Academy’s Long-term Faculty & Staff Members Honored at Liturgy

Catholic Schools Week officially came to a close at a February 10 liturgy that was livestreamed from the Kelleher Hall Chapel. Father Anthony Armstrong from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly celebrated the Mass, which included recognition of long-term faculty and staff members.

During his homily, Fr. Armstrong observed that AHA’s 2020-21 theme, “Sharing our love, faith, and hope” is an appropriate reflection for Catholic Schools Week, since teachers take these actions every day.

“We’re all called by God,” Fr. Armstrong said, adding, “We must be open to hearing that call.” He noted that those who live lives of love, faith, and hope stand out and draw interest from others.

Before the final blessing, AHA Principal Jean Miller acknowledged AHA’s dedicated staff and faculty members.

“You’ve heard me many times say that school is not a building; it’s the people who make it a home and a community,” Miller said, noting that AHA is special. “We have all chosen this. The faculty, the staff, and the students have chosen to be here.”

Referring to Fr. Armstrong’s homily, Miller said, “We are all responsible for answering a calling, and, to my fellow employees, I say…you have answered the call, and never before in a way that you have in this past year.” She noted each honoree’s service, professionalism, and dedication.

Those recognized include five-year employees Nadine Behrens, Carolyn Miller, and Effie Panos; 10-year employees Andréa Beyer, Megan Delasandro, Sharon Jureller, Angela Kunz, and Carol Riley; 15-year employees Barbara Burklund, Catherine Korvin, Carmen Quiñones, Jennifer Trubac, and Kathleen Sylvester; and 20-year employees Mariann Annecchino and Patricia Prucnel. Employees honored for more than 25 years include Dorothea Voulgaris, 28 years; Dr. Samira Mady, 30 years; Nancy Schneberger and Sheila Wroblewski, 32 years; Patrick Dunne, 33 years; Carol Fay, 44 years; and Susan Liddy and Robert Shanney, 46 years.

Those celebrating milestones received the blessing of Mother Theresa Gerhardinger: “May our living God and Creator care for you and keep you steadfast and faithful. May Jesus be the way you walk, the truth you follow, the life you lead. May the Holy Spirit empower you and keep you in grace. May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, take you into her loving heart and stand by you in life and in death. And may your guardian angels accompany you in all your ways.”

Musicians at the Catholic Schools Week Mass were Myra Bocage, Nora Jacobi, and Valentina Zazzali. Student Eucharistic Ministers included Darynne Madison Dela Gente, Emma DeMarco, Claire Dodds, Hailey Filera, Faith Furletti, Kaitlyn Grifonetti, Samantha Han, Dylan Vonderhorst, and Colleen Young. Readers were Gabriella Rigoli and Jacqueline Arbogast.

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious high school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. Over time, thousands of women have passed through AHA’s portals. Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics. The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.