By Georgiana Francisco | Correspondent 

It was “Game On” as the world-renowned Harlem Wizards performed some of their best on-court antics and alley-oops to a packed house Feb. 1 in Holy Cross Academy, Delran. Known for their comedic tricks and high-flying jumps, the Wizards wasted no time in getting the pre-game crowd’s attention as Burlington County Catholic grade-schoolers were escorted onto the court to shoot and dribble with some of the greatest hoop talent in the country.

Sponsored by Holy Cross and St. Paul School, Burlington, the fundraising event was a community affair, with all seven Catholic schools in Burlington County participating to power forward Catholic Schools Week.

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“This all came about when St. Paul School PTA president Lucy Tomczynski approached our PTA to get the Wizards for a fundraising event,” said Dennis Guida, Holy Cross Principal and one of the referees in last night’s game. “We knew it would be a lot of fun, but we also saw it as a community-building event that would spotlight Catholic education in South Jersey.” A product of Catholic education himself, from first grade up to earning his master’s degree, Guida said that for him, teaching in a Catholic school is not just a job, it’s a vocation.

“When students arrive as freshman, we watch them grow rich in spirit and learning. By the time they’re ready to leave, we can actually see their transformation, especially with regard to spirituality,” Guida explained. “And while our academics and athletics are more than competitive with New Jersey public schools, it’s our Catholic values that we hope will accompany our graduates into adult life, making them better leaders and better servants of the community.”

Like a proud parent, Guida cited some well-known Holy Cross alums who have gone on to achieve success, especially in sports and the arts, such as film composer Michael Giacchino (Jurassic World, Up), Phil Costa, NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys, and Dennis Landolt of the New York Jets, and made a point of what he feels makes Catholic education so unique: “When you’re in a Catholic school, you know you’re in a special place, because it begins with Jesus Christ, who is the model for who we are and what our faith stands for.”

Father Christopher Picollo, pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, and one of the players on the Burlco team, was happy to oblige when asked to participate, contributing his own enthusiasm for helping the Catholic schools of Burlington County. “We’ve been building a Community of Faith since 1864,” Picollo stated. “At St. Paul School, we offer a full range of spiritual, educational, and social services according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic education is, first and foremost, about our faith, exemplifying the life of Jesus Christ, and everything that goes with it—the love of God and love of our neighbor. Academic excellence is an added advantage.”

Ordained in 2011, Father Picollo spent three years as chaplain of Red Bank Catholic High School and last year as parochial vicar in St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, prior to arriving to St. Katharine Drexel. “So my years as a priest have been totally involved with Catholic Schools. Hopefully, the foundation of faith is laid in early education. The role of the school, therefore, is to make it so basic that students will bring those ethics into the work world and then give back to the community in some way.”

When asked why she attended Catholic school, Holy Cross sophomore Ashley Adams, a member of the cheerleading squad, said it was because the students in her school had different core values from those in public school. “I think those values come from our lives as Catholics,” she said. “We are kind to each other and respect each other, so learning here is easier, less stressful.” Adams, who hopes to study pre-veterinary medicine, added, “Catholic school kids grow up to be better adults and have a community spirit, and a willingness to give back to that community.”

St. Charles Borromeo fourth-grader Matthew Miller, accompanied by parents Rosemary and Peter, said he loved that his school was “faith-based” and that his church was so close by.  

Both of Jackie Moore’s sons attend Holy Cross and she couldn’t be happier. “They are both on the football team, practice after school, and never question the fact that there’s homework to do. They just do it,” Moore said. “The moral values they learn are just as important as their academic subjects. In this day and age, I feel Catholic education is worth every penny, every sacrifice, and every commitment I could make as a parent.”

The night ended with a free autograph session during which the Wizards were more than happy to oblige young and old alike. Unlike other basketball teams who measure success by number of wins, the Wizards measure their victories by the amount of joy they bring to millions of fans and the millions of dollars they raise for charitable organizations, schools, and foundations around the world. Having just celebrated their 50th year of basketball magic, they plan to play more than 300 games in the U.S. this year and hope to raise in excess of a million dollars for education.