoucanexpectmoreinformationandplentyofopportunitiestoprovideyourfeedbackandexperiencewiththecurrentsite,aswellassuggestionsforthenewone.

St.ThomasMore

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Workshops for girls in Science and Technology

15 female grade 10 students (sophomore) attended Simon FraserUniversity'sGirlsExploringPhysicsworkshoponMarch29thandgainedinsightintocareersinphysics,exploredtheTrottierobservatoryandhadtheopportunitytointeractwithfemalefacultymembersaboutexperiencesinscience.

BrotherRiceHighSchool

BloomfieldHills,MI

CONGRATULATIONSTOPAULRAAB‘18NATIONALMERITSCHOLARSHIPRECIPIENT

Co-Valedictorian Paul Raabcontinues to impress with his stellar academicexcellence, as he has been awarded a 2018 National Merit Scholarship!ScholarshipsawardedthroughtheNationalMeritprogramsareregardedassomeofthehighestacademichonorsattainablebyU.S.highschoolstudents.There are usually about 1.6 million nation-wide entrants per year, whicheventuallynarrowsdownto15,000Finalists.TheFinalistcandidatesjudgedto have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements,extracurricularaccomplishments,andpotentialforsuccessinrigorouscollegestudiesarethenselectedtowinscholarships.Approximately7,500winnersareawardedscholarships.Truly,thebestofthebest.

Paul,whograduatedwithacumulativeGPAof4.385,willbeattendingtheStephenM.RossSchoolofBusinessattheUniversityofMichiganinthefall.Ofhiscollegeselectionprocess,heshares,“Mygoalwas toget intoanexcellent school inorder toobtaina solid foundation for futurebusinessendeavors. It came down to making my final decision between Notre Dame and University ofMichiganRossSchoolofBusiness.”Ultimately,hechoseRossbecauseitwastherightfit,andtheyofferedthebestoverallpackage.Awell-roundedstudent,PaulhasmaintainedhisacademicperformancewhilealsoparticipatinginNationalHonorSociety,SpanishHonorSociety,VarsitySoccer,MarianRicePlayers,leadingtheBEAM&Rclubaspresident,runningasemi-professionalphotographybusiness,andvolunteeringinthecommunity.Onfindingbalance,heconveys,“Itrytousemytimeefficientlyandhavelearnedhowandwhattoprioritizeovertime.KnowinghowtomanageyourtimewiselyisakeyskillIlearnedatBrotherRiceandwilltakewithmetocollege.”

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Asgraduation festivitiescometoacloseandthepossibilitiesof the futurearewideopen,Paulstates,“Withoutadoubt,IwillmissthebrotherhoodfosteredinthehallsandclassroomsofBrotherRice.ThereisauniquespiritamongBrotherRice’scommunitythatisevidentinthewaystudentsinteractandthepassionourteachershavefortheirclasses.”

BrotherRiceHighSchool

Chicago,II

TheGreatestCrusader:Mr.JamesAntos For39years,Mr.JimAntoshasgivenhislifetotheyoungmenandfamiliesofBrotherRiceHighSchool Chicago. He has been principal, teacher, moderator, Kairos leader, and friend. Thisdocumentary, produced by the Brother Rice High School Broadcast Journalism Class, gives aglimpseintothelifeandcareerofMr.Antos.ArolemodeltoourentirecommunityastheepitomeofthecharismofBlessedEdmundRice,Mr.Antoswillretireafterthisschoolyear.Mr.Antosis,truly,theGreatestCrusader.ViewaninterviewwithMr.Antosathttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4IOghmaC7Y

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MonsignorFarrellHighSchoolStatenIsland,NY

Farrell&HillstudentslearnfromHarryConnickJr.,MegynKelly

ByCarolAnnBenantiStatenIslandAdvenceSTATENISLAND,N.Y.--It'snosecretMonsignorFarrellHighSchoolmediastudentshaverubbedelbowswithsometelevisionsuperstarsovertheyears.

AndeachtriparrangedbyWFBN-TVFounderandExecutiveProducer,BrotherPaulHannon,justkeepsgettingbetterandbetter.ButthistimeFarrellalsoinvitedSt.JosephHillAcademy,theirsisterschool,toaccompanythemintoManhattantotakein"TheHarryShow,"asinHarryConnickJr."'TheHarryShow'reallyallowedmetoexperiencelifebehindthecameraandtheworkthatgoesintoproducingandcreatingaliveshow,"saidChristieChahwan,ajunioratHill."Itwastrulyanunforgettableexperience".

Harry Connick Jr., center, smiles for the camera on the set of "The Harry Show" with students from Monsignor Farrell and St. Joseph Hill Academy High Schools. (Courtesy/Brother Paul Hannon)

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Afterward,bigwigsatCBSstudiowerekindenoughtogivestudentsaquicktour,wheretheysawtheirmulti-million-dollarcontrolroomandwherethelocaleveningnewsisfilmed."Itwasanamazingexperiencebeingabletoseehowprofessionalcrewsproduce,arrange,andairshowsonadailybasiswithnoroomforerror,perfectingeverycommercialbreak,setchange,andaudienceorganization,"saidKennyHarvey,seniorheadanchorofWFBN.

AN'IMPRACTICAL'RUN-IN

Bypureluck,Harrywasinterviewingthe"ImpracticalJokers,"allFarrellalums."[It]wasanunforgettableandinformativeexperience.Itwasinterestingtoseehowmuchworkgoesintotapingoneepisode,"saidJuliaLoCascio,aHillsenior."Anditwasabsolutelyastoundingtobeinthesameroomasthe'ImpracticalJokers.'"BeingonhisveryfirstWFBNtrip,DanielBilotto,anotherFarrellseniorco-anchoronthemorningshow,wasecstatictoexperienceaTVshowfirsthand:"Thiswasmyfirsttimebeinginamajorstudioanditgavemesomethingtoaspireto."

ThetriptranslatedintoavaluablelearningandeducationalexperienceforbothHillandFarrellhighschools.

MonsignorFarrellandSt.JosephHillHighSchoolstudentslistentoHarryConnickJr.onthesetof"TheHarryShow."(Courtesy/BrotherPaulHannon)

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ANDTHENTHEREWASMEGYNIt's always good news when Megyn Kelly, one of the highest paid news anchors, extends aninvitationtoFarrell'sWFBN-TVstudents,withanopportunitytoappearon"TodaywithMegynKelly"live."Beingabletoseewhatgoesonduringamajornetworkshowwasveryinspiring,"managerofFBN-TV'smobileproductionunit, JonathanGomez,noted,beforeadding: "It really showshowmucheffortandhardworkisneeded,bothinfrontofandbehindthecamera,foraproductiontobesuccessful."Megyntookquestionsfromstudentsandevenagreedtoposeforphotoops,beforeinvitingFarrellbroadcaststudentstoreturnforanothervisit.SeniorHeadAnchor,KennyHarveyhadthistosayabouttheexperience:

"TodaywithMegynKellyisarefreshingchangefromherpreviousjobasanewsanchoronFOX.Inamerehour,shewasabletoshowcasehertalents,deliverthedailynews,and,mostimportantly,entertain her audience. It was an amazing experience forme and the Farrell broadcasters towitnessashowofthatcaliber."AfterspeakingwithMegyn,thegroupwasgivenaprivatetouroftheNBCproductionfacilitiesandstudios.Waytogo,guys!

MegynKelly,fourthfromrightandBrotherPaulHannon,joinstudentsfromMonsignorFarrellHighSchoolonthesetof"TheMegynKellyShow."(Courtesy/BrotherPaulHannon)

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JerichoHouse

Wainfleet,Ontario

TORCHLeadershipConferenceInMaystudentsfromSacredHeartCatholicHighSchoolinNewMarketOntariotravelledtoJerichoHousetoattendtheirschool’sannualTORCHLeadershipConference.TORCHisJerichoHouse’ssignatureministrywhichcanbeexperiencedeitherasa3-dayeventorinanextendeddayformat.It is a biblically grounded, experientially based and peer-led leadership experience weavingtogether leadership, social and ecological justice and spirituality. The conference participantsmove through integrated sessions focusing on: bonding, gifting, communicating, visioning,deciding,acting,journaling,prayingandevaluating.

AsthestudentsleftJerichoHouse,leavingbehindcommentssuchas,

• “IhavelearnedandimprovedoncertainvaluesthatIcanapplybackatschool,homeoranywhereintheworld”,

• “Ilearnedalotaboutbeingaleaderandaboutleadershipandtheimportanceofmakingadifference”,

• “asmalltorchhasopenedinsideme;Ihopethistorchwillbecomebiggerandstronger”.

ThespringsemesterTORCHconferenceswillendwithaschoolformMarkhamOntarioattendinga3-dayconferenceinJuneandthencommenceagaininthefallwithbothextendeddayand3-dayconferences.

SacredHeartstudentsgatheraroundthetreedonatedbytheirprincipaltomarkSisterJacquie’s50thanniversaryasaReligiousSister.

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Reaping The Harvest of Immigration

For thechildrenof immigrant families,andespecially for thoseof farmworkerfamilies,therearemanybarrierstohighereducation.Asoneofthosechildren,PujaSahabecameawareatanearlyageoftheimportanceofeducationifsheistohaveabetterfuture.Today,Puja,19,isworkingtoward her dream of becoming a pediatrician, thanks to her ownperseveranceandcommunitysupport.The daughter of immigrants fromBangladesh, she is a first-generationcollegestudentat theStateUniversityofNewYorkatNewPaltz.Puja’sfather,afarmworker,camefromBangladeshtwodecadesagotoharvest

fruitinNewYork’sappleorchards.WhenPujawas7yearsold,herfatherbroughtPujaandhermotherandsisterstotheUnitedStates.Atfirst,itwashardtogetaccustomedtohernewlife,andshedidn’tspeakanyEnglish,shesays.Ittooktime,andthesupportoffriends,teachersandfamily.Pujaespeciallyrecallsmissingthebanyantreeatherfamily’svillagehomeinBangladesh.“Iusedtositunderthebanyantreeintheshadeandplaywithpebblesandleaves,”Pujaexplains.“Ididn’thavetoys,andBangladesh isaverypoorcountry.” BanyantreesdonotgrowinNewYork’scolderclimate. Instead,amapletreegrowsoutsideher family’s tinyapartment inruralNewYork.“Ihadtolearntoappreciatethebeautifulautumnfoliageintheyardofmyfamily’snewhome,”shesays,recallingthelittlethingsthatwereimportanttoa7-year-old.Herfacelightsupassheremembersseeingsnowforthefirsttime.“Whenwintercame,Ilovedthesightofthefirstsnowfall,”shesays.Puja’sinterestinmedicinebeganonhervisitstotheclinicforfarmworkersthatherfamilywenttoinruralUlsterCounty,NewYork.Shewasimpressedbythededicationofitsstaff.ButitwasduringavisitonesummertohernativeBangladeshthatshebegantodreamofamedicalcareer.

Deirdre Cornell

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“Wewerestoppedintraffic,”Pujasays.“ALittlegirl,barefoot,withtorn,dirtyclothes,cameuptothecartobeg.Sincewewerestoppedintraffic,Igotoutofthecartotalktoher.”Thelittlegirl’snamewasPriya,andsheintroducedPujatoherfather.“Itwasevidentthathewaslosinghissightduetoadegenerativedisease,”recallsPuja.“Theyhadnoaccesstomedicalcare,andsincehewasnotgettingtreatment,theyknewhewouldsoonbecompletelyblind.”TheencountersolidifiedPuja’scareergoal.“IwanttohelppeoplelikePriyaandherfather,”shesays.LastJune,inrecognitionofhereffortstorealizeherdream,Pujareceivedascholarshipintendedjust for thechildrenof farmworker families,whichshesayswillhelphermake it throughhersophomoreyearatSUNYNewPaltz.ShebecamethefirstrecipientoftheBrotherDanielDenisCrimminsMemorialScholarship,awardedbytheorganizationReapingtheHarvest.

BrotherDanalsobelievedthatforimmigrantfamilies,educationwasthekey.Hisownparentshad immigrated fromIreland,andbeforemovingtoUlsterCounty,BrotherDanworkedasateacherandschoolprincipal.Whenhediedin June of2015, his friends at Reaping theHarvestwanted to continue hislegacy.Whatbetterwaytokeephismemoryalivethantostartascholarshipforstudentsfromfarmworkerfamilies?Althoughthemonetaryamountofthescholarshipissmall,ithelpspayforbooksandsupplies.Moreimportantly,recipientsknowthatthereisacommunitythatsupportsthemintheireffortstoreachtheireducationalgoals.Puja, accompanied by her mother and her sister, wore her traditionalBangladeshi dress on the day of the scholarship award. In a celebrationcompletewith livemusic and a banquet of donated food and desserts, she

receivedthegrant—andthecommunity’sblessing.“Iwilldomybestinmystudies,”Pujapromised.“IwanttomakeBrotherDan,andthecommunity,proud.”

IthinkBrotherDanwouldalreadybeproudofher,justasareherfamilyandcommunity.DeirdreCornellisaformerMaryknolllaymissionerwhoservedinMexico.SheisauthorofthreeOrbisBooks, including JesusWas aMigrant andAmericanMadonna: CrossingBorderswith the VirginMary.

BrotherDenisCrimmins,RIP

BrotherHaroldMichaelDelaney,CFC1923-2018

Brother Harold Michael Delaney passed away on February 13,2018.BrotherDelaneywasbornonMay27,1923inNewYorkCity,NewYorkthesonofHaroldandAnneDelaney.HereceivedaBSinEconomics from FordhamUniversity, anMA in Economics fromFordham,anMAinAdministrationfromSetonHallUniversity,andanMSinGuidancefromSetonHallUniversityinSouthOrange,NJ.BrotherDelaneyenteredtheCongregationonAugust24,1949andpronouncedhisfinalvowsonJune27,1957.HisministrytookhimtomanypositionsincludingCardinalHayesandPowerMemorialAcademyinNewYorkCity,Msgr.FarrellHSonStatenIsland,andIonaPreparatorySchoolinNewRochelle.HeservedasaCounciloroftheformerEasternAmericanProvincefrom1972–1975,andaProvincial of the Eastern American Province from1975 – 1985.

From1985–1998heworkedwithintheadministrationof theEasternAmericanProvince. In1993hemovedintoSt.Joseph’sResidenceCommunityandremainedthereuntilhisdeathin2018.

BrotherJamesBenildusWalsh,CFC1935–2018

Brother James Benildus Walsh passed away on January 07, 2018.BrotherWalshwasbornonSeptember23,1935inNewYorkCity,NY,the son of Matthew and Catherine Walsh. He received BA inPhilosophy from Iona College, a MA in Theology from St. John’sUniversity.BrotherWalshenteredtheCongregationofChristianBrothersonJuly03,1953andpronouncedhisfirstvowsonSeptember08,1955.HisministrytookhimtomanypositionsincludingIonaGrammarSchoolinNewRochelle,NY,RiceHSinNewYorkCity,BishopHendrickenHSin Warwick, RI, Catholic Memorial HS in West Roxbury, MA,ArchbishopCurley-NotreDameHS inMiami, FL, andmore than30yearsatBergenCatholicHSinOradel,NJ.

InJanuary2017hemovedtoSt.Joseph’sCareResidenceinNewRochelle,NYandremainedthereuntilhisdeathinJanuary2018.

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BrotherBenjaminLawrenceFavero,CFC1938-2018

BrotherBenjaminLawrenceFaveropassedawayonFebruary06,2018. Brother Favero was born on August 01, 1938 in Butte,Montana,thesonofAldoandMaryFavero. HereceivedaBSinMathfromIonaCollegeandaMAininMathematicsfromGonzagaUniversity.BrotherFaveroenteredtheCongregationofChristianBrothersonJuly 01, 1956 and pronouncedhis first vowson September 08,1957.HisministrytookhimtomanypositionsincludinghisfirstassignmenttoSt.LouisCollegeinVictoria,BC.HealsoministeredinChicago,ILatBr.RiceHighSchool.InCalifornia,heministeredatCantwellHS inMontebello,andPalmaHS inSalinas. InNewRochelle,NYheministersatBlessedSacrament/St.Gabriel’sHS.He didminister for a number of years at his almamater, BoysCentralHSinButte,MT.InMichiganheministeredatEastCatholic

HSinDetroit,OurLadyofLaSaletteinBerkleyMI,,OurLadyofMt.CarmelParishinWyandotte,andBr.RiceHSinBirmingham.In2006hemovedbacktotheMaterDeiCommunityinBloomfieldHills,MIandremainedthereuntilhisdeathin2018.