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News from 16th Street
The Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala returned to Gotham Hall on April 8, raising over $450,000 for student scholarships. More than 450 people turned out for the first in-person gala since 2019, where student speaker Bertin Borgella ’22 rallied the crowd to give generously—and to help keep Xavier accessible and affordable for the next 175 years. “God placed Xavier in my path. This school has shaped and nurtured me over the last four years,” he said. “[My] scholarship allowed me to be a part of this wonderful community and with your continued support, future Sons of Xavier will be able to write their own stories.”
Standing With Ukraine
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, targeting civilians and creating the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, members of the Xavier community instinctively sought ways to respond. “Here on 16th Street, we’re called to help however we can,” CJ Marlin ’23 said in a video shared on Xavier’s Instagram page on March 9. A dress down day held two days later raised $3,000 for the Jesuit Refugee Service, which continues to mobilize resources in Ukraine and provide assistance to refugees in neighboring countries. A prayer service for peace in Ukraine and a Rosary for peace on the Feast of the Annunciation (part of a global effort led by Pope Francis to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary) served as bookends to March.
That same month, more than 90 students, faculty, and staff members participated in the global #ArtforPeaceinUkraine project initiated by Pechersk School International in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. After guidance counselor Jordan Temkin discovered the project, he shared it with art teacher Denise Iacovone, who encouraged her students and colleagues to support the Ukrainian people creatively. All submissions, including the ones shown here, were uploaded anonymously and geotagged to 30 West 16th Street at padlet.com/PSIKyiv/ArtForPeaceInUkraine.
Standing With Ukraine
LAST FALL, students contributed their artistic gifts to the Memory Project, a nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and students to create portraits for young people facing substantial challenges around the world. Using photos as references, Xavier students created portraits for children in Cameroon. Damian Montaleza ’23 crafted the image shown here.
After nearly 14 years at Xavier, Vice President for Advancement Mark Mongelluzzo P’25 was named president of his alma mater, Flushing’s Holy Cross High School, in February.
He began his Xavier journey in October 2008, as a global financial crisis and recession took hold; he ends it as we exit a pandemic and witness war in Europe. Along the way, Xavier endured Superstorm Sandy and navigated political strife.
“We weathered it all,” Mongelluzzo reflected. “It is never an easy environment to raise money. It is never easy to raise money, period. Full stop. But living through these times reassures you that the world needs more Sons of Xavier out there asking the tough questions and doing the tough jobs—living lives of consequence. So everything we do on 16th Street, in every classroom, in every office, and every department is as vitally important now as it was 175 years ago. It is all worthwhile, no matter how hard it is to do.”
Mongelluzzo describes himself as “a recovered attorney,” having practiced law for five years on and off.
“I was disenchanted and unfulfilled,” he said. “So, in 2007, I made the decision to leave the law to pursue something else. What exactly? I did not know at first.”
Given his engaging personality and volunteer work for Yale University, his college alma mater, his sister-in-law, Kathy, suggested he look into alumni relations and development. Myriad courses at Molloy College pointed him in the direction of fundraising.
In August 2008, he interviewed with former Vice President for Advancement Joe Gorski and the rest of the advancement team. He arrived on 16th Street that October.
“I have stayed here at Xavier for
nearly 14 years because I have come to love the people and the mission,” he said. “I can’t wait to get to work every day, to engage with alumni, with faculty and staff and administrators. And, of course, with the young men who walk our halls, backpacks and water bottles in tow. I have been fortunate to know loyal Sons and true from the Class of 1939 to 2025 and I must say that there really is continuity among them. Our mission draws a straight line over the ages and that has been worth sticking around for.”
Mongelluzzo praised President Jack Raslowsky for the mentorship and leadership he has provided over the years, which served as the catalyst for his journey to become president of Holy Cross High School.
“It was Jack who helped me think and prepare for this journey,” Mongelluzzo said. “From the Seminars in Ignatian Leadership with the Jesuit Schools Network to other professional development opportunities and exposure beyond advancement to the enrollment and admissions process, strategic planning, management of a capital project (the Sons of Xavier
Center), among other things, not to mention his personal mentorship over the years—all of that combined to provide me with a strong foundation.”
He now brings that experience, strong work ethic, open ears, and keen eyes to Holy Cross.
Mongelluzzo was roughly 18 months old when his brother, Danny, started as a freshman there. Soon after, his brother, Paul, followed. Holy Cross was and always will be a part of his life.
“My four years at Holy Cross were in many ways like the experience so many Sons of Xavier have—years of personal growth and accomplishment,” he said. “I left Cross with a great education, a strong faith in God, and lifelong friends. Most importantly, though, I left knowing that I was cared for. That was the greatest gift I received.”
He relishes the chance to return and give the gifts he received to the next generation of Holy Cross students.
“It’s like that scene in Dead Poets Society when Professor Keating quotes Walt Whitman: ‘That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse...what will your verse be?’ I guess I feel I have a verse to write,” he said.
Mongelluzzo is excited to start a new chapter while staying connected to Xavier—particularly through his son, Christopher Mongelluzzo ’25.
“At the risk of embarrassing him, he has had a wonderful freshman year, played soccer and tennis, ran track, made a host of friends, and done well academically,” he said. “He has adjusted to life on 16th Street quite well and he will now have the opportunity to write his own Xavier story—without his old man around to get in the way.”
Mongelluzzo and his wife, Jill, plan to be familiar faces at Xavier events, though, and they are especially looking forward to the 175th Anniversary Gala on December 3 and next year’s Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala.
“We will always believe in Xavier’s mission and will always support it,” he said. “I owe to Xavier as much as I owe to Holy Cross or any other institution that educated me formally. Jack Raslowsky, a son of New Jersey, always loves to quote Bruce Springsteen. As a boy born on Long Island and raised in Queens, I lean toward William Martin Joel and am reminded of his lyrics: ‘So, before we end and then begin, we’ll drink a toast to how it’s been ... [Just one more time] that I can say, I’ve loved these days.’ Indeed I have. Thank you, Xavier.”
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News and Notes
Two years after their last pre-COVID parade, members of the Xavier Regiment marched in October’s Columbus Day Parade and again in March at the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. NY1 News profiled the Regiment in a special segment during its St. Patrick’s Day Parade coverage.
The Xavier Dramatics Society took on a robust schedule this year, showcasing an outdoor performance of Macbeth in November, the fall play, EVERYBODY, in December, and the spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, in March.
Xavier track and field took second place at the CHSAA varsity championships in February, boasting four state champions, 22 medalists, and 11 State Federation qualifiers. The team later won five Federation medals. JV basketball took home the CHSAA A division city championship this winter. The freshman team won second place in the A division.
In August, Dean of Faculty Brian McCabe P’23 completed the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), a virtual program of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. Bridging the fields of business and education, CSML integrates expertise in managing teams and organizations with best practices in school and instructional leadership to provide school leaders with frameworks, skills, and knowledge to effectively lead and drive change in schools. Bernstein ’04, college counselor Jimmy Buckley ’13, and Dean of Educational Systems Lindsay Willert—a Chicago native— completed the Chicago Marathon on October 10. They were joined in the race by multiple Sons of Xavier, including Dennis Langley ’70, Chris Chavez ’11, John Maiocco ’12, and Christian Raslowsky ’16.
Associate Director of Admissions Marvin Thomas ’96 earned a master’s degree in management at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business in December. During his course of study, he gained handson experience working on a project with Visa.
Religion teacher Dr. James Nagle recently published an article, “Forming a New Normal: Service Learning and Short-Term Mission Post COVID-19” in Religious Education, the official journal of the Religious Education
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1. Author John Loughery. 2. College counselor Jimmy Buckley ’13, math department chair Evan Bernstein ’04, and Christian Raslowsky ’16 at the Chicago Marathon. 3. Dean of Educational Systems Lindsay Willert runs the Chicago Marathon. 4. The city championship-winning JV basketball team. 5. Computer science and technology department chair Mike Chiafulio P’23 and art teacher Billy Maloney ’01 perform in the spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 6. The cover of the award-winning 2019-20 Annual Report. 7. An outdoor production of Macbeth. 8. The Regiment at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 9. Students with members of the Acting Company.
Association. He also served as a panelist discussing young people’s affiliation with Christian churches at the Religious Education Association Annual Meeting.
The Acting Company, a professional theater company dedicated to the development of young actors, visited Xavier in December. They performed Twelfth Night for the Ignatian Scholars and a group of freshmen, all of whom had just finished reading Shakespeare’s play.
Paris is in Harlem, a movie starring fine arts department chair Nicole DiMarco and featuring multiple Xavier alumni and staff members, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January. One review called the film “a stunning piece of independent filmmaking, a multi-layered narrative that’s a love letter to jazz and New York City.” John Loughery, award-winning author of Dorothy Day: Dissenting Voice of the American Century and Dagger John: Archbishop John Hughes and the Making of Irish America, spoke to parents, friends, and Sons of Xavier about the legacy of Dorothy Day in February.
In March, Xavier launched the Pamoja Retreat for students of color. Pamoja, which means “together” in Swahili, brought students from Xavier and Regis together to reflect on their identities and values. “Offering a retreat this year, specifically for our students of color, is one way that we continue to find ways to meet our students where they are,” said Director of Campus Ministry Kaija DeWitt-Allen. Other Xavier retreats include longstanding offerings like Kairos, Montserrat, and Magis; a freshman retreat and wilderness retreat have been added in recent years.
Last fall, Xavier revitalized its institutional website, xavierhs.org, bringing 16th Street to life through embedded videos, interactive maps, testimonials, and sitewide animation. A few weeks later, a 175th anniversary microsite, 175.xavierhs.org, went live. The site features a timeline of Xavier history, archival photos, and rotating exhibits.
Xavier’s 2019-20 Annual Report received the InspirED School Marketers bronze Brilliance Award in the Annual Report/Report of Gifts/Donor Report category in January. “This piece simply oozes Xavier’s brand,” the judges wrote. “The themes of brotherhood, pride, legacy, and intergenerational shared values are palpable.”
