Alumna Links Love & Leadership

“The core principle of leadership is in the alma mater,” Holy Angels alumna Ivelisse Mandato (’16) observed in her Catholic Schools Week message. As she addressed Academy students in Grades 6-12, she emphasized the lyric, embracing all in love. “Love is central to good leadership,” she added.

Before she completed her psychology degree at Boston College and began working at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and in software development, she learned she had cancer. At the time of her diagnosis, she was a Holy Angels senior.

“The school showered me with love,” she recalled. “One teacher even carried my backpack for me.”

Mandato experienced a sense of community at AHA, where teachers/leaders shared stories from their lives outside of the classrooms, and demonstrated loving care and support for their students.

“Those small moments snowball,” Mandato said, urging current students to focus on those times.

Her message dovetailed with the Catholic Schools Week theme, “United in faith and community.” Principal Jean Miller also pointed out that this alumna’s talk connected perfectly with Bishop Saporito’s homily from the previous day. Saporito spoke about letting people know they are seen and loved.

“You are loved while you are here,” Miller assured the assembly.

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 school serves young women from many backgrounds. Visit https://holyangels.org/ for details and tour opportunities.