Catholic School teachers from Brooklyn and Queens, who were retiring or celebrating special anniversaries, were honored at a Teachers’ Recognition Mass and Celebration June 9 at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio celebrated the Mass. He was assisted at the recognition ceremony by Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, diocesan Superintendent of Schools.
“Your students will remember you, and for some, your impression will last forever,” said Bishop DiMarzio as he addressed the teachers.
Communicate Truth
“Jesus was the Great Teacher and the Ten Commandments tell us what not to do, but Jesus taught us what to do and how to live. You communicate the truth to your students.
“The Catholic Schools can bring values and morals into the classroom. Today, there is violence and war everywhere and even children see that on television and in the movies, but peace begins in the classrooms.
“You provide the lessons to teach children the right way and the right path in life and give them the lessons they really need for the future.
“Your work is critical for the church. At all times you are communicating faith and the knowledge of God,” the bishop said. “So we say thank you and encourage you to continue to work and continue to make our schools vibrant and happy.”
The bishop then presented certificates and personally thanked each recipient.
Mary Alice Behringer of St. Francis of Assisi School, Astoria, is retiring after 51 years and was given a special plaque from the bishop.
“I look back and can remember so many faces, and mostly happy faces, and can remember teaching so many children the importance of Jesus,” she said.
“The best part about being a teacher is being connected to so many lives. The Catholic schools are enormously important. Without the schools, I don’t know what direction the Church would be going in.
“For all those teachers out there, I say to you be brave, patient and when you can, relax,” Behringer said.
Sister Theresa Ryan, S.C. of St. Sebastian Catholic Academy, Woodside, was celebrating 60 years as a teacher, 45 of them in the diocese.
Furthering the Faith
“Today is just wonderful, we are here to further our faith. I was always motivated because everyday when I woke up I knew I was touching the lives of so many young people,” she said.
“Being able to connect with students can be a challenge but being able to teach them and see them as the future of the Church, I loved to see that and it has kept me going all this time.”
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy Brooklyn
Natalie Carrizo – 5 years
Zenaida Hallera – 5
Divine Mercy Catholic Academy
Karen Friscia – 10
Patricia McGlinchey – 20
Sandra DeMarco – 25
Helen Langone – 41(retiring)
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Academy
Christine Talty – 15
Barbara Glauner – 20
Regina Rasa – 20
Philip Neland – 30
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy
Monica Cirone – 10
Janice Eckel-Ray – 10
Lauren Leone – 10
Ann Quinlivan – 10
Thomas Kennedy – 15
Nicole Vaccaro -15
Sue Jo Feeley – 20
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy of Brooklyn
Eileen Egan – 10
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy of S. Ozone Park
Dominick Caggiano – 5
Jazqueline Lyle – 5
Janet Oliveri – 5
Barbara Kingston -34 retiring
Paula Ciervo – 40
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy
Robert Watson – 15
Linda Tronsor – 30
Lorraine Abbene – 40
Our Lady of the Angelus Catholic Academy
Diana O’Connell – 5
Karla Florez – 10
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy
Kathryn Randazzo – 10
Brenda Molloy – 25
Diane Carbone – 35
Our Lady of Snows Catholic Academy
Irene Flatley – 5
Annamaria Amarain – 10
Audrey DeMarco – 10
Colleen Shine – 10
Melissa Barone – 15
Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy
Anthony Gradilone – 5
Linda Depre – 35
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Academy
Rose Mary Marvilli – 15
Amy Snorteland – 15
Catherine Henry -30
Our Lady’s Catholic Academy
Patricia Attanasio – 5
Michelle Beadle – 5
Andrea Edwards -5
Christopher Otis -5
Sofia Jara -10
Patrick Baldassare – 15
Queen of All Saints Catholic Academy
Peter Goetten – 35
Queen of the Rosary Catholic Academy
Martin McDonnell – 10
Resurrection-Ascension Catholic Academy
Elizabeth Perrier -10
Cytnhia Tompkins -10
Gregory Barron -20
Joanne Sussman – 30
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Bayside
Stephanie Casquarelli -5
Barbara Johnson – 5
Catherine Strein – 10
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Glendale
Katherine Valencia – 5
Patrice Kulikowski – 20
Kathleen Hebel – 30
St. Adalbert Catholic Academy
Darlene Mehta – 10
Lisa Uruchima – 10
Theresa Palazzolo – 15
Marilyn Marino -20
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy
Kim Thompson – 10
Helene Hamilton – 25
St. Saviour Catholic Academy
Masako Bauer – 5
Maud Blachman – 5
Michele (Buffy) Drysdale – 5
Katelyn Dussel – 5
Adriana Romanzo – 5
Michele Singh – 5
Susan Salerno – 15
Sr. Felicia Ann Parise, IHM – 20
Salve Regina Catholic Academy
Annemarie Ronacher – 15
Rita De Pena – 25
Deneene Jones- 25
Anna De la Rosa – 30
Marcia Lara – 30
Saints Joachim and Anne
Adrienne Arenas – 10
Yariela Reid-Thomas – 10
Maria Barnard – 15
Sr. Madeline Riebel, SND – 51
St. Catherine of Genoa- St. Therese of Lizieux Catholic Academy
Giovanna Dimino – 5
William DelValle – 20
St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy
Antoinette Di Stasi – 15
Theresa Maggi – 40 retiring
St. Anslem Catholic Academy
Lisa Grgorinic – 5
St. Athanasius Catholic Academy
Janet Huderski – 25
St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy
Arthur Perry – 10
St. Bernadette Catholic Academy
Sr. Margaret Mary Hanlon, MPF – 5
Tara Muir – 5
St. Bernard Catholic Academy
Margaret Conicelli – 15
Adriana Sanchez – 15
Shirley Johannssen – 20
Annette Vale – 20
St. Brigid Catholic Academy
Barbara Paterek – 34 retiring
St. Clare Catholic Academy
Jacinta Atangan – 5
Shaneequa Graham – 5
Wilnie Bonhomme – 10
Laureen Davanzo – 20
Carmen Baptiste – 29 retiring
Sandra Crosswell – 30
St. Edmund Elementary School
Maria Curatolo –5
Barbara D’Antonio – 15
Annmarie Pallidine – 15
St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy
Catherine Voegtlen -5
Christina Giurlanda – 10
Gina Blandino – 15
St. Ephrem Catholic Academy
Sr. Mary Jane Maloney, IHM -10
Claudia Nigro -10
Sr. Mary Davies, OP – 25
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy
Sandra Carvajal -10
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy, Brooklyn
Deborah Moreland -10
St. Francis of Assisi School Astoria
Sara Jane McNaughton -5
Jennifer Chin-Sinn -15
Maria Posa – 15
Laura Bertuccio – 25
Janet Peters -27 retiring
Mary Alice Behringer -51 retiring
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy
Anna Scotto -10
Muriel Wilkinson – 15
RoseMarie Rosen – 20
St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy Brooklyn
Peter Doliente – 5
Sr. Kieran Nduagbo, DDL – 5
Margaret Williams – 10
St. Gregory the Great Bellerose
Caitlin Clarke – 5
Michelle Mueller – 5
Joseph Paniccia -5
Jennifer Roy – 5
Karen Frick – 25
St. Helen Catholic Academy
Astra Bagdziunas -5
Amy Baumgarten – 10
Donna Villaggi -10
St. Joan of Arc School
Dominic Balzano -5
Rebecca Wasser – 5
Mary Ellen Fitzgerald – 25
Kathleen Riggins -25
Paul Mazza -30
Doryan Sciolino – 30
Amalia Anzalone – 35
St. Joseph Catholic Academy
Sara Coluccio – 5
Lorenda DeGennaro -5
Angel Saez – 5
Lucy Alaimo – 20
Jeanne Fiffe -30
St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy
Kathleen Cannucci – 5
Marie Cadotte – 10
Jeanine Catoggio – 15
Virginia Gorman – 25
St. Kevin Catholic Academy
Kristen D’Alimonte -5
Janis Karagounis -10
St. Leo Catholic Academy
Margarita Fernandez-Javier – 15
Jacqueline Troise -15
St. Luke School
Susanna Barry -5
Danielle Bonvento – 15
Joan Kelley -15
Toni Pappalardo -20
St. Margaret Catholic Academy
Daniela Graffeo -5
Gregory Barron – 20
Barbara Hartman – 35
St. Mark Catholic Academy
Jane Kane – 25
St. Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Academy
Joan Sorriero -10
Kathryn Rodgers – 15
Victoria Winwood -29 retiring
St. Matthias School
Grace Curatolo -5
Elizabeth Colon-Telechea -15
Antonette Ripp – 15
Sabrina Trimarchi – 15
Santa Ferraro-Preiss – 20
Lisa Mehlrose – 20
Virginia Moreno -20
St. Mel Catholic Academy
Rudolph Albert -5
Julie Mansour -20
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy
Pollyanne Palazzo -5
Roxana Porras – 10
Cynthia Muiz – 35
St. Pancras School
Danielle Kleiman -15
Alison Lobody – 15
Christine Aichinger -25
St. Patrick Catholic Academy
Phylis Biondo -10
Dolores Gammone – 10
St. Peter Catholic Academy
Denise Currie -5
Meagan Mieszkowski -10
Roger Carlo – 40 retiring
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy
Jeanine McGovern – 5
St. Sebastian Catholic Academy
Diane Haimeck -10
Ann Gibbs -15
Edicel Lazo – 15
Annmarie Benevento -30
Mary Agresto -35
Linda Chiarel -40
Carla Pranzo -42 retiring
Sr. Theresa Ryan, SC -45
St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy
Donna Rao-DeLuca -10
Kimberly Petrizzo – 25
St. Stanislaus Kostka School Maspeth
Maria Gagliardo -10
Susan Beechel -15
Visitation Academy
Priscilla Hage -5
Wenqi Li -5
Paula Calcagno-15
Noreen Romano -20