by Jim Mancari

The mission statement of Our Lady of the Snows Elementary School, North Floral Park, is the following:

“Our vision is the preservation of our strong Christian environment and high academic standards. We will work conscientiously to realize our ideals in a community that is contemporary, enthusiastic, unbiased, and open to the future.”

This statement thoroughly epitomizes the school’s principal, Sister Roberta Oberle, C.S.J.

The very humble, unassuming principal has passionately served the Snows community for the past 27 years – never seeking an ounce of recognition for her work.

However, her dedicated service led to her being named the recipient of the New York region’s 2013 Distinguished Principal Award as granted by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA).

Sister Roberta with kindergartners at Our Lady of the Snows (Photo by Jim Mancari)

Sister Roberta received her award April 2 at the NCEA’s annual convention held this year in Houston, Texas.

Even with this distinguished honor and her 40-plus years of service in Catholic education, Sister Roberta – in keeping with her compassionate, endearing ways – was quick to acknowledge her peers for their support.

“I accept this great honor in the name of all of the dedicated principals in the Diocese of Brooklyn who work very hard every day,” she said.

“I am very delighted that she (Sister Roberta) is being acknowledged for being such a great principal,” said Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto, who was the pastor at Our Lady of the Snows for 13 years. “I was able to witness firsthand how effective she was as a principal, and I’m grateful that the school and community flourished under her leadership.”

Sister Roberta grew up attending elementary school and Mass at St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Richmond Hill. Her parents and siblings all went to the school as well.

Though the school has now closed, Sister Roberta said that the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught there helped her discern her vocation. She took her final vows in August, 1971.

She later earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the Sisters of St. Joseph’s formation college. She taught for five years at Most Holy Trinity School, East Hampton, L.I., and attended the State University of New York at New Paltz on her summer vacations for her master’s degree.

From there, she taught kindergarten at Blessed Sacrament School, Cypress Hills, for nine years. During that time, the Sisters of St. Joseph approached Sister Roberta about becoming a principal, but she felt that she had not yet had enough experience working with older children.

But after three years teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, Maspeth, Sister Roberta took over as principal of Our Lady of the Snows in 1986.

She said one of her main joys is watching the children grow. Over the years, she’s had to adapt based on the changing nature of education.

“I find that every day is different,” Sister Roberta said. “Education has changed a lot over the years, and children have changed a lot over the years.”

She said her support system – including the faculty, staff, secretaries, teacher aides, school nurse and the parish pastors – has made her job much easier. This support system is what keeps the school going strong.

“Being here so long, I see our graduates bringing their children back and enrolling them in the program,” Sister Roberta said. “They received a quality education here, and that’s what they want for their children.”

Last October, Sister Roberta was informed by diocesan Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Chadzutko that she had been nominated for the NCEA award. She filled out a 12-page application that included multiple reflection questions per page and gathered letters of reference from a fellow principal, a teacher and a parent.

She was joined in Houston by her brother, Sulpician Father Jim Oberle who works at the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas; Remee Mallay, an upper-grade science and religion teacher at Snows; and Mallay’s husband, Ed.

“In receiving such a prestigious award on a national level, it demonstrates how Sister Roberta is well respected in the school and parish communities as well as in the Diocese of Brooklyn which nominated her,” said Father Kevin McBrien, current pastor at Our Lady of the Snows. “Without a doubt her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph, is delighted for her, and together all of us are ecstatic for the recognition she will receive on a state and national level as Distinguished Principal.”

Father McBrien surprised Sister Roberta with a banner in the school’s main lobby recognizing the award. He said he had to sneak into the building to hang it, since Sister Roberta is always in the main office fulfilling her duties.

Of all her duties, Sister Roberta said she and her faculty stress the importance of bringing the children closer to Jesus Christ and teaching the children respect. She credited her faculty with doing an outstanding job in accomplishing these goals, but it’s been her leadership at the top for the past 27 years that has enabled the Snows community to thrive.

Below photos were taken at the NCEA convention in Houston (Courtesy Edward Mallay).

100 Uzzis Celebrate           100 Years in America

Last month, four generations of the Uzzi family held their first family reunion to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their ancestors’ arrival in America from Italy. Uzzis from Brooklyn and across the country met at Transfiguration Church, Lower Manhattan, the family’s first parish, for a blessing from family friend, Father Raymond Nobiletti, M.M. Following the church service, the family took a walking tour of “the old neighborhood” and strolled along Mulberry St. from Mosco to Grand St. Family elders led the way, telling stories of the significance of this place and that. The family then spent hours sharing food, photos and memories, and even chatting with family back in Naples via Skype in St. Finbar’s Msgr. Scanlon Hall, Bath Beach, where several Uzzis are active parishioners. Uzzis from Regina Pacis, Bensonhurst; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dyker Heights; and SS. Simon and Jude, Gravesend, were also present for the reunion. 

Ladies, are you ready to know yourself better? Are you ready to encounter Christ in a more personal way? Are you ready to live your Cursillo? If so, plan to attend the next Women’s Cursillo Retreat, Oct. 11-14 at the Nazareth Retreat Center, Flatbush. For more details or to register, contact Dorothy Baudry at dbaudry@aol.com or 917-929-2442.

Don’t miss your chance to get on the greens with the good people of St. Ephrem Church, Dyker Heights. The parish is hosting its 16th annual Msgr. Brown Golf Outing on Oct. 12 at Dyker Beach Golf Course. You must register by Aug. 31, so don’t delay in contacting Joe Cavalcante at 917-453-3167 or Charles LaRocca at 938-7961.

Mark your calendar! Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens will hold its second annual Diocesan Bereavement Conference on Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at St. John’s University, Jamaica, for individuals who have suffered a loss and those who support them in their journey toward healing. The day includes Mass with Bishop Frank Caggiano, guest speakers and workshops on spousal loss, male grief, caregiving and healing through art. Registration fee: $45, includes breakfast, lunch and materials. Group discounts available. Space is limited. Contact Ingrid Seunarine, 718-722-6214 or iseunarine@ccbq.org.

Tablet TALK Quote of the Week: “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. … If we love nothing, we become nothing. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather it means becoming the image of the beloved … This means we are to become vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.” — St. Clare of Assisi, whose feast is Aug. 11

This year, the stork delivered pink bundles of joy to three members of DeSales Media Group, parent company of The Tablet and NET TV. Amelia Catherine, the second child of Blaine Hicklin, NET TV producer, and his wife, Laurel, arrived on Feb. 7. Big brother James loves his baby sis. Proud parents Ely Soriano, Hispanic Media Dept. producer, and Lucia Rojas, thanked God for the birth of their little girl, Amanda Cristina, on June 9. Mike Geoghan, NET production coordinator/producer, and wife, Susan, welcomed their second daughter, Grace Marie, on June 16. Big sister Sarah is very happy.

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Anthony Cipriano, parishioner at Our Lady of the Snows, N. Floral Park, on receiving a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer work assisting disabled and hospitalized veterans at St. Albans Veterans Hospital. Master Sargeant Cipriano has also served 30 years in the Army Reserves and is a member of the Honor Guard Service Unit that provides final military honors for departed veterans. We salute you Master Sargeant Cipriano! 

Fifty Fruitful Years

Hearty congratulations to Brooklyn native, Sister Joan Franks, O.P., left, who is celebrating her golden jubilee as a Dominican Sister of Peace this year. She continues to enjoy a long and fruitful ministry in education. Her early years of teaching were spent at St. Mark School, Sheepshead Bay. Later, she served on the faculty of Fordham University, 1987-1993. In 2005, she returned to her alma mater, Dominican Academy, Manhattan, where she served for four years as principal. Currently, she teaches philosophy to seminarians at the Consolata Institute of Philosophy, Nairobi, Kenya. “It was rare for me to have a class that enjoyed philosophy, especially since it was mandatory at other schools where I had worked,” comments Sr. Joan. “My students in Africa truly enjoy the topic and see the correlation between philosophy and theology. Learning for them is a way out of poverty, and access to a career.” She also travels weekly to a monastery of Dominican nuns to teach the Dominican Order’s history and charism. “By serving these various students, I believe I am fulfilling the mission of the Dominican Sisters of Peace,” she said. Indeed! Keep up the great work Sister Joan! You make us proud!

St. Bernard’s Aquinas Crew Visits St. James

The Junior Aquinas program at St. Bernard School, Mill Basin, recently enjoyed a special visit to St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn. Msgr. John Strynkowski, rector, gave students a tour and explained the history of the worship space, particularly its stained-glass windows. This year, students have been studying the medieval period, coats of arms and stained-glass windows so this was a wonderful way to enhance their appreciation for this art form. Students are pictured with Msgr. Strynkowski; Deacon Christopher Wright; and Aquinas coordinators, Melissa Wagner, Mary Wright and Annette Vale. (Photo courtesy Melissa Wagner)

Lent is a season of reconciliation, forgiveness, healing and hope. If a past abortion is weighing on your heart and soul, Rachel’s Helpers invites you to participate in a confidential, post-abortion reconciliation program this Lent. Forgiven and Set Free is an 11-week, small-group experience, beginning March 12. Bible study is emphasized. For details, call 718-939-6646.

Mercy Home, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy since 1962, is marking its 150th anniversary this year. Mercy Home’s mission is to assure a high quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities. This is achieved through a network of residential programs throughout Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County; residential support programs; community support programs; respite and in-home respite programs.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will begin the sesquicentennial festivities with an Anniversary Mass for the Mercy Home family at the Convent of Mercy, Clinton Hill, next weekend.
Supporters and friends are welcome to join the celebration at The Partners in Mercy Luncheon, April 29 at Russo’s on the Bay. Tickets are $200. For tickets, call 718-832-1075.

Ladies, if you have Type 2 diabetes, check out the free workshop, Keeping Diabetes In Check, March 7, 6 p.m. The event is sponsored by Brooklyn Women’s Services, Bay Ridge, an affiliate of Maimonides Medical Center. To register, call 718-748-1234 or go to www.bwsnyc.com.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and the diocesan Vocation Office would like to recognize the generous service given by altar servers to their local parishes by treating them to a special Altar Server Day, April 11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Organizers are planning entertainment, games and a liturgical celebration for boys and girls at St. Mary, Mother of Jesus Church, Bensonhurst. There is no registration fee but space is limited. You must register by March 30. Speak to your ministry coordinator and then contact Lisa Amore, 718-827-2454 or lamore@diobrook.org.

Invite Mother Teresa to be part of your Lenten devotions. Witness the spiritual journey of one of the holiest women of the 20th century in Defense of Doubt: A Tale of Mother Teresa, an original play by Vince N. D’Onofrio, at Holy Family-St. Thomas Aquinas parish, Park Slope, March 23, 7:30 p.m. A free-will offering will be accepted. For details, call St. Thomas Aquinas rectory at 718-768-9471.

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Our Lady of the Snows, North Floral Park, where parishioners donated $2,122.58 during the parish’s Supper Bowl fundraiser last month. All proceeds benefit the parish’s Human Concerns Center, which is now in its 30th year of providing parish and community outreach services. Under the direction of Sister Vincent Marie Binder, M.S.B.T., the center provides bereavement, counseling and food pantry services. Last month, center staff sent 450 valentines to neighbors in hospitals and nursing homes as well as homebound parishioners, noted Patricia Nicolosi, center secretary.

St. Athanasius Students Promote Service

Promoting the service aspect of this year’s Catholic Schools Week’s theme, “Faith, Academics, Service,” fourth and fifth graders at St. Athanasius, Bensonhurst, hosted their school’s fourth annual blood drive during February. They had a great experience participating in the Little Doctors Program, sponsored by the New York Blood Center, and worked with their teachers, Maria MacCormack and Karen Hayes, to make the drive a success. Above, the boys give a pat on the back to Deacon William Kelly, one of many parishioners who made time to donate. (Photo courtesy St. Athanasius School)

Ready To Serve Bensonhurst Community

Regina Pacis, Bensonhurst, celebrated the installation of four new extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 8. Sister Anna O’Brien, M.F.I.C., pastoral ministry director, far left, and Father Vincentius Do, parochial vicar, third from right, congratulate the new ministers, from left, Salvatore Friscia, Mary Gambale, Kathleen Dunn and Linda Merone.

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 Tablet Talk Pick of the Week: 

Art enthusiasts, you don’t want to miss From Here to Haiti’s Art Show Fundraiser, this Saturday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. in Whitestone. View and bid on the works of over 30 Haitian and international artists, including Patricia Brintle, parishioner at St. Luke’s, Whitestone. Proceeds benefit the people of Haiti (www.fromheretohaiti.org) by repairing Catholic and Christian churches and structures. For show details and directions, call 718-746-3012 or 646-209-2891, or e-mail fromheretohaiti@gmail.com.

Save the date: The Fourth Annual Dinner Dance sponsored by the Kathie and Chris Lawler Endowment Fund for Senior Priests of the Brooklyn Diocese will be Feb. 3, 6-10 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston. This event honors Msgr. Vincent Keane and will be held in memory of Msgr. Thomas Donovan. Tickets are $75 per person; $700 table of 10. Enjoy cocktails, dinner and dancing for a great cause. For reservations, call Tom, 718-839-5413.

Here’s some uplifting news for the new year: The elevator fund at Our Lady of the Snows, N. Floral Park, recently received a boost from the parish’s Ladies Craft Group, which donated $600 toward the campaign!

All are welcome to attend a Faith and Film Festival at St. Matthias Church, Ridgewood, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 6:15 p.m. This month’s featured film is A Christmas Carol starring Alistair Simms. Discussion will follow. Light refreshments will be served. For details, call 718-821-6447.

If you’ve ever thought about pursuing your master’s degree in theology or pastoral studies, consider enrolling at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington. Registration closes on Jan. 25 and the spring semester begins Jan. 30. For more information, call 631-423-0483 ext. 112 or 147, or visit the website, www.icseminary.edu.

The Passionists are inviting men between the ages of 18 and 40 to learn more about their way of life during a Come and See weekend, Jan. 20-22. There is no charge. For information or to register, contact Father Chris Cleary, C.P., at 718-739-6502 or Ccleary@cpprov.org.

The Social Justice Committee of St. Boniface Oratory Church, Downtown Brooklyn, will host “Prisoner as Person,” a presentation and panel discussion on Jan. 20, 7 p.m. at 111 Willoughby St. Event will feature experts regarding incarceration and the experience of societal re-entry. Speakers include the Hon. Alex M. Calabrese of the Red Hook Community Justice Center; Sister Marion Defeis, former Chaplain for Women at Riker’s Island and founding member of Providence House; and Rev. Stephen Chinlund, former N.Y.S. Commissioner of Corrections, and founder of The Network. For more details, visit www.oratory-church.org or call 718-875-2096.

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to St. Mark’s Church, Sheepshead Bay, for bringing the joy and cheer of Christmas to their neighbors at Sheepshead Bay Nursing Home. Just before Christmas, Kathy Cash and her third-grade faith formation class visited residents to sing carols, spread cheer and deliver 90 cards made by the first- through seventh-grade faith formation classes. Students also distributed 30 handmade blankets from St. Mark’s Golden Age Society, equally well known as The Good Ladys. Ronnie and Linda Brigando, both extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at St. Mark’s, also distributed communion to residents. The visit was coordinated by Maureen Genoversa of St. Mark’s Homebound Ministry and parishioners Tom and Geraldine Kubat.