By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

Since Trinity Hall, the all-girls college preparatory high school that educates students in the Catholic tradition, relocated to its new home at Fort Monmouth in September, the activity room in the 20,000-square-foot building has been the setting for many “firsts.”

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The building, located at 101 Corregidor Road, once served as a childhood development and daycare center for the decommissioned military base. Over the past four months, the “common space” at its heart has adapted as needed from lunch room to classroom to chapel, explained Sister of Mercy Mariann Mahon, campus minister.

“We can really do so many things in this room,” said Sister Mariann, as she oversaw last-minute details Dec. 20 while students, faculty, staff and parents readied the room was ready for another first: Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

She noted that when Trinity Hall opened in Croydon Hall, its temporary location in Leonardo, the student body consisted of a freshman class of 32. Four years later, those freshman are seniors, preparing for their graduation next spring and overall, the student body consists of 159 young women from around Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Their visible enthusiasm at the prospect of the Bishop’s visit was noted by Christina Bergamo, who said the students were looking forward to this Advent Mass and welcoming him to their classrooms for a brief tour.

Bergamo, director of college counseling, said excitement had been building since the students “learned the Bishop was coming. "

This is a wonderful opportunity for the school,” she said. “The students have been very busy, practicing the music for the Mass, making sure the school is all clean and tidy.”

As Bishop O'Connell entered the room, the student choir and musicians made good on those practice sessions, leading the assembly in the familiar Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Looking over the assembly as he reached the altar table, Bishop O’Connell returned the enthusiasm, speaking of the joy he felt at the “happy, smiling faces” welcoming him as celebrant of this Advent Mass. Father Michael W. Wallack, chief of staff and secretary to the Bishop, concelebrated.

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell drew from the prophecies of Isaiah which pointed to the coming of a Messiah who would ransom Israel. He noted that while Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of Jesus would not be fulfilled for 700 years, the faithful should never cease looking for heavenly direction.

“People often ask for a sign … God surrounds us with signs whether we ask for them or not,” said the Bishop, who urged everyone to look for signs of God’s presence and loving care in “the little, simple things that point us in the right direction.”

“Fill up your lives with good examples,” to be found “here at Trinity Hall,” where there is such “good guidance” and “so many signs” that point to the promise of Christmas, he said.

Trinity Hall operates as a faith-based, independent school governed by a board of trustees rather than a diocesan school. While Mass is often celebrated by visiting priests, members of the board of trustees, including Sean Clifford, a co-founder of the school, and Carmine Venezia shared their appreciation for the Bishop's visit.

Both shared their high regard for the structure of the school, speaking of its challenging curriculum, with its emphasis on technology, supportive community and faculty set on a 7.5 acre campus that is centrally located and accessible to students in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Venezia, a member of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, said his daughter, Katie, is a sophomore at the school. “I got a great joy from watching the Trinity Hall community come together with Bishop O’Connell,” he said. “I was watching the girls during the homily, and you could see in their faces how happy this visit made them.”

Clifford, whose daughters, Brigid and Molly, attend the school, agreed.

“This is a special celebration … a special time in the life of Trinity,” he said. “It is a great visit, and we are very glad he came.”

Mary Sciarrillo, head of the school, and Sister Mariann echoed the trustees.

“We are privileged and blessed by his celebration of liturgy and thank him for his extension of pastoral care,” said Sciarrillo.

Sister Mariann expressed her delight that the Bishop was “getting to meet our young women and experience their faith and energy today in song and prayer.”

The student ambassadors who guided him down the corridors following Mass gave the Bishop an overview of the challenging, interdisciplinary curriculum offered at Trinity Hall in which spiritual and social-service opportunities complement a rigorous academic slate that includes four years of engineering studies, a robust arts program and competitive athletics.

During the tour, the Bishop visited classrooms where students were focusing on subjects ranging from theology to technology, literature, journalism and the fine arts. Among them was senior Holly Koerwer, who proudly displayed the fruits of works created by the state of the art technology available in the engineering labs, including computer printed prosthetic hands.

At the same time, students in other classrooms and labs were busy with their own projects, such as fabricating and printing out lunch trays they had designed as portion control guides for middle school students; discussing literature, and  offering the Bishop insights into their recent tours of New England colleges.

The tour was capped with a brief interview with the Bishop by senior Jacqueline Fletcher, 17, a member of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, inquiring for the online journal Trinity Hall Tribune, what prompted his visit to the school.

Trinity Hall senior Brianne Dwyer, a member of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, inspired the visit when she requested from the Bishop a recommendation on her application to The Catholic University of America, Washington. The Bishop shared with the students that he had been president of The Catholic University of America for 13 years and urged everyone in the room to include the institution on their tours of college campuses.

Reflecting on the visit later that afternoon, the Bishop shared that he had been “eager to visit Trinity Hall and celebrate Mass before Christmas for all the young women.

"It was a real joy to meet these young parishioners from all over Monmouth and Ocean counties."

The Bishop spoke of the "pleasure” it was for him to visit the classes and see Trinity's teachers in action.

“I had fun popping in on classes and 'interrupting' everybody for a few moments being "the jolly old man in the red suit -- and I don't mean Santa!"

The Bishop expressed appreciation, saying he was very warmly welcomed by Trinity's impressive head of school Mary Sciarillo and the board of directors, faculty and staff.

Then, with a smile he added, that “the kids stole the show as they always do! I was moved by their prayerfulness at Mass."

For more information, visit www.trinityhallnj.org.