by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This year, Catholic Schools Week was observed from Sunday, Jan. 27, to Saturday, Feb. 2, with the theme “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards,” a theme which focuses on the new initiative of raising the bar on the national standards and benchmarks for effective Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and high standards at Catholic schools across the country. The logo “illustrates a chart of steady growth culminating in the highest achievement of all, a cross representing the faith that underscores all Catholic education.”

The theme is so appropriate, as we are not only reminded of the high academic achievements attained by Catholic schools and academies within Brooklyn and Queens, but also of Christ who is the foundation on which all Catholic schools and academies are built. I am reminded of the quote that Bishop Thomas V. Daily had posted in every school building in the diocese:

“Let it be known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever present Teacher in its classes, the model of its Faculty, the inspiration of its Students.”

Strengthening Catholic Education

Indeed, gratitude must be given in reflection upon Catholic education within the Diocese of Brooklyn. “Preserving the Vision,” an initiative which as you may know began three years ago and continues today to be an instrument of strategic planning for the future of our Catholic schools here in Brooklyn and Queens, continues to encourage and enable schools and academies to assess and strengthen both Catholic identity and academic excellence.

Through “Preserving the Vision,” Catholic education within the Diocese of Brooklyn has strengthened tremendously. An ongoing strategic planning process has enabled the Diocese to guide schools and academies in the completion, implementation and review of strategic plans designed to help them prosper. The process enables newly formed academies to successfully transition into a two-tiered governance model allowing for academies to be governed by a board of directors who specialize in school management, as well as a board of members including myself and pastors involved with the school. “Preserving the Vision” will allow for every school to be transitioned to this effective model by 2017.

With the children at the heart of Catholic education, improvements also advance at the diocesan and local levels in areas such as marketing, public relations, development efforts, technology to enhance instruction and communication, and in providing training and resources for administrators and teachers to implement the expectations found in the N.Y.S. Common Core Learning Standards. Today, we boast 91 Catholic schools and academies with 30,048 children of all races and many ethnicities.

It is my pleasure to announce that 25 of those 91 schools and academies have already transitioned into the academy model, which is so vital to the health and sustainability of the school communities within Brooklyn and Queens. Moreover, our board mentors have been hired within the Diocese of Brooklyn for additional assistance to the boards of directors. These mentors work to ensure that the board of directors fully utilizes all resources that are available to them to be successful in their governance responsibility and to enhance the working relationships among the board of directors, the members of the academy, the principal and the parent community.

The Diocese of Brooklyn is truly blessed to have these mentors to ensure that this vital governance model is fully implemented through their on-site assistance and regular participation. They are able to provide valuable feedback to the board of directors and the members regarding items such as the agenda, the notes and outcomes of the meetings and the challenges. Additionally, they understand board assessment processes and will use this knowledge to develop and implement professional development plans for the needs of the boards. These mentors follow-up with the board chairperson on key issues to provide recommendations that will further each academy to viability and full vitality.

It is understood that the academy model is new and confusing to many. When I speak of mentors aiding in the development of roles for board secretaries, treasurers and sub-committees, it almost seems that there is a certain complexity to academies. Yet, the Church sometimes must guide her members in defining their roles and vocations. There are roles to fill, and we must rejoice that the women and men who serve us can guide others to define these new roles and to aid them in their transitions.

St. John’s University also continues to serve the Diocese of Brooklyn through partnerships in the St. Vincent de Paul Program. The program provides directors with ongoing professional development as continued board evaluation is essential for boards of directors.

Furthermore, regarding the success in schools and academies within Brooklyn and Queens, we must remember the monetary generosity of others. Scholarships totaling $951,358 were awarded to 560 students within the Diocese of Brooklyn by 237 “Angel” sponsors through Futures in Education. An additional $2,399,599 was awarded to 2,898 students through Diocesan scholarships and $3,250,000 to 1,850 students through the Bishop’s Program. Finally, 247 students received a total of $525,855 in financial aid through high school scholarship programs.

Following Hurricane Sandy, you may recall the additional emergency scholarship fund that was established through Futures in Education. Applications were immediately distributed to principals and returned to PSAS by Dec. 14, 2012 for analysis. These applications were hand-delivered in the Rockaway and Howard Beach schools. Overall, more than one million dollars in relief was requested from approximately 700 students, with additional families requesting any help at all. Today, I am pleased to announce that Futures in Education expects to award in February over one million dollars to 764 students affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Great Gratitude

As much as I cannot express the great gratitude I have for donations of over eight million dollars toward the education of children, neither can I express the great gratitude I have for parents who are their primary educators and who make such sacrifices to send their children to Catholic school, nor can I express the fullness of my gratitude toward our Catholic Schools Office. Under the direction of the Superintendent for Catholic Schools Support Services, Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D., and with the daily supervision and collaboration of Sister Angela Gannon, C.S.J., Secretary for Catholic Education and Formation, and our Vicar General, Bishop Frank Caggiano, the Schools Office has worked tirelessly throughout the year, and especially through Hurricane Sandy, to keep our children safe and in school.

Again, the theme of Catholic Schools Week this year is “raising the standards,” a theme comparable to putting out into the deep. As a community, we have raised the bar, not only in academic achievements, but in charity and self-sacrifice. Despite the many hardships families and school communities have endured in the past months, Catholic education within Brooklyn and Queens continues to put out into the deep, raising the bar to persevere and to thrive with Christ as the constant guide. I look forward to my visits to Catholic schools this year, where I will continue to play games of “Stump the Bishop” with children and to answer their questions about religion, although I still cannot tell them about the new math.

by Jim Mancari

This year’s Chief Brehon of the Great Irish Fair, Bob Benya, couldn’t be a more deserving choice.

Benya, the president and CEO of iNDEMAND Networks, has thrived on his Irish upbringing and Catholic education. He’s originally from Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan but has lived the past 20-plus years in Breezy Point.

Benya’s great grandparents were born in Ireland. His father is Slovakian, but his mother (maiden name Dolan) ensured that he understood his Irish heritage.

Bob Benya

Growing up, Benya spent his grade school years at the Epiphany School in Manhattan. His family attended the school’s accompanying parish each week. Now, the Benyas are parishioners at St. Thomas More, Breezy Point.

Benya and his wife Barbara, nee Kelly, have four children. Their oldest daughter, Caitlin, is a Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass., graduate. Their son, Dylan, graduated from Loyola University, New Orleans, and is now living in Colorado. Their youngest two sons, Carson and Robby, are high school students at Poly Prep, Dyker Heights.

While he enjoys spending time with his family — especially playing golf — Benya is heavily involved in charity work at his grammar school in the form of the Epiphany School Education Foundation, which aims to raise funds to keep the school thriving.

In today’s economy, it has become a financial challenge for parents to send their children to Catholic schools. Based on Benya’s positive experience in Catholic school, he has devoted significant time to seeing that these children are given access to a quality Catholic education.

“That’s important because there are a lot of Catholic elementary schools that either have closed or on the verge of closing or in trouble financially,” he said.

Benya said that his early Catholic education shaped his beliefs at a crucial time in his life. He was an altar server and sang in the school’s choir, which taught him the importance of committing one’s time and energy to helping others.

“It’s really the most formative years of a person’s life,” he said. “I put a lot of value on making sure that I can do whatever I can do to help people that are at that stage.”

He played CYO basketball as a kid, which further emphasized the values that he practices today. He coached CYO basketball at Epiphany and now coaches at St. Thomas More.

Giving Back as a Counselor

After grade school, Benya continued his Catholic education at Xavier H.S., a Jesuit institution in Manhattan. He received a scholarship to the school’s higher achievement program, meaning he had to maintain a certain GPA all four years.

“I was fortunate that I got a lot of help when I was younger during those years so that I could attend the school that I attended,” he said.

In addition to playing on the school’s basketball team, Benya coached basketball for underprivileged youth during his high school years. He also taught the children reading, English and math as part of his scholarship program.

Also during his summers, Benya worked for Catholic Charities, which included serving as a camp counselor at the St. Vincent de Paul Camp in Monticello, N.Y. The camp was free for children from Catholic parishes whose families could not afford a summer vacation.

“We were like temporary parents,” Benya said. “We had to watch them 24/7. We had a lot of fun and got a lot out of it. To give the kids that kind of experience was just huge. It was a really great program to be involved with.”

As a counselor and today as a father, Benya has stressed the importance of having a strong work ethic and practicing Catholic values.

“Caring for others and being sensitive to others were two main lessons learned through my 12 years of Catholic schooling,” he said.

The Benya family in Rincon, Puerto Rico.

A Distinguished Media Career

Benya went on to attend New York University in Manhattan. During his junior year, he was recruited by his former CYO basketball coach to work for a Manhattan cable television company. He altered his class schedule so that he worked 40 hours a week during the day and attended class at night.

“It really set me up for future success in the industry,” he said.

Benya has worked for over 30 years in the media industry and has held a variety of positions. Three years ago, his background and experience led to his being named president and CEO of iN DEMAND Networks, a company owned by Comcast/NBCU, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks.

The company serves as the middleman in providing pay-per-view and on-demand programming for over 55 million customers in North America.

Excited for Great Irish Fair

Benya was notified by his good friend and fellow Xavier H.S. alumnus Brendan Gallagher — a board member of the Great Irish Fair — that he had been chosen as Chief Brehon. He was very excited to receive the honor.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “I think the cause is a really good cause. It’s similar to my role at Epiphany where I’m helping the school and helping kids. I think that’s important.”

The Benya family in Telluride, Colo.

This will be Benya’s first Great Irish Fair, so he’s thrilled to be able to share the experience and his Irish heritage with fairgoers and his family.

To further connect with his Irish roots, Benya said he and his family would someday plan a trip to Ireland once his youngest sons are finished with school. He’s looking forward to testing his golf skills on some of the country’s most challenging yet beautiful courses.

As the Irish proverb states, “The love of God guides every good.” These words ring true for Benya, as his love of God has led to his wonderful family life, successful business, rewarding charity work and, of course, his appointment as this year’s Chief Brehon.

Or maybe it’s just the “luck o’ the Irish.”

by Gail Donovan

This is the fourth in a series of articles about the future of Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens.

Joe Sawe, left, founder and president of Project Empower, and Miss New York, Kaitlin Monti, are shown with students from St. Elizabeth Academy.

Spend a few minutes talking to Joe Sawe and you will easily get caught up in his energetic vision for Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens.

Sawe, who is an alumnus of St. Elizabeth School in Ozone Park, wanted to give back to the institution that prepared him for his current career at UBS, so he joined the  Advisory Board of his alma mater and when the school became an academy in 2011, agreed to serve as chairman of its board.

Sawe was so impressed with the academy model that he began recruiting other young professionals at UBS and beyond to serve on the boards of academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn. He also created and is introducing to the academies a nonprofit organization called Project Empower, which fosters leadership in young people and gives them effective guidance to visualize career goals and foster social entrepreneurship.

When Project Empower was announced in November, Bishop Frank Caggiano, Vicar General, said it exemplifies the goals set forth in the diocesan program, Preserving the Vision, to create multiple partnerships designed to strengthen Catholic education.

“This unique initiative brings together corporations, universities, both Catholic and non-Catholic, to benefit children who are attending our Catholic schools,” said Bishop Caggiano.

“We want to give the students the tools they need to choose a career they are passionate about,” Sawe said. “By bringing in outside partnerships with universities and businesses, students can understand the choices that will be available to them later in life after they graduate.”

Tuition-Free in Bushwick
Another goal of Preserving the Vision is increasing development efforts in schools and academies to realize at least 30% of operating revenue from advancement efforts by 2017.  An example of what’s possible is Pope John Paul II Family Academy, located in the former St. Barbara’s School, Bushwick, which is 100% funded by outside sources. The academy was founded in 2009 by an anonymous benefactor who was a product of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

John Viola, director of Pope John Paul II Family Academy, said the school has implemented a business model and is seeking additional funds from other private sources.

“The best way to encourage people to participate is to show them clearly where the funds are going,”  Viola said.  “We know from our work in the private sector how to keep student costs low and that financial responsibility is important.  Everything we’ve done in the school has been around economic responsibility.”
The academy is tuition-free but to be accepted students and their families must be practicing Catholics and live within walking distance of the school.  The current enrollment is 152 students from Pre-K through fourth grade, and additional grades will be added as the older students move up.

Financing from an outside source is the reason why Pope John Paul II Family Academy in Bushwick is a tuition-free school. It was founded in 2009 by a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.

The academy works because it unites education and faith to develop the whole person, Viola said. “The only thing we ask in return is for families to live their religious faith.”

Viola said creating Pope John Paul II Family Academy has required out of the box thinking.  The hope is to replicate the academy’s model and create other tuition-free Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens.

In keeping with the goal of fiscal responsibility, Preserving the Vision requires schools and academies to develop and/or regularly update their strategic plans.

“Strategic plans are important for academies because they allow for a roadmap or blueprint for three to five years with specific goals and objectives,” said Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools – Catholic School Support Services, whose department will be helping schools and academies prepare their strategic plans.

“Without a strategic plan, you’re just going year to year without any specific objectives.”

Under Preserving the Vision, each school and academy is charged with increasing K-eight enrollment by 10% each year.  To reach that goal, schools and academies must develop and execute an enrollment management and marketing plan with specific strategies and tactics for promotion, marketing, recruitment, and retention.

Many schools and academies are increasing enrollment from the ground up by beefing up their Pre-K programs; adding classes for three-year-olds and offering Universal Pre-K for four-year-olds.  Universal Pre-K is government-funded and, as a result, offers a half-day program to children for free, while the families of children who elect to stay for the full day pay for the second half day.

Diocesan statistics show that at least 50% of the children who attend a Catholic pre-school go on to attend kindergarten in the same building.

A marketing team from the Superintendent of Schools – Catholic School Support Services is helping schools and academies prepare brochures, direct mail campaigns, and other marketing materials to increase awareness and attract new students.

“It’s essential that schools and academies brand for educational excellence and Catholic identity and share with their target market the excellent 21st Century technology, education, and learning they provide,” said George Maggiore, who is part of the Superintendent’s marketing team and serves as co-chair of the Preserving the Vision Advisory Committee’s Marketing, Recruitment, and Retention Subcommittee.

A full copy of Preserving the Vision Strategic Plan 2011-2014 is available at mybqcatholicschool.com.

by Marie Elena Giossi

Salve Regina Catholic Academy has two computer labs for student use, as seen above, SMART Boards in every classroom, two libraries and a high school science lab in two buildings.

Born of economic necessity and declining enrollments, Salve Regina Catholic Academy opened in East New York this fall.

One month into the new school year, the academy already features the largest enrollment of any diocesan elementary school and Principal William Geasor believes the move to an academy model will ensure Catholic education thrives in this low-income community well into the future.

As part of Preserving the Vision, the diocesan strategic planning process to strengthen Catholic elementary schools, parish schools are in the process of transitioning to independent academies with two-tier governance models. Since 2008, more than two dozen academies have been formed. In September, three new academies opened: Salve Regina; St. Catherine of Genoa-St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Academy, Flatbush; and St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy, S. Ozone Park.

After months of study and collaboration, the parishes/schools of St. Rita, East New York; St. Michael-St. Malachy, East New York; and St. Sylvester, City Line, decided the most viable option to sustain and increase Catholic education in the area was to close the three parish schools and open one academy housed at the former St. Michael’s School on Jerome St.

In a joint statement released last March, the pastors of the three parishes – Fathers Anthony Raso, St. Sylvester; Pablo Ruani, I.V.E., St. Michael-St. Malachy; and Luis LaVerde, St. Rita, said, “Building on the ideas of a very strong Catholic identity, rigorous academic standards and sound finances, we believe that the academy will not merely survive, but thrive.”

That is exactly what seems to be happening. The academy already has an enrollment of 732 students with three classes per grade in nursery through grade eight.

“Due to the leadership of the pastors and principals of the three parishes… the opening of Salve Regina is viewed as a success. It was the local leadership that developed the plan, implemented the plan and communicated the plan to the parent community,” noted Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Catholic School Support Services. “The leadership is truly visionary and … I applaud all of their efforts and their leadership.”

The process of transitioning from three parish schools into a single, self-sufficient academy began last September, 2010. Geasor, then principal of St. Rita’s, said he and the other principals, Sister Peggy Merritt, O.P., of St. Michael’s, and Ana Maria Ricciardi of St. Sylvester’s, originally thought they could have one academy with three campuses.

A closer look at the financials revealed otherwise. Two schools were receiving diocesan subsidies and charging increasingly higher tuition rates as enrollment declined in order to cover teachers’ salaries.

“We looked at it realistically and decided that if we wanted to continue, we couldn’t stay operating with three plants. In the best interest of Catholic education in this neighborhood, we had to consolidate into one site,” Geasor said.

Of the three schools, St. Michael’s was deemed the ideal location for the new academy because it has two spacious buildings: the elementary school and a former high school.

Currently, nursery through third grades fill the elementary school, while fourth through eighth graders occupy the former high school building. In addition to standard class subjects and daily religion classes, supplemented by weekly Mass attendance at St. Michael’s, students have access to two libraries, two computer rooms, where most of the school’s 400 computers are located, SMART Boards in every classroom and a high school science lab, which will soon undergo renovations sponsored by Petro Heating and Oil Services. Eligible students also receive Title I services, free school bus service, and breakfast and lunch. Before- and after-school programs keep the school open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. – a huge help to working parents.

Families were first notified about the impending changes in January, 2011, and took the news well. “We’ve all become accustomed to the fact that these things (reconfigurations) are occurring,” said Geasor, who was selected as principal by the three pastors.

Enrollment Expectations
In planning for the academy, one concern was how many students would attend. Last year, St. Rita’s had the largest enrollment with 450 students, followed by St. Michael’s with 300 and St. Sylvester’s at 200.

Considering St. Michael’s students had no location change and St. Rita’s is about five blocks away, it’s no surprise that “almost 95% of both schools stayed,” Geasor said.

Most of St. Sylvester’s students, however, transferred to other schools, understandable given that the two parishes are about 15 blocks apart.

Still, enrollment far surpasses original estimates of 550-650 students – and there are new students as well, noted Roxanna Elder, assistant principal.

The ethnic and religious make-up of the student body reflects the surrounding neighborhood, said Elder, who noted that students are largely Latino (60%) and black (35%), and almost all Christian with 75-80% identifying themselves as Catholic.

Elder, a graduate of St. Rita’s School and Nazareth R.H.S., Flatbush, taught for 12 years at St. Rita’s and served the last three years as assistant principal before being hired for the same position in the new academy.

“It’s good to know we’re working to keep Catholic education here in my neighborhood,” she said.

Besides keeping Catholic education alive in the community, the academy offers numerous benefits – the greatest for most parents has been a decrease in tuition.  The current rate is $3,600 with discounts applied for additional children enrolled.  “We kept the tuition rate of the school that had the lowest tuition,” to be fair and encourage the highest possible enrollment, Geasor said.

On top of that, 60-70% of students are receiving financial assistance from the diocese, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Trust, Futures in Education, and outside sources, including Petro Heating and Oil Services.

“It is a poor neighborhood but it is our philosophy that anyone who wants a Catholic education will have one here,” Geasor said.

Another benefit is that the various extracurricular programs, including robotics, sports and Spanish classes, enjoyed at each individual school are in the process of being integrated into the new academy.

Furthermore, it’s been reassuring for both parents and students to see familiar faces at Salve Regina. Faculty and staff from the three former schools all lost their jobs when the schools closed. They have been given first preference for positions at the academy – something Geasor hopes to continue doing as the school expands.

While the principal handles day-to-day concerns, he has the benefit of assistance from an 11-person board of directors, a diverse group of local business people, a retired police officer and Catholic educators, as well as the board of members, which includes the pastors of the three parishes, along with Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano and Dr. Chadzutko. All involved, Geasor said, are working for “the good of the children and to make this school the best possible.”

“It’s a challenge because of the number of students but everything is working out fine,” shared science teacher Francis Belizario, who previously taught at St. Michael’s. He feels children are adapting well to the change. “We brought the good from all of the schools together,” he said.

Kindergarten teacher Marcia Lara added that teachers are also enjoying “increased collaboration and bringing together new ideas.”

Shown at the Opening of Schools Mass are Sister Angela Gannon, C.S.J., Secretary for Catholic Education and Formation; Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio; and Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Schools.

Hundreds of teachers from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn joined Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on Sept. 6 as he celebrated the Opening of Schools Mass at Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston.
In his homily, Bishop DiMarzio said the apostles were chosen by Jesus for specific tasks, which remain the responsibility of the successors of the original 12 – to teach, to sanctify, and to govern.
Teaching the Truth
“Today you come as Catholic school teachers because you share in the ministry of teaching,” the bishop said. “You share in the bishop’s responsibility to teach the faithful. You share in that apostolic work, which leads you to teach as Jesus did. How important that role is in the Church today; that we teach the truth.”
The wisdom of the Gospel is incorporated by teachers when teaching all subjects, not just religion, he said.
He added that after choosing the 12, Jesus immediately began teaching the crowds and also healing the sick. “I think these two ministries are intimately connected – teaching and healing.”
Bishop DiMarzio noted that many children today come from families that are in need of healing, and as a result, Catholic school teachers play an even greater role in their lives.
“You are able to be ministers of healing to children who need a good image of humanity,” he said. “How important it is that you recognize that.”
The bishop prayed for gift of wisdom so that the diocese will continue to give the gift of Catholic education into the future.
“You are apostles, truly,” Bishop DiMarzio told the teachers. “You are sent with a mission to accomplish what Jesus did – to call others to the faith, to heal them, to give them.