Stuart Country Day School community delights in having first Mass celebrated by a bishop
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Students, faculty and staff of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, were blessed with an historic first Nov. 4.
TO SEE PHOTO GALLERY, CLICK HERE.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., became the first Bishop of Trenton to celebrate Mass exclusively for the school community in the all-girls educational institution’s 51-year history.
“The students were especially excited that the Bishop was coming to visit,” wrote Risa Engel, Stuart’s director of communications. “It made the girls feel very special and gave them an opportunity to show off their pride in their school.”
Bishop O’Connell was the presiding celebrant of the Mass in Cor Unum, Stuart’s community gathering space. The school’s chaplain, Msgr. Gregory E. Malovetz, concelebrated the Mass, and the Rev. Mr. Jason Parzynski assisted.
During his homily, Bishop O’Connell referred to a passage from the Gospel of Luke: “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”
“Jesus is always inviting us to dine at his table, to follow him, to be like him,” Bishop O’Connell said. He invited students to “Come to the table … and bring your friends too!”
All readings and songs were led by Stuart students, including cantor Isabella Kopits ‘16; altar servers Claire Landers ‘17 and Nina Austria ‘20 and readers Maryellen Vogel ‘20 and Madeline McLaughlin ‘17. Kristen Lamke ’18 was the cross-bearer and fifth-grade student Amanda Vogel presented Bishop O’Connell with gifts from the school, including personal notes written by students.
Stuart’s Upper School choir, the TartanTones, led the congregation in “Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty” a hymn written by the school’s namesake Society of the Sacred Heart Sister Janet Erskine Stuart.
After Mass, Bishop O’Connell agreed to be interviewed by the school’s media club co-chairs, Crystal Wu ‘18 and Margaret Li ’17, both international students from China. He later toured the school, stopping to meet and speak with students along the way.
Head of School Dr. Patty L. Fagin thanked the Bishop for his visit.
“Bishop O’Connell, we are honored that you are here with us today to celebrate the Eucharist,” she said. “We are grateful for your leadership as our Bishop, especially for your commitment to education and spiritual formation.”
Contributing to this story was Risa Engel, director of communications in Stuart Country Day School.
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Students, faculty and staff of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, were blessed with an historic first Nov. 4.
TO SEE PHOTO GALLERY, CLICK HERE.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., became the first Bishop of Trenton to celebrate Mass exclusively for the school community in the all-girls educational institution’s 51-year history.
“The students were especially excited that the Bishop was coming to visit,” wrote Risa Engel, Stuart’s director of communications. “It made the girls feel very special and gave them an opportunity to show off their pride in their school.”
Bishop O’Connell was the presiding celebrant of the Mass in Cor Unum, Stuart’s community gathering space. The school’s chaplain, Msgr. Gregory E. Malovetz, concelebrated the Mass, and the Rev. Mr. Jason Parzynski assisted.
During his homily, Bishop O’Connell referred to a passage from the Gospel of Luke: “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”
“Jesus is always inviting us to dine at his table, to follow him, to be like him,” Bishop O’Connell said. He invited students to “Come to the table … and bring your friends too!”
All readings and songs were led by Stuart students, including cantor Isabella Kopits ‘16; altar servers Claire Landers ‘17 and Nina Austria ‘20 and readers Maryellen Vogel ‘20 and Madeline McLaughlin ‘17. Kristen Lamke ’18 was the cross-bearer and fifth-grade student Amanda Vogel presented Bishop O’Connell with gifts from the school, including personal notes written by students.
Stuart’s Upper School choir, the TartanTones, led the congregation in “Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty” a hymn written by the school’s namesake Society of the Sacred Heart Sister Janet Erskine Stuart.
After Mass, Bishop O’Connell agreed to be interviewed by the school’s media club co-chairs, Crystal Wu ‘18 and Margaret Li ’17, both international students from China. He later toured the school, stopping to meet and speak with students along the way.
Head of School Dr. Patty L. Fagin thanked the Bishop for his visit.
“Bishop O’Connell, we are honored that you are here with us today to celebrate the Eucharist,” she said. “We are grateful for your leadership as our Bishop, especially for your commitment to education and spiritual formation.”
Contributing to this story was Risa Engel, director of communications in Stuart Country Day School.
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