OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2008 E-MAIL NEWSLETTER TO ALUMNI & FRIENDS
Hi, Everyone!
It has been a busy time in Development since I’ve last been in touch with you. I am learning the systems and hope I have responded to all of you who were so kind to welcome me to St. Elizabeth School.
If you have a new or alternate email address, could you please send it to me? Many emails from September were returned especially those on Bellsouth or Comcast sites. If you know a friend who did not receive a September note, please ask them to email me a correct email address. Thanks for your help. We want to be sure no one misses anything!
Our new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy McNiff visited St. Elizabeth’s in October for a meeting with Sr. Noreen and other principals of the Archdiocese. He praised our school and our student ambassadors for being very friendly, articulate and welcoming.
The other highlight of the month was the 20th Anniversary Mass for Police Officers Michael Buczek (34th Precinct) and Christopher Hoban (28th Precinct), who were killed in the line of duty on Oct. 18, 1988. Since this was my first memorial Mass at St. Elizabeth’s, I, of course, anticipated a beautiful Mass. I was overwhelmed and wished that you could all have been here to witness one of the most poignant, heartfelt memorials I have ever seen. Bishop Gerald T. Walsh returned to concelebrate the Mass with Fr. Daniel S. Kearney, our new pastor; Msgr. Robert Romano, the NYPD Deputy Chief Chaplain; Msgr. Joseph Zommet, Police Dept. Chaplain; Msgr. Gabriel La Paz, the Vicar of North Manhattan and Pastor of Incarnation Parish; Msgr. Joaquim B. Beaumont, former Pastor of St. Elizabeth; Rev. Rudy Gonzalez, formerly of St. Elizabeth, now the Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Spring Valley, NY; and Rev. Evaristis Ohuche of St. Elizabeth Parish. Sr. Noreen welcomed everyone and our 8th Grade students served as altar servers, lectors, and greeters. Our choir, under the direction of Mrs. Eileen Ferry (teacher and Class of 1960) sang beautifully.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and past Commanders of the 34th Precinct led over 400 NYPD officers in full dress uniform. The Church was packed to overflowing with our students, neighborhood residents and students from the Michael J. Buczek Public School nearby. The Emerald Society Pipe Band led the marchers up Wadsworth Avenue and played again after Mass as the lone helicopter flew by in tribute to the two slain officers.
Many family members were present. Mr. Martin Hoban, brother of Christopher Hoban, and Mr. Ted Buczek, father of Michael Buczek spoke after the unveiling and blessing of two large memorial plaques. Both men emphasized in their remarks, that out of this tragedy has come much good. Their faith and that of their loved ones has become stronger and has seen them through the roughest times. As Mr. Buczek said, if you don’t have "family, community, love and especially God," what do you have? Look for pictures of this wonderful event on our website soon.
Please send any news items – large or small – that you would like to share with other alumni either through the monthly email letter or the hard copy of the Alumni and Friends Newsletter. Remember, I love to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Lynch, Director of Development