The Catholic Sun (Diocese of Syracuse NY) July 6,2023

Msgr. Yennock inspired vocations with his life

Catholic the

By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor

There is a song that says you “don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone.” Not necessarily true in this story about the slice of a man’s legacy that is devoted to his reason for living: Holy Orders, most especially the priesthood.

That man is Monsignor Eugene Michael Yennock who died last month at the age of 97, who devoted 73 years of his life to ordained service of God’s people. During the recent observance of liturgies and in the days afterward, The Catholic Sun had the opportunity to speak with those men he inspired to themselves seek ordination. They know very well what they’ve got in the man they followed in their own calling.

Sun Catholic Sun the Cath the Last one is reversed type

‘He was just being a faithful priest’

‘A faithful priest’

Fr. Christopher Celentano’s ties to St Daniel’s are long and deep; his mother grew up as a member of the parish. She married her husband Joseph (now Deacon Joseph) and the new family would become parish members. Fr. Chris, a parishioner since birth, remembers Monsignor from a very early age. How did he influence Fr. Chris in his own vocation? The answer is simple and subtle.

“When I was growing up, he said the Mass with passion and reverence. He was diligent in his duties as a priest.” That included visiting the sick, lending an ear to those in need, visiting the school. “He stood and spoke on matters that were important, even if it was against the prevailing

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Carrying the light of Christ Bishop discusses the Synodal process

3 Additional Priest assignments announced

6 Totus Tuus meet the missionaries

8

Monsignor Eugene Michael Yennock

winds.”

Father Chris shared that other priests would ask Monsignor what he did differently to inspire so many vocations. In his reply, Monsignor could not identify a process or strategy because there was none. He simply lived as a priest and taught by example.

“What was happening here was a faithful priest who loved the Church, loved the people of God. And he served him. And he did it until his dying breath,” Father Chris observed. What lesson did he impart to this young priest?

“What I learned from him was to do what the Lord is asking and be faithful to it. He was always present.” He also told the Sun that Monsignor never brought up the subject of a priestly vocation in conversation.

“When he spoke to me about a vocation was when I spoke to him about a vocation.” That was the process for Monsignor in many ways, and Father Chris added that other priests would ask how he inspired so many altar servers and men in seminary.

“And Monsignor laughed … ‘I’m not doing anything.’ Of course, he was doing something, but he wasn’t doing programs. He wasn’t doing speeches. He didn’t need a Vocation Committee. He was just being a faithful priest.”

A family affair

Deacon Joseph Celentano is Fr. Chris’s dad, and, like his son, the deacon was similarly influenced to seek his vocation.

“It’s not what he said or what he did, it’s who he was,” Deacon Joe shared. “And in his prayerfulness as a priest, as I said the weekend that he died, he was definitely a man of the Eucharist.” Deacon Celentano added that the Eucharistc was always central in the life of his pastor.

Also like his son, Dc. Joe was never directly asked by Monsignor to consider a

call to the Holy Order of Diaconate.

“He never said to me ‘do you think you have a call to be a deacon?’ But when I talked with him about applying he was very, very supportive of it and was a strong advocate for me. He did everything that he could to make sure I had a successful formation.”

Dc. Joe shared that Monsignor instilled in him a love and reverence for the proper form of the liturgy. Monsignor also made sure that the deacon had his priorities in order.

“Family first, jobs second. And third was the diaconate. He was always very sensitive to that.”

Catholic gentleman

Similar to Father Celentano, Fr. Cliff Auth was raised at St. Daniel and has kindergarten memories of Monsignor.

“He had a significant impact on my life

in the very beginning. He was always a presence.”

Fr. Auth shared, though, that his vocational experience with Monsignor was more direct. He said, with a hearty laugh, that it probably “points to the fact that I was going slower than that other guy and he had to be more explicit with me.”

During Father’s vocational journey, he was struck by reading the work of St. John Cardinal Henry Newman and his description of a “Catholic gentleman.”

“If you read that, that’s Msgr. Yennock,” he said. “When I was ordained, I talked to him about that. He said, ‘That’s who we are called to be. We don’t need to tell people, This is who we are, we just need to live it.’ It’s him to a T.”

Happy priests

Fr. Daniel Caruso is also from the St. Daniel family tree, but he was a high

school student when Monsignor arrived.

“Bishop (Thomas J.) Costello announced at my Confirmation that we no longer had a pastor. That was in March of 1981 and in June was when Monsignor arrived, so I was 15 when he got there.”

It did not take long for Msgr. Yennock to have a profound influence on Fr. Caruso, though.

“He came in in June and Father (Edmund) Castronovo came in July,” he shared. “And it was the first time I had ever seen priests happy and enjoying what they did, being with the people.”

He nudged young Caruso to become involved as an altar server in junior high school.

“And I would just talk to him about priestly life. Then I was at Le Moyne, and I would often talk to him about what I was

Five of the seven vocations to Holy Orders Msgr. Yennock inspired from St. Daniel Church: Dc. Joseph Celentano and Fathers Richard Prior, Christopher Seibt, Cliff Auth and Christopher Celentano. Fr. Daniel Caruso was not available for the photo. Dc. Tom Kane, who passed away in 2016, was also inspired to serve by Monsignor.

‘FAITHFUL PRIEST’ CONTINUED FROM COVER

Councils and synods? They date to Acts of the Apostles

On June 20, 2023, the Holy See’s General Secretariat of the Synod issued the Instrumentum Laboris (IL) for the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held this October. It’s titled, “2021-2024 Synod: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” and consists of two main sections: (1) a reflection on the experience of a synodal Church thus far and (2) the articulation of the three main priorities for a synodal Church — Communion, Participation, and Mission.

The question that is at the heart of the journey we, as Church, are on is this: “How does ‘journeying together,’ which takes place today on different levels (from the local level to the universal one), allow the Church to proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the mission entrusted to Her; and what steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow as a synodal Church?” (IL, Foreword). To assist in this continued reflection, worksheets have been provided in the IL focusing on the following themes: “A Communion that radiates” — “Co-responsibility in Mission” — “Participation, governance, and authority.”

A sampling of questions provides you and me with further illustration of how the synodal process is meant to foster the Church’s mission in a particular church:

How does the service of charity and commitment to justice and care for our common home nourish communion in a synodal Church?

How can the Church of our time better fulfill its mission through greater

recognition and promotion of the baptismal dignity of women?

How can we renew the service of authority and the exercise of responsibility in a missionary synodal Church?

These are three of fifteen total questions that Synod participants will use as a working tool to further address the priorities of participation, governance and authority. It is my hope that as preparatory action for our own Diocesan Synod, as a local Church, we will spend some time with the questions the IL offers in various diocesan meetings and settings during Program Year 2023-24.

A key principle in these discussions is to be found in paragraph 16 of the IL: “The commitment asked of the Assembly and its Members will be to sustain a dynamic equilibrium between maintaining an overview, which characterizes the work outlined in section A, and the identification of practical steps to be taken in a concrete and timely fashion, work which is the focus of section B. On this will depend the fruitfulness of the discernment of the Synodal Assembly whose task will be to open the whole Church to welcome the voice of the Holy Spirit.”

There are some who fear that this synodal walk is the downfall of the Church. Again, I wish to emphasize that the role of the synod in the life of the Church is for the good of the Church and Her mission. Councils and synods have been part of the Church’s history since its earliest days as seen in the Acts of the Apostles. As back then, the whole purpose of the current synodal process is to reinvigorate the Church’s mission in our world today furthering communion and participation in the Kingdom of God which is at hand.

On page 16 of the IL is an illustration of this process of “The Conversation in the Spirit.” It begins with “Personal Preparation” — that is, “entrusting oneself to the Father, conversing in prayer with the Lord Jesus and to the Holy Spirit, each one prepares his or her own contribution to the question about which he or she is called to discern.” Second, each person takes a turn sharing the Word from personal experience and prayer, “and listens carefully to the contribution of others.” Third, there is the need for “making space for others and the Other.” Fourth, dialogue and asking the question, “To what steps is the Holy Spirit calling us together?” Fifth, the offering of a final prayer of thanksgiving. Throughout, this

schedule for the weeks of July 6 - July 20

July 15th : Mass of Thanksgiving at Mission of St. Bernadette, Constantia, 6:00 pm

July 16th: Mass in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of St. Lucy’s Church, Syracuse, 10:00 am

Carrying the light of Christ

conversation is punctuated by silence and prayer.

Again, the IL excites me as a means of how we can get away from the mantra of “We have always done it this way” to Jesus’ mantra in the Book of Revelation: “See, I make all things new” (see Rv 21:5). I would like to invite the faithful of the Diocese of Syracuse to take some time this summer and read the IL for the Synod, but even more to spend some time praying over the questions it invites us to reflect upon.

So we pray:

July 20th: Vocations Picnic at Christ the King Retreat House, Syracuse, 4:00 pm

Lord, who grants us the gift of the Synodal path, to live a Church being God’s Family that is inclusive, open and welcoming. Send us your Holy Spirit to breathe on us the desire to keep on in this synodal spirit, where all the members of the community can express honestly. Give us the grace of a sincere disposition to a deep and fraternal dialogue, as characteristic of the culture of Your Church. Help us to overcome the lack of participation and the resistance to the novelty of being and living the Church. Come, Holy Spirit! Take us closer to the Heart of Jesus and be our guide as we walk together! Amen.

Editor’s note: the IL document can be found on The Catholic Sun website here: tinyurl.com/sun-instrum-laboris

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia’s

‘FAITHFUL PRIEST’, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

learning in class,” Father added.

“He was very intelligent, but also very pastoral,” he recalled, adding that his faith knowledge was always applied “to the practical living of the Christian life.”

Like others, Father feels Monsignor’s influence was more subtle than direct, and his influence channels through him in his ministries.

“I wish there were more like him, and I wish I was more like him. I try but there’s so many areas I know I fall short from how he did it. So, he still inspires me to try harder.”

Visit your people

Fr. Richard Prior was in his late 20s when he finished his service with the U.S. Army and took a job that resulted in his move to Syracuse, living not far from St. Daniel’s.

“I was starting my vocation,” he said. “You had to get a recommendation from your pastor, and it was Monsignor Yennock.” He met with Monsignor who was very supportive of his desire to enter seminary.

“They wanted me to go visit, and he said he’d come along,“ he added. “So, we took this trip to Baltimore together, because Cliff (Auth) was there, and he wanted to see the seminary. Since that time, we’ve just been good friends.”

Even though he didn’t know Monsignor

from early on, Fr. Prior quickly understood the influence his pastor had on him and his call.

“He was a good homilist; I always enjoyed his preaching. There was great music, so I really enjoyed coming here.” Father added that Monsignor was also a superb role model, leading or participating in adult education classes. “It was adult catechism, and it was the first time that I really became a student of my faith.”

What’s the best example Monsignor demonstrated?

“Taking the time to go to the homes to visit the people. Visit your people that you know, where they are at. I’ve tried to do that, in some way, over the years.”

A deep awareness of God’s love

We end this vocational tribute about where we started, with another young boy beginning his Catholic education at St. Daniel’s kindergarten.

“He was this figure that everybody knew; everyone knew he was the pastor. He was Monsignor Yennock!” Father Christopher Seibt remembers well from the beginning of his experience at St. Daniel. “In those days, people loved and cherished the priesthood. We used to be in the (parish) hall and sing Happy Birthday every year to him, and on his anniversary, give gifts. He loved that.”

Father credits his mother’s conversion to the faith to Monsignor’s presence in their lives. He and his sister were baptized

Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia President

the same day as his mother.

“From that moment on, he taught our classes regularly at St. Daniel school, and he became a person we grew to know and love.”

Father said his relationship with Monsignor grew through high school, even taking a Saturday maintenance job he offered the young teen. “We were both of the same personality: Type A, OCD!” he added with a laugh. ”So, we got along very, very well.”

Like others, Monsignor’s vocational impact on the young man was mostly unspoken, yet deeply profound.

“I always kind of remember looking at him from a distance, and thinking, ‘I want to do that. I want to be like him.’” Father came to realize his call to the priesthood. “I was so happy to realize that I have this person who can show me the ropes, who can lead me through that discernment. And he did. Like the others, Father realized “it wasn’t anything profound in particular, other than his daily living of the priesthood.”

Father likens Monsignor to the shepherd who leaves his flock to find the one lost sheep, who visited the sick late at night and never missed an opportunity to invite someone to the faith.

“He did pastoral accompaniment before it became the word of the day. He did the smell of a sheep before it was a big thing.” While Monsignor will be missed by many, Father clearly sees the legacy .

“I’m very grateful. We’re sorry. It’s true, it is a loss for everybody. But at the same time, we can only look back on it and say how grateful we are for it.”

Editor’s note: In the July 20 issue of The Catholic Sun, read more about the immensely successful ministry of the late Msgr. Eugene M. Yennock. Commenting will be family members, a deacon who admired him, lay people who loved him, and Msgr. Yennock himself in a chat with Sun staffers 18 days before he died.

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Missionary describes hardships of children in Uganda

Fransalians representative tells Endicott church audience about poverty and dangers

By Gary DiLallo Contributing writer and photographer

Fr. Thomas Varghese, MSFS, director of the General Mission

school was built.

According to Fr. Thomas, many of the Ugandan children are orphaned and often preyed upon by traffickers and truck drivers traveling through the area. He said he is adamant about protecting the children by building orphanages, schools and churches.

Office

of The

Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalians), recently visited Our Lady of Good Counsel in Endicott for a brief rest and to thank the parishioners for their support of the Uganda Mission.

Originally from south India, Fr. Thomas came to Tanzania in 1996 as a theology student and after his ordination worked there and Uganda before being sent to Rome, Italy.

The missionary organization, headquartered in Rome, has mission activities in 32 countries with more than 1,500 missionaries. During this mission trip, Fr. Varghese visited his confreres in several provinces in Georgia, Texas, and Michigan, and conducted mission appeals in the Diocese of Lansing, Mich., and the Archdiocese of New York.

Locally, Fr. Thomas spoke with several hundred kindergarten through fifth grade students at Ann G. McGuinness Elementary School in West Corners. He explained the living conditions and school attendance in Uganda.

The young children were impressed with the daily challenges facing the Ugandan children, including walking to school on muddy roads and fetching drinking water. He also explained the poverty and the need to teach small groups of students under shade trees, rather than in classrooms before the new

However, he said it was necessary to arrange medical care and a way to feed the children before he could teach them. Eventually, he built a hostel to keep them safe.

While impressing American children with the hardships of living in Uganda, Fr. Thomas was staggered by how few children we have in a classroom (around 15) compared to 100 in Uganda. He had never before seen a school bus coming to pick up children because most Ugandan children walk to school, no matter the distance.

Life in Uganda was not easy for the priest either. Upon his arrival, Father initially lived in a hut with a dirt floor and no electricity. During his time in Uganda, he became very ill with malaria and was the victim of a robbery.

The Fransalians are working diligently to improve the standard of living of the local population, especially the underprivileged, marginalized and poor orphaned children of Uganda. So far, Fr. Thomas has built three schools in Africa and hopes to go back to Uganda to build yet another one.

Fr. Thomas said he is most grateful for the parish’s financial support and prayers. The contact for the Fransalians in the United States is Fransalian Missionaries, 3887 Rosebud Road, Loganville, Ga. 30052.

Fr. Thomas Varghese, MSFS, with a photo display of some of the Ugandan people served by the Fransalian mission.

Additional priest assignments announced by Bishop Lucia

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia has announced additional clergy appointments in the Diocese of Syracuse:

Rev. Christopher Seibt, appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Cicero, and Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Syracuse. This appointment is in addition to his role as Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, Central Square, and St. Bernadette Mission, Constantia.

As Vice Chancellor, Father Seibt will be responsible for the parish canonical processes and will continue to serve as the Episcopal Master of Ceremonies. He will no longer serve as the Diocesan Director of Liturgy & R.C.I.A. This appointment is effective, Aug. 1, 2023.

Rev. Msgr. Timothy Elmer, appointed interim Administrator of Sacred Heart Church, Cicero, in addition to his role as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of

Holy Cross Academy tells quite a fish story

Syracuse. This appointment is effective July 1, 2023. Effective Aug. 1, 2023, Msgr. Elmer will become the Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Church, Cicero, and Divine Mercy Parish, Central Square.

Rev. Msgr. James Lang, appointed Administrator of St. Thomas Church in New Hartford,

in New Hartford and Church of the Annunciation in Clark Mills. Msgr. Lang remains the Diocesan Vicar for Parishes.

A comprehensive list of recent clergy assignments and retirements can be found on our webpage: thecatholicsun. com/bishop-lucia-announces-additionaldiocesan-priest-assignments.

Give a hungry person a fish and you’ve fed them for a day. Teach them to fish and you’ve fed them for life. Teach them how to raise fish and you’ve fed the planet, too!

Students at Holy Cross Academy in Oneida participated in the “Trout in the Classroom” project. Mohawk Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited sponsored the project allowing students to develop a conservation ethic with nature by caring for the trout in a classroom.

After months of learning about the trout life cycle and taking care of the baby trout, HCA students released the fish into a local stream recently.

Mrs. Alane Foley, HCA 8th grade teacher, has worked closely with the students. She shared that “It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve with these young men and women on the Trout Posse,” as the student group is known.

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With in-depth knowledge, experience, and a straightforward approach, the attorneys at Mackenzie Hughes are here to meet all your legal needs— in matters including business transactions, estate planning, and litigation. Learn more at mackenziehughes.com.

The impact of hope; annual Hope Appeal benefits the soul, mind and body

It’s a campaign about people who give and receive, about the generous support that thousands have made this past 12 months to sustain ministries in our diocese.

The 2022 Hope Appeal campaign results are being shared this weekend in parishes through the annual Impact Report. The campaign raised nearly $4.9 million, of which almost $724 thousand was returned to those parishes that exceeded their goal for their own ministerial use, benefit of the annual sharing program. After campaign expenses of $187,900, $3,957,905 will support a host of vital ministries throughout the diocese in the new fiscal year.

Beth Hoey is the executive director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. While working toward financial objectives that support diocesan and parish ministries is an important aspect of her mission, her

focus is always on people first.

“More than 17,500 people,” she states, citing the number of donors to

the campaign. “There’s a reason this is called the Impact Report. People give so generously, so humbly, not

ever knowing the impact they make, and we want them to know it makes a difference.”

She adds that a gift puts the donor there, spiritually and emotionally, when their donation “makes a moment happen. When a young person is inspired, when sacraments are received, moments like that,” she says. “You, as a donor, are there and you’re not alone.”

In parishes this weekend, copies of the condensed 2022 Hope Appeal Impact Report should be available. The report details how the funds are invested to help in three general areas: Advancing Social Justice, Empowering Parish Communities and Cultivating Catholic Leadership. The full report will be mailed to every household that donated to the 2022 campaign.

The report is also available on the Hope Appeal website; go to syracusediocese.org/hopeappeal/ and click on “2022 HOPE Impact Report.”

These Holy Family (Syracuse) parish altar servers are part of the many ministries, like catechesis, that benefit from Hope Appeal donations.

A sign of summer: Totus Tuus missionaries bring faith to life for young Catholics

By Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor

They are a team of twelve, called by Jesus to spread the Good News of the Gospel among the children of God.

No, not two thousand years ago but summer 2023, and if this doesn’t suggest that the Holy Spirit is at work in the Diocese of Syracuse, nothing probably will.

The Totus Tuus (Totally Yours) missionaries, a dozen of them assigned to our diocese, are out among us this summer, working with our youth and young adults at parishes hosting this unique faith program. They are collegeage disciples from as close by as DeWitt to as far away as Texas and Washington State. These young men and women — including two of our seminarians — are pursuing various avenues of study, but they share a common bond: a love of the Lord and a desire to serve.

According to the Totus Tuus website, as many as 50 dioceses across North America host the program every summer, “dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic Faith is, evangelization, Christian witness and Eucharistic worship.”

Bob Walters, director of the diocesan Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Discipleship, celebrates this as the sixth year for Totus Tuus in the diocese. “It’s a milestone for us,” he said, adding that the elementary program is built on a sixyear curriculum, so parishes and their youngsters are encouraged to make this an annual event.

“Totus Tuus has a wide-reaching impact on the diocese,” he added,” from the missionaries themselves and the formation they receive to the parishes they serve in, including the children, the teens and their families.” He said it’s

“life changing” for the missionaries who are truly evangelizing the communities they visit. “They really are introducing people to the faith for the first time. Some of the individuals who attend, their families become Catholic.”

Mary Angela Fisher, associate director of the diocesan office, is with the missionaries on an almost 24/7 basis when they arrive for their orientation.

“I’m really impressed by their faith, by their spiritual lives and their relationship with Jesus.” She added that it stems from “how they use that and go out into mission, and to fuel the joy they have for the children and the teens they serve.”

The group working locally this summer spent the first few weeks of their time here in specialized training and instruction to prepare them to

provide young people from elementary through high school with an experience of faith that is fun, stimulating and bursting with energy and love for Jesus. Now, as summer break begins, they are sent in groups, two men and two women (think Jesus sending his disciples in pairs). They’ll spend the better part of July and August serving at various parish sites hosting week-long programs. Elementary-age youngsters attend daytime sessions while middle and high school students participate in evening programs.

Meet the missionaries!

Here is the group assigned to the Diocese of Syracuse this year:

Lauren Brandl

Hometown: Canonsburg, Pa.

Home parish: St. James.

Current education: studying elementary education at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Best way to spend down time: I love talking and laughing with my siblings. What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? I wanted to develop skills and experience for my possible future classroom.

What are your hopes for the experience?: I really hope to grow closer to Jesus.

Jacob Cottet

The missionaries enjoy a pizza night with Deacon Tom Cuskey. Sun Photo by Mary Angela Fisher.

Hometown: Syracuse.

Home parish: Holy Cross, DeWitt.

Current education: Le Moyne College.

Best way to spend down time: Running.

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? My love for Jesus and my desire to draw closer to him! Having attended Totus Tuus, I knew being a missionary would be edifying.

What are your hopes for the experience? I hope to enjoy the community and fellowship with the other missionaries. And, of course, to have fun with the kids!

Cecilia D’Alberto

Hometown: Cicero.

Home parish: Holy Cross, DeWitt.

Current education: Niagara University, chemistry major with a biology minor.

Best way to spend down time: In my down time, I like to take walks with my dog.

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? I was interested in becoming a missionary because I enjoy youth ministry and have been inspired by past missionaries. I felt called by Jesus to be here during prayer.

What are your hopes for the experience? I hope to grow in my own faith and help the youth to do the same. I also hope to help them have a personal relationship with Jesus and know Christ’s love for them.

Fiona Donlon

Hometown: Greenville, N.Y.

Home parish: St. John the Baptist Church.

Current education: Franciscan University (nursing).

Best way to spend down time: playing guitar and singing, hanging out with four sisters and friends, playing sports. What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? I’ve had many retreat/camp experiences where young adults had such joy and love for the faith that they shared with me, and I want to be able to do the same for the young people of this diocese. What are your hopes for the experience? I hope to be able to share the joy of Christ and form relationships with all the youth I interact with, and in doing so grow more in my faith as well.

Hannah Fitzgerald Hometown:

McGraw, Cortland County. Home parish: St. Mary’s (Cortland).

Current education: SUNY Cobleskill; dual major in canine training and management and early childhood. Best way to spend down time: I like to walk my dogs, Shadow and Oscar. What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? When I was in high school, there were Totus Tuus missionaries that came to Cortland. I attended the evening program and I saw a lot of joy in the team at my parish. Like those missionaries, I love the Lord and serving young people, so I applied. I was in Gary, Indiana, last summer as a Totus Tuus missionary and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I’m excited to be in my home diocese this summer.

What are your hopes for the experience? My goal this summer is to introduce young people to Jesus

and Mary. I hope to light a flame that sparks a love for the sacraments, Mass and saints. I also hope to improve my prayer life by giving myself completely to Mary, in order to grow closer to her Son.

Jonathan Hoole

Hometown: Utica.

Home parish: Mary Mother of Our Savior.

Current education: Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary-Theology

1.

Best way to spend down time: CrossFit!

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? It was suggested by Bishop Lucia as a summer assignment, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. I hope to take what I learn and apply it to my formation at seminary! What are your hopes for the experience? I wish to be able to imitate Jesus better and help others do the same.

Joshua Navos

Hometown:

Federal Way, Wash.

Home parish: St. Vincent de Paul.

Current education: Franciscan University of Steubenville. Best way to spend down time: Reading!

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? I heard a very clear call this past spring that the Lord wants me to be his missionary this summer. After much prayer and research, I discovered Totus Tuus, and the rest is history! What are your hopes for the experience? I hope to use my gifts to introduce kids and teens to the love of Christ. The Lord is going to work in big ways this summer!

Dominic Neighbor

Hometown:

Lancaster, Ohio.

Home parish: Saint Bernadette.

Current education: Franciscan University of Steubenville, theology and catechetics.

Best way to spend down time: Disc golfing.

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? I’ve heard great things about the program from missionaries from different dioceses. My roommate last semester (shout out to Isaac!) convinced me to apply for Syracuse and now we’re both here this summer!

What are your hopes for the experience? I’m really excited to share what I’ve learned from my relationship with God with others. I’m also excited to gain experience teaching in the classroom setting. And finally, excited to grow closer to God in prayer over the course of the program.

Reece Pagel Hometown: Ponder, Texas. Home parish: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (Denton, Texas).

Current education: Oklahoma State University, nutritional sciences.

Best way to spend down time: I don’t think I could pick just one! Some of my favorite things to do are play Bananagrams with my friends, listen to music and read.

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? Since restoring my relationship with Jesus, I have yearned for an opportunity to help others who have fallen away to do the same. I was also drawn in by the chance to live in

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

community with other young people who love Jesus and share my desire of spreading the Good News!

What are your hopes for the experience? I hope to make true connections with the children and teens I encounter! I want to share this divine love that I have encountered, to tell the kids and teens how much the Father loves them, and how much he wants a personal relationship with them.

Elizabeth Peppel Hometown: Barnesville, Minn.

Home parish: Assumption Parish.

Current education: Franciscan University of Steubenville studying social work. Best way to spend down time: I love to cook for my family and friends. I also

love to spend time outside hiking.

What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? I wanted to be a part of a mission that went out to meet and form the future Church. It is so special getting to encounter the younger kids and share with them what I’ve learned growing up in the faith.

What are your hopes for the experience? I hope through my own relationship and pursuit of the Lord that I can bring others close to him.

Isaac Turner Hometown: Crosby, Minn. Home parish: St Joseph’s.

Current education: Franciscan University, business management.

Best way to spend down time: Hiking, caving, most things outdoors. What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary? Growing up, I went to public school and lost my faith. Upon a conversion back, regaining it and devoting my life to Jesus, I’ve found true love, peace and purpose. I want to share it with those high schoolers I meet who are where I was then, that Jesus gives them all the purpose they can’t find in the world.

What are your hopes for the experience? I hope to bring all kids I encounter to encounter Jesus’ love, mercy and presence. If there’s anything I wish for, it’s that I would simply be the vessel through which Christ works. I also hope to grow closer in relationship and devotion to the Lord.

Gianni Verginio

Hometown: Cicero.

Home parish: Saint Rose of Lima. Current education: Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary-Theology 1.

Best way to spend down time: Hanging out with friends, playing golf and hiking. What sparked you to become a Totus Tuus missionary?: I enjoy working with young people. Also, just being present to them as a witness of faith.

What are your hopes for the experience? To experience Christ in the young ones, as well as growing in my own faith while teaching them.

To learn more about Totus Tuus, contact the Office of Youth and Young Adults Ministry at 315-470-1427 or at syracusediocese.org/offices/youth-andyoung-adult-ministry/totus-tuus/

Oswego County Catholic Charities provides services and hope to families

commissioner, she counted on Catholic Charities to be part of the conversation and provide essential services. “The organization fills the gaps by seeking solutions through coordination with other agencies to tackle issues such as food emergencies, parent training, counseling for abused children, etc.,” she added.

By Eileen Jevis Staff writer

There are 55 dedicated, passionate employees and a dozen volunteers in Oswego County that are an integral part of the Catholic Charities family. Mary Margaret Pekow, the executive director of that location, feels fortunate to be in a leadership position while still rolling up her sleeves to provide much-needed services and support to her clients.

Originally founded in the 1930s as an adoption agency, the Oswego County Catholic Charities, located in Fulton, remains a critical human services agency that offers many valuable programs for adults, children and families.

According to Pekow, the overall poverty rate in Oswego County is 19.3 percent. While the food pantry has seen significant growth, local funding has decreased. Homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction are just a few of the issues she and her staff encounter each day. Working closely with other local agencies, they support and assist those whose basic needs are unmet.

Frances Lanigan is the former commissioner of the Department of Social Services in Oswego County. She is now a member of the board and a volunteer at Catholic Charities.

“Generational poverty is at the core of so many social problems,” Lanigan said. “Lack of reliable transportation and lack of jobs that pay a living wage are just some of the challenges we see. The saddest impact of poverty is child neglect and abuse.” Lanigan said as former

Tim Archer has worked at the Fulton location for 23 years. He has held several positions including mental health case management and adult health home care management.

Archer currently works as the community engagement coordinator.

In addition to his duties in that role, he helps supervise the food pantry and thrift store, recruits volunteers, and develops and maintains donor relationships. Archer said the job has its challenges. “We may not be able to conquer all of the obstacles we encounter in order to deliver the care that every person needs, but there is a great sense of fulfillment in our work,” he said. “It may be seeing a tear become a smile, or receiving a thank-you note for something we’ve done in the course of a day’s work. In

cases where a client has passed away, we sometimes still hear from a family member who remembers the time we spent with their loved one. It is those moments that have the greatest impact on me,” said Archer.

Pekow said that the organization offers a variety of programs such as Circle of Security that offers parents the tools and education they need to enhance their parenting skills and improve overall family interactions. The Learn Through Play Program is a place for children to explore various areas of development

through play, activities and interactions. Also, the Get Set Program is a recoveryfocused program designed to promote increased consumer independence and wellness.

“Our focus is on individual and family success and wellness,” said Pekow. “Our Care Management Program helps clients with coordination of services, goal setting, health care, and referrals to community and social supports.”

The mission of Catholic Charities has not changed a great deal since it was founded 100 years ago in Syracuse. Its mission is to effectively minister and respond to the problems of the day. Programs offered at the six locations throughout the Diocese touch the lives of thousands of people each month.

Lanigan encourages others to look for opportunities to make a difference in their communities. Referring to Luke 12:48, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,” inspires and motivates Lanigan in her work.

For more information on how you can help, donate, or volunteer, visit https://www.ccoswego.com/

Oswego County Catholic Charities staff and students in the CYO program participate in the Earth Day Cleanup campaign and celebration. (Photos submitted)

Remembering the past, shaping the future

Alumni groups keep traditions alive

By Eileen Jevis Staff writer

The friendships, lessons and memories we recall from our school days help shape us into the people we are today. It is the shared values and common beliefs we learn in a Catholic school that bind us together despite physical distance, life changes and the passing of time. These lifelong connections are why there are alumni groups throughout the diocese that encourage involvement and membership — even if the school is no longer open.

Kimberly Johnson is the executive director of advancement and president of the Catholic Schools of Broome County (CSBC). She attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School, St. James School and Seton Catholic Central in Binghamton. She said the alumni group is very active and her office works diligently to engage alumni from all the schools in the area. “We want them to know we are a resource for them, whether they are looking for a former classmate or helping to plan a reunion,” she said. Johnson said the office helps keep the Catholic Schools of Broome County connected. “The office creates a space where memories and traditions are shared and provides current students the opportunity to connect with alumni who are a resource for networking, mentoring and internship opportunities,” she said.

Sybil Preski, an artist, taught at Rome Free Academy for 30 years. She currently teaches art at Rome Catholic Elementary School. While she did not attend a Catholic school, her husband, mother, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins all attended various Catholic Schools in Rome.

As an art teacher and parishioner at St. Peter’s Church, Preski became aware of the exceptional education students received at a Catholic school. She and

her husband were so impressed with values taught at Rome Catholic School, they enrolled both their children. At the time, the school offered instruction for kindergarten to 12th grade. Now, it serves K-6. When the high school closed in 2013, some students transitioned to Notre Dame High School.

As a teacher, Preski recognized that students from Rome Catholic schools were responsible, respectful and involved. “They had a love for learning and for participating in events and clubs that benefited the community,” she said. It was that commitment based on loyalty and service to others that spurred Preski to create the alumni group, Catholic Schools Association of Rome (CSAR).

The committee currently has seven members and is inviting others to join.

“We plan a big event that brings alumni from all Catholic schools together for one night of celebration while letting the public know what a positive impact a Catholic education can have on a community.”

Jim Wright, an alumnus of St. Anthony of Padua in the heart of

Syracuse, echoes Preski’s beliefs that his Catholic education had a positive impact on his life. Wright graduated from St. Anthony’s in 1970. “It provided ‘a road map and guard rails’ to live by for the rest of my life. We were taught morals, respect, discipline, a good work ethic and faith in God,” he said. Wright said he has very fond memories of his school days — Friday night basketball games, Sunday afternoon baseball games against the other parochial schools, the annual May crowning, a graduation breakfast and serving as an altar boy. The high school closed in 1974 and the elementary school closed in 1985. He and his wife have been members of the parish since being baptized there.

“Our alumni group is very active with class reunions that are attended by several hundred former students,” said Wright. “Our membership totals over 1,000 grads and friends of St. Anthony’s.” The group hosts holiday parties and golf events and publishes the annual newsletter. “The alumni group is steeped in the traditions and memories of St. Anthony’s and how much our

Catholic education meant to us.”

Father James Serowik, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul/Blessed Sacrament in Vestal, works closely with the Broome County Catholic Schools alumni. He said alumni groups act as ambassadors for our schools and for Catholic education. “They invest their time, talents and treasure in support of our schools. They also support our schools by enrolling their children, the next generation of Catholics, in our school system,” he said. “Alumni groups are an important part of the Catholic schools family throughout the diocese.”

(Left) Alumni and parishioners gather after Mass at St. Anthony’s Church in December 2021. (Right) Some of the members of Class of 1972 celebrate their 50th high school reunion in June 2022. (Photos submitted)

Student ambassador Phil McGarvey, from Bishop Ludden Jr./Sr. High School, speaks at the Light a Child’s Future Syracuse Diocese Catholic Schools Golf Tournament on June 19 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. Listening are, from left, student ambassadors Sean Noon from Utica Notre Dame; Nate Abernethy from Bishop Grimes in East Syracuse; and Joe Tiderencel from Seton Catholic Central in Binghamton. At right is the banquet’s MC, Adrienne Smith, NewsChannel 9’s Weekend Morning News Anchor and a general assignment reporter during the week. She is a 2016 graduate of Utica Notre Dame. See more photos at www.thecatholicsun.com. (Sun photo | Tom Maguire)

GOLF, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

by any means,” he said. “But you know, I can get out there and fumble around up there for a little bit. So, we’ll see. It’s exciting. I’m very excited for it, should be really fun. Hope to learn a lot and hope to meet some more friends.”

Feeling fortunate to attend a “fantastic Catholic school,” McGarvey knows the importance of thanking parents, grandparents and teachers. “Thank everyone for helping you with a question,” he said, “staying after, responding to an email, making dinner, making sure the school uniform's ready for the next day. I appreciate every one of you for your contribution” to Catholic schools, he told the banquet audience. “It has helped me and all of us here today tenfold, and we won’t be able to thank you guys enough.”

“We have so many families who would benefit from a Catholic school education” but just cannot reach that plateau, said William Crist, the Catholic schools superintendent who retired days after the golf fundraiser, which he said is a way to make a Catholic school education affordable for families. The golf entry fees and sponsors help the cause.

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia played in the golf event and said, “I gotta get better.” He noted that investing in the Catholic schools is an “investment in our young

people, so that they can make the world a better place.” What Catholic schools do, he said, is “to show the face of God.”

GOLF RESULTS

Closest to the Pin #3 Brennan Kelly, 7”

Longest Drive #10

Men: Tyler Button

Women: Sarah Falgiatano

Mixed First Place: 53 (-19)

Charlie Falgiatano

Vinny Falgiatano

Sarah Falgiatano

Colleen Falgiatano

Men’s First Place: 64 (-8)

Peter Capponi

Anthony Falgiatano

Alex VanTassel

Random Team: 63 (-9)

Lynn Chapman

Deb Enders

Nikki Fowler

Pat LaBacz

Skins

3 on #8

George Armond

David Malone

John Mirabito

Ross Mirabito

A newlywed couple exchanges a zucchetto with Pope Francis as he greets visitors after his weekly general audience June 28, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

We congratulate you on your well-deserved retirement and thank you for all that you have taught us through your personal witness to the faith for 57 years.

e Church of the Nativity at St. Joseph, LaFayette

Fr. James H. Carey

Televised Mass air times youtube.com/syrdio

Syracuse area:

Sun., 6:30 a.m., Channel 9 (WSYR, Syracuse)

Sat., 8:30 p.m., Channel 98*

Binghamton area: Sun., 6 a.m., Channel 12 (WBNG, Binghamton)

Utica / Rome area:

Sun., 6:00 a.m., Channel 2 (WKTV, Utica)

Thu., 6:30 p.m., Channel 99*

* Denotes Public Access station. Stations will attempt to air the Mass at the times listed, however, the Mass could be preempted without notice.

HOPE Appeal Ministry

Catholic Crossword

” (Isa 40:8)

44 “I am — and wonderfully made” (Psa 139:14)

47 Maiden name word

48 Totals up

49 Pouting grimace

50 Lord, bow down thine — , and hear” (2 Ki 19:16)

51 “He — from the dead” (1 Co 15:12)

52 Grew old

53 Medics (Abbr)

DOWN

1 Place for garbage

2 Region

3 “Peter went out, and wept — ” (Luke 22:62)

4 “There is one — unto all” (Ecc 9:3)

5 Student’s book

6 Spasm

7 Pub beverage

8 “For her grapes are — ripe” (Rev 14:18)

9 “Lo, — — four men” (Dan 3:25)

23 Daunt, fluster

24 “With the — of an ass” (Jud 15:16)

25 Pie — — mode

26 Ground oat or wheat

27 “Their heart was — ” (Mark 6:52)

28 “For unto — — child is born”

29 Faucet, spigot

31 Joel’s rank (1 Ch 5:12)

35 Got married

36 “No money in their — ” (Mark 6:8)

37 Barked

38 “I wil save thee from — ” (Jer 30:10)

39 Decorate again

36 Evergreen tree

7:3)

37 “Take up the — and walk” (John 5:11)

38 Dispute

41 “The grass withereth, the flower —

10 Attorney General Janet

11 Fast jets, for short

17 “O how — are their eyes!” (Prv 30:13)

19 Road curve

22 Extremely angry

Word of the Lord: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Zec 9:9-10; Ps 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14; Rom 8:9, 11-13; Mt 11:25-30

Jesus makes us an invitation that is irresistible:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Who would not want that?

The devout Jews of his day were used to difficult yokes and heavy burdens — restrictions, rules, rubrics. But here, he was telling them: My way is different. It isn’t a way to make your shoulders ache and your knees sore. No. It’s a way of mercy. Of renewal. Of compassion. Of love.

Significantly, he tells his listeners, learn from his example, “for I am meek and humble of heart.”

As much as Jesus teaches that his yoke is “easy,” it does come with a catch: humility.

Most of us know that’s not how the world works. All you need to do is scan the headlines on any given morning, and you’ll see that power accrues to the ruthless, the brutish, the arrogant, the proud. The most influential people in the world are rarely the humblest.

But as he did so often, Jesus turned the world’s expectations upside down. What he is saying here is altogether new and, really, radical. He taught those who would become the first Christians that what they would eventually call “The Way” was a way of the small and the meek; he would remind them on the night before he died that the truest model of Christian love wasn’t something noble, grandiose or intimidating. It was, in fact, the image of a humble man with a basin and a towel, who got down on his knees to wash dirt from the feet of his friends.

It was about service. And it still is. In these summer days of Ordinary Time, we are reminded just how extraordinary the call to living as a Christian really is. We’re reminded, too, of Zechariah’s prophetic words: “Your king shall come to you; a just savior is

he, meek, and riding on an ass.”

This really goes to the heart of what the Christian life entails. My friend Deacon William Ditewig recently published a book, “Courageous Humility,” that outlines this particular vision for the Church as a place of meekness and, yes, humility.

“To love another person and to be loved in return is an act of humility,” he writes, noting that “the bottom line is that the Church is humble because our God is humble.” He quotes theologian Richard Gaillardetz, who observed, “Once you’ve begun to imagine a Church that makes mistakes, you have the beginning of a humble Church.”

In a world consumed by politicians who thump their chests and point their fingers, and civic leaders who rarely admit to mistakes (and some church leaders who aren’t very good at doing that, either), the readings this week are a bracing splash of cold water. Do we understand what it means to be “meek and humble of heart”? Do we realize that to live in the imitation of Christ means exactly that? Are we willing to do that?

It’s not that hard, Jesus says — but, let’s face it: That doesn’t mean it is easy.

What Jesus is asking doesn’t require superhuman strength. It requires, instead, qualities that could challenge any hard soul — things like meekness and humility, self-denial and sacrifice.

Looked at that way, maybe the defining question is: Are we big enough to become smaller? That is the way to true Christian discipleship.

Jesus, showing us another way of living, shows us also The Way to perfect love. A way to grace. A way to draw ever-closer to the merciful and humble heart of God.

To a weary world, it’s an invitation we’ve been waiting for.

How can we possibly refuse?

Deacon Greg Kandra is an awardwinning author and journalist, and creator of “The Deacon’s Bench” blog. He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Divine Comedy

By Dan Reynolds

If your parish is interested in inviting Deacon Dan to do his “DIVINE COMEDY” presentation, contact him at divinecomedydan@gmail.com. “Divine Comedy” is full of clean jokes, saintly humorous examples and hysterical religious cartoons. It is about how our faith life is enriched by daily humor. You will learn how God loves you yesterday, today and “everlaughter.”

Scripture readings

Thursday, July 6: 380: Gn 22:1-19; Ps 115:1-6, 8-9; Mt 9:1-8

Friday, July 7: 381: Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67; Ps 106:1-5; Mt 9:9-13

Saturday, July 8: 382: Gn 27:1-5, 15-29; Ps 135:1-6; Mt 9:14-17

Sunday, July 9: 100: Zec 9:9-10; Ps 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14; Rom 8:9, 11-13; Mt 11:2530

Monday, July 10: 383: Gn 28: 10-22; Ps 91:1-4, 14-15; Mt 9:18-26

Tuesday, July 11: 384: Gn 32:23-33; Ps 17:1-3, 6-8, 15; Mt 9:32-38

Wednesday, July 12: 385: Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24; Ps 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19; Mt 10:1-7

Thursday, July 13: 386: Gn 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 10:7-15

Friday, July 14: 387: Gn 46:1-7, 28-30; Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Mt 10:16-23

Saturday, July 15: 388: Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26; Ps 105:1-4, 6-7; Mt 10:24-33

Sunday, July 16: 103: Is 55:10-11; Ps 65:11-14; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23 or Mt 13:1-9

Monday, July 17: 389: Ex 1:8-14, 22; Ps 124:1-8; Mt 10:34–11:1

Tuesday, July 18: 390: Ex 2:1-15; Ps 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 11:20-24

Wednesday, July 19: 391: Ex 3:1-6, 9-12; Ps 103:1-4, 6-7; Mt 11:25-27

Necrology

Father Edmund P. Stankiewicz: 7, 1966

Msgr. Robert E. Dillon: 7, 2001

Deacon Richard Chiesa: 7, 2004

Father Thomas W. Reilly: 8, 1896

Father Salvatore D’Alessandro: 8, 2002

Father Gerald F. Dunn: 10, 1955

Father Thomas J. Kelleher: 10, 1964

Msgr. Jeremiah W. McCarthy: 10, 1994

Father Thomas J. Manning: 10, 2006

Deacon Peter F. Benz: 10, 2008

Msgr. Francis Willenburg: 10, 2014

Msgr. Lawrence I. Horan: 11, 1969

Father Charles N. Oley: 12, 1941

Father Joseph P. Egan: 12, 1944

Father Leon D. Watkins: 13, 1958

Father Joseph J. Jankowski: 14, 1947

Msgr. Peter J. Koleczek: 14, 1988

Msgr. Thomas Hayes: 14, 2001

Msgr. Aubrey R. Seiter: 16, 1980

Father Louis H. Waters: 16, 1981

Father Edwards J. Hayes: 17, 2010

Father Leonard F. Kotzbauer: 18, 1998

Msgr. Alexis L. Hopkins: 19, 1958

Msgr. Charles L. Borgognoni: 19, 2007

Father Richard J. Stuczko: 19, 2010

Father Anthony Cincotta: 19, 2011

Catholic school scholarships boosted by golfers, including bishop

By Tom Maguire Associate editor

He nails a 4-iron, much like he navigates his career at Bishop Ludden Jr./Sr. High School.

Phil McGarvey, who will be a senior in the fall, expressed his love for his education at the Light a Child's Future Syracuse Diocese Catholic Schools

Golf Tournament on June 19 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. For two years now, the event has surpassed its fundraising goals for scholarships for financially disadvantaged families.

McGarvey, a member of the National Honor Society, attended Holy Family School up to the sixth grade before starting at Ludden. “Both of them have taught me really great qualities about how to live, how to act,” he said. “And the cardinal virtues.” Everything you would ever want, he added, “has been taught to me by the Catholic schools, from Holy Family and Bishop Ludden. There’s nothing more I could ask for; the teachers have been great. I’ve met lifelong friends” who share the same values.

Sitting on the patio after his round, McGarvey, a golf and soccer captain at Ludden, said the Shenendoah golf course “was a hard course, it played well, played long. But you know I had a really great time.” On one of the par-5 holes, he took an allowed mulligan and “hit a great flyer” that put the ball up there for a chip shot. His captain-and-crew team finished the day at 17 under par. Asked about a comparable challenge in school, McGarvey cited a rigorous Ludden class that he has taken: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Mathematics: analysis and approaches. “That's probably the hardest class I've ever taken but it was a lot of fun,” he said. So the Catholic schools do offer fun along with other qualities cited by McGarvey and the other student ambassadors who spoke at the post-golf banquet: small class sizes; personable teachers who will stay after school and

answer emailed questions; Masses; religion classes that public-school kids don’t get; a better school life; a better basketball career; a sense of connectedness and togetherness; and prayers in the morning and at the end of the day. “Just a great environment to be in,” said the evening’s MC, Adrienne Smith, NewsChannel 9’s Weekend Morning News Anchor and a general assignment reporter during the week. She is a 2016 graduate of Utica Notre Dame. She credited her parents and the “sacrifices that they made for not just me but my two older brothers, who are also graduates of Notre Dame.”

Nate Abernethy, a basketball player who has two years left at Bishop Grimes in East Syracuse, said transferring from Cicero-North Syracuse to Grimes “was definitely the best decision I’ve made.”

Another student ambassador, Joe Tiderencel, attended St. John the Evangelist in Binghamton and now attends Seton Catholic Central. He said: “I believe that growing up Catholic was a big part of my life because it brought everyone in our school together. … I wouldn’t have gotten a similar experience anywhere else.”

A lot of kids who come from public schools say they like the small class sizes and the “atmosphere that everybody knows everybody,” said student ambassador Sean Noon from Utica Notre Dame. “And the teachers are super helpful. And we learn a lot in religion class.” He added that the kids’ ministry helps in his community.

McGarvey is the youngest of five boys who have all attended Holy Family in Fairmount and Bishop Ludden in Syracuse. In addition to his golf (first team all-star for small schools in Section III along with teammates Max Boyea and Steve Hall) and soccer, he has worked the spotlight for Ludden shows and probably will do so again in the fall, and he will probably perform in the spring musical in his senior year. “I’m no singer or dancer

Student ambassadors Sean Noon, from Utica Notre Dame, and Phil McGarvey, from Bishop Ludden, get ready for 18 holes of golf at Shenendoah. (Sun photo | Deacon Tom Cuskey)