The Prophet St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, West Islip, NY March 2017 Bouncing to the Future with Bishop Barres By: Billy Smith ’18 On Ash Wednesday, SJB welcomed Bishop John Barres as he begins his tenure as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Bishop Barres spent the morning at SJB first leading our annual Ash Wednesday Prayer Service, then a roundtable discussion with students spending time with faculty and staff. Our Chaplain Fr. Rob said “I think Bishop Barres is very interested in working with the young people of the church, and that’s really exciting. It seems that he cares very much for all of us, that he wants us to have a good experience of the church. Just the fact that he cares so much is a real encouragement.” Bishop Barres was installed on January 31st, 2017 at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre and replaces Bishop William Murphy, who held the position since September 2001. Bishop Murphy stated the community is in “good hands” and that “We open a new and exciting chapter in the life of this diocese.” John Oliver Barres was born on September 20, 1960, in Larchmont, N.Y. to Oliver and Marjorie Barres and was the fifth of six children. During Bishop Barres early life, his first choice of a career was not the priesthood. As a young man, he wanted to be a professional basketball player. In high school at Phillips Academy, he played point guard for the school’s basketball team and then moved on to Princeton University and again played point guard for the school’s junior varsity team. At Princeton, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and then an M.B.A. from New York University. He has also been a former caddie and accountant before receiving his call to be a priest. After reading a passage from St. John Neumann, one of the first American saints, Bishop Barres received his calling to the priesthood. He began to study at the Pontifical University in Rome and was ordained a priest on October 21, 1989 by Bishop Robert Mulvee. His most recent job before becoming Bishop of Rockville Centre was Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The people of Allentown described him as “low key, warm, and personable.” He held that position from 2009 until December 9, 2016 when Pope Francis asked him to become the Bishop of Rockville Centre. When I spoke to Bishop Barres, he was very excited to be at SJB. He said from the moment he walked in, “the sense of enthusiasm about the Catholic faith is present.” He looks forward to being involved with young people all across Long Island. He stated at his installation as Bishop “I am ecstatic about your futures in Jesus Christ and the way you, in the words of Pope Francis, ‘shake up the church and the world’ with your enthusiasm and desire to dedicate your lives to Jesus and the mission of the Catholic Church in the world.” He said he is looking for 21st century saints in all of us. At the roundtable discussion with SJB students, Bishop Barres related God to the many student activities. To encourage young people, Bishop Barres often talks about his days of playing basketball. He wants us all to use the Holy Spirit to lead and pray for lives of dramatic missionary growth. Let us, as a community, all welcome Bishop John Barres as he begins a new and exciting career as the Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Transcript
The Prophet St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, West Islip, NY March 2017
Bouncing to the Future with Bishop Barres
By: Billy Smith ’18
On Ash Wednesday, SJB welcomed Bishop John Barres as he begins his tenure as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Bishop Barres spent the morning at SJB first leading our annual Ash Wednesday Prayer Service, then a roundtable discussion with students spending time with faculty and staff. Our Chaplain Fr. Rob said “I think Bishop Barres is very interested in working with the young people of the church, and that’s really exciting. It seems that he cares very much for all of us, that he wants us to have a good experience of the church. Just the fact that he cares so much is a real encouragement.” Bishop Barres was installed on January 31st, 2017 at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre and replaces Bishop William Murphy, who held the position since September 2001. Bishop Murphy stated the community is in “good hands” and that “We open a new and exciting chapter in the life of this diocese.” John Oliver Barres was born on September 20, 1960, in Larchmont, N.Y. to Oliver and Marjorie Barres and was the fifth of six children. During Bishop Barres early life, his first choice of a career was not the priesthood. As a young man, he wanted to be a professional basketball player. In high school at Phillips Academy, he played point guard for the school’s basketball team and then moved on to Princeton University and again played point guard for the school’s junior varsity team. At Princeton, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and then an M.B.A. from New York University. He has also been a former caddie and accountant before receiving his call to be a priest.
After reading a passage from St. John Neumann, one of the first American saints, Bishop Barres received his calling to the priesthood. He began to study at the Pontifical University in Rome and was ordained a priest on October 21, 1989 by Bishop Robert Mulvee. His most recent job before becoming Bishop of Rockville Centre was Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The people of Allentown described him as “low key, warm, and personable.” He held that position from 2009 until December 9, 2016 when Pope Francis asked him to become the Bishop of Rockville Centre. When I spoke to Bishop Barres, he was very excited to be at SJB. He said from the moment he walked in, “the sense of enthusiasm about the Catholic faith is present.” He looks forward to being involved with young people all across Long Island. He stated at his installation as Bishop “I am ecstatic about your futures in Jesus Christ and the way you, in the words of Pope Francis, ‘shake up the church and the world’ with your enthusiasm and desire to dedicate your lives to Jesus and the mission of the Catholic Church in the world.” He said he is looking for 21st century saints in all of us. At the roundtable discussion with SJB students, Bishop Barres related God to the many student activities. To encourage young people, Bishop Barres often talks about his days of playing basketball. He wants us all to use the Holy Spirit to lead and pray for lives of dramatic missionary growth. Let us, as a community, all welcome Bishop John Barres as he begins a new and exciting career as the Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
The Gift of Prayer - Teacher Profile: Ms. O’ Grady
By: Ivette Valqui ‘17
Cover story:....... BounCing to the Future with Bishop Barres By: Billy sMith ’18
page two:............ the giFt oF prayer - teaCher proFile: Ms. o’ grady By: ivette valqui ‘17 page three:......... Mission aCCoMplished By: stephanie hahn ‘17
page Four ........... the gianna CluB By: sarah graziano ‘18
page Five: ........... MarChing with pride By: eMily pluMaCher ‘17
page six: ............. a Cinderella story By: eMily pluMaCher ‘17
page seven: ........ the other side oF the desk By: BarBara losseau ‘17
page eight: ..... pinning to suCCes By: Billy sMith ‘18
Ms. O’Grady teaches Morality and Life and Death, for juniors and seniors respectively. According to Ms. Loos Religion Department Chairperson “Denise is wonderful to work with. She was here when I came 9 years ago. She even called me up to talk a week before I started just to say hello and ask if there was anything I needed. That’s
how Denise is—thoughtful and caring about others—both her fellow teachers and all of the students in this school. When I started working here I had a lot of questions. Denise was always there to give me advice. We always had a good laugh about the fact that I never did what she told me to do! So, she has a sense of humor too. We have a lot of fun.”Teachers have a way of connecting to their student and sometimes learning from them. Ms. O’Grady shares her passion for teaching and she says her “hope is always that by the end of the course my students will truly understand how Awesome God is and how much He truly loves them.” She also hopes that “We can see ourselves with the same love and respect that Jesus sees in us, then we can truly be happy and value ourselves and others.” Mr.Whitfield(ReligionTeacher)added“I’veworkedwithDenisefor8yearsnow.(Sharedthesameroomwithherroomfortwoyears.)SheisthenicestpersonthatIknow.Shehasadeepcareandconcernforherstudentsand co-workers and a genuine love for her faith. She is the person to be the listening ear, the caring advice and the person who will go to bat for you.” Ms. O’Grady runs the Ethic Bowl Team; this team competes against 30 other teams from schools on Long Island. This club consists of reading ethic issues and deciding what can be done in the case that is being read. Then as a team, they work together and get to argue their point of view against another team. She says, “It really is challenging but it is a lot of fun too!” Ms. O’Grady invites you to join! Contact Ms. O’ Grady for more information.
Ms. O’Grady has been teaching at St. John’s for 13 years. She started off as an elementary school teacher and eventually switched to teaching high school. Religion is her favorite course to teach, “Being able to pray in class and think about our lives in relation to Jesus is really an awesome gift! It is really a privilege to be able to see how awesome God is and to see students come to that realization.
Mission AccomplishedBy: Stephanie Hahn ‘17
SJB and other volunteers in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey is one of the poorest cities in America. Most people in Camden, live below the poverty line. The poverty line is the amount of money needed to secure the necessities of life. In January a few students from St. John’s, including myself went to Camden for a mission trip. We stayed at The Romero Center .Two other schools joined from Connecticut and New York City. Each school was assigned a different site each day, whether it was a Habitat for Humanity service, visiting residents in a nursing home or a soup kitchen.
Campus Minister and chaperone Ms. Maddalena said “It had been about seven years since I’d been to Camden. I was interested to see all of the ways the city had changed since I had been there last. There has certainly been growth, but there is still a long way to go. As always, I love learning about my students and who they are when they’re not in the classroom. That’s always the best part of Mission Trip experiences for me.” “The experience during the Camden trip is something I would call a tremendously engaging and eye opening experience. The staff members at Romero Center do an incredible job educating and exposing the students to the realities of poverty in our world. They also give
us the tools to change our lives and the lives of others” said Mr. Murphy, Religion teacher and also chaperone on the trip. In my personal opinion I thought the trip taught me important life lessons. This trip showed me that you should appreciate everything you have and not take it for granted. The day I enjoyed the most was when we went to the Abagail Home. I felt touched by the residents and miss them already. Senior, Carli Kleinfelder thought the trip was a really great experience. Carli said, “My favorite day was when we went the nursing home, because we got to interact with people who lived there, and told us what living there was really like”. The nursing home was place for people of any age, and the residents couldn’t have been nicer.
Father Rob asked Ms. MacEwen to get involved in the club because of her support for the pro-life movement and the close relationships she has with the students. “I love working with the students, whether it’s in the classroom or Campus Ministry.” Father Rob agrees, “I enjoy witnessing a life together and forming friendships with one another based on our love for life.” The Gianna Club has been very active with reaching out to all walks of life beyond the SJB community. So far, the club has been to an elderly home run by the Benedictine Sisters, visited children at Good Samaritan Hospital, had Eucharistic Adoration for the election, participated in the March for Life, and had a Mass for the unborn. As far as upcoming events for the future, Megan Ferguson told said they plan on praying the rosary outside of Planned Parenthood, followed by a celebration for young mothers, held by the Sisters of Life. Father Rob said, “By witnessing the faith, SJB sees us carrying out these actions, as well as praying for life”. Megan’s response really sets the standard of what the club’s goal and mission is. “Being pro-life is adopting an ideology; but joining the pro-life movement is putting the ideology into action. I think working toward a society that respects all human life is exactly what the world needs – and that’s the kind of society the Gianna Club aims to create.”
ned) Glass By: Sarah Graziano ‘18
The Gianna Club
The Gianna Club visiting St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged in Greenlawn, NY
There are a few new clubs that started at SJB this year. One of them is the Gianna Club, moderated by Father Rob and Mrs. MacEwen. The name of the club comes from Saint Gianna Molla, an Italian Saint who was a doctor and mother. Due to medical complications during her pregnancy, she had to choose between saving her own life or her child’s. “She gave her life to save her child” said Father Rob. The club currently has seventeen students from all grade levels. Megan Ferguson ’17 said, “The Gianna Club is about celebrating and protecting all human life from conception until natural death”. She also encourages students to know that the club’s primary focus is not just on abortion. “Abortion, of course, is an extremely important issue, but the pro-life movement encompasses more than that. It includes euthanasia, suicide, and respecting people with disabilities.”
Marching with Pride
On January 27th, thousands gathered for the forty fourth annual March for Life. Many SJB students andfacultyattended,fightingfortheunborn.Thepro-lifemovementisgrowingandencouragedbecauseofthisMarch. Eighty percent of those who attended were high school and college students. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this matter, but respect for human life is necessary. For Father Rob, this was his twelfth March for Life and he has enjoyed every single one. “It’s a celebration of life. I believe something like this requires persistence and slow healing. Change won’t happen overnight,” Father Rob said. In Washington D.C. SJB students marched with strangers, but they all share one common belief, the right to life. Senior, Alyssa Lamagna has attended the March since she was a child to stand up for the things she believe in.Manyofourownbeliefsareinfluencedbyourfamilytraditions.TheCatholicChurchteachesthatatthemomentofconception,lifeisgrowing.Recentlytherehavebeenprotestsaroundthenation;womenarefightingforabortion,claiming it is their body, their choice. Our lives are gifts, not everyone is as fortunate to have the things we do. During pregnancy it is not just the woman’s body, it is a child’s also. Alyssa also said, “It’s exciting to be a part of thechange.Everylifeisworthlivingandit’sourjobtofightforthosewhocan’tfightforthemselves.” The Gianna Club created several signs for the March for Life, including pictures of unborn children, titled Future Doctor, Future Lawyer, Future Mom, and many others. We all have the ability to become something because we have the opportunity to, but for those who don’t have a voice, we have to speak for them to provide chances that some never get. Josh Hammer, a senior, said, “I wanted to be a part of something I believed in. Standing up for the unborn is important to me.” Abortions are decreasing, despite the fact that they are legal. Always stand up for what you believe in, your voice is more powerful than you realize.
SJB in Washington D.C. for March for life 2017
By: Emily Plumacher ‘17
A Cinderella Story
By: Emily Plumacher ‘17
After months of hard work, the musical, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella finally came to life on the stage. On Thursday, March 2, the cast and crew did their first run through in front of an audience of elementary school students. On March 3, 4, and 5, the crowd consisted of family members, friends, teachers, and students. The musical was very well done as directed by Mr. Brennan and produced by Mr. Whitfield. Several students dedicated a tremendous amount of time to putting this show together, including the cast, stage crew, band, and student production assistant, Stephane Russo, a junior. In the musical, Ella, nicknamed Cinderella by her stepsisters, is trapped working for her stepmother and cleaning the home. She wishes to attend the ball, hosted by Prince Topher and her family, when her fairy Godmother appears and transforms her, Cinderella is warned that it was all end at midnight. The Prince admires Cinderella, played by Samantha Matzerath, a senior, for her kind words. Sophomore, William Brennan, took on his part as Prince Topher, and eventually sees Cinderella to place the Venetian glass slipper back on her foot. The story was also very comical and the audience definitely enjoyed it. Taylor Duff, Jack DiNicola, Hannah Crews, Christian Colon, Emily Vaeth, Amanda Carey, Julianna Rezza, Amanda Mahoney, Emily Mahoney, Jake Nacinovich, and Pierce Malize, as the main cast did a phenomenal job. The many others including ladies of the court, knights, and townspeople of the land, added to the extravagant show. Before all of this ensued, everyone met in the music room where they prayed, did vocal exercises, and the traditional chant. Mr. Whitfield beautifully said, “This is for AJ and every other person who can’t be with us here tonight, but is watching the show from heaven.” During intermission, Mitzy Jimenez, a sophomore, said, “It’s exhilarating and super fun on stage. I never thought I’d be dancing in a ball gown.” At the end of Saturday’s show, the seniors received recognition and flowers for their hard work, even for those who tried out for the musical just this year. Stage crew, managed by Mrs. Reeves, did a spectacular job of changing sets and making sure everything ran smoothly. Senior, Sachin Devasahayam, said, “It was great, I really enjoyed watching it.” He was not the only one; Cinderella was definitely a success and I wish I could see it again. Congratulations to all of those who participated and put in the time for such a wonderful show!
The Other Side of the Desk Dr. Maya Angelou once said “When you get, give. When you learn, teach”. On Wednesday February 15th 2017, after learning for more than seventeenyears, thestudentsofNationalHonorSocietywerefinallyabletoexperience both, giving and teaching during the annual Teacher Recognition Day. As they were giving back for all their teachers’ dedication and perseverance, the National Honor Society members received the opportunity to see what it is like to be on the other side of a teacher’s desk. For most students, Teacher Recognition Day is simply about appreciating all the hard work that teachers do for us every day. However, for the members of the National Honor Society, this single day includes a lot more. As Mr. Grasso put it into words, “[Teacher Recognition Day] is this wonderful opportunity for NHS members to showcase their many talents and present their best selves!” In fact, NHS members face many responsibilities to make sure the day goes on as planned. Whether it is from preparing a lesson plan, making an entire tray of deviled eggs or ham and brie sandwiches, and teaching at least one 40 minute class, NHS students did prove themselves as more than competent and professional. Many teachers congratulated them for the excellent luncheon they prepared and this year once again, Mr. Grasso was astonished by the students’ performance. Senior Maureen Petica, who taught Honors Chemistry for Ms. MacEwen,describedherexperienceasateacherastrulybeneficialbecauseshelearned to appreciate the work that teachers do. “I was actually excited when I learned I was going to teach chemistry because I love science. After I realized I was going to be in front of a class for 40 minutes, I started to feel nervous.” Maureenconcludedthatherlessonwentwellandthatshewoulddefinitelydoit again if the opportunity ever presented itself. As a member of the National Honor Society, I also had the opportunity toparticipateinTeacherRecognitionDay.Ichosetoteachmyfirstlanguagetofreshmen and had a wonderful experience leading Mrs. Reeves’ French Level 1 class. Teaching a class can sure be nerve racking, but as I started the lesson, I immediately began to feel comfortable as the students were truly amazing. The period went by joyfully and relatively fast. At the end, I even was a little disappointed that could not to teach another period. This year’s Teacher Recognition Day was indeed a real success. Mr. Grasso’sfinalwordstodescribethedaywereasfollows“Asalwaysstudent-teacher performance was outstanding. The membership always puts in more than 100 percent. It went better than expected, and all members did such a great job!” Congratulations to all the members of the National Honor Society for embracing the tough responsibility of standing on the other side of the desk.
Members of the National Honor Society on Teacher Recognition Day
Francesca Mollo teaching for Mrs. Kovalevich
Senior Michael Johnsonteaching a class
By: Barbara Losseau ‘17
2016-2017 SJB Wrestling Team
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This past winter, the SJB Varsity Wrestling Team had a very successfulseason. Outof thefifteenwrestlersontheteam,theyhadfourwrestlerswhoreachedtheleaguefinalsand8qualifiedfortheStateTournament. The League Championship winner was Sophomore Joe Vacca, who wrestled in the 113 weight class. The eight wrestlers who qualifiedfortheStateTournamentwereLiamHoulihan&StephenCrisci(freshmen). Joe Vacca, Bryan Kuprian, & Greg Link (sophomores).FrancisFinn(junior).JoeyLanciotti&AlexGreco(seniors).Severalweeks ago, I had the opportunity to sit down and meet with Coach Kevin Bartoli and Alex Greco and discuss their successful season. Coach Kevin Bartoli has been the head coach of the wrestling team here at SJB since 2006. He is also an alumni of SJB from the graduating class of 2006. His assistant coaches include David Bartoli, his father, Nick McKenna, SJB Alum, and Mike Berger. The team’s season lasts from the first week of November to the last week ofFebruary. There are 15 weight classes for a complete team lineup: 99,106,113,126,132,138,145,152,160,170,182,195,220, and285. The teamcompetesagainst schools in their league that includeSt. Anthony’s, Chaminade, Kellenberg, and Holy Trinity. In the State Tournament, they compete against the top teams in both parochial and public schools in Suffolk County. When asked how it felt to win Joe Vaccasaid“Iwaskindofshocked.Ireallydidn’tgoinasconfident.Idohave a passion for wrestling and I use that as motivation. I put my 100 percent in it every day. ”
