From Xaverian H.S.

A film made by Dylan Issing and Raimi Fasula-Moore features Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, sophomore, Luke Schreiner.  Entitled “Sandy,” the short film interviews Luke about the devastation of Hurricane Sandy on his community, Breezy Point.

The film is being featured in the Our City, My Story segment of the Tribeca Film Festival, which highlights the outstanding student-made work from around the city.

The film will be shown on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 5 p.m. at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center at BMCC (199 Chambers Street).  The screening is free, and all are welcome to register.

Brother Ronald A. Bonti, C.F.X., 80, a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier for nearly 64 years, died March 14 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House.

Born in Brooklyn, he was a graduate of St. Michael’s H.S., Sunset Park. He entered the Xaverian Brothers in September of 1949 and was invested with the holy habit on March 19, 1950, taking the name Brother Vernon.

After earning his degree from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., he taught at Mount St. Joseph H.S., Baltimore, Md., 1955-61, and Flaget H.S., Louisville, Ky., 1961-64.

He served in the Xaverian Mission in Bolivia for more than a decade before returning to the U.S. in 1977. He taught at Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, from 1977 until his retirement in 2006.

He is survived by one sister, Olga Bonti of Brooklyn.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the chapel of St. John’s Prep, Danvers, Mass., March 16. Burial followed in the Xaverian Brothers’ Cemetery, Danvers.

Sister Virginia Lake, C.S.J.

Sister Virginia Lake, C.S.J., of Bishop Kearney H.S., Bensonhurst, served as Grand Marshal of the 20th annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Other contingents included Xaverian H.S. Pipes and Drums, Bishop Kearney’s Marching Band, St. Ephrem’s Cheerleaders, St. Patrick’s School, Holy Angels Academy and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. Middle, Congressman Michael Grimm congratulates deputy marshals. Bottom, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, chapain, with Peter Clavin, emcee; Larry Morrish, a parade founder; and Frankie Marra, committee president. 

The 1990 Xaverian City Championship baseball team (Photo by Jim Mancari)

The 1990 City Championship varsity baseball team was inducted into the Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, Hall of Fame March 9.

Thirteen members of that team returned to accept the honor, and the team’s head coach, Lou Piccola, spoke on the team’s behalf.

Joining the team on the auditorium screen via Skype was Jay Gavigan, a major in the U.S. Military who played on the 1990 team. He is currently stationed in Germany but will soon deploy to Afghanistan. He’s already served three tours in Iraq.

Piccola thanked Gavigan – who was sent a Xaverian baseball hat for the induction ceremony – for his service to the country. Gavigan saluted the audience, which responded with a standing ovation.

Major Jay Gavigan via Skype (Photo by Jim Mancari)

Piccola said he didn’t remember any statistics from the championship season, but he recalled the exact date: June 4, 1990.

The Clippers defeated Msgr. Farrell H.S., Staten Island, at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, to win the first city championship in school history. Since that win, Xaverian has won more city championships in baseball than any team in the CHSAA.

Piccola spoke about each member of his team and thanked his players for their dedication that whole year in capturing the city crown.

A Forerunner in Catholic Education

Our philosophy is simple: We are a place where inquisitive minds grow and faith is nurtured. The children will learn to grow spiritually and intellectually.
Our program follows New York State and Diocese of Brooklyn guidelines. Our students learn the core curriculum, including religion, math, social studies, language arts and science. Students are also educated in foreign language and computer technology. Students’ creativity will be unleashed and inspired through an appreciation of the arts, music and dance. Students are also fortunate enough to enjoy after-school clubs, such as dance and sign language at no additional charge to parents.
We believe in providing our administrators, teachers and students with the tools they need to strive for excellence. Our professional staff of educators has a combined experience of over 200 years of teaching and is constantly keeping up with the latest trends in education through professional development opportunities.

We are the future of Catholic school education and pride ourselves on being the forerunner in our area. With a strong board of directors and parent association, we have made significant changes in the last three years. In 2009, we added a full-day nursery program and early childhood motor skills center. We now boast a brand new technology center. With 20 new computers in the lab and SMART Boards in every classrooms (kindergarten through grade eight), we provide state-of-the-art technology. We have begun to upgrade to iPads and embraced changes that will help make our students successful.

Embraces Mission of Stewardship

Astoria School Remembers the Fallen

On Sept. 11, 2012, the students and faculty of St. Francis of Assisi School, Astoria, gathered together in the schoolyard to salute the American flag and pray for peace in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (Photo courtesy St. Francis of Assisi School)

So which world famous Irish tenor will be in concert at a local parish this fall? Ronan Tynan is scheduled to perform a Classic Tenor Concert at Blessed Sacrament Church, Jackson Heights, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25. Following the concert, a festive cocktail reception will be held, and the admission fee is $20. Tickets are going quickly so make your reservation today. Call 718-639-3888.

And dear Brooklynites, we have a special treat for you too. Regina Opera Company is presenting its Opera and Pops Concert on Sunday, Oct. 7 at its new venue, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Sunset Park. The two-hour show, which will feature arias and ensembles from operas and Broadway plays, begins at 3 p.m. Sing along with soprano Patricia Vital, pictured, and her fellow performers. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for teens and children are admitted for free. For tickets, contact info@reginaopera.org or 718-259-2772.

Tablet TALK Quote of the Week: “Have great confidence in God’s goodness and mercy, and He will never abandon you; but don’t neglect to embrace His holy cross because of this.” — Padre Pio in honor of his feast, Sept. 23.

Voting is one of the great rights and responsibilities of being an American citizen. If you’re not registered to vote, you can register online or download a registration form at www.vote.nyc.ny.us. Forms must be delivered to the Board of Elections Office in your borough at least 25 days before the general election on Nov. 6. To learn more, call 212-VOTE-NYC (868-3692).

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Arlene Figaro, headmistress of the all-girls Catholic elementary school, Visitation Academy, Bay Ridge, who will serve as grand marshal for the 46th annual Children’s Ragamuffin Parade on Sept. 29. The parade is set to begin at 1 p.m. from 76th St. and Third Ave. and will continue along the avenue to 92nd St. Children who attend area public, Catholic and private schools will march in the parade, which was founded in 1967 by Father James McKenna, then-associate pastor of Our Lady of Angels parish, Bay Ridge. Colleen Golden, wife of State Sen. Marty Golden, serves as president of the parade committee. Be sure to wave to Figaro and the children marching!

Camp Offers Hope, Healing

The Newman’s Own Foundation recently awarded a $200,000 grant to Calvary Hospital, which has campuses in the Bronx and Sunset Park, to expand the hospital’s bereavement support programs for school-age and teenage children in the Bronx and Brooklyn. One of those programs is Camp Compass, a unique summer camp offering hope and healing for children, ages six-17, who have lost a parent or loved one. Last month, Camp Compass hosted its 15th annual session, which was held for the first time at Kingsborough Community College, Manhattan Beach. Seventy-five campers, like Jonathan, above, enjoyed swimming, fishing, basketball with the Harlem Wizards and making memory videos and boxes honoring their deceased loved ones. (Photo courtesy Calvary Hospital)

Msgr. Kevin Noone, pastor of Our Lady of Angels parish, Bay Ridge, leads priests and parishioners along Third Avenue during the Corpus Christi procession.

The 19th annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held March 25 along Brooklyn’s Fifth Ave.

Msgr. Kevin Noone, pastor of Our Lady of Angels parish, was the Grand Marshal. He was joined in the line of march by contingents from the neighborhood’s parishes and schools. Festivities began with Mass at St. Patrick’s Church.

Frankie Marra, middle right, chairman of the parade committee, was congratulated by Peter Clavin, who served as parade emcee.