JACKSON HEIGHTS — Agnes Mosejczuk, principal at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, has seen parish priests come and go. Indeed, most parishes see a new pastor every six years or so. 

But, as she noted, it seemed like the current pastor, Father Christopher Heanue, hadn’t even “unpacked his suitcase” in June before unloading ideas to help the parish school. 

High on his list: raising money for scholarships to help families afford tuition. 

Father Heanue made good on his promise at the end of his installation Mass on Sept. 28 when he announced to the standing-room-only congregation that $150,000 had been recently raised for the school. 

Enthused applause followed the announcement.  

The following day, he further reported that even more donations came in during and after the Mass, bringing the total, as of this writing, to $160,000. 

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The “Father Christopher Heanue Installation Challenge,” he explained, came from donors who committed to supporting the school each year over a five-year period.  

“He’s fully committed, and we’re grateful for that,” Mosejczuk said. “He believes the future of the Church is in the hands of our young women and men, and it’s our job to make sure that they grow up as apostles of Jesus. 

“We can do that by investing in Catholic education.” 

Father Heanue, ordained in 2015, is the former rector at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph and St. Teresa of Avila (2021-2025), and pastor of Holy Child Jesus-St. Benedict Joseph Labre Parish (2015–2021). 

Before Mass, Father Heanue said he attended public schools in Queens before entering Cathedral Preparatory High School and Seminary in Elmhurst. There, he noticed that his classmates from Catholic schools were more prepared than he was for academic challenges. 

“We recognize the great gift that Catholic education is, but also the challenges, financially,” Father Heanue said. 

So, he got busy pitching his installation challenge to vendors, donors, family, and friends — about 90 people or organizations so far. 

“My goal originally was $100,000,” he said. “So, some people are giving $10,000 a year for five years. Others, are giving $1,000 a year for five years. There are a few one-time gifts. 

“But someone is donating $20 a month for five years. That’s $1,200.” 

Father Heanue said the installation Mass announcement was meant to be a surprise to the parishioners. 

However, many of them were already aware of his passion for the school, having responded to his call to fund a scholarship separate from his installation challenge. 

The Father Stephen Valdazo Scholarship is named in honor of a beloved parochial vicar, now retired, who has dedicated 40 years of service to the parish and its school. 

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Father Heanue said that scholarship has grown to $48,000. He told Father Valdazo about it during his recent 91st birthday celebration at Ozanam Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Auburndale, Queens. 

The fundraising is already helping families. 

Elizabeth Rubio, a fourth grader, is an altar server for the parish. Tuition at the school was beyond her family’s financial reach, but her mother applied, and the family received one of the first scholarships. 

“I felt excited when my mom told me,” Elizabeth said. “And I felt emotional when I came to the first day of school. 

“At my public school, we used to not pray, and here we do religion.” 

And, Father Heanue added, the installation challenge is not a “closed campaign.” 

“It’s still open,” he said. “If people wish to support it.”  

For information, call the rectory at 718-429-2333.