By Christina Leslie, Staff Writer
“The word ‘impossible’ is only an opinion, and impossible means nothing to our Seraphs,” proclaimed Mater Dei Prep president and principal, James Hauenstein, at the school’s June 7 Commencement Exercises in St. Mary Church, New Monmouth.
Click here to see photos of Mater Dei Prep’s Graduation.
Click here to see photos of Mater Dei Prep’s Baccalaureate Mass.
Joined by St. Mary Parish parochial vicar, Father Carlos Castilla, and chairman of the board of trustees, Randy MacDonald, Hauenstein presented 105 diplomas to graduating seniors.
The Class of 2016 had distinguished themselves in academics, community service and the arts.
They had amassed more than $14.75 million in college scholarships and formed a 45-student volunteer group to host the annual “Heavenly Hope Fun Day,” which entertains children and young adults with special needs from Harbor School in Eatontown.
The young thespians had also garnered three Count Basie Awards from the Red Bank theater, taking home prizes for outstanding supporting actor in a drama and lead actress in a musical.
During the school’s June 2 Baccalaureate Mass, principal celebrant, Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, diocesan vicar general, urged the students to, “Always continue to show and live by the love of the Lord. Now that you are going out into the world, it is important to always live under the loving eyes of God and to walk with your brothers and sisters.”