UPDATED: At fall conference, diocesan PTA board reminds volunteers their work ‘matters’
October 21, 2023 at 6:31 p.m.
Children live what they learn, and the support of Catholic PTA members will make students’ lives, and the world, a better place, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., told participants at the diocesan PTA conference’s opening Mass.
“When the Church refers to parents as the ‘first teachers of the faith,’ this is exactly what the Church is talking about,” Bishop O’Connell said. “And when the Church talks about those entrusted with Catholic education in the schools — teachers — as providing the primary assistance to parents and their most important collaborators in handing on the faith, this is what they are talking about in our Catholic schools. ‘Children live what they learn.’ But if they are never taught faith by word and example, first at home and then at school, they will not learn and therefore will not live it. And if we fail in the Catholic schools, they’ll never have a chance.”
Members of Catholic school PTA boards, along with many principals and pastors, gathered to celebrate the 98th annual diocesan PTA conference Oct. 21 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. It drew participants from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean County Catholic schools for the Mass and luncheon that followed, under the theme “It Matters.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Fall 2023 Diocesan PTA Conference
“Our theme is based on … all the sacrifices we make for the love of our Catholic communities; the ‘it’ encompasses all you do — and it all matters,” said Elia Landino, diocesan PTA president, in her opening remarks. “You are helping our Catholic community and nurturing the development of our children. As a vital component of our children’s lives, Catholic education … cannot survive without all our commitment and sacrifices, putting the lessons of our Lord before ourselves.”
Catholic school students lead the Pledge of Allegiance to open the PTA Fall Conference luncheon. EmmaLee Italia photoStudent winners of the 2023 diocesan PTA scholarships were presented with plaques to commemorate their awards; each student’s Catholic school will receive $500 paid directly toward their tuition.
In describing what makes a Catholic school different and worth the investment, Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, likened them to a mosaic, in that they are much more than the sum of their individual parts.
“Our school’s medium isn’t small pieces of glass, but rather the treasure that is a child,” he said. “Our Catholic teachers are the artisans in the classroom that know just how much to push, direct or point a student to truly capture their unique light and [help them to] shine brightly. … That is the difference … our artisans see the entirety of the work before they make the first move.”
Keynote speakers Lauren Crupi and Michael Daneman, both teachers in St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, shared their life-giving inspirational story. Daneman donated one of his kidneys to Crupi earlier this year. Both pointed to their story as an example of what Catholic education teaches: selflessness.
“‘For me, the theme ‘it matters’ meant witnessing a friend struggling with kidney disease … and recognizing that I had the opportunity to make a difference,” Daneman said. “It was about being an instrument of hope and healing for someone who mattered to me.”
“For me, ‘it matters’ is about the profound difference one person’s decision can make,” said Crupi. “When Mike selflessly offered me his kidney, he not only saved my life, but gave me and my family the most precious gift of all: time. ... Our journey provided a lesson to our students that could not be found in textbooks.”
Evelyn Wasilik, PTA co-president at St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, found the conference “relaxing, and a wonderful feeling to be a part of, to know that we’re all here for Catholic education.” Her school’s PTA “is a second family to me, working with other women with the common goal of making [school] better for our children.”
Her teammate, Nicole Flanagan, corresponding secretary, was new to the St. Mary PTA this year and said she particularly enjoyed attending Mass with the Bishop.
“I wanted to experience the camaraderie of all those in the PTA,” she said. The PTA is “about fostering community in our school and in the Church … and helps to enhance the experience of our students and families.”
Kori Budzitowski, PTA president in St. Joan of Arc School, Marlton, appreciated the diocesan conference “shining some light on the volunteers — although no one [comes to] this because they expect a ‘thank you.’”
“We wouldn’t have our Catholic schools without our PTAs,” Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta, pastor of said St. Joan of Arc Parish.
“We love to represent St. Catharine’s in the Diocese,” said its PTA president, Marybeth Thomas, of her Spring Lake school. “Catholic education is very important to all of us.” She also valued the opportunity to “meet other PTA boards and presidents from other Catholic schools that share the same values as us.”
St. Catharine’s principal, Donna White, noted how much the team learned from other schools while attending the conference last year. “[PTA membership] is an opportunity to make a difference. … It’s really good work for a fabulous cause.”
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Children live what they learn, and the support of Catholic PTA members will make students’ lives, and the world, a better place, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., told participants at the diocesan PTA conference’s opening Mass.
“When the Church refers to parents as the ‘first teachers of the faith,’ this is exactly what the Church is talking about,” Bishop O’Connell said. “And when the Church talks about those entrusted with Catholic education in the schools — teachers — as providing the primary assistance to parents and their most important collaborators in handing on the faith, this is what they are talking about in our Catholic schools. ‘Children live what they learn.’ But if they are never taught faith by word and example, first at home and then at school, they will not learn and therefore will not live it. And if we fail in the Catholic schools, they’ll never have a chance.”
Members of Catholic school PTA boards, along with many principals and pastors, gathered to celebrate the 98th annual diocesan PTA conference Oct. 21 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. It drew participants from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean County Catholic schools for the Mass and luncheon that followed, under the theme “It Matters.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Fall 2023 Diocesan PTA Conference
“Our theme is based on … all the sacrifices we make for the love of our Catholic communities; the ‘it’ encompasses all you do — and it all matters,” said Elia Landino, diocesan PTA president, in her opening remarks. “You are helping our Catholic community and nurturing the development of our children. As a vital component of our children’s lives, Catholic education … cannot survive without all our commitment and sacrifices, putting the lessons of our Lord before ourselves.”
Catholic school students lead the Pledge of Allegiance to open the PTA Fall Conference luncheon. EmmaLee Italia photoStudent winners of the 2023 diocesan PTA scholarships were presented with plaques to commemorate their awards; each student’s Catholic school will receive $500 paid directly toward their tuition.
In describing what makes a Catholic school different and worth the investment, Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, likened them to a mosaic, in that they are much more than the sum of their individual parts.
“Our school’s medium isn’t small pieces of glass, but rather the treasure that is a child,” he said. “Our Catholic teachers are the artisans in the classroom that know just how much to push, direct or point a student to truly capture their unique light and [help them to] shine brightly. … That is the difference … our artisans see the entirety of the work before they make the first move.”
Keynote speakers Lauren Crupi and Michael Daneman, both teachers in St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, shared their life-giving inspirational story. Daneman donated one of his kidneys to Crupi earlier this year. Both pointed to their story as an example of what Catholic education teaches: selflessness.
“‘For me, the theme ‘it matters’ meant witnessing a friend struggling with kidney disease … and recognizing that I had the opportunity to make a difference,” Daneman said. “It was about being an instrument of hope and healing for someone who mattered to me.”
“For me, ‘it matters’ is about the profound difference one person’s decision can make,” said Crupi. “When Mike selflessly offered me his kidney, he not only saved my life, but gave me and my family the most precious gift of all: time. ... Our journey provided a lesson to our students that could not be found in textbooks.”
Evelyn Wasilik, PTA co-president at St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin, found the conference “relaxing, and a wonderful feeling to be a part of, to know that we’re all here for Catholic education.” Her school’s PTA “is a second family to me, working with other women with the common goal of making [school] better for our children.”
Her teammate, Nicole Flanagan, corresponding secretary, was new to the St. Mary PTA this year and said she particularly enjoyed attending Mass with the Bishop.
“I wanted to experience the camaraderie of all those in the PTA,” she said. The PTA is “about fostering community in our school and in the Church … and helps to enhance the experience of our students and families.”
Kori Budzitowski, PTA president in St. Joan of Arc School, Marlton, appreciated the diocesan conference “shining some light on the volunteers — although no one [comes to] this because they expect a ‘thank you.’”
“We wouldn’t have our Catholic schools without our PTAs,” Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta, pastor of said St. Joan of Arc Parish.
“We love to represent St. Catharine’s in the Diocese,” said its PTA president, Marybeth Thomas, of her Spring Lake school. “Catholic education is very important to all of us.” She also valued the opportunity to “meet other PTA boards and presidents from other Catholic schools that share the same values as us.”
St. Catharine’s principal, Donna White, noted how much the team learned from other schools while attending the conference last year. “[PTA membership] is an opportunity to make a difference. … It’s really good work for a fabulous cause.”