CURLEY | FRANCISCAN PERSPECTIVE

By Mike DeMarco

Friendly, welcoming, prayerful, rewarding, collegial, supportive, encouraging, inspiring, caring, helpful, giving… Curley has been all of these things and more to thousands of students, to their families, to the faculty, and to the staff for decades. Hasn’t it? Do you identify with these descriptors of Archbishop Curley High School? With my experiences over the decades, I do.

So much has changed during our decades on Erdman and Sinclair. The list is extensive, but what hasn’t changed is the general atmosphere of our school. In my long experience with Curley, our Franciscan school has always been welcoming, comfortable, and friendly. The Franciscan influence stemming from the friars continues to give us a comfortable atmosphere and to influence every aspect of Curley. Sadly, the number of friars staffing the school has declined dramatically over the decades. But we have remained fortunate to always have a few men helping to staff us, to work with, and to influence our boys. We have also been very fortunate to hire many lay teachers with excellent character that they share with students. The love and attention that they give is invaluable to our Franciscan mission.

While attending Curley our young men are steeped in the spirit of St. Francis and Franciscan tradition in numerous ways. All classes begin with a prayer; all students attend a yearly retreat; all students have four years of theology. There are confession opportunities; weekly community prayer/school Mass events; activities such as food/clothing drives and the March for Life; and service projects done by students. The San Damiano Cross and a plaque explaining the images on the cross hangs in every classroom. Over one-fourth of our student population participates in the Franciscan Youth Ministry (FYM) and the Flex Team. Students on the Flex team “… are involved with all aspects of the school’s spiritual life including school liturgies, retreats and FYM projects.”

Other influential opportunities for worship also take place every year. The Transitus Service, held on October 3rd, is when we remember the passing of St. Francis from this world. The first live nativity reenactment was conducted by St. Francis at Greccio, Italy. This is reenacted annually at Curley by the freshman class. The live Stations of the Cross are presented to the student body by the senior class during Holy Week. Pilgrimage trips to Assisi and Rome also take place. One of the greatest events in my life was the Franciscan pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in 2012.

A variety of faculty and staff have careers at Curley that spanned many decades: Al Frank, Pat Moloney, Dick Patry, Joe DellaMonica, Dan Popera, Gene Hoffman, Dave Stauffer, Cheryl Jose, Carol Winpigler, Celeste Williams, and myself, each have over 30 years of service. We stayed because it was and is such a good place to be. My wife has commented on multiple occasions about the wonderful opportunities to learn and practice my religion at Curley.

Currently there are 22 alums listed on the Faculty/Staff area of the Curley website. Isn’t that a fantastic return? It is over one-fourth of the employees at Curley. Many alumni also return enthusiastically for reunions, for Homecoming, for sporting events and for assorted other activities every year. They give time, money, and energy when Curley calls. The word “Brotherhood” is often used and was an article in this magazine recently. I strongly agree with it. I have found it so easy to admire and respect my students and my colleagues over the years. Some of my former colleagues and I still maintain contact. It is also great to see and hear from so many of my former students because of the respect I have for them as people. Many are very successful, some are less so, but all are good people whose company I enjoyed in my classroom and whose conversations I enjoy now in life. Saint Francis preached peace and respect and care for everyone and for all life. That sense of peace, loving, giving, and sharing, are pervasive throughout the atmosphere of the school. It is difficult for me to quantify, but I believe that many more opportunities exist now than in some of the decades gone by for our Curley family to experience the Franciscan tradition. The ideals of St. Francis haven’t gone away over the centuries. They still help us to enrich our faith and belief in Jesus.

Accepting the invitation to apply and do an interview in 1975, and then joining the staff at Archbishop Curley, was one of the best decisions in my life. I find it difficult to imagine growing my faith and benefiting from another school or career as I have done here. I have been very blessed to experience Archbishop Curley High School and our Franciscan teachings. My wish: Pax et Bonum, Peace and Goodness.