Catholic Mission

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION LITURGY

Notre Dame students and faculty celebrated liturgy led by our Chaplain, Father Jason, with special help from the SHADES Club, Justice Club, and World Language Department. The theme of the Mass was social justice, diversity, and inclusion. Co-Presidents of the SHADES Club, Leon Jones ‘20 and Mia Abousabe ‘22, as well as Vice President Kyndal Tillett ‘20 opened Mass with beautiful bilingual prayers. During the procession of gifts, students paid special tribute to their heritages and cultures. Gift bearers brought up an array of family heirlooms and religious items such as their family bibles, an African drum, a dream catcher, rosary beads, a Portuguese family bowl and flags of their family’s origin. The Mass petitions were read in English, Spanish, French, Polish, Czech, Italian, and lgbo (Nigerian-Congo language). The students who read the petitions included: Seamus Harding ’20, Kyndal Tillett ’20, Sasha Jules ’21, Franny Owoh ’20, Angela Siwarski ’20, Gabby Girton ’20, Shea Doran ’20, Ewelina Krokos ’21, Emma McKeon ’20, Tiera Figaro ’21, Erika Porter ’20, and Michael Abbondandolo ’20. Following Mass, Darius McKay ‘20 and AJ Porter ‘20 introduced the new SHADES Club video “A Celebration of Our Gifts” honoring the diverse backgrounds and gifts of the club’s members. After the video, SHADES Club members Franny Owoh ’20, Kyndal Tillett ’20 and Marcel Campbell ’21 awed students and faculty with a special performance of praise dancing to celebrate Black History Month. Our special religious celebration of diversity and acceptance culminated with a presentation from our international students, Cindy Liu ‘20 and Kyrie Wang ‘20 for Principal Barlow and President Jennings. They presented a beautiful canvas of Chinese Calligraphy. The words in English mean “Hard Work Pays Off.” The hard work that our students and faculty put into this celebration certainly paid off. It was a wonderful tribute to the diversity among us.

COACH MCKENNA AND FATHER JASON NAMED CATHOLIC ATHLETES FOR CHRIST MODERATORS

Notre Dame High School proudly announced that Bishop David M. O‘Connell, C.M. appointed our own Coach John McKenna as the new Diocesan Moderator for Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC). In addition, he appointed our chaplain Father Jason Parzynski the new Diocesan Chaplain for CAC. Catholic Athletes for Christ was brought to the Diocese by Bishop O'Connell nine years ago and currently has established chapters in seven of the 11 Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Trenton. It is a tremendous honor for Notre Dame to have both Coach McKenna and Father Jason appointed to serve in these capacities as they both continue to build the CAC Ministry, not only at Notre Dame, but also across the diocese in order to foster a deeper faith among our student athletes on and off the field.

STUDENTS UNPLUGGED AT THE CATHOLIC ATHLETES FOR CHRIST FATHER/SON RETREAT

Notre Dame had a strong representation at the Diocesan Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) Father/Son Retreat at Hotel LBI in Ship Bottom in January. The two-day retreat was organized by Father Jason Parzynski, Notre Dame Chaplain, CAC Chaplain and Diocesan Vocations Director along with Coach John McKenna, the CAC Diocesan Moderator. Among the speakers were Christian singer-songwriter Steve Angrisano and Kevin Reilly, a former Philadelphia Eagles football player and broadcaster. When asked about the CAC Father/Son Retreat, Coach McKenna said “Being able to be part of the team that put this retreat together was an experience and a memory that I will carry for the rest of my life. Watching our fathers and sons unplug for the weekend and bond for two days was worth a million dollars. I really believe that this experience made a difference in their relationships." Notre Dame student Luke Okupski ’20 had a wonderful experience on the retreat. “The CAC Father/Son Retreat provided fathers and sons with a unique opportunity to spend one-on-one time together without the distractions and responsibilities of daily life. The retreat not only helped strengthen my relationship with my father, but also strengthened my faith. Each speaker exemplified what it takes to be a man in Christ and portrayed to us how to keep God a priority in our lives as we continue our journey to manhood. The weekend reminded me to value my father’s knowledge, experience, and love, and take advantage of them to become a better man.”

MISSION SISTERS VISIT ND

Two Hospitaller Sisters of Mercy from Villa Raffaella, a Senior Assisted Living Community in Pleasantville, NJ, visited Notre Dame High School's Religion classes on February 19. The sisters explained to students that being a missionary does not necessarily mean serving abroad. Rather, each person can be a missionary through the practice of prayer, sacrifice, and loving service toward others. The Hospitaller Sisters of Mercy were founded on May 16, 1821 by Princess Teresa Orsini Doria Pamphili with a specific apostolate to care for the sick. The congregation is present in five continents and in three locations in the US: New Jersey, South Carolina and Louisiana. Over the years the congregation has expanded its works of mercy to respond to the needs of the Catholic Church. The apostolate broadened its fields to include teaching, caring for the elderly, family faith formation, women empowerment and ministry to street children. In 2016, the congregation embarked on a new mission to provide care for juvenile victims of human trafficking in Baton Rouge, LA.

Every student at Notre Dame actively engages in different forms of service during their four years. These experiences provide an outlet for them to use their voice, skills and critical thinking to affect positive change in their communities and the world. Because of restrictions throughout COVID-19, students completed many projects on their own. We saw in action how no act of kindness is too small and can make a great difference. Last year's second semester Honors Service Classes overcame many challenges during the quarantine. When we left school so quickly and unexpectedly in March many of the students' service projects were in full swing and could not be completed due to the stay-at-home order. For instance, students had collected many donations for an Easter Basket Drive. Due to restrictions, the baskets could not be distributed, but all candy and food items collected were donated to the Rise Food Pantry. It was not the same as the direct contact the students would have had if they were able to hand-deliver the completed baskets but they were able to make a difference all the same. In true Notre Dame fashion, students rose to the occasion and creatively came up with many projects that made an impact and touched people's lives during such an uncertain time. You can read about many of them in our “Days of Caring” stories. Students were always sure to follow CDC guidelines, and provide simple ways that the Notre Dame Community could reach out and help their neighbors, friends, families and essential workers. Notre Dame students completed over 35,000 hours of service despite a very difficult year, and not just because of the pandemic. In May we lost our beloved Service Coordinator, Mrs. Carolyn Graham. With her memory in their hearts, our students carried on her service mission in many beautiful ways to honor her. We are proud of our Notre Dame Students. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teachings. Students have lived these beliefs out in their service to the community. In the words of Saint Catherine Laboure, “See the face of God in everyone.”

ND STUDENTS MARCH FOR LIFE

On January 24, three faculty/administrators, 35 students, and 11 parents attended the annual March for Life in Washington, DC. The trip was sponsored and coordinated by the Celebrate Life Club. The March, marking the 47th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court, is the largest pro-life event in the world. Our Notre Dame contingent gathered with hundreds of thousands of other groups from around the country and the world. All those in attendance from our group were in awe of the size of the crowd. The theme chosen by the organizers of the event this year was “Life Empowers, Pro-life is Pro-Women." This theme was intended to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. Susan B. Anthony, the face of the feminist movement, was very much pro-life. The March included remarks via video conference from Vice President Pence from Rome, while he was visiting with Pope Francis to share about the pro-life movement in the United States. His comments were followed by an in-person speech by President Trump about how we, as pro-life Americans, are the voice for the voiceless in the womb and should do all that we can to address the dignity and value of the unborn.