By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

Blue was the color of the day Nov. 21 as students, parents, faculty and staff gathered with Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., to celebrate not only the 50tth anniversary of St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, but its recent designation as a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

To read Bishop O'Connell's homily from the Mass, click here.

To see photo gallery on this story, click here.

The color was everywhere as the great nave of St. Gregory the Great Church filled to capacity for a 10 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving for 50 years of Catholic education and the 2014 Blue Ribbon recognition.

It was there in the dark navy of the uniform blazers worn proudly by some 500 students and in the various shades, from pastel to indigo, in the garb of teachers, staff and parents. It was the color of the ribbons adorning the sanctuary flowers and the trim on the vestments of the clergy.

The signature hue, which also reflected the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, set the tone for the occasion.

No wonder Bishop O'Connell, in his opening remarks before Mass, pronounced it as “everyone's favorite color.”

In his homily, the Bishop spoke of the joy he felt at celebrating five decades of Catholic education in St. Gregory the Great Academy in tandem with its being chosen one of only 337 schools nationwide to receive the Blue Ribbon designation.

Weaving together the spiritual, theological and educational aspects of the day, Bishop O'Connell focused on the essence of the feast of the Presentation and how, as a young girl, Mary's parents, Ann and Joachim, “took good care of her and made sure she grew up strong in her faith and religion.”

Noting that their parents had done the same for them, the Bishop explained: “Our parents take good care of us and want us to grow up strong in our Catholic faith and religion. That is why we are here in our parish church today.

“We are praying the most important prayer of our Catholic faith, the Mass,” he said, adding that “in Catholic school, going to Mass is the most important thing we do together. It is a part of being in a Catholic school that makes us different from our friends in public school.”

The Bishop spoke with obvious joy about the distinction the institution had received with great formality from Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, in the nation's capital only two weeks before. “We've been signled out as among the best schools in the country,” he said. “What a great thing! Your parents have made that possible for you.

“Your pastor and your teacher and staff have made that possible,” the Bishop said.

Leaning forward and looking directly at the youngsters assembled before him, he said: “But do you know what else? You have made that honor possible for you and for one another because you work hard and study well.”

He continued saying that their Catholic faith had also made this honor possible. “It is why you are here in this school and not some place else. Just as Mary learned about her faith in the temple, you are learning your faith here. And that is what makes St. Gregory the Great truly and totally excellent. ...”

In one of the many touching moments throughout the Mass, which included the sweet, rhapsodic singing of the student choirs, young people from the school gifted the bishop with a spritual bouqet, vowing to pray 2,544 Our Fathers; 2,983 Hail Mary's; 2,850 Guardian Angel prayers and 545 Rosaries by the end of November to support him as Bishop of the Diocese.

In a jubilant way, the students also gifted their principal, Jason C. Briggs, unfurling a huge banner across the sanctuary with their signatures surrounding a king size blue ribbon.  Briggs was also presented with a photograph of the initials of St. Gregory the Great Academy spelled out by a very neatly assembled student body. He, in turn, smiled broadly as flowers and notes of thanks were handed out individually to present and past faculty and staff.

In his remarks at the conclusion of the Mass, Father Michael McClane, parish administrator, echoed Briggs saying that the most important aspect of attending the academy is “Having God as a part of our school. That is what is important about the school and what makes it unique. It's a beautiful gift that we can turn openly to God while at school.”

That sentiment generated emotional responses from the parents, teachers, alumnae and staff throughout the morning and many who wept as they heard themselves praised for their contribution to the school. In fact, some, including former teacher Margaret Bentley, who once taught fifth grade math and science, were still wiping away a tear or two as the church emptied out.

“I sat there crying through the Mass,” said Bentley as she prepared to go over to the school for a faculty and staff luncheon. “I was here in 1994 and 95 and they were the happiest days of my life,” who described the academy as “always a blue ribbon school.”

“It's just wonderful to be here and see the church and the school so alive,” Bentley said.

Parents and students shared the same enthusiasm as they enjoyed pizza in the classrooms while the teachers and staff chowed down in the cafeteria.

Nina Donnelly was one of many parents who volunteered their time to supervise the youngsters while the teachers ate.

“It was wonderful to be at Mass,” said Donnelly, mom of two academy students. “The Mass is the basis of our faith,” she said, adding that being able to share that faith with each other is what Catholic school is all about.”

Among the students who shared what the celebration meant to them was eighth grader Maggie Bogacz. “Awesome” was her word for the event. She said it is great to be in an atmosphere where “everyone is family – the teachers, the students, everyone. We all just love each other.”