Brick parish kicks off milestone year as Catholic Schools Week opens

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Brick parish kicks off milestone year as Catholic Schools Week opens
Brick parish kicks off milestone year as Catholic Schools Week opens


By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

Catholic Schools Week in St. Dominic School, Brick, always kicks off with a well-attended, festive Mass, luncheon and tours of the school.

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.


But this year, there was an added level of excitement at the noon Mass Jan. 25 as celebrations were launched for the 50th anniversary.

In a church designed to comfortably seat 1,000, the pews were packed, standees lined the walls and the overflow spilled out into the large gathering space with the good-natured crowd edging down the hall into the school area.

Among those present were generations of devoted teachers, administrators, parents and students, past, present and yes … future, whose obvious enjoyment added even more to the moment.

Msgr. James J. Brady, pastor of St. Dominic, captured the joyful nature of the day when he began his homily with a simple statement: “We have a lot to be thankful for!”

Noting that annually, this noon Mass launches Catholic Schools Week – “a very special week celebrating the gift of Catholic schools” – Msgr. Brady commended the “great team” that supports the school and transforms the building every day into “not just a place of learning,” but a place of inspiration, faith and community.

“How do I start?” asked Msgr. Brady, reflecting on the history of the school. Then he asked everyone to imagine Brick as it was when the school was founded, a small, Ocean County town, “just beginning to emerge. People were moving in from North Jersey and New York. Think of the 50 years of changes” and the spirit and tradition of the founders “who made St. Dominic (School) what it is today.”

He asked all to remember Father John Ozarowski, the first pastor of the parish, who “had foresight in seeing that he had to build a school,” and commended the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters from Villanova, Pa., who first served the school and the Sisters of Mercy from North Plainfield who followed them.

“Remember the principals, administrators past and present, the parents who made great sacrifices to put their children through and the alumni” – many of whom, he noted, had returned for the celebration.

The kick off of the anniversary year, he said, “asks us to look again at the spirit of the founders who made great sacrifices so their children could have a Catholic education.”

He asked everyone to consider “all the children made in the image of God” benefiting from attending a school where “they are able to meet Jesus every day, … experience God's presence every day” and share their God given talents.

In the future, he said, “...some child now in this room, could (develop) a cure for cancer. They are here to develop their talents to make our world a better place. They keep alive the dreams of all who sacrificed” to build this school. “I ask God's blessing and say, long live St. Dominic School.”

After the Mass, throngs headed for the luncheon and tours of the school that would follow.

PTA volunteers lined the hallways, directing the traffic, so to speak.

Among those volunteers was Tara Wilson, who, when asked to reflect on her connection to St. Dominic School, replied without blinking: “I'm a lifer!”

“I went to grade school here. My kids are here now. Colin is in fourth grade and Kaitlyn is in sixth. I taught here from 2002-2006. I'm in the PTA.”

Her quick response would be echoed by parents attending the luncheon and tours of the school.

“I had good experiences here – as a kid, I loved the teachers. I loved being a teacher here. It wasn't even ever a thought that the kids would go somewhere else,” Wilson said.

Like many others, Wilson considers the school a family.

Theresa Ebinger described the school community as a “big family group.” That includes the three children she and husband, Todd, have enrolled: Daniel, 13, Sarah, 11, and Megan, 9, and five-year-old, James, who will enter kindergarten next year. Her sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and Steve Hall also have children enrolled in the school: Brennan, 14; Shawn, 11; Ryan, 9, Colin, 7 are all educated there, and three-month-old Catherine, is expected to join the crew of students when she's old enough.

The kids chimed in about what they appreciate about the school including music, art, math and their teachers, as their parents looked on. Theresa Ebinger spoke for them all as she described the best thing: “We just love that they pray together, that they go to church together, that their teachers are great and challenging and that the school provides things for them all to be good at.”

 

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By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

Catholic Schools Week in St. Dominic School, Brick, always kicks off with a well-attended, festive Mass, luncheon and tours of the school.

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.


But this year, there was an added level of excitement at the noon Mass Jan. 25 as celebrations were launched for the 50th anniversary.

In a church designed to comfortably seat 1,000, the pews were packed, standees lined the walls and the overflow spilled out into the large gathering space with the good-natured crowd edging down the hall into the school area.

Among those present were generations of devoted teachers, administrators, parents and students, past, present and yes … future, whose obvious enjoyment added even more to the moment.

Msgr. James J. Brady, pastor of St. Dominic, captured the joyful nature of the day when he began his homily with a simple statement: “We have a lot to be thankful for!”

Noting that annually, this noon Mass launches Catholic Schools Week – “a very special week celebrating the gift of Catholic schools” – Msgr. Brady commended the “great team” that supports the school and transforms the building every day into “not just a place of learning,” but a place of inspiration, faith and community.

“How do I start?” asked Msgr. Brady, reflecting on the history of the school. Then he asked everyone to imagine Brick as it was when the school was founded, a small, Ocean County town, “just beginning to emerge. People were moving in from North Jersey and New York. Think of the 50 years of changes” and the spirit and tradition of the founders “who made St. Dominic (School) what it is today.”

He asked all to remember Father John Ozarowski, the first pastor of the parish, who “had foresight in seeing that he had to build a school,” and commended the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters from Villanova, Pa., who first served the school and the Sisters of Mercy from North Plainfield who followed them.

“Remember the principals, administrators past and present, the parents who made great sacrifices to put their children through and the alumni” – many of whom, he noted, had returned for the celebration.

The kick off of the anniversary year, he said, “asks us to look again at the spirit of the founders who made great sacrifices so their children could have a Catholic education.”

He asked everyone to consider “all the children made in the image of God” benefiting from attending a school where “they are able to meet Jesus every day, … experience God's presence every day” and share their God given talents.

In the future, he said, “...some child now in this room, could (develop) a cure for cancer. They are here to develop their talents to make our world a better place. They keep alive the dreams of all who sacrificed” to build this school. “I ask God's blessing and say, long live St. Dominic School.”

After the Mass, throngs headed for the luncheon and tours of the school that would follow.

PTA volunteers lined the hallways, directing the traffic, so to speak.

Among those volunteers was Tara Wilson, who, when asked to reflect on her connection to St. Dominic School, replied without blinking: “I'm a lifer!”

“I went to grade school here. My kids are here now. Colin is in fourth grade and Kaitlyn is in sixth. I taught here from 2002-2006. I'm in the PTA.”

Her quick response would be echoed by parents attending the luncheon and tours of the school.

“I had good experiences here – as a kid, I loved the teachers. I loved being a teacher here. It wasn't even ever a thought that the kids would go somewhere else,” Wilson said.

Like many others, Wilson considers the school a family.

Theresa Ebinger described the school community as a “big family group.” That includes the three children she and husband, Todd, have enrolled: Daniel, 13, Sarah, 11, and Megan, 9, and five-year-old, James, who will enter kindergarten next year. Her sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and Steve Hall also have children enrolled in the school: Brennan, 14; Shawn, 11; Ryan, 9, Colin, 7 are all educated there, and three-month-old Catherine, is expected to join the crew of students when she's old enough.

The kids chimed in about what they appreciate about the school including music, art, math and their teachers, as their parents looked on. Theresa Ebinger spoke for them all as she described the best thing: “We just love that they pray together, that they go to church together, that their teachers are great and challenging and that the school provides things for them all to be good at.”

 

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