Standing room only in Brick for golden anniversary of St. Dominic School

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Standing room only in Brick for golden anniversary of St. Dominic School
Standing room only in Brick for golden anniversary of St. Dominic School


By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

The whirlwind of rejoicing that kicked into high gear when the first day of classes in St. Dominic School Sept. 8 coincided with its actual 50th anniversary, culminated Oct. 4 with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.

Some 1,200 students, parents, relatives, faculty, staff and well wishers gathered in the Route 88 church, filling the nave which seats 1,000 and spilling into overflow in the choir loft and large gathering space.

Bishop O'Connell celebrated a joyous Mass along with concelebrants who included Msgr. James J. Brady, pastor of St. Dominic Parish, and parochial vicars, Father Joseph Gnarackatt and Father Matthew Pfleger.

Bishop O'Connell praised all who contributed to the growth of the school planted five decades ago and the success of its students, past and present. He linked portions of the Gospel reading (Mark 10: 2-16) to the day's celebration saying that throughout the past 50 years, the community of St. Dominic had heard “Jesus saying 'let the children come to me,” and fulfilled that request countless times over.

Throughout these five decades, he said, generations of children “learned who Jesus is and learned what it is to follow the Cross” even as they learned their lessons in math, history and science. For faith, he said, is “the purpose of Catholic School.”

He thanked all of the faithful who, even in “tough times gave everything they had to keep (St. Dominic School) going,” so that students would be able to gather on this day and celebrate these gifts. At the same time, he noted that the “joyful milestone” would mean little “if we don't make the commitment that St. Dominic will continue to thrive … to show the world just who Jesus is and what he means …”

“May children continue to come to Jesus at St. Dominic School for many years to come.”

In presentations at the end of the Mass, JoAnn Tier, diocesan moderator of Catholic education and superintendent of schools, and Carol Bathmann, school principal, echoed Bishop O’Connell’s sentiments.

Speaking of the St. Dominic community’s “exceptional commitment to Catholic education,” Tier praised the founders for providing a strong foundation of faith and scholarship on which to build “a world class program.”

 She thanked everyone for their “work in this remarkable journey.”

Bathmann spoke of the growth of the school from its original 16 classrooms to a 40-room center of learning where the environment features the most current curriculum and technology. The changes, over the years, she said, have resulted in a “state-of-the-art, 21st century learning environment which offers the absolute best Catholic education and the most current curricular and technological resources. As a result, she said, “our school has been recognized for its academic excellence form the local through the national level.”

“As a parish community, we should be very proud!”

The day of celebration would conclude with a gala dinner in the Crystal Point Yacht Club but with that event hours away, the church didn’t empty for some time as families, alumni and faculty and staff exchanged greetings with Bishop O’Connell, Msgr. Brady, the concelebrants and each other.

Angela Secul, her three children, Cristiano, 4, a pre-K student, Santo, 8, third grade, and Nicolo, sixth grade. Secul said the children are thriving in St. Dominic School.

“We feel good here. The staff is great, the technology is amazing and their cousins are here,” said Secul, pointing out Jennifer Chiarella and the children standing next to her.

Chiarella said that her children, Matteo, 8, Nadia, 11, and Leonardo, 12, formerly attended St. Denis School in Manasquan, and transferred to St. Dominic School when it closed.

Chiarella is pleased in how her children have blossomed and how they have taken a real interest in their language and religion classes and have enjoyed the growing bond they feel with their teachers and peers.

“It’s a community,” she said.

While fifth grader Marybeth Fondonella spoke of how St. Dominic School has “the best teachers in the world” and “great community spirit,” Kerry Kitrick, a St. Dominic graduate who now attends Red Bank Catholic High School, spoke of how she benefited greatly from her grammar school experience.

“I learned a lot,” she said. “I learned how to write a paper, I had great language classes and, it was very family oriented.”

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By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

The whirlwind of rejoicing that kicked into high gear when the first day of classes in St. Dominic School Sept. 8 coincided with its actual 50th anniversary, culminated Oct. 4 with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.

Some 1,200 students, parents, relatives, faculty, staff and well wishers gathered in the Route 88 church, filling the nave which seats 1,000 and spilling into overflow in the choir loft and large gathering space.

Bishop O'Connell celebrated a joyous Mass along with concelebrants who included Msgr. James J. Brady, pastor of St. Dominic Parish, and parochial vicars, Father Joseph Gnarackatt and Father Matthew Pfleger.

Bishop O'Connell praised all who contributed to the growth of the school planted five decades ago and the success of its students, past and present. He linked portions of the Gospel reading (Mark 10: 2-16) to the day's celebration saying that throughout the past 50 years, the community of St. Dominic had heard “Jesus saying 'let the children come to me,” and fulfilled that request countless times over.

Throughout these five decades, he said, generations of children “learned who Jesus is and learned what it is to follow the Cross” even as they learned their lessons in math, history and science. For faith, he said, is “the purpose of Catholic School.”

He thanked all of the faithful who, even in “tough times gave everything they had to keep (St. Dominic School) going,” so that students would be able to gather on this day and celebrate these gifts. At the same time, he noted that the “joyful milestone” would mean little “if we don't make the commitment that St. Dominic will continue to thrive … to show the world just who Jesus is and what he means …”

“May children continue to come to Jesus at St. Dominic School for many years to come.”

In presentations at the end of the Mass, JoAnn Tier, diocesan moderator of Catholic education and superintendent of schools, and Carol Bathmann, school principal, echoed Bishop O’Connell’s sentiments.

Speaking of the St. Dominic community’s “exceptional commitment to Catholic education,” Tier praised the founders for providing a strong foundation of faith and scholarship on which to build “a world class program.”

 She thanked everyone for their “work in this remarkable journey.”

Bathmann spoke of the growth of the school from its original 16 classrooms to a 40-room center of learning where the environment features the most current curriculum and technology. The changes, over the years, she said, have resulted in a “state-of-the-art, 21st century learning environment which offers the absolute best Catholic education and the most current curricular and technological resources. As a result, she said, “our school has been recognized for its academic excellence form the local through the national level.”

“As a parish community, we should be very proud!”

The day of celebration would conclude with a gala dinner in the Crystal Point Yacht Club but with that event hours away, the church didn’t empty for some time as families, alumni and faculty and staff exchanged greetings with Bishop O’Connell, Msgr. Brady, the concelebrants and each other.

Angela Secul, her three children, Cristiano, 4, a pre-K student, Santo, 8, third grade, and Nicolo, sixth grade. Secul said the children are thriving in St. Dominic School.

“We feel good here. The staff is great, the technology is amazing and their cousins are here,” said Secul, pointing out Jennifer Chiarella and the children standing next to her.

Chiarella said that her children, Matteo, 8, Nadia, 11, and Leonardo, 12, formerly attended St. Denis School in Manasquan, and transferred to St. Dominic School when it closed.

Chiarella is pleased in how her children have blossomed and how they have taken a real interest in their language and religion classes and have enjoyed the growing bond they feel with their teachers and peers.

“It’s a community,” she said.

While fifth grader Marybeth Fondonella spoke of how St. Dominic School has “the best teachers in the world” and “great community spirit,” Kerry Kitrick, a St. Dominic graduate who now attends Red Bank Catholic High School, spoke of how she benefited greatly from her grammar school experience.

“I learned a lot,” she said. “I learned how to write a paper, I had great language classes and, it was very family oriented.”

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