Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. reflected on Veterans Day weekend and encouraged us to offer our prayers for those who have or are currently still serving our country.
“Our nation has formally honored its military veterans since 1919. This year, as we commemorate those brave women and men in every generation who have served our country, heeding the call, when necessary, to place themselves in harms’ way for the cause of peace, let us offer our grateful prayers that their sacrifice and their service may never have been or ever will be in vain.”
To read the Bishop’s full reflection, click here.
Representatives from each of the five schools of the Diocese that were honored by the U.S. Department of Education’s 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools gathered for an award ceremony Nov. 8 in Washington, D.C.
The other schools that were recognized as 2018 Blue Ribbon Award recipients are St. Catharine School, Spring Lake, Robert Dougherty, principal; St. James School, Red Bank, JoAnn Giordano, principal; St. Jerome School, West Long Branch, Filippini Sister Angelina Pelliccia, principal, and St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, Neil Begley, principal.
The event, featured keynote speaker Gene Zannetti, a former nationally ranked, All-Ivy League wrestler who attended the University of Pennsylvania. With a background in sports science and psychology, Zannetti, works with the U.S. Olympic wrestling team and is the founder of
Spiritual Strength, a company that provides coaching, workshops and retreats.
The day also included individual breakout sessions facilitated by Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Sebastian Kajko and Enza Cerami, founder of
Living Stones Inc. – a firm that works to educate about God’s plan for sex and marriage.
PHOTO CAPTION: Carol Bathmann, principal of St. Dominic School, Brick, proudly holds a plaque as she is surrounded by from left, Margaret Boland, associate superintendent in the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools; JoAnn Tier, superintendent; Elizabeth Tonkovich, assistant principal of St. Dominic School; Aba Kumi, director of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Office of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education, and Father Brian Woodrow, pastor of St. Dominic Parish. Courtesy photo.