Founders' Day Rekindles Spirit
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The Campanile Mount Saint Joseph Academy Volume LIII, Number 1 October 2015 Founders’ Day rekindles spirit Seniors Lauren Scheffey, Julianna Kardish and Maddy Carlton make their final walk from the Mother House on Founders’ Day. Pilgrims enriched by trip to LePuy, France By Laurie Metzler ’16 on here at the Mount, Dr. Cavis- a classmate, family member or can help those around them--and Mrs. Romano’s trip united them ton, Mrs. Bender and Mrs. Roma- stranger. Faculty and students no one better ever tell a Mountie with sisters from all over the Picture this: Philadelphia, no all had the same response: by alike actively seek to help those that she can’t!” United States and Canada. Lat- Pennsylvania, 1858. Six sisters serving the dear neighbor. in need. The spirit of the sisters is pres- er this month, Dr. Caviston and of Saint Joseph make the jour- President S. Kathleen Brabson ney from Le Puy, France, to the will be attending a meeting with United States, hoping to spread a sisters from France, Puerto Rico message of “unity and reconcili- and China, among other places. ation.” In the middle of October, the en- Now, look around: Mount tire Mount community celebrates Saint Joseph Academy, 2015, an Founder’s Day to commemorate all-girls college preparatory high the success of the sisters’ mission. school just outside Philadelphia, The community today has grown carrying on the sisters’ mission and evolved in more ways than more that 150 years later. those original sisters ever could As those sisters in 1858 made have imagined. the journey to the United States, “It’s everybody united with the three of Mount’s own did just the spirit of these six young sisters . opposite this summer, traveling . it flows from what the sisters, to Le Puy, France, hoping to dis- our founders, really made a com- cover some of the magic of Le mitment to,” said Dr. Caviston. Puy for themselves. Dr. Caviston, Mrs. Bender and When Principal Dr. Judith Mrs. Romano had the experience Caviston, Foreign Language of a lifetime this summer; their Chair Mrs. Mimi Bender and trip to Le Puy was all they could Vice-President of Institutional have anicipated and more. Advancement Mrs. Jody Ro- Mrs. Bender reflected on their mano embarked on their journey trip, saying, “As far as getting in to France in June, they did not touch with the essence of the sis- know what to expect. They were ters, absolutely, you come away a headed to Le Puy for a guided re- changed person.” treat, where they followed in the Perhaps even more remarkable footsteps of those original sisters than the trip itself was returning as the only lay people on the re- Mrs. Mimi Bender, Dr. Judith Caviston, S. Kitty Hanley, CSJ, and Mrs. Jody Romano to the Mount and seeing the mis- treat. Days were spent praying gather in chapel. S. Kitty facilitated the retreat in LePuy, and spoke at Mount on Oct. 1. sion of the sisters carried on here. and venturing out into Le Puy to Dr. Caviston, Mrs. Bender, and tackle the cobblestone streets and Dr. Caviston explained, saying, Mrs. Bender elaborated, say- ent here at the Mount in more Mrs. Romano traveled to France see first hand the town in which “The service to the dear neighbor ing, “It’s . seeing a problem and ways than just one. In Mount’s hoping to discover some of the the sisters lived in the 1800s. started right there [in Le Puy] in working to fix it.” theme of “unity and reconcilia- magic of Le Puy. Everything about their trip was 1650.” The original sisters saw a need tion” this year, the Mount com- Upon returning, they real- memorable, from the train ride Those original six sisters in their community, and they munity is embracing the mission ized that the magic of that quaint there (just ask them!) to exploring proved to be true pioneers in that worked to fix it whatever way of those original six women. town, and of the sisters, was here the quaint town of Le Puy to in- they did not want to be a clois- they could. Mount instills that “Unity and reconciliation are all along. teracting and forming friendships tered order; they wanted to help same sense of selflessness and among the founding principles of with the sisters on the retreat. the community. In that same generosity in its students. the [Sisters of Saint Joseph], and, For more coverage on Found- Perhaps most remarkable is that spirit, the Mount ardently helps As Mrs. Romano remarked, therefore, of the Mount,” Mrs. ers’ Day and Le Puy, see page 3. when asked individually how she the dear neighbor in any way pos- “Mounties are always looking be- Romano said. saw the sisters’ mission carried sible, whether that “neighbor” be yond themselves to see how they Dr. Caviston, Mrs. Bender and Mount News page 2 the campanile October 2015 Six fresh faces usher in school year Mr. Thomas Bender and my students are all very re- coming me so enthusiastically to for Maryanne, I realized I could ship, Mrs. Pickering spent a se- spectful and kind,” Miss Kane the community.” do both,” said Mrs. McGovern mester at York College of Penn- By Claire Brown ’16 said. “I’m looking forward to Previously working at Christ who works two or three nights a sylvania before transferring “due learning the traditions of the the King Prep and Saint Peter’s week at Chestnut Hill Hospital as to homesickness” to Montgom- The newest addition to the Mount.” Prep, both New Jersey schools, a Nursing House Supervisor. ery County Community College English Department, Mr. Thom- Miss Kane said she is “clear- Mr. Gambone is eager to continue When Mrs. Coyle retired in where she completed her degree. as Bender, is no stranger to the ly comfortable in the all-girls his teaching career at the Mount. May, Mrs. McGovern welcomed Mrs. P said she continues to Mount community. schools,” having graduated from Mr. Gambone’s high school the opportunity to take over as share an abundance of fond, high “I come from a long line of Villa Joseph Marie Academy, history teacher at Devon Prep in- school nurse full-time. school memories with many of Mounties,” said Mr. Bender, cit- completed her student teaching spired Mr. Gambone and many of “Maryanne and I shared a lot her “closest friends” whom she ing his late grandmother, Fran- at Little Flower High School for his peers to want to become ex- of contacts and experiences in met at Mount. In her spare time, ces Strolle; late great aunt Eu- Girls and taught for the past three cellent educators. common,” said Nurse McGov- Mrs. P said she cherishes the time genia Comerford; mother Mimi years at Nazareth Academy. “We had excellent teachers at ern, who credits Mrs. Coyle for she finds to read and spend time Bender; aunt Cyndy Strolle and “I really enjoyed working at Devon Prep,” said Mr. Gambone helping her make the transition to with her two cats, three children sister Emily Bender, all of whom and grandchildren. graduated from the Mount. Mrs. “I am a people person,” Mrs. Comerford taught as the first lay P says. Her greatest goal for the teacher, and Mrs. Bender contin- upcoming school year is to learn ues her work today. all of all the girls’ first and last “I am very familiar with the names! spirit of the school, with every- thing that the Sisters of Saint Jo- Ms. Lydia Thomas seph do. I really believe that the education of young women is an Jenna Yesenosky ’17 important aspect of our society, and I am happy to be a part of that When you first walk into Ms. and help the young women at this Thomas’s office, you may initially school grow and develop.” notice the many cheerful decora- Mr. Bender received his Bach- tions displayed around the room. elor’s Degree in English from The optimistic messages jump Gettysburg College and his Mas- from the walls and give the office ter’s Degree in Creative Writing a bright, fun feel. from Temple University and now If the jovial décor isn’t an im- is currently working on his Mas- mediate indication of Ms. Thom- ter’s Degree in Education from as’ sunny personality, the bright Chestnut Hill College. smile she wears from 8am to 3pm “Writing is definitely one of my every day definitely is. passions,” said Mr. Bender, who New teachers and staff members Mr. Michael Gambone, Mrs. Francie McGovern, Mrs. “I really enjoy being the first added if he were not a teacher, his Jane Pickering, Ms. Lydia Thomas, Miss Keriann Kane and Mr. Thomas Bender gather. smiling face that students and profession would have to involve Nazareth, but I’m very happy to of his high school experience. school nursing. faculty see in the morning,” she the writing process. be at the Mount,” she added. “My history teacher actually in- A graduate of Cardinal Dough- said. His love for reading and writ- The Bucks County native spired my vocation to teach be- erty High School, Mrs. McGov- Ms. Thomas attended Blooms- ing extends outside of the class- earned both her undergraduate cause he was such an excellent ern said she took a special interest burg University, majoring in room. In his free time, Mr. Bend- degrees in Secondary Education educator. He seemed to live and in the sciences and aspired to pur- communications, which aided her er considers reading and writing and Mathematics with a minor breathe knowledge, and many sue a career that would fulfill her decision to pursue a career that his greatest hobbies.