EmblemCENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | SPRING 2010 On the Shoulders of Giants. years 75 of Excellence in Academics, Faith & Service, The Arts, and Athletics EmblemCENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Central Catholic High School is an independent, Catholic co-educational college preparatory school in Lawrence, Massachusetts. It has been under the direction of the Marist Brothers since its founding in 1935. Central Catholic admits academically qualifi ed students without regard to race, color, or ethnic origin. PRESIDENT PRINCIPAL Inside this Issue Bro. Thomas P. Long, FMS, ’73 David M. DeFillippo ’66 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Provincial Superior / 2 / The Story of St. Champagnat Bro. Benjamin Consigli, FMS Executive Committee/Offi cers & The Marist Brothers Thomas M. Burkardt, Chairman John F. Shaw III, Past Chairman Gary J. Gallant ’75, Vice Chairman / 4 / The Story of Bro. Florentius Dennis A. Conlin ’78, Secretary-Clerk Patrick B. Maraghy ’64, Treasurer Atty. Robert C. Autieri ’72, Executive Committee Member-at-Large / 7 / The Passing of a Giant: Gino J. Baroni ’74, Executive Committee Member-at-Large Members-At-Large Michael D. Sullivan ’55 Heather D. Annaloro Dr. Silvia Castro Shannon Atty. Matthew A. Caffrey Jeffrey D. Sheehy Steven J. Kurek ’79 Christopher J. Sullivan / 11 / Central Catholic in Old Erin Ronald T. Maheu ’60 John F. Sullivan Jr. Bro. James McKnight, FMS Michael T. Torrisi ’92 Arthur H. Richter Bro. Richard Van Houten, FMS / 18 / Class Notes Atty. Laurence J. Rossi ’64 Atty. Joseph J. Wadland Bro. Stephen Schlitte, FMS Margaret G. Ward George H. Schruender Inside Back Cover The Emblem is a publication of the Offi ce of Institutional Calendar of Events Advancement. Executive Editor Editorial Advisory Board Bro. Thomas P. Long, FMS, ’73 Jeanne R. Burns Craig D. Divino ’69 Managing Editor Andrew W. Kelley ’79 Charles G. Putney ’94 Leo F. McCue Chuck Putney ProDUCKtions Karen E. Moynihan ’69SM Michael T. Torrisi ’92 OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Donna M. Shappy, Director Michael J. Randall, Associate Director for Development COVER PHOTO: clockwise starting at bottom left, Jennifer M. Plouffe, Development Associate Michelle Abou-Raad ’12, Michael Alvarez ’10, Anne M. Bradley, Manager of Constituent Relations Joseph P. Dussault ’49, Volunteer Christopher F. Korbani ’10, Elizabeth A. Steele ’10, James J. Abdallah ’10, and Patrick J. McQuillan ’10. Please send letters, comments, and suggestions to the Emblem Editor, Charles G. Putney ’94, Central Catholic High School, 300 Hampshire St., Lawrence, MA 01841 or email him at chuck@chuckputney. com. Dear Alumni and Friends: In the wake of the French revolution, the Catholic Church in France—and French society generally—fl oundered. Catholic schools had been closed; chaos affl icted the public education system. In this milieu, Marcellin Champagnat, a simple country priest, founded an order of teaching brothers. His mission: to provide young hearts and minds inspiring religious formation and a comprehensive education as the foundation of fruitful, successful lives. A century later, Bro. Florentius, a Lawrence native inspired in his youth to join Marcellin’s “band of brothers,” founded a Catholic High School to serve the children of Greater Lawrence. Since 1935, the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and success of the Central Catholic community have proceeded from the founding visions of Marcellin and Florentius. As we anticipate our 75th anniversary, you will read in this Emblem about these two giants who unceasingly infl uence everything we do at CCHS. For over a decade as Central Catholic’s 15th Principal, David M. DeFillippo ’66 stewarded the mission of St. Marcellin Champagnat. Dave’s inspiring commitment to our students and staff and his tireless efforts helped ensure Central Catholic’s growth and success in ways Bro. Florentius could not have imagined. The fi rst CCHS Principal not a Marist Brother, and the fi rst alumnus to serve as Principal: Dave’s term of offi ce is historic in several respects. On behalf of a grateful school community, thank you Dave for your service as Principal and God bless you as you continue to serve CCHS for years to come! Another noteworthy milestone: as Central Catholic’s 16th Principal, Doreen A. Keller is the fi rst woman to serve in this role. Her appointment culminates a fi ve- month search process conducted by a committee whose members include CCHS Board members, alumni, parents, donors, teachers, and administrators. Doreen was unanimously recommended by the committee for this appointment from an appli- cant pool of over 30 applicants from 11 states and two countries outside the USA (China and the United Arab Emirates), an impressive array of educational leaders in Catholic, private, and public education. Under the leadership of our new Principal, together with our enormously talented administration, faculty and staff, our student body and parents (the best in the world!), and our faithful alumni, benefactors, and friends, all who share our zeal for Central Catholic’s sacred mission, can look with hope and confi dence to our next 75 years! God bless you, Brother Thomas P. Long, FMS, ’73 Emblem / 1 Emblem President Paris Se in ›› spotlight e on the shoulders of giants r e Nantes Loi FRANCE La Valle MASSIF The Story of Bordeaux CENTRAL Toulouse MONACO St. Marcellin Champagnat Marseille & the Marist Brothers The Marist Brothers were born in the heart of a humble French country priest who, in the wreckage of the French Revolution, loved and cared for the needs of young people, especially the least favored. His vision, faith, and strength of will brought the Marist Brothers into being. Father Marcellin Champagnat was ordained in August of 1816 and immediately threw himself into his work as a parish priest. Six months later, compelled by the illiteracy and spiritual poverty brought on by the French Revolution (see sidebar The Montagne Incident), he founded the Marist Brothers, placing them under the loving protection of Mary, Our Good Mother. He began with two recruits, borrowing money to purchase a small home in which to teach. His goal: to make Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of youth. The fi rst Marist school opened in LaValla, France in 1817 and is still in operation today. When Marcellin died in 1840, there were 280 Brothers and nearly 50 schools. Like today’s Marist Brothers, the early Marist communities were known for their family spirit and simple Gospel way of being fully present to each other and all people. Then, as now, the goal was to bring the love of Jesus and Mary to others through lives of service. In 1955 Marcellin Champagnat was declared Blessed by Pope Pius XII. On April 18, 1999, he was canonized a Saint by Pope John Paul II. Today, St. Marcellin Champagnat’s legacy lives on in the nearly 4,000 Marist Brothers worldwide, including 185 in the United States. Each day in large cities and remote villages, across 79 countries on six continents, Marist Brothers transform the lives and situations of thousands through education and spirituality, and by challenging young people to live their 2 / Emblem fullest potential in Christ. His legacy also lives on in Central Catholic’s 14,000 alumni and 1,350 students. The Montagne Incident n October of 1816, St. Marcellin Champagnat was called to the bedside of Jean Baptiste Mon- Itagne, a teenager about to die. The boy never attended school and had no knowledge of God. The circumstances of his short life inspired Cham- pagnat to found the Marist Brothers of the Schools for the Christian education of youth. Today, Central Catholic is one of hundreds of schools and universities throughout the world conducted by the Marist Brothers and inspired by the vision and mission of St. Champagnat. In this spirit, Central Catholic named its inno- vative outreach and tuition assistance program for this seminal moment in the life of St. Cham- pagnat and the founding of the Marist Brothers. The Montagne Project helps enroll and maintain promising students from low-income families in the inner city by providing them with up to 90% fi nancial assistance, as well as continuing academic and social support. Approximately 85 students are enrolled through this program. The Montagne Project is instituted in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence; Adelanté, an after-school, educational youth program; and Pray for us… Bellesini Academy, a private, tuition-free middle The students of Central Catholic begin and end each school for economically disadvantaged boys living school day with the following litany during announce- in Lawrence. The program is funded by the Central ments: Catholic Endowment, the Annual Golf Classic, the LEADER: St. Marcellin Champagnat… School’s operating budget, and several founda- tions, trusts, organizations, and individuals. ALL: Pray for us. LEADER: St. Theresa… Nearly 100% of Montagne Project graduates are ALL: Pray for us. accepted into college. LEADER: Mary, Our Good Mother… The existence and success of this program is a ALL: Pray for us. testament to St. Champagnat and his commitment LEADER: And let us remember… to serving the least favored. ALL: To pray for each other. The vision of St. Champagnat and the Marist Charism have defi ned CCHS since its founding, helping to forge a strong, faith-based community that serves as a / 3 Emblem resource and source of strength for students, families, teachers, and alumni. ›› spotlight on shoulders of giants The story of Bro. Florentius is the story of the founding of Central Catholic High School. Like St. Champagnat, Bro. Florentius saw a pressing need and envisioned a way to meet that need—Central Catholic High School. The Story of Bro. Florentius ro. Florentius was born in Quebec and moved to Lawrence with his family at a young age, attending St. Anne’s Grammar School, which Bwas under the direction of the Marist Brothers.