Lauralton Magazine of the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy | Lauralton Hall spring 2016
hallmarks
“ We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it.” — Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus
Lauralton Hallmarks Spring 2016 Volume 43, Number 1
contents
President Antoinette Iadarola, Ph.D. Principal Cynthia Gallant Academic Dean Jan Powers ’75 Director of Enrollment Management Kathleen O. Shine Executive Director of Development Lisa M. Hottin Director of Finance and Administration Vincent L. Vigliotti Director of Marketing & Communications Sue Bonaventura Director of Alumnae Relations Aimee Marcella Director of Annual Giving Edlira Curis Editor Sue Bonaventura Contributing Writers Sue Bonaventura Lisa M. Hottin Aimee Marcella Photography William Taufic Sue Bonaventura Owen Bonaventura Lauralton Hallmarks is published twice a year for alumnae, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the Lauralton community. © 2016 Please send address changes to Lauralton Hall, 200 High Street, Milford, Connecticut 06460, Attention: Lauralton Hallmarks. Letters to the editor can be sent to the above address or by email to Hallmarks@lauraltonhall.org. Alumnae are encouraged to submit articles, information and photographs to Alumnae Relations to the above address or by email to alumnaerelations@lauraltonhall.org. On the cover: In 1972, Sister Maria Josephine D’Angelo, RSM designed a modern version of the original ebony and ivory Mercy cross created by Mother Catherine McAuley. Today, the Mercy cross is the symbol which distinguishes the Sisters of Mercy worldwide.
2 President’s Letter 4 In the News 10 11 14 16
Mercy in Our Halls Divine Intervention: Jeanmarie Santopatre What Does Mercy Mean to Me? Love Each Day: Sister Eileen Boffa ’62
19 Sisters of Mercy Around the World 20 Alumnae Profile: Mary Ann Haran Quinn ’ 71 and Mary Rose Hoffman ’69 21 Alumnae Profile: Sarah LeMieux ’ 97 22 By the Numbers: Lauralton Hall Stats 25 Class Notes 29 Dearly Departed 32 Our Heritage
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letter from the president
Dear Members of the Lauralton Community, From the beginning of his papacy, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, has centered his remarks and writings on “mercy” as a common theme. As a result, it came as no surprise that he declared that the Church would celebrate a Holy Year of Mercy, beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2015, and end with the Feast of Christ the King on November 20, 2016. But what is mercy exactly? Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, defined mercy as the virtue “which has led people in a particular way to help and comfort the sick and poor as in them they find the person of Jesus Christ who considers as done to himself what we do to others.” The moral theologian from Boston College, James Keenan, S.J., described mercy as “the willingness to enter into the chaos of another.” In his proclamation, “The Face of Mercy,” Pope Francis states that the Church’s “very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.” He looks “forward to the experience of opening our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society: fringes which modern society itself creates.” Our popular Pope calls on us to once again reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and deepen our commitment to prayer. He invites and even challenges us to confront the issues of our times. This issue of Hallmarks resonates with the many activities that engage our students and faculty in experiencing the face of mercy in their lives and the lives of others. Throughout the Lauralton curriculum there are discussions on such social justice issues as poverty, immigration, hunger, trafficking, the environment, and the structures which diminish the dignity of persons. For example, our students come to better understand the education of girls in Africa by Skyping them in The Gambia, while our campus ministry offers opportunities to experience mercy in prayer, mission trips, community outreach, and liturgies. Please enjoy the stories in this issue as they reflect on just some of the mercy being practiced and experienced here at Lauralton Hall. The Jubilee Year of Mercy has begun—it is in the DNA of Lauralton Hall! Warmly,
Antoinette (Toni) Iadarola, Ph.D. President and Head of School
“ I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On that day, the Holy Door will become a Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons, and instills hope.” — pope francis, misericordiae vultus
in the news
Students Inducted into the World Language Honor Societies On three separate evenings in April, students were inducted into the Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish World Language Honor Societies. The new inductees earned membership into their respective honor societies by maintaining a 91 weighted grade point average over the three semesters preceding the induction and displayed an interest in the culture of the languages. Lauralton’s Principal Cynthia Gallant, Academic Dean Jan Powers ’75, and President Dr. Antoinette Iadarola presided over the various ceremonies presenting the new inductees certificates and current seniors with honor cords, which they will proudly wear at graduation. National Latin Honor Society
Back to Guatemala for 22 LH Students This past February, twenty-two Lauralton students and three volunteer teacher chaperones flew to Guatemala to continue their mission work with School the World. Although this trip was completely independent of Lauralton this year, they returned to two locations in Guatemala, Choaxan and Cacabal II, where Lauralton students had previously built schools in the communities. The girls worked hard for eight days to construct, decorate and install the different pieces of their playground, as School the World recognizes that play is an important skill that teaches students in Guatemala to break gender roles and creates an equal opportunity for all.
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Love is in the Air Lauralton Hall opened its doors again this year to host the Annual Senior Citizens Valentine’s Day dance. Over 100 senior citizens came out ready to swing. This event is sponsored by the LH Key Club with 37 members. Guests came to visit from area senior centers to dance to the swinging sounds of the big band called The Survivors and be treated to desserts and punch. The seniors were also offered dance lessons and tours of the mansion.
Transforming our Stairs into an Interactive Piano As Lauralton continues to be in the forefront of encouraging young women to enter into the sciences and technology fields, they have taken music and engineering to another level. The Mercy Hall staircase was transformed into a musical instrument with the help of science teacher April Kelley ’85, LH Director of Technology Charles O’Donnell and senior Kelly Aarons. Last June, Mrs. Kelley attended the Innovation Institute at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, FL where she was introduced to the Makey Makey kit. This is essentially a micro-controller which allows inventors to turn everyday objects into touch pads. By combining the Makey Makey with a computer via a USB cable, you can “trick” the computer into thinking everyday objects are keystrokes that correspond with a computer command. Kelly and Mrs. Kelley installed five musical stair treads on the marble staircase in Mercy Hall. Music teacher Margy Sargent was the first to test the stairs and declared them to be, “Amazing. The notes were right on pitch!” Soon, the students learned to play familiar tunes and the staircase became an instrument as they hit the steps on the way to their classrooms.
LUVs and HUGs The National Honor Society led the drive in a Valentine’s Day theme of “Luvs and Hugs” to collect diapers and wipes for the Women’s Shelter in Mercy Center of Bridgeport. Over 3,000 diapers and wipes were collected for distribution!
Pictured L to R are NHS members Carloine Sarda, Felicia Tanu, Maddie Peloso, Bella Secchiaroli, and Aigneis Frey
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in the news
Sikorsky Engineers Challenge LH Students
During National Engineering Week, Claudine Phaire, Engineering Proposal Manager at Sikorsky, and Evian Crosdale visited classrooms at LH. They challenged the girls to design, construct and test the group prototype for a wind-powered crane system that could lift a certain weight of food a specified distance in
the quickest time. The wind was supplied by a hairdryer to test the designs. Our students agreed that it was a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and talk to professionals about Engineering fields and skills needed to be successful at the next level.
Top Marketing Award for LH Campaign Lauralton Hall’s Because We Believe‌The Campaign for Lauralton Hall website has been recognized with a Gold Award by the Education Digital Marketing Awards in the Development Website category. A national panel of education industry specialists reviewed all entries, presenting Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards based on creativity, marketing execution, message impact, technology application and innovative content. Lauralton Hall has also been presented with Silver, Bronze and Merit awards by the Educational Advertising Awards in the Special Video, Total Fundraising and Logo categories, respectively. The school worked with the Baltimore-based firm Creosote Affects to create its materials for the campaign.
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A Visit to NYC Museum Makes History Come Alive History students recently visited the Tenement Museum located at 97 Orchard Street in New York City. This historic museum allows its visitors a glimpse into the life of urban immigrants from overseas in the 19th and early 20th century. They offered many variations of activities and tours for students and teachers to embark on, with an impressive amount of information. The tour themes our students were able to visit were Hard Times, Victoria Confio and Sweatshops. They discovered how immigrants survived economic depressions in NYC between 1863 and 1935. The students visited restored homes of the German-Jewish Gumpertz family, whose patriarch disappeared during the Panic of 1873, and the Italian-Catholic Baldizzi family, who lived through the Great Depression. They also met the character of Victoria Confino, a 14-year old
Italian immigrant who lived in the tenement in 1916, and heard about the immigrant experience. The Sweatshops were based on the Levine Family Garment Workshops, which discussed the working conditions in sweatshops. They visited the Rogarshevskys’ Sabbath table at the turn of the 20th century, when the Lower East Side of Manhattan was the most densely populated place in the world.
LH and Fairfield Prep team-up for Environmental Science Field Trip LH and Fairfield Prep students met up with Christina Batoh, Stratford’s Conservation Officer, to learn about beaver ecology at the site of a recently constructed beaver dam in Roosevelt Forest. Students set out to answer the question, “Does the presence of the beaver dam impact stream water quality?” To do this they tested water samples from an upstream site, the dam itself, and a downstream site. After sampling trees in both areas, students concluded that the upland forest was more diverse. This information is especially important to forest managers as they continue to monitor the effects the beavers will have on forest succession in this corner of Stratford.
“ Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.” — pope francis, laudato si on care for our common home
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in the news
Eco-Fashion Show Turns Trash into Chic Fashions The 11th Annual Eco-Fashion Show was a huge hit this year! Ingenious fashions were designed completely out of trash and the student models strut their stuff down the runway.
Did you know? CT Audubon Society named Lauralton Hall’s 30-acre campus as one of Audubon At Home’s Healthy Habitats for Birds and Wildlife.
A Celebration of Lent Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. Our Lauralton student body reflected on their spirituality as each class participated in a day-long retreat to celebrate this special time. Each class focused on a special theme.
Freshmen and Sophomores participated in a Prayer Service led by Fr. Peter Cipriani which included the Holy Thursday ritual of Washing of Feet. 8 LAURALTON HALL
freshmen: Getting to know each other (community) better.
Juniors visited Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, CT
sophomores: Exploring your Individuality
juniors: Care of the Earth, responding to Pope Francis and Laudato Si
Seniors attended discussions at Mercy by the Sea in Madison, CT.
seniors: Finding God in All ThingsEverywhere
Tennis Claims SCC and Class M Championship with Undefeated Season Lauralton Hall’s 2015 tennis team entered the season as prohibitive favorites to win the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) and compete for a Class M state title. Despite the promise of an exceptional season, the tennis team surpassed their lofty goals and aspirations. They won the regular season SCC championship, claimed the
Class M state title, and finished the season a perfect 24 – 0. In addition, the Crusaders placed three members on the All-State first team for the first time in Lauralton Hall History—Shelby Vertula, Tara Boyd and Michaela O’Donnell. And Coach Maureen Ferguson was named SCC Coach of the Year for 2015.
Girls Swimming Repeats as Class M State Champs The Lauralton Hall girls swim and dive team repeated as Class M state champions, winning back-to-back state titles for the first time since the 1998 and 1999 seasons. The Crusaders also won the Class S state title in 2012, and with this year’s championship, have claimed three state titles in four years. During the regular season, the LH team compiled a 10 –1 meet record, and finished second in the SCC tournament. Lauralton Hall Coach Fran Pfeiffer could not have been more pleased with his entire swim/dive team. “Our senior class has been awesome, winning a state title three of the last four years,” he added. “I hate to see them go. But we also have a good freshman class this year and they helped contribute with the seniors.”
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Mercy in Our Halls
“ Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life.” — pope francis, misericordiae vultus
Mercy takes on many forms and actions. Our Lauralton Hall family is dedicated to the charism of the Sisters of Mercy and is committed to the Mercy Core Values. It is key to our mission and central to whom we are. The Mercy Core Values consist of compassion and service, educational excellence, concern for women and women’s issues, global vision and responsibility, spiritual growth and development, and collaboration. There is no end to the commitment to Mercy that is infused into our students. The result is that they embrace these values throughout their lifetime. That is why their favorite Lauralton song of all time is “The Circle of Mercy.” It is instilled in them forever. Below are only a few examples of how the theme of Mercy is intertwined in the lives of our students throughout their four years at Lauralton Hall: Lauralton Hall is one of twelve Catholic high schools in the U.S. invited to serve as a Platinum Catholic Relief Service (CRS) Global High School.
Our students take four years of religion courses, during which time they explore the history of the Church, comparative religion, Catholic social teachings and more.
Mass is held on all Holy Days for the entire student body to attend.
The Chapel is always open for our students to pray, meditate, or study.
Mercy traditions are celebrated in the Chapel, including Graduation Liturgy, Ring Ceremony, and Induction Ceremonies.
The Religious Studies Department conducts Masses during Common Times and other occasions when they are explaining the meaning of the sacred ceremony to their students.
In addition to these examples, our students give back by working closely with many outside community outreach organizations both home and abroad. These organizations include the Mercy Learning Center, School the World, Caroline House, Starfish International, and local senior citizen centers. Many of our Lauralton students also go on mission trips to Guatemala, Navajo Nation, Malawi, and the Boys Orphanage in Guyana, which is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in India.
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I
f there is one thing Jeanmarie Santopatre is sure of, it is that God had a very specific plan leading her into her new role as campus minister at Lauralton Hall. Coming from a career as a photojournalist, most recently working in this field at Fairfield University, Jean never imagined that she would be in this role as the spiritual advisor and mentor to the 450 students at Lauralton Hall. Continued on page 12
Divine
intervention 2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 11
Continued from page 11
“ There is no doubt in my mind that it was divine providence that set the path for me to be here at Lauralton Hall as the campus minister,” says Chaplain Jean, as she is referred to by the students. While still working as a freelance photojournalist, Jean had a chance meeting with Rev. Susan Pfeil, pastor at the First Congregational Church in Bridgeport. Rev. Pfeil strongly encouraged Jean to listen to the “internal callings” that were leading her into ministry, and also to investigate Yale University Divinity School. “I fell in love with Yale Divinity School from my first visit. Before I knew it, I had applied, was accepted, and started attending classes,” she stated. “Everything about the school was so warm and embracing, and I immediately felt at home.” Jean earned her MA in Theology at Yale Divinity School and also completed a certificate in Education, Leadership and Ministry from Berkeley Divinity School. Afterwards, Jean worked as a chaplain intern in Campus Ministry at St. Thomas More, Yale’s Catholic Chapel & Center. At St. Thomas More, she created a workbook on the contemplative prayer of St. Ignatius called the Examen and co-led a mission immersion trip to El Salvador for Yale Catholic undergraduate students. Jean also served as a volunteer at Fairfield University,
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“ Mercy: The ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.” — pope francis, misericordiae vultus
where she led mission trips to Mexico, the Passamaquoddy Reservation in Maine, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Just how did Jean get from Yale Divinity to Lauralton Hall? Her advisor at Yale, Sr. Janet Ruffing, was a Sister of Mercy and proved to be a great connection. Jean felt a strong connection to the Mercy and Jesuit charisms that were incorporated throughout Sr. Janet’s courses. Another influencer, Father Tony Jarvis, taught one of Jean’s classes at Yale. He also spoke fondly about the type of work that could be accomplished when working with high school students. This helped fuel a desire to pursue working with students on the high school level, and she was openly enthusiastic when a job opportunity immerged at Lauralton Hall as Director of Campus Ministry. “This seemed like the perfect fit, and I was very excited when offered the position,” Jean said. “I really love bringing faith and spirituality into the daily lives of the students here at Lauralton Hall.” Jean has worked with the students of Lauralton Hall to help them explore and grow in their spirituality. She introduced the Kairos program and brought five juniors on a Kairos retreat with Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. These same juniors will be the leaders for their Senior Kairos retreat next year. She also organized and scheduled four retreats for each class. Freshman and sophomore retreats were held on campus and focused on “Fellowship and Community” for the
freshmen and “Exploring your Individuality” for the sophomores. The junior class traveled to Incarnation Center in Ivoryton where they focused on the environment and in particular, Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si Chaplain. Jean led the Senior retreat “Finding God in All Things” at Mercy by the Sea in Madison. “I have been teaching meditative prayer to the girls as well as holding prayer services in the chapel that include charisms from the Sisters of Mercy: Praying for refugees and immigrants, non-violence and Inter-faith prayer services. Other ideas for prayer services are coming directly from the students,” she commented. “Many of the girls I work with are freshmen at the school, and I feel like I am beginning to reach to some of these girls who may not have explored their spirituality personally yet. This is a time of formation in the girls’ lives, and I hope they will develop a spiritual backbone, and really know who God is in their life before they reach college.” Chaplain Jean feels especially called to her work at Lauralton. “It is a wonderful time to
expand our Campus Ministry program this year, coinciding with this Jubliee Year of Mercy. As Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Mercy in the Basilica of St. Peter last December, so too the Doors of Mercy are open at Lauralton Hall.” Campus Ministry oversees more than 100 community service projects undertaken by Lauralton students. Through the inspirational work of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy, students embrace and demonstrate mercy in action in a variety of ways, including school-wide activities such as collecting food for the Mercy Learning Center ministry in Bridgeport. The National Honor Society holds a number of different drives throughout the year that benefit veterans, the poor, the hungry, and the homeless. Students volunteer and serve at hospitals, nursing homes, animal shelters, advocacy organizations, local parishes, Boys and Girls Clubs, and summer camps. They also assist at masses and prayer services on campus, volunteer at school functions, and so much more. 2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 13
What Does Mercy Mean to Me? In this Year of Mercy, we wanted to know what mercy means to our faculty, our students and our alumnae. Here are some examples. Jamiah Bennett ’16 Mercy is treating people with kindness and equality. It is also accepting individuality and working towards creating an environment where this can be expressed. In October of 2015, I had the honor of speaking at a summit sponsored by the Get In Touch Foundation. I was the co-host of a panel on the subject of race and how it affects our lives. Simply by participating, I was able to help create a more merciful environment. Danielle Koterbay ’16 To me, mercy is selflessness, humility, and following the Good that Jesus preached. This includes treating others the way you want to be treated. Modern society is very self-centered, and the mercy learning at Lauralton Hall and mercy in general helps combat this and reverse this model. The Pope has been very inspirational to young people and many now feel like they are wanted and desired by the church.
Christine Miller, History Teacher I would define mercy as being passionate about an issue and showing compassion towards others. I have been fortunate enough to see Mercy every day at Lauralton Hall. Sometimes the examples are small, such as an upperclassmen stopping to help a freshman open her locker when it is jammed stuck, to the teachers being interested in the student holistically to ensure that work is evenly distributed.
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Kara Mandanici Satalino, ’99 Mercy means going out of your way to help someone or show kindness when someone you know or love is struggling. Recently, our fourth child, Cecelia, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. My family and I were shown mercy first-hand soon after and consistently since her diagnosis. Without the love and support of our friends and family during those first few months, I don’t know how we would have made it through. I will never forget their kindness. To me, this is all “Mercy.”
Meghan Piatak, Religion Teacher I am grateful that I encounter mercy on a daily basis at Lauralton Hall. I have had the privilege to attend service trips, in which I was able to bring mercy to others and those are experiences that I will never forget. That’s the thing about mercy—you give it to others but in turn you feel it even more from God.
Kathy Swift ’80 Mercy is the reciprocal love that God showers on us and we, in turn, are called to share with those we meet. It is like water that the dry earth soaks up instantly; our world is so needy for it. Mercy affirms the God-image in each person, it reaches to meet the need of the times, and it works systemically for eliminating those needs. I am overwhelmed by the small and large ways I see people carrying out Catherine McAuley’s legacy. Kathy is pictured at left with Sister Grace Mannion, RSM, former principal and Director of the Mercy Associates Program
Tell us what mercy means to you. Email us at Hallmarks@LauraltonHall.org.
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Love Each Day Pope Francis’s call for all to take part in a year of jubilee and mercy is an inspiration for many across the world, and a strong encouragement to give of oneself and serve those in need. For Sister Eileen Boffa ’62, that powerful call to mercy came many years ago when she was a young girl attending Lauralton Hall.
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“ It is my burning desire, that during this Jubilee, the Christian people may reflect on the corporeal and spiritual works of mercy.” — pope francis, misericordiae vultus
I
“ have tried to follow the teachings of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. She had a powerful love for the poor and I feel like her spirit works within me,” Sister Eileen stated. While a student at Lauralton, Eileen had no intention of becoming a Sister in the Church, but was always attracted to the call for mercy, compassion, peacefulness, and joy. While under the tutelage of many of the Lauralton teachers (whom at the time were mostly Sisters), Eileen began to hear a calling to religious life around the time of her graduation. Fifty years later, she is still serving those in need as a Sister of Mercy. She taught for many years in the inner city Catholic schools of Bridgeport. While teaching, Sister Eileen visited the homes of students and found that many of their
parents were under educated or even illiterate. This led her to start the Mercy Learning Center, which she operated for over 15 years and helped educate the mothers in these very poor neighborhoods. After completing her time leading the Mercy Learning Center, Sister Eileen felt another strong calling from the Lord, and this time it was to work directly with the homeless. “I just really love each day waking up and going to see my folks,” she said. “They are beautiful people who have made mistakes. All of us have a spark of the divine and it is up to us to see that in each other.” Over the past 5 years, Sister Eileen has dedicated her life to serving the homeless through her Bridgeport Street Ministry. Sister spends her days helping the disenfrancised communities with all sorts of life’s difficulties. “I really just want to be a positive presence in their lives,” Sister Eileen commented. “When I started this ministry five years ago, I simply went to downtown Bridgeport where the homeless normally hangout. I would just say ‘good morning’ and had some Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards to hand out. This is how I was able to get to know folks and be a presence in their lives.” This humble beginning of working with the poor in the city of Bridgeport has evolved into a ministry that provides those in great need with furniture for their apartments, food, and the most basic of life’s necessities like utensils, kitchen bedding, and curtains.
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“ There are three things the poor prize more highly than gold, tho’ they cost the donor nothing; among these are the kind word, the gentle, compassionate look and the patient hearing of their sorrows.” — catherine mcauley
“Early on in my work in Bridgeport, I met a women who was just out from serving time in prison and literally had nothing,” she explained. “This young lady sought me out, looking for some kind of help, and that is what I am here for.” A few years earlier, this woman had lost a baby to SIDS, otherwise known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This tragedy destroyed her and her marriage. It led to drug use, an arrest and a prison sentence. After serving her time she was released back to Bridgeport, but had no money and no job. In spite of this, she was free from drugs and was able to acquire a small apartment in the city. “She was really trying to turn her life around and had this little apartment in Bridgeport with absolutely no furniture in it. I mean nothing—she slept on the floor and literally didn’t have a fork and plate to eat her meals,” Sister Eileen added. According to Sister Eileen, the state of Connecticut has made progress with helping the homeless find places to live. The difficulty is that many end up moving into apartments and rooms that literally have nothing. “I never planned on adding furniture to my work with the poor, but after this situation, I realized how important it is to us all. There is something very sad and disheartening about having a roof over your head and then having nothing but empty space inside.” In addition to helping with furniture and other household needs, Sister Eileen makes it a practice to put fresh flowers in their living space to brighten things up and make it feel
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like home. As people on the street began hearing of her ministry, many would seek her out and ask for kitchen items, dishes, furniture, and other basic household items. As demand increased, Sister Eileen acquired a donated garage space to store, organize and catalog all of these items as they are donated and distributed. Despite her love for helping the less fortunate, is there ever a time when she feels unsafe in what may be considered some dangerous areas of town? “There is not once when I have felt unsafe,” Sister Eileen continued. “I feel so blessed to be working with these folks, and it is especially satisfying to see others reach out to help them also. They are very strong people, facing many difficulties. But they trust in God, and are willing to help others in need as well.”
compassion & mercy
Ministering to those in need in all corners of the world
Sisters of Mercy WORLDWIDE NETWORK
© 2015 mercy international association
“ This is the spirit of the Order, indeed the true spirit of Mercy flowing on us.” —catherine mcauley
Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland back in 1827 establishing a home to educate and shelter women and girls. Two years later, Catherine and two friends became the initial Sisters of Mercy. Today, the Sisters of Mercy minister to those in need in all corners of the world, spanning education, health care, social services, and ministries that advance the wellbeing of those in need. The spirit of Catherine is alive and well. The works of the Sisters of Mercy in the locations shown above span education, health care, social services and ministries that further social, political, economic and spiritual wellbeing. These works keep alive the founding spirit of Catherine among peoples of the world most in need of God’s compassion and mercy.
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alumnae profile
Catholic Charity League
Engaging in Those “Quiet Acts of Kindness” “ Let us be renewed by God’s mercy...and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.” — pope francis, easter homily, march 31, 2013
In this Year of Mercy, Pope Francis’ message can be found thriving in the Greater New Haven community through the good works of the Catholic Charity League. Founded in December 1925, eleven young women, including several Lauralton Hall alumnae, were inspired to start this organization for the purpose of advancing Catholic action and provide financial aid and volunteer services in the greater New Haven area. More recently, Lauralton alumnae have been part of their leadership for many of the years, including Marylou O’Shea ’46 (deceased), Mary Rose Hoffman ’69, and past presidents Ann Groark Walsh ’49, Linda Franco Giordano ’68, and Mary Ann Haran Quinn ’71. “I really love supporting local people that need help,” commented Hoffman. “We hear a story of someone in need and are able to support people right away.” Over many years of service, financial beneficiaries of the Catholic Charity League have included St. Martin de Porres Academy, St. Andrew’s Home, Ronald McDonald House, and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Other efforts are directed at 20 LAURALTON HALL
Mary Ann Haran Quinn ‘ 71 (Left) and Mary Rose Hoffman ’69.
individuals or families who often “slip through the cracks” and are not covered by traditional social services. “We are able to help people through a variety of charities and opportunities,” Hoffman added. “Every Monday night, members of the League volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in New Haven and prepare dinner for the families living there. This makes a big difference and provides a home-cooked meal for families going through a very difficult time.” The League has grown from a small group of committed women to
a sizable charitable organization that continues to make an impact on the greater New Haven community. “This is a great hands-on opportunity to really make a difference in the lives of people. In the past, many of us have served on boards that just meet and ‘push paper’, and this allows us to directly help people,” Haran added. “During my time at Lauralton Hall, we were continually taught to engage in ‘quiet acts of kindness’. And that is the same way we approach helping through the Catholic Charity League. It is an affirmation of our Catholic faith.”
alumnae profile
Helping People Find Their Own Creative Self A passion for music and the arts is clearly evident as soon as you talk with Lauralton Hall alumna Sarah LeMieux ’97.
Sarah LeMieux ’97
Sarah LeMieux felt the all-girls atmosphere at Lauralton Hall gave her the space to develop socially, artistically, and academically. “Lauralton made it safe for me to learn and express music and theater in an environment of only young women,” Sarah stated. “This allowed all of us to develop confidence and skills in a welcoming and encouraging space.” Sarah now teaches music, both through private lessons and at the Neighborhood Music School (NMS), a community arts school in New Haven. She was introduced to NMS
through her brother, who suffers from Williams Syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Sarah helped found the Special Needs Work Group in 2011, where she and other artists develop and teach music and dance programs to students with special needs. “There are a number of myths about being an artist that are destructive to those who want to create,” she concluded. “If you have something creative that you feel like you need to do, it is not selfish or decorative. It is an absolutely necessary thing to do for the good of society as a whole.” 2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 21
by the numbers L AURALT ON HALL STATS
$21.7M
21%
Earned by the Class of 2015 in merit-based scholarships
Racial Diversity
81%
OF FACULTY
have advanced degrees
31 Clubs and Student Publications
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THOUSAND hours of community
Catholic
470 Students
Courses Offe E re EC
1
2
3
7
5 4
d
7
service performed per year
75%
6
LH
(UConn Early College Experience)
SAT SCORES are
12% higher
from
40 towns
CONGRATS!
100%
Accepted at 4-year colleges & universities
16
VARSITY SPORTS TEAMS
than the NATIONAL
AVERAGE 2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 23
We believe together we can do anything.
We believe faith and intellect are more powerful together.
We believe our daughters and granddaughters can change the world.
We believe the world is better because of Lauralton women.
We believe success is measured in more than dollars, and lives are measured in more than success.
We believe smart girls should never have to pretend they’re not. We believe in giving back and paying it forward.
To learn more or how to make a gift WeBelieve.LauraltonHall.org or 203.877.2786 x129 24 LAURALTON HALL
class notes Lauralton Reflections: Elizabeth “Bette” Smith Knight ’46
Do hope your summer was a happy one! Surely it was a busy one + full of fun filled occasions. It certainly flew by, didn’t it? The summer of 2015 was a rather warm one to this part of New England and although it’s coming to an end we continue to have mid 80’s that is most unusual—a few days we had 86–88. Friends in New Jersey are still reporting 90’s. There is always a little humor in it, however—we always seem to add “won’t be long before we are seeing snow”. Just recently I was thinking of snow days at Lauralton Hall, they were rare, I admit but girls enjoyed a change in schedule and were able to wear white socks if we wanted—plus short sleeve blouses too! Big Deal! We were out to play in the snow, of course, but we also enjoyed more time playing our Victrola’s and favorite records. It was more like an extended weekend! What fun and what great memories float back to mind as I look at that unbelievable
Rita Howard McGoldrick has been living in Bronxville NY since 2006, having retired from 28 years of teaching at Good Counsel Academy in White Plains. While there she renewed her friendship with Sr. Ellen McGrath RDC. They get together regularly for lunch and phone conversations to reminisce about their wonderful days at Lauralton.
’53
Maureen Dalton is proud to announce the birth of her first great grandchild. Cora Lee Rose Anderson, 7 lbs. 3 oz., was born to Crystal Lee & Dashiell at their home, into the hands of her father. The home birth was planned and both Crystal & Dashiell’s mothers were able to be present. Crystal is the daughter of State Representative Kim Hunter Rose of Milford and Bill Rose of New Haven.
’56
photo shot sent recently of Lauralton. It to me is an unusual photo master piece. Many thanks for that 18''x24'' visit to the mansion entryway and the hundred or more “lit up” windows to the left and above it. I can point to many and say “that was room___” back when___ starting at the windows on the top floor. Yes, we were tiny little 7 & 8 yr. olds once upon a time—the angels in care of Sr. Mary Vincentine! My dormitory rooms and the private room I had Jr. and Sr. years were in the front of the building I can see each one- Speaking of memories! What a wonderful childhood and teenage years I had from and am sure you have heard the same from other aging women. We were so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be Lauralton girls and especially Lauralton boarders. Wish you and the staff could just for one day and night, follow us step by step, room to room and hour to hour. We were a busy, smiling and giggling group of happy well-adjusted girls! I regret that I will not be able to be at the Sept. 19th reunion, but God willing I hope to be there September 2016 for our class of 1946 70th! Please give those in attendance Saturday that I send best wishes to each and every one. I am well, happy and hope the same for them and you too.” Love, Betty (Smith) Knight
’65
Dr. Winifred Hamilton retired as Superintendent of Schools in Stamford, Connecticut.
The Presidency of Saint Margaret Woman’s Fellowship (in Madison, Connecticut) has passed from Suzanne Buckley Martin ’58 to Jean O’Brien Lowery ’65. The Fellowship is dedicated to promoting the spiritual welfare of the women of St Margaret Parish through religious, social, educational, and fraternal activities. The Fellowship actively supports New Reach in New Haven, parish activities such as a Happy Birthday Jesus party for the children of the parish in December, the May Crowing of the Blessed Mother, and a simple supper during Lent.
’58 & ’65
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class notes
Patricia Brown Girdner and her husband, Ted, were able to realize their bucket list dream of traveling to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. In December, Patricia and Ted were blessed to welcome their 7th grandchild. They are now the proud grandparents of four granddaughters and three grandsons. She is retired and is currently an elementary school substitute teacher in the Baltimore Maryland County Public School System. She is looking forward to her 50th class reunion in September and hopes to renew many more friendships.
’66
presented her “star”. She currently reports to Secretary Jeh Johnson at the Department of Homeland Security, where she serves as his Military Advisor.
Kristen Haydon Howell of Winter Springs, FL is proud to announce her engagement to James Allen Maheu of Winslow, Maine. The couple will wed on Saturday, June 11th in Boothbay, Maine. Kristen's son, Sam Howell, is the best man. It will be the second marriage for both, and she knows that her beloved friend, Sister Madeline Follachio, will be with them in spirit.
’85
Margaret Mary Healy Kelly, '60, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro from each other at their 55th high saw '60, Connecticut, and discussed Margaret's upcoming fall last school reunion to attend the Papal Mass in D.C., trip to Washington, Maura Kelly Lannan ’89 daughter Margaret's September.
’60 & ’89
Continued on next page
Susan Couden Hitchcock was inducted into Gateway Community College’s Hall of Fame (Alumna) on October 1, 2015.
’80
RDML Joanna Collins Nunan was promoted to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in the Coast Guard. The image below is from January 2015, where she is being
’83
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and son-in-law, Bob, were lucky enough to receive tickets to the Mass from their parish in Maryland, and offered them to Margaret and her husband, Richard. Maura and Bob also attended the Mass as volunteers. Congresswoman DeLauro offered them tickets to see the Pope appear on the balcony of the U.S. Capitol the day after the Mass. Maura, her father, and Maura's children, Bobby and Peggy, were able to see Pope Francis speak after he addressed Congress. Rosa then invited them to lunch at her Congressional office and her staff gave them a private tour of the U.S. Capitol. It was an unforgetable experience.
Lisa Latella Schaefer recently welcomed her second daughter, Rose, pictured here with big sister, Bella.
’97
Stefanie Stevens Seslar ’99 is the Director of Alumni Relations at Albertus Magnus College. She earned her Master of Arts in Leadership at Albertus in May of 2015. In January of 2016 she was named “Rising Star” by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for District 1. In February of 2016 she was named Outstanding Adviser and the Student Alumni Association (SAA) that she advises was named Outstanding Emerging Organization by CASE Affiliated Student Advancement Programs(ASAP) also for District 1. One of the senior members of the Albertus SAA is LH alumna, Veronica Brunetti ’12. Veronica will graduate from Albertus in May with a B.A. in English and has already been accepted to the M.A. Leadership program at Albertus as well.
’99 & ’12
Rachel Reese has accepted a position at Yale New Haven Health System in the marketing department. She will be based in New Haven, but will also provide support to Greenwich and Bridgeport Hospitals as well as a variety of service lines within the network. She was previously Executive Director of the nonprofit VolunteerSquare.com.
’00
Valerie Foss Bruneau, ’89 and Alumnae Board Member, celebrated her Mom’s (Lynda Knapp Hartman, ’63) 70th birthday in Florida at Christmas. Left to right: Valerie Foss Bruneau ’89, Peggy Knapp Defrancisco ’68, Kim Foss Bartholomew ’86, Lynda Knapp Hartman ’63, Susan Solkoske Foss ’88.
’89
2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 27
class notes
Danielle Evanko Carrano and her husband Kevin are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Tyler Evan, born October 6, 2015.
’04
Vanessa Connor Jaunai delivered a healthy and happy baby boy on January 29th. Christian V. Jaunai weighed 7lbs and measured 19 inches.
’06
Jane Becker ’07 (left)was recently admitted to the California Bar. She is currently working at Marvel Studios in Burbank, California.
’07
A group of nine Lauralton Hall graduates met up in Salzburg, Austria after their Fall semesters abroad in four different countries to discuss their adventures before returning home. Julie LaPerch, Emma Catalfamo, Colleen O’Connell, Isabella Serrano, Sarah Foley, Caitlin Nevins, Gabrielle Mancini, Allison Carey, Mary Kate Fornshell (not in picture). This picture is from Pegasus Fountain, Salzburg. The girls who attended are the following, where they go to college and where they spent the fall semester:
’13
Top Row: Emma Catalfamo (George Washington University) Paris, France Caitlin Nevins (Miami University) Madrid, Spain, Allison Carey (Dickinson College) Brisbane, Australia, Julie LaPerch (Catholic University) Rome, Italy Bottom Row: Sarah Foley (Villanova University) Seville, Spain, Isabella Serrano (Brown University) Barcelona, Spain, Colleen O’Connell (Providence College) Rome, Italy, Gabrielle Mancini (Providence College) Rome, Italy
Please Note Effective July 1, 2016
Wedding Fees in the Chapel In May 2015, Amanda Doer was reunited with her birth family in Argentina after a 3 year journey that took her to two countries. She feels that it was by the grace of God that she was adopted to an amazing family in the United States. Her mom is Pat Doer, Lauralton Hall Spanish teacher. On November 3rd, Amanda was elected to the Wallingford Board of Education as the youngest and only Hispanic candidate. Her next steps include completing and publishing her book about her adoption and closing on her first home.
’07
Dominique Bonessi graduated from George Washington University with a double major in Journalism and Arabic, and started her first job as a Broadcast News Assistant at PBS News Hour.
’11
will increase to $1000 * for all weddings booked before 7/1/16, the prior fee schedule will be honored *
For more information: Contact the Office of Alumnae Relations alumnaerelations@lauraltonhall.org 203.877.2786, x114
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dearly departed Alumnae
Friends and Family
’36 Ann Bertella Quinlan, November 24, 2015
Margaret Hermanns, mother and past president of the McAuley Guild during the years that her 6 daughters attended the school, Gail Hermanns Beliveau, ’65, Mary Hermanns McKenzie, ’66, Noreen Hermanns Fenton, ’72, Shawn Hermanns Landry, ’75, Robin Hermanns, ’78, Heidi Hermanns Warren, ’83, from 1961 to 1983. She was also grandmother to Mary Elizabeth Landry, ’13 and Margaret Frances Landry, ’15.
’39 Sister Mary Jane Card, November 28, 2015 ’41 Marion Caley Washburn, October 29, 2015 ’45 Mary Elizabeth Carley, October 22, 2015 ’46 Mary Louise Foerth, December 28, 2015 ’46 Dorothy Jablonski, December 28, 2015 ’54 Margaret Herb Terry, February 6, 2016 ’56 Virginia Gorman Norko, September 20, 2015 ’56 Margaret Ryan Brenton, October 4, 2015 ’56 Madelyn Bowen Hammel, January 1, 2016 ’57 Patricia Bukovcik Yarasvich, October 9, 2015 ’57 Barbara Onder Tracy, November 19, 2015 ’81 Kelly Kern, January 5, 2016
Charles O’Donnell, father of Irene O’Donnell Baker, ’02 and grandfather to Mary O’Donnell, ’09 and Audrey O’Donnell, ’14 on January 3, 2016. John Oleynick III died on February 17, 2016. John was the brother of Bethany Oleynick Mpuku, ’98. Mary Ann Wasil, friend of Lauralton and recipient of the President’s Medal at the 2015 Claven Awards, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. Since this happened as we were going to print, we will feature a tribute to her in our next issue.
sister mary jane card 1921–2015 Sister Mary Jane Card, RSM, 94, of the Sisters of Mercy died peacefully on November 28, 2015 at Notre Dame Convalescent Home, Norwalk. Born in Wilton on August 19, 1921, she was the fourth of 11 children. An alumna of Lauralton Hall, she was drawn to religious vocation by the devotion of the Sisters there, and entered the Sisters of Mercy on July 1, 1939. She professed her vows on January 2, 1942, taking the religious name of Sister Maria Germaine. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College (now the University of St. Joseph) and a Master’s degree from Fairfield University. She also did advanced study in gerontology at University of Colorado. Sister Mary Jane taught for 30 years in parish elementary schools throughout the three Connecticut dioceses. She was wholly devoted to St. Benedict Interracial Center in the north end of Hartford, where she taught religious education and made home visits to the sick, elderly and poor with compassionate service and care.
In later life, she explored a variety of ministries. Gifted with keen intelligence and boundless energy, Sister Mary Jane became a published writer, water colorist, successful administrator, retreat house director, therapeutic recreation director and served numerous non-profit organizations as organizer, enthusiastic leader and volunteer continuing through retirement. After joining Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Wilton in 1988, she established a program to assist elderly and homebound, and continued to serve parishioners at home, as well as those at Ogden House, Wilton Meadows and The Greens and Brookdale during her 25 years of service at the parish. On June 29, 2014, the parish celebrated 75 years of consecrated life with a reinstatement of her commitment vows during the noon Mass. In her own words, “I have had a beautiful, fulfilling Mercy life; I loved every one of the ministries that called to me.” Sister Mary Jane was greatly respected for her creative talent and dedicated service to the underserved by her sisters in the Mercy community. Sister Mary Jane is survived by her brother Santa and wife Ann Card, their children, John, Ann Elizabeth and Joseph, additional nephews and nieces including Philip and Larry Card, Dolores Johnson and especially Everett, who visited Sister Mary Jane weekly for several years, and by her community of the Sisters of Mercy. The Fairfield County Catholic & Norwalk Hour
2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 29
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the lauralton hall internship program
The Hire Power of Lauralton Women Internships provide an opportunity to share your valuable work and life experiences. In addition, students can bring new energy and a fresh perspective to your workplace. Are you active in one of the following fields? Theology • Child Psychology • Healthcare • Marine Biology Engineering • Law • Advertising • Marketing • Graphic Design Creative Writing and more.
Inspire the next genera tion of women!
A total of 40 hours is required by the end of the semester to complete the internship. The work schedule will be determined between the business and the student. For more information, please contact Internship Coordinator, Jill Waldron at jwaldron@lauraltonhall.org.
Leave your mark and support our Lauralton Crusaders
M
emorialize an event or commemorate your favorite current or former Lauralton Hall student with a custom brick paver. These bricks will be engraved with your message and installed in the bleacher area of the new turf field, to be admired for years to come. Lauralton has provided thousands of young women with a strong foundation. Now is your chance to help build a foundation for the future. To order please visit: lauraltonhall.org/why-support-lauralton or for more Information: development@lauraltonhall.org. $250: 4'' x 8'' brick paver $500: 8'' x 8'' brick paver
2016 HALLMARKS SPRING 31
Our Heritage The Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is the first Catholic college preparatory high school for girls in Connecticut, and among the first established in the United States. Our mission and our philosophy are as unique as our founding, well over a century ago. A Lauralton Hall education empowers a young woman to excel in any endeavor, to find her own voice, and to be a bearer of Mercy to those in need. We offer students not only a challenging academic experience that develops the skills necessary for success in college and career, but also a supportive, caring and funfilled environment that nurtures a young woman’s
understanding of herself and others. Our dedicated faculty and staff are wise role models who help each of our girls become the person that God created her to be—spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. It is virtually impossible to project an organization into the future without first examining its past, its roots and its birth. The heritage of the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall, is rich in history, tradition, and the charism of Mercy. Truly, the present caliber and strength of Lauralton Hall began in its most genuine, albeit humble, beginnings.
our mission
core values of a mercy education
Inspired by the Mercy Tradition, Lauralton Hall empowers young women to pursue their highest potential through lifelong learning, compassionate service, and responsible leadership in a global society.
Compassion and Service Educational Excellence Concern for Women and Women’s Issues Global Vision and Responsibility Spiritual Growth and Development Collaboration
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Your gift opens doors at Lauralton Celebrate the Year of Mercy with us support the 2015 –16 lauralton fund
President’s Club
Executive Club
McAuley Circle
$10,000 +
Founder
$500–$999
Tower Council
$5,000–$9,999
Associate
$300–$499
Golden Stair
$2,500–$4,999
Member
$100–$299
Heritage Society
$1,000–$2,499
Friend
$1–$99
To make a gift online go to www.lauraltonhall.org/give The 2015 –16 Lauralton Fund closes on June 30, 2016.
Lauralton
hallmarks
Academy of Our Lady of Mercy | Lauralton Hall 200 High Street Milford, CT 06460
non-profit org.
u.s. postage
paid
permit no. 1090
new haven, ct