by Jim Mancari

At first glance, seeing the name “Texeira” penciled into the cleanup spot in the St. Saviour H.S., Park Slope, varsity softball lineup might spark some confusion.

“Wait a second, what is the New York Yankees’ first baseman doing playing high school softball?” you may wonder.

But actually, the St. Saviour Pandas have their own version of Mark Teixeira: senior Elizabeth Texeira.

If you notice, the last names are spelled just a bit differently, but that hasn’t stopped St. Saviour’s opponents from questioning Elizabeth about her name.

She sometimes jokes that she is a distant cousin of Mark, and by the way she plays on the softball diamond, that wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

Elizabeth Texeira slides in safely at home (Photo courtesy St. Saviour H.S.)

Known by her teammates as “Tizzy,” Texeira has been a fixture on the St. Saviour varsity softball team since her freshman year. She’s a third baseman by trade, but she’s also filled in admirably at first base, pitcher and catcher and may even see some time at shortstop this upcoming season. She also serves as one of the team’s co-captains.

Like the Yankees’ first baseman – a five-time Gold Glove defender and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner – Tizzy is the rare combination of a player who excels as both an offensive power threat and a capable defender.

She grew up attending the parish and elementary school at St. Anselm’s, Bay Ridge, and played soccer, basketball and baseball for the Brooklyn Children’s Basketball and Baseball Association (BCBA).

In addition to softball at St. Saviour, Texeira also played volleyball in the fall and basketball in the winter. She was a 2012 Tablet softball all-star and was recently named to The Tablet’s 2013 girls’ basketball all-star team. It’s interesting that Mark Teixeira is also a two-time all-star.

As a junior last season, she was the team leader in batting average at .526 and RBIs with 25. Her on-base percentage was over .600, meaning she was on base more than three times out of every five plate appearances. Those are certainly impressive statistics, but Tizzy is eager to keep improving this spring.

“I hope to do even better for my last year,” Texeira said. “I want to make it the best year and hopefully win the championship and make it memorable.”

Mark Teixeira won the 2009 World Series as a member of the Yankees, and similarly, Elizabeth Texeira has a championship pedigree. She was an integral part of the 2011 St. Saviour team that captured the Brooklyn/Queens ‘B’ Division diocesan championship.

St. Saviour head softball coach Bob Atanasio is already dreading Tizzy’s impending graduation, since he’ll have to find multiple sources of offensive and defensive production to replace his star player – and also his goddaughter.

Texeira delivers a pitch (Photo courtesy St. Saviour H.S.)

“She’s (Texeira) a very versatile player,” Atanasio said. “Basically whatever I ask her to do, she’ll do it. She’s just that type of kid and that type of player trying to help the team.”

Tizzy’s on-field talent has been just one facet of her overall impact on the Pandas’ program. Her leadership and sportsmanship have set the tone for the younger members of the team, and she was even voted as the school’s student body president. For basketball, she recently was the well-deserving recipient of the Theresa Whitty Sportsmanship Award.

“I always try to tell people that they did a good job and to keep their head up,” said Texeira, who was honored to win the award. “It’s just a game. I think that in playing a sport, one of the priorities is to win, but the main priority is to have fun and to enjoy your time on the field or court.”

In keeping with the similarities to the Yankees’ slugger, Tizzy is a devout Yankees’ fan who started following the team in the mid-to-late 1990s when it consistently won World Series titles. She said Mark is one of her favorite players, but she wears No. 2 in honor of her other favorite player, Derek Jeter.

A team is like a family, and Tizzy said she’s enjoyed the tightly-knit community at St. Saviour. She said that everyone genuinely cares about each other, and she hopes the school recognizes the time and dedication she’s devoted to all three sports during her high school tenure.

“I just want to leave this school knowing that I left my mark,” she said. “I want people to remember me here not just for softball but for academics as well.”

While Tizzy may be focused on putting her final exclamation point on her softball career with the Pandas, it’s funny that Mark Teixeira is dealing with a wrist injury forcing him to miss at least a few more weeks.

Maybe the Yankees could use St. Saviour’s “Texeira” to fill the infield void.

Joan Flynn Celebrates 50 Years Serving Brooklyn Diocese

DeSales Media Group and The Tablet were proud to honor Joan Flynn for her 50 years of service to the diocese at a special luncheon for family, friends and colleagues at Michael’s Restaurant, Marine Park, on March 13. Among the guests were her former boss, Frank DeRosa, retired public information director for the Brooklyn Diocese, and his wife, Liliane, and Flynn’s good friend, Msgr. John J. Bracken, diocesan director of patrimony. Flynn, who continues to work part-time at The Tablet, said she has loved serving the diocese and has never had a day that she didn’t look forward to her work. Above, she is seated at right, surrounded by her family members.

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Catholic musician and worship leader Bob Rice (www.bobrice.com) is performing an Easter Concert on Friday, April 12, 7:30-10 p.m. at Presentation B.V.M. Church in Jamaica. On Saturday, April 13, he will join parishioners for a Healing Service, 7:30-10 p.m. For details, call 718-739-0241.

News about drug and weapons trafficking often makes its way into the media, but there is a far more appalling type of buying and selling on the rise: human trafficking.
The Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John’s University, Jamaica, in collaboration with the New York Coalition of Religious Congregations to Stop Trafficking of Persons and LifeWay Network, will address this human rights issue in relation to the travel industry at an upcoming conference: Human Trafficking: Whose Business Is It? The Travel Industry’s Role in Ending Modern-Day Slavery, April 6, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the D’Angelo Center, Room 416.
The keynote presenter will be Sandi D. Mitchell, formerly of Sabre Holdings, a global technology leader. Discussions will follow.
The donation for the day is $20 and includes continental breakfast and box lunch. The student rate is $5. You must register by April 3. To register, contact Mary Ann Dantuono at 718-990-1612 or dantuonm@stjohns.edu.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is proud to announce the opening of its Behavioral Health Center Outpatient Clinic at 161-10 Jamaica Ave. in Jamaica – the newest addition to its behavioral health programs in Brooklyn and Queens.
The new center offers individual, group, marital and family therapy to adults and children, ages five and older, who are struggling with mental illness.
For details, call 718-704-5488 or visit www.ccbq.org.

Dance the night away with Msgr. Perfecto Vazquez and Cursillistas at the Cursillo Movement’s 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance, April 5, 8 p.m. at the Grand Prospect Hall, Park Slope. Tickets are $120 per person. For tickets or details, call Alex Gonzalez, 646-773-9810, or Clara Rodriguez, 917-482-8904.

This week, we offer our Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat to two worthy recipients.
The first goes to the students, families and faculty of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy, Park Slope, who raised $500 for autism awareness this Lent. Proceeds went to the Mid Hudson Valley Camp, which serves a diverse population of children with special needs.
The second goes to the San Pasquale Benevolente Society of Airola for its generous $2,500 donation to Nativity B.V.M. – St. Stanislus Bishop and Martyr parish, Ozone Park.

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iPads Arrive in Bayside

iPad technology is changing the way teaching and learning occurs in the classroom.

Irish Catholic heritage was on display at the 38th annual Brooklyn Irish-American Parade in Park Slope on March 17. This year’s parade was dedicated to the memories of the 29 Irish Korean War Veterans, 341 Brooklyn Korean War Veterans and the late parade committee member John McDonagh. Festivities began with morning Mass, celebrated by retired Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan at Holy Name Church. The bishop posed for a picture on the church steps with Father James Cunningham, Holy Name pastor; clergy; parade honorees and organizers and step dancers. Following breakfast in Shepherd’s Hall, local parishes, schools, pipe and drum bands and scouts stepped off at Bartel Pritchard Square. The NYPD marching band and color guard led the way, followed by the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee. Grand Marshal Robert O’Hare walked alongside his aides: Mary Lennon, John Houlihan, Rosemarie Coulson, Brigid Tully, Michael McMahon, Michael Carolan, Noreen O’Donnell-Mills and Frank Thompson.

by Marie Elena Giossi

Last week was not the typical week at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Park Slope.

Students attended school in pajamas instead of uniforms, donned wacky-looking hats and silly socks and even set aside a day to appreciate – yes, appreciate – their principal and teachers.

Though unusual for every other week of the year, these activities, along with an Open House, science exhibit, book fair and school Mass, were fitting festivities to celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

“Catholic Schools Week is the best week of the year,” said seventh grader Dedie Plasencia. “We have sports day, pajama day and movie day.”

Special events were held throughout the week at Catholic elementary schools and academies around the diocese.

Not only was this St. Joseph the Worker’s first observance of Catholic Schools Week since opening as an academy last fall, but it was also a celebration of how far the school community and building has progressed in the last six months.

A visitor to the school late last August would have seen the main hallway and classrooms filled with a hodgepodge of furniture, books and miscellaneous supplies. As teachers tried to ready their classrooms, they navigated around painters on scaffolds and workers upgrading the electrical system.

Located in the former Holy Name of Jesus School building, the academy needed extensive renovations in order to accommodate children who previously attended the former parish schools of Immaculate Heart of Mary and Holy Name of Jesus, from which the academy was formed.

Principal Robert DiNardo admits he was more than a little nervous about not being able to open on time. Yet, what could have taken months happened in a matter of weeks because of help from the diocese and what he calls “an army of worker bees” – his teachers and staff.

“It was an amazing transformation,” he said. “The teachers did a fantastic job getting the school ready.”

Walking into the main hallway today, a visitor is surrounded by a virtual winter wonderland. Gone are the straggle of boxes, books and furnishings. In their place are attractive handmade projects featuring chubby penguins, fluffy polar bears, dangling snowflakes and facts about the Arctic – a visual representation of climate studies recently conducted by the younger grades.

“Look around,” DiNardo said proudly. “We’re getting there. We’re on our way to having the building where we want it to be.”

Hallways and classrooms are newly painted and the floors shine. DiNardo is proud to have SMART Boards in every kindergarten through grade eight classroom, as well as in the art room, and have a SMART Table for the pre-k3 and pre-k4 classes. Students also have access to a computer lab, science lab and resource room.

As for the multitude of books, many have been organized into a book room for teachers, and others were donated. “Over the last two months,” DiNardo said, “we’ve given away more than 1,500 books to other Catholic schools in the diocese.”

However, there is still work to be done: The library is only half finished; the cafeteria needs to be painted; stacks of unpacked boxes remain; and the elevator needs repairs, which are scheduled for later this month. School computers must also be capable and ready for administering state tests within the next two years.

But DiNardo knows those are smaller matters compared to the big picture – providing the very best Catholic education to about 345 children who have been entrusted to his care.

Right now, his main focus is on incorporating the new N.Y.S. Common Core Learning Standards into daily instruction. These standards entail a more challenging curriculum, more critical thinking and more depth to classroom teaching.

DiNardo and three teachers are undergoing training at St. John’s University, Jamaica, to help develop the curriculum in the school.

The key is integrating the new curriculum while keeping students engaged. If you ask the students, that doesn’t seem to be a problem.

“It’s not just taking notes,” explained seventh grader Jewel Perez. “Teachers are creative, and we do different activities. They make school fun.”

Perez and her peers, some of whom started their educational careers in the building and others who are newcomers this year, describe the school as “one big family.”

It is that sense of family, found in “caring teachers and friends,” that eighth grader Bridget Pynn will miss when she and most of her 29 classmates head to Catholic high schools this fall.

“It is a very welcoming community,” added librarian Karen Mulhern, who feels at home in her new school community. She says she commutes from Queens everyday for “the children” and the joy they get out of the books.

“You can’t have a faculty work harder than this one,” DiNardo added. “It’s amazing how much time and effort they put into making a great environment for the children.”

Servant Hearts Grow in Park Slope

Since 1914, St. Francis Xavier School in Park Slope has provided a faith-filled, value-centered Catholic education with high academic standards and expectations.
We are accredited by the Middle States Association and offer a five-day nursery school as well as classes for pre-k-4 through grade eight. Parents have the option of enrolling three- and four-year-olds in programs for a half-day or full-day session. Universal pre-kindergarten is also available.
The dedicated faculty and staff are committed to providing a challenging, structured, creative and caring environment where children can obtain the necessary skills for success in high school and college.
In addition to developing each student’s talents and abilities, St. Francis Xavier School encourages good study habits, leadership qualities and sound decision-making skills, along with a respect for life within a faith community and beyond. Service projects, coordinated by Student Council members, help raise community concern and awareness. The school community has collected food for the homeless to benefit CHIPS (Christian Help In Park Slope); raised funds for Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude’s Hospital and Covenant House; made donations to the Catholic Missions, flood victims in Haiti, schools in Africa and fire victims in California; and cleaned litter around the school and church buildings in honor of Earth Day.
We are proud to offer an after-school program as well as after-school clubs, including music, drama, crafts and Spanish. For sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students who excel in reading and math, we offer the Aquinas Club, an educational enrichment program.
For more information, you can visit the school during its open house on Sunday, Jan. 27, following the 12:15 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church. Open houses are also held every Thursday, 9-10 a.m., and during Catholic Schools Week on 
Tuesday, Jan. 29, and Thursday, Jan. 31. To learn more, log onto our website at www.sfxsparkslope.org.

The NET conducted its annual Faith Film Festival at the Grand Prospect Hall, Park Slope. This season’s awards were presented to “Born In Goma,” Chris Carpenter, Best Documentary, Lighthouse Vision Award; “Women In Hats,” Brandi Brown, Best Screenplay, Lighthouse Award For Writing; “Are We Listening?” Andrew Sensenig, Best Educational Film, Lighthouse Faith Award; “The Jesus Picture” by Trisha Solyn, Best Cinematography, Lighthouse Lens Award; ”Parrot,” Craig Foster, Grand Prize Winner, Golden Lighthouse Award; “Heart And Souls,” Anthony Mangano, Lighthouse Honorary Award. The Festival also screened the feature film “Doonby.”

by Jim Mancari

The Bishop Ford O-line, from left: Antonio Clark, tight end; Esaie St-Vil, right guard; Jacob Jones, left guard; Head Coach Jim Esposito; Devonte Linton, center; Walter Ferdinand, left tackle; and George Clement, right tackle.

In the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, only 52 of the 267 inductees are offensive linemen. Yet, without a strong O-line, a football team’s offense cannot function efficiently.

Unfortunately, offensive linemen receive very little credit. It’s a thankless job but one that six young men from Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, have openly embraced.

Led by Varsity Head Coach Jim Esposito, the Falcons’ O-line considers itself a family within the larger family of the entire team. This mentality has allowed Ford to battle to a 4-4 record and be one of the leading rushing teams in the CHSFL by averaging nearly 173 yards per game.

“To play offensive line, you have to be inherently unselfish,” said Esposito, who has coached at Ford for 12 years and played left tackle at the State University of Albany, from 1979 to 1980. “It’s known that you’re not going to get much recognition unless probably you make a mistake.”

Esposito said that the offensive linemen need to be the smartest players on the field besides the quarterback since they are always working together as a unit.

“It’s really hard unless someone is knowledgeable about football to know what’s going on up front,” he said. “It’s really a paradox because that’s where the game’s won or lost.”

While running back Dante Aiken, quarterback Xaviah Mattocks and wide receiver Rodney Gonzales are making big plays, the Falcons’ O-line quietly goes about its business, not seeking any of the credit.

“I always tell him (Aiken) that if you run hard for me, I’ll block hard for you,” said Walter Ferdinand, a senior left tackle from Canarsie who attends Holy Family parish. “I feel like when he gets a touchdown, I’ve helped him. It doesn’t matter what the stats say, but I know I’ve helped my running back.”

Though the offensive linemen may never appear in the highlights, they’ve accepted their role and have performed well together in the trenches.

“The offensive line is a close unit,” said Devonte Linton, a senior center from Flatbush who attends Holy Cross parish. “We communicate so that we can open up the holes for our backs and make sure our quarterback is safe.”

Keep Their Teammates Safe

The members of Bishop Ford’s O-line take pride in that fact that they put themselves on the line every day in practice and in every game to keep their teammates safe from opposing defenses.

“The offensive linemen are like the big brothers of the team,” said George Clement, a senior right tackle from Crown Heights. “We look out for the backs and receivers who are like our little brothers. We’re the big bodies, so we’re there to protect them.”

In addition to working together on the field, the linemen remain close friends off the field and do everything together. This mentality has strengthened their play on the gridiron.

“We believe that if we come together as a unit, it starts with the O-line because we’re the heart of the offense,” said Antonio Clark, a senior tight end from Clinton Hill. “If we’re not pushing, the skill guys can’t do what they do. That drives us to be better.”

Learning from a former lineman in Coach Esposito has certainly benefited the Ford unit. The footwork and protection schemes can get complicated, but the student-athletes know that they can turn to their coach at any time for assistance.

“He’s (Esposito) not just a coach; he’s a teacher,” said Esaie St-Vil, a senior right guard from Crown Heights who attends St. Vincent Ferrer parish, East Flatbush. “He not only teaches us about football, but he also helps us become better men for the future too.”

Esposito said he’s proud that his linemen have great character and don’t complain about their roles.

“I really like coaching them because they’re a bunch of nice kids,” he said. “They’re good team guys and a good part of the community. They’re kids that represent Bishop Ford on and off the field in the right way.”

In 1991, Paul Shanklin, a football coach at Voorhees H.S., Glen Gardner, N.J., wrote a poem called the Lineman’s Prayer. He describes the gritty roles offensive linemen play throughout the course of a game, and yet they are rarely recognized for their hard work. The Falcons’ linemen can relate to the poem.

“I think it’s all true,” said Jacob Jones, a sophomore left guard from Bushwick. “We emerge with bloody hands and are the ones that help the skill players through anything.”

After the final whistle in a game, the Bishop Ford linemen do not care who scored touchdowns or how many points the team scored. All they care about is if the team won the game.

And as they walk off the field in jerseys covered in mud, sweat and the color of the other team’s uniform, they know that they stuck together, just like a family.

Contact Jim Mancari via e-mail at jmancari@desalesmedia.org.

by Jim Mancari

Known as the “Ambassadors of Goodwill,” the Harlem Globetrotters have combined an entertaining style of basketball with a broader community service mission for over 85 years.

The Globetrotters brought their goodwill to Brooklyn on Sept. 18 by visiting Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, for an anti-bullying and violence prevention assembly. This event marked the first visit to Brooklyn in the team’s famed history, in which the Globetrotters have visited more than 120 countries and territories and performed for nearly 140 million fans.

The program, The ABCs of Bullying Prevention, debuted in front of over 400 young people: the Bishop Ford Class of 2016, children from Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens (CCBQ) Out of School Time program and students from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy, Park Slope.

Through showcasing his basketball skills and a little humor, Globetrotter Anthony “Buckets” Blakes, an 11-year veteran, engaged the audience through skits portraying the message of anti-bullying and violence prevention. He helped design the program in coordination with the National Campaign to Stop Violence, a nonprofit organization that works with middle-school students to explore non-confrontational actions to reduce violence.

Anthony “Buckets” Blakes of the Harlem Globetrotters poses with children from Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens’ Out of School Time program in the auditorium of Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope. (Photo by Jim Mancari)

Blakes taught students the importance of using the “ABC” tools to reduce bullying and prevent violence: Action, Bravery and Compassion.

“It’s very important for me as a Harlem Globetrotter to spread this anti-bullying message,” said Blakes, who earned his nickname “Buckets” for his ability to score baskets in rapid succession. “Not only are we the ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill,’ but we also feel like we have some sort of influence over the kids in a positive manner. They love what we do with the basketball on the court, but they get a chance to see us and interact with us when we come to their schools and talk about the ABCs of bullying.”

Blakes wanted to team up with the parochial schools in Brooklyn to continue spreading the message of anti-bullying. The children in the audience enjoyed the lighthearted aspects of the presentation, but they were also very attentive during the serious portions.

“There is so much bullying that goes on the elementary schools and in high schools and even into adulthood unfortunately,” said Gladys Rodriguez, vice president for family services for CCBQ. “To have this opportunity for a Globetrotter to speak to our children is really a wonderful opportunity for them.”

Blakes also spoke about how he was bullied as a child. By sharing these experiences, the children in attendance were able to relate to his action, bravery and courage.

“He (Blakes) got where he wanted by working for it,” said Gavin Turlow, a freshman at Bishop Ford from Bay Ridge. “Like he said, you have to work hard for anything you want to be.”

On stage, Blakes led a few volunteers in performing the Globetrotters’ famous “Magic Circle,” in which each participant completed a trick before passing the ball. All the students in attendance received an official certificate autographed by Blakes signifying they had completed the ABC program.

The Globetrotters will return to Brooklyn on Oct. 7, when they play the first-ever basketball gamet at the new Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn.

Junior Olivia Boisrand and freshman Olivia Calamia of St. Saviour H.S., Park Slope, were the winners of an annual essay contest co-sponsored by their school and Duffy Funeral Home, Park Slope. The theme of the contest was the dangers of driving while intoxicated, which was established to raise students’ awareness about real-life issues. For the contest, the student body watched a documentary about a young man who drove drunk and killed a woman. Students were then asked to respond in essay format to what they saw. Faculty members reviewed the inspiring work submitted by over 200 Saviourites and selected the winners. Above, Sister Valeria Belanger, S.S.N.D., principal, and Joseph Amato of Duffy Funeral Home, presented awards to the winners, Boisrand, center, left, and Calamia, right.

Severe thunderstorms didn’t dampen the focus, spirit, enthusiasm and drive of the hundreds of children and parents who attended the opening liturgy and family barbecue celebrating the commencement of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Park Slope this summer.

The team behind St. Joseph the Worker Academy, from left, Jim O’Dea, board member; John Amore, board member; Mary Kay Kahaly, board chair; Father James Cunningham, pastor, Holy Name of Jesus; Father Robert Adamo, pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary; and Robert DiNardo, principal.

The crowds gathered at Holy Name of Jesus Church to celebrate one of the newest Catholic academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

“There is truly something exceptional happening at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy,” said Mary Kay Kahaly, the new board chair. “It’s rewarding to see our newest Catholic education community unite and begin its journey toward educational excellence. We already have 345 students enrolled, and that number is growing.”

The title of St Joseph the Worker was given to St. Joseph, the patron of carpenters, builders and all workers, by Pope Pius XII in 1955. The academy’s name appropriately reflects its hardworking parent community and dedicated clergy who, together with their board and new principal, have created a new learning environment for local children.

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy was created from the union of two successful schools – Immaculate Heart of Mary and Holy Name of Jesus. The new academy will be located in the former Holy Name School building.

Father Joseph Grimaldi, Episcopal Vicar for Brooklyn, addressed the parents and children during the celebration. He explained that the academy’s creation was a positive change that would help ensure a stronger Catholic education in the Park Slope and Windsor Terrace communities.

He recognized parents for their many sacrifices and hard work and acknowledged the accomplishments of the students, encouraging them to do their best in the new academy.

To ensure that children have the best possible learning environment, the school building has been undergoing extensive renovations and electrical upgrades over the summer months.

Principal DiNardo spent the summer getting settled at the academy.

“We’ve had a unique opportunity to upgrade the school building in a dramatic way,” said Principal Robert DiNardo, who brings 39 years of experience in Catholic education to the new academy. “It’s exciting to see the transformation take place.

“Our goal is to make this a really wonderful place for kids to get a Catholic education.”

St. Joseph the Worker will open with the latest in educational technology (computers, SMART Boards, a SMART Table), a new science lab and a qualified faculty and administration. Plans are also underway to create a state-of-the-art library.

SMART Boards, furniture, books and other supplies from the former Immaculate Heart of Mary School will be utilized in the new space, ensuring that nothing has gone to waste.

The new academy will be dedicated at a special Mass on Sunday, Sept. 30.

Registration is still open. Call 718-768-7629 for an appointment and tour.