Cathedral Alumni News Spring – Summer 2012 SAVE THE DATE: 20TH ANNUAL CATHEDRAL PREP GOLF CLASSIC NORTH HILLS COUNTRY CLUB THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 On Thursday, October 4, 2012, at the North Hills Country Club, Manhasset, New York, Cathedral Prep’s Alumni Association will host its Twentieth Annual Golf Classic benefitting the students of Cathedral Prep. As always, it should be a wonderful day! Since its inception in 1992, we have always had great weather, great food, great fun and great friends. There will be great golfing, raffles, auctions, a fantastic spread for breakfast, a hotdog lunch, a gourmet cocktail hour and most importantly, the opportunity to help Cathedral Prep to continue its mission of education and priestly vocation discernment. Billy Oettinger, ’80, and Jim Farmer, ’80, will be serving as this year’s chairmen. At this year’s outing, we will recognize the The Friel brothers and Ray Nash from last year’s Golf outstanding commitment of the Friel Brothers to Cathedral Prep Classic. with the Cooperatores in Veritatis Award (named in honor of Pope Benedict XVI): Bernie, ’72; Dan, ’73; Connell, ’77; Peter, ’78; Kevin, ’81; and Paul, ’85. Remember to register as soon as possible as we always fill up! Check in time will be at 10:00 AM with brunch following. The shotgun start will begin at 12:00 PM. There will be lunch and refreshments served at the front and back 9s and at the clubhouse. Contests include: hole-in-one for a 2013 car, longest drive, and closest to the pin. We will also be holding a silent auction, a public auction and the annual Blue & White Raffle drawing for two (2) cash prizes of $2,000.00. Drinks and a buffet dinner will be served at 5:00 PM in the clubhouse. If you are unable to attend there are numerous ways to Mrs. Ilda Canton and Family accepting the Cooperatores in Veritatis be a contributing participant as a personal or corporate Award for John and Ilda Canton at last year's Golf Outing sponsor, by donating gifts to our auctions, sponsoring the event, tee and pin sponsorship or by purchasing a Blue & White Raffle prior to the Golf Classic. See page 6 to register for the Golf Classic 14th ANNUAL ALUMNI REUNION – IMMACULATA DINNER th Fr. “Maks” receives the Immaculata Award from Fr. Bill Sweeney, ’73, The 25 Anniversary Class of 1987. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, and Fr. Fred Marano, ’82 On Friday, May 11, 2012, Cathedral Preparatory Alumni Affairs, Fr. Bill Sweeney, ’73, Alumni Seminary held its 14th Annual Immaculata Awards Association President, and Fr. Jim Kuroly, ’98. Ceremony and Alumni Reunion at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, New York. Over The evening continued with a delicious dinner and 230 alumni and friends were gathered, including all gathered had a wonderful time getting Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, to congratulate the golden anniversary of the Class of 1962, the silver anniversary of the Class of 1987 as well as this year’s Immaculata Award recipients: Msgr. John H. Maksymowicz, PA, ’65 and Stephen Somers, ’78. The evening The 50th Anniversary Class of 1962. began with an reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones. elegant cocktail reception, During the dinner the Class of 1962 was well sponsored by represented, gathered by a tremendous effort led by Kerry Sisson, '67, classmate Don Russo, ’62. The Class of 1987 was and continued in also well represented led by Neil Cawley, ’87 and the Chapel, where Tom MCarthy, ‘87. Each alumnus in attendance Vespers were was presented with a plaque by Fr. Marano. celebrated, presided by Congratulations to Msgr. Maksymowicz (“Fr. Bishop Nicholas Maks”), Stephen Somers, the Class of 1962, the DiMarzio and Class of 1987, and all anniversary classes! We look assisted by Fr. Stephen Somers, 78, addressing the Alumni forward to seeing you at the next Immaculata Dinner Fred Marano, Association after receiving the Immaculata Award. and Alumni Reunion. Please visit our school website ’82, Rector- to view more pictures from the event Principal. Fr. (www.cathedralprepseminary.com). John Cush, ’90, Director of Development and THE IMMACULATA AWARD This award, which is named in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who as the Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, is presented each year to 2 alumni who possess the values that Cathedral Prep represents through service to Church and community. This year's honorees exemplify these qualities and we are blessed to have two such leaders in our alumni family. From the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs Dear Brother Alumni and Friends of Cathedral, When a priest is ordained, he is ordained to service for the Church wherever his Bishop needs him. On the day of Msgr. Walter C. Murphy’s funeral Mass, Bishop DiMarzio wanted to speak to me and asked me if I would be willing to study for a doctorate in Theology, with a specialization in Dogmatic and Fundamental Theology. After prayer and consultation, I said yes to this assignment, which will probably take about three years to complete. These doctoral studies will begin in September, and upon completion, I will return to the Brooklyn Diocese and serve in whatever capacity the Bishop needs me to serve with this degree. I will return to my other alma mater, the Pontifical North American College in Rome, this time at the graduate house for priests, the Casa Santa Maria, and will begin studies at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). It will certainly be a huge change for me, going from teacher to student, as I start these studies for an advanced degree. I ask for your prayers as I prepare to leave Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. Since 2004, I have tried to serve Cathedral Prep to the best of my ability as teacher of English, Theology, Fine Arts, Italian, Philosophy and Psychology, as Director of Formation, Director of Middle States Accreditation, Director of the Troike Program, and most recently as Spiritual Director and Director of Development and Alumni Affairs here. Cathedral has been the center of my life and I am so very grateful for this experience, which I know has changed my life. I am truly thankful to Bishop DiMarzio for having assigned me to Cathedral. These have been the happiest days of my life and I have grown so much as a priest, as a teacher and a person and I hope to take the multitude of experiences with which I have been blessed here at Cathedral with me to Rome and to every other pastoral assignment I will have in the future. I thank Fr. Fred Marano, ’82, and all the faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors and students of Cathedral, especially Mr. Joseph Dibs, ’92, whose friendship I truly consider to be one of the greatest gifts in my life, Mrs. Marie Snadecky, a dear friend and co-worker and Mr. Lou D’Amico, ’82, my teacher in so many ways. The priests with whom I have served in the past eight years, Fr. Marano, Fr. Jim Kuroly, ’98, Fr. Kevin Abels, ’94, Msgr. Bill Flood , Msgr. Walter Murphy, ’49, Msgr. Jim Cooney, and Msgr. Joe Calise, ’72, have taught me so very much, each in their own way and I thank them for this grace. ALUMNI ALL SOULS' REMEMBERANCE MASS I promise to pray for you daily at Mass. Please pray WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012 at 8:10 AM for me. We will once again celebrate Memorial Mass for our May the prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas be in our deceased alumni and benefactors as well as the intentions hearts now: “Lord, may everything that we do begin for our alumni and benefactors on Wednesday, November with your inspiration, continue with your help, and 2, 2012 at 8:10 AM. Mass will be celebrated along with under your guidance reach a successful conclusion.” the student body. Please notify the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs if you are able to attend at 718/ 592- Sincerely yours in Christ, 6800, ext. 137 or at [email protected]. If you wish to submit names to be remembered at Mass or in need of Memorial Cards please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. You may contact Fr. Cush at the Rev. John P. Cush, ’90 following address: Director of Development and Alumni Affairs Rev. John P. Cush Spiritual Director Pontifical North American College Casa Santa Maria Via dell’Umilità, 30 00187 Rome, Italy 3 [email protected] fax: 011-390669001823 GRADUATION 2012 On May 30, 2012, 42 seniors graduated from Cathedral Preparatory Seminary at a ceremony presided by the Bishop Octavio Cisneros. The commencement speaker was Fr. John Cush, ’90, Spiritual Director and Director of Development and Alumni Affairs. The valedictorian was Orin Previl, from Our Lady Of Light (St. Pascal Baylon-St. Catharine of Siena) and the salutatorian was Radames Duran, class president, from St. Thomas the Apostle. Of the forty-two graduating seniors, three will continue their priestly formation at Cathedral Seminary House of Formation of the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, the college seminary program for the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the Archdiocese of New York. May the Lord richly bless these young men, our newest alumni, with the courage and strength of the Holy Spirit as they depart from our Alma Mater. We are proud of them! Cathedral Preparatory Seminary - Class of 2012 Rhine David Almonacy Conor J. Gallagher Eugene P. Reynolds Brandon Halan Aniceto Carlos E. Gómez Mikhail C. Ocasio Rodriguez Christopher Ryan Beetz Brendon John Harfmann Nicholas Anthony Ruiz Brendan Thomas Birth Erick C.