Fifteen new academies opened this fall, and diocesan bishops have been busy visiting each one to commemorate their opening and inaugural year.

Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski visited the community of St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy, Elmhurst, on Nov. 6.

He celebrated Mass for the students, faculty and staff as well as many parents and parishioners in attendance. Fathers Rick Beuther, pastor, and John Gildea, pastoral associate, concelebrated the morning liturgy.

Students greeted Bishop Mroziewski by learning how to say good morning and welcome in his native language of Polish. Students also sang a hymn in Polish in honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, and were proud to present a portrait of the patroness of Poland to the bishop as a memento of his visit.

The monthly first Friday school Mass also included the presentation of Student of the Month and Christian Effort Awards, at right, to the students by Jeannette Boursiquot-Charles, principal.

After the liturgy, Bishop Mroziewski toured the academy and visited each classroom.

In other parts of the diocese, retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq visited Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy, Cypress Hills; Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez visited Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in Gravesend; and St. Bernard Catholic Academy, Mill Basin, was visited by Auxiliary Bishop James Massa.