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Graduates: 174 Baccalaureate Mass June 4, 2017, St. Joseph Church, Toms River Commencement: June 5, 2017, St. Joseph Church, Toms River Scholarships Received: $27,443,488 VALEDICTORIAN
SALUTATORIAN
Maureen McGarry
Erin McGarry
Maureen McGarry & Erin McGarry • Bishop Ahr Award Brooke Sobieski • Catholic University of America scholarship recipient Adam Mangold & Dakota Wintrode • Rev. Monsignor Donovan Award Nicolina Ferraro • The Spirit of St. Dominic Award Alyssa Wilson & Bryce Grant • The Griffin Award Brendan Maguire • Rev. John Wessel Award Erin McGarry • National Merit Program Commended Student
Donovan Catholic graduates process down the aisle June 4 during the Baccalaureate Mass in St. Joseph Church, Toms River. John Blaine photo
Class of ‘17 receives fond farewell from Donovan Catholic By Lois Rogers, Correspondent
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mid prayer and celebration, the community of Toms River’s Donovan Catholic High School bid Godspeed to the 174 students of the Class of 2017 who will soon carry the skills, knowledge and values gleaned there to colleges and universities around the nation. The lingering goodbye began June 1 with the traditional award ceremony and reception in St. Joseph Church, Toms River, (which shares a campus with Donovan Catholic), and culminated with graduation in the same location June 5. There, the students, who collectively garnered more than $27 million in scholarships, received their diplomas and jubilantly tossed their caps into the air in the parking lot upon exiting the large worship space. The festivities reached a liturgical high point June 4, when on the Solemnity of Pentecost, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a Baccalaureate Mass for the class and their parents and educators. The church was filled to capacity as Bishop O’Connell charged the assembly to go forth mindful of the faith experienced by the Apostles on the first Pentecost as the Holy Spirit descended upon them. “As you graduate, don’t leave that faith behind you in college,” he said. “Go where the Holy Spirit leads you … living confidently in a continuing relationship with God through Jesus Christ” which will, according to the timeless promise of Pentecost, “be with you to the end of time.” He commended Father G. Scott Shaffer, Donovan Catholic’s director and pastor of St. Joseph Parish, parents, faculty and staff and “all those who have loved you to this moment.” Bishop O’Connell also presided over two spe-
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrates a Baccalaureate Mass June 4. Father G. Scott Shaffer, Donovan Catholic’s director and pastor of St. Joseph Parish, is seen at right. John Blaine photo
G22 • class of
Catholic education had given me the foundation of the most basic lessons of friendship and love. … Teachers, you give of yourself each and every day to make us into better people and stronger Catholics. Over these past four years, you’ve taught us important lessons not only in your subjects, but about what it means to be adults who act for the betterment of those around us. We can learn a lesson from all experiences. Our friends, our families, our work – all give us examples to follow and experiences to look back on.” • Maureen McGarry, Valedictory Speech
2017 • THE MONITOR • JUNE 2017
cial awards: the Bishop George Ahr Medal for Religious Studies and the full-tuition scholarship that bears his name as the 14th president of The Catholic University of America, Washington. For the first time in the school’s history, there were two recipients of the Bishop Ahr Award – twins Maureen and Erin McGarry, who also served, respectively, as valedictorian and salutatorian. Brooke Sobieski was awarded the CUA scholarship. Between festivities, all three talked about the firm spiritual and academic footing each received at Donovan Catholic. The twins, who belong to St. Joseph Parish, said they found the experience challenging and exciting. They said it bolstered the already strong faith nurtured in their home and was definitely a factor in their choice to continue their education in Catholic universities. Erin McGarry plans to enter Villanova University, Villanova, Pa., in the fall, and Maureen McGarry is set to study at The Catholic University of America. Sobieski, a member of St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, spoke of how she was energized to win the scholarship named after Bishop O’Connell. “I’m so excited; it’s surreal,” Sobieski said, explaining that as the last of four children in her family, the tuition-free scholarship had “lifted a burden off my shoulders.”
Did You Know? For the first time in the school’s history, there were two recipients of the Bishop George Ahr Medal for Religious Studies – twins Maureen and Erin McGarry, who also served, respectively, as valedictorian and salutatorian.
The Class of 2017 from Donovan Catholic High School toss their caps in the air June 5 in the parking lot of St. Joseph Church, Toms River. Mike Ehrmann photo