Catholic New York

Chelsea Thompson kisses her son, first-grader Chase Torres, before she drops him off at Our Lady of Grace School in the Bronx on the morning of Sept. 22. Our Lady of Grace and other Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese have opened for the 2020-2021 school year.

Educators Went ‘Above and Beyond’ to Reopen Elementary Schools, Superintendent Says

As Catholic elementary school students buckled down at their desks their first full week of classes Sept. 14-18, the superintendent of schools for the archdiocese buckled up in his car for a field … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE and DAN PIETRAFESA | 9/23/20

Archdiocese Plans Covid-19 Training Program Before Schools Reopen

In the weeks before the reopening of archdiocesan schools, officials have developed a program to train administrators, teachers and support staff with the Covid-19 precaution knowledge they will need … more

By ARMANDO MACHADO | 8/13/20

2020-2021 Secondary Schools Calendar

AUGUST24 SAT ExamSEPTEMBER7 Labor Day23 SAT School Exam Day26 SAT ExamOCTOBER1 Census Closes3 SAT Exam9 TACHS Deadline for Applying for ExtendedTime12 Columbus Day (Schools Closed)14 PSAT Exam14 SAT … more

8/13/20

Amy Rodriguez, principal of Immaculate Conception School on East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, gives a tour of the school showing coronavirus protocols in place July 22. Four pieces of tape strategically placed on the floor below the base of each leg of the desk chairs mark the spots to maintain a safe social distance.

What Catholic Elementary Schools Will Look Like in September

For Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese, all systems point go for September, with a call to proceed with caution through the adherence to coronavirus protocols. Immaculate Conception … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 7/29/20

ON THE MOUND—Mount St. Michael Academy graduate Angelo Baez delivers a pitch for the Worcester Bravehearts of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. Baez, one of the league’s top pitchers, will begin his postgraduate studies at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill during the 2020-2021 school year after the NCAA granted him an additional year of baseball eligibility when the Covid-19 pandemic canceled STAC’s season after 14 games in March.

Return to Diamond Is Welcome for Local Baseball Players

Baseball’s return is bringing some normalcy to players like Billy Minett. The Yankees and Mets have finally started their 2020 Major League Baseball seasons, and many Catholic high school … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 7/29/20

Cardinal Hayes High School Names New President

Dr. Michael Carey was named the third president of Cardinal Hayes High School, effective July 3, the Bronx school announced. Carey succeeds Father Joseph Tierney, who served as president since … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 7/29/20

Annex Building Sold at La Salle Academy

La Salle Academy took a firm step into the future when La Salle New York City Inc. completed the sale of its administration building at 38 Second Ave. in Manhattan to Second and Second Property LLC … more

7/29/20

New Principal Named for Iona Prep’s Lower School

Deidre Mone was named principal of Iona Preparatory School’s Lower School in New Rochelle, effective July 1, the school announced. Mrs. Mone has served as director of admissions at the Lower … more

7/29/20

Plan to Guide Reopening of Elementary Schools

A plan for the reopening of elementary schools across the archdiocese outlines from A to Z guidelines to assure students and their parents, as well as administrators, teachers and staff, that … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 7/29/20

Prince Pierre, left, and Schneider Pierre greet Cardinal Dolan at the 43rd annual Inner-City Scholarship Fund Awards Dinner at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan last December. The Pierre brothers, who are Inner-City Scholarship Fund recipients, attend St. Charles Borromeo School in Harlem.

Catholic Education Advancement Raising Funds for Students, Families, Schools

The Catholic Education Advancement office stepped up its fund-raising efforts on behalf of families of Catholic school students in need of tuition assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic by raising … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 7/15/20

A BIG DIFFERENCE—Esmeralda, 11, above, and her mentor, Sara, relax on the beach at Coney Island last year.

Bigs & Littles Still Together, Even When They Are Apart

In the Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring program, adult mentors continue nurturing their bond with their young mentees even with restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. “We have … more

By ARMANDO MACHADO | 5/6/20

Letter to Teachers from Michael Deegan, Superintendent of Schools

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. —2 … more

5/6/20

FUTURE-FOCUSED—On stage for the panel discussion were Monica Morales, moderator; Pete Burak, keynote speaker, and panelists Danielle M. Brown, Father Joseph Espaillat, and students Virginia Capellupo and Frank Scafuri.

Faith Amid Fear of Coronavirus Addressed at Student Leadership Conference

How to keep the faith despite the fear and uncertainty of the global coronavirus pandemic was one of many subjects discussed at the fourth annual Student Leadership Conference sponsored by the … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 3/25/20

Confirmation Retreat

A confirmation retreat at Archbishop Stepinac High School was held in White Plains Feb. 23. Three hundred students representing 10 parishes in Westchester County participated in the afternoon retreat … more

2/26/20

YOUNG LEADERS—Sebastian Huerta of Regis High School, left, and Angel Guinazum of Xavier High School join Robin Klueber Jan. 25. The students are senior coordinators of the Ascension Children’s Pantry at Ascension parish in Manhattan, and Mrs. Klueber is the adult leader of the pantry and parish director of religious education.

Spirit Squad Youth Group Runs Food Pantry at Manhattan Parish

Sofia Corscio-Sanchez finds she receives as much as she’s giving others as a member of the Spirit Squad youth group at Ascension parish in Manhattan. “It’s teaching me to help the community … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 2/13/20

ALL THEIR CHILDREN—Parents gather at a table in the library at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School to greet Mary Pat Donoghue, far right, executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Angela Dinger, vice chair of the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association. Others present were, from far left, Michael Coppotelli, associate superintendent for student services and public policy; Joseph Tweed, regional superintendent for Manhattan; and Principal Andrew Woods. Also pictured are six student escorts who were tour guides.

Education Officials Discuss Catholic Identity, School Choice

The education officials sat down in the school library for an interview after they toured Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School. As executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education for the … more

By Christie L. Chicoine | 2/12/20

GENTLE LESSON—Mattias Manon, left, and Jordan Lopez, pre-k students at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School in Manhattan, learn about a chinchilla, one of a number of animal friends that are part of the school community, Jan. 30.

Students Find ‘Right Path’ at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School

The school day at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs on Arden Street in the Inwood section of Manhattan begins and ends in prayer in the church on site. What a smart way to navigate the day given the range … more

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE | 2/12/20

Cardinal Dolan, touring John Cardinal O’Connor School in Irvington Jan. 27, takes time to look at wall posters with Luke Hennisch, left, and Aiden Scholl. National Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States, runs through Feb. 1.

Cardinal O’Connor School ‘Shows Us What Catholic Schools Are All About’

Evan Breen and Anthony Romeo entered John Cardinal O’Connor School in Irvington with a learning need to enhance their reading skills. Now, the eighth-graders enjoy reading and are waiting to … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 1/29/20

Sixth-grader John Cassidy, center, participates in an experiment involving electricity with classmates at St. Denis-St. Columba School in Hopewell Junction Jan. 10.

Lab Lessons Are for All Students at Hopewell Junction School

Jadyn Menuau is an 11-year-old with an understanding of what LabLearner is all about. “You can experience what you’re learning,” the sixth-grader at St. Denis-St. Columba School … more

By DAN PIETRAFESA | 1/15/20

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM—The four juniors from Cathedral High School in Manhattan participating in an internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan are, from left, Skyla Collado, Annette Malan, Taiana Corchado and Thais Peña.

Cathedral High School Students Interning at Sloan Kettering Program

Taiana Corchado, a junior at Cathedral High School in Manhattan, was one of four Cathedral students selected to participate in a two-year internship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The … more

By ARMANDO MACHADO | 1/15/20