26 minute read
D’Amour Center for Faith Service & Justice
FOR FAITH, SERVICE & JUSTICE
Sixth Form Sets Goals and Intentions at Annual Dinner & Retreat
Setting final-year goals was high on the agenda for Canterbury students at the annual Sixth Form Dinner & Retreat in September. Continuing the tradition that honors the senior class and emphasizes the importance of their role at the School, the evening began with a formal dinner and an address to the 104-member class from Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24.
“Now, as you write your Sixth Form chapter, I would like for you to think about the following,” she told them. “What do you want the contents of this chapter to be? How will you make this place HOME for all? How will you ensure that you do not look back and wish you had met more people, attended more events, auditioned for the play, been a better and more involved leader? Many of you have heard me say that we as faculty can set the rules and expectations, but that it is the students—and the Sixth Form in particular—who set the culture and the social, academic, and athletic norms for each school year. And a great deal of it will stem from how— and how well—you know and take care of one another, this community, and this school.” Rachel then invited Sixth Form Council member Hanyan Cai ’22 to the podium to address his class. Selected by his fellow Council members, Hanyan was the first student ever chosen to speak at the dinner. “There is nothing that can replace our small, special
community,” he shared. “This is our final year to be leaders, athletes, and academics, and to be honest—be whoever you want to be. This is the year to let our creative and tenacious energies explode. With the support of teachers, the School, and, most importantly, our peers, let us all strive to live our best lives during this last year.” After dinner, the Sixth Form took part in another time-honored tradition: faculty formed a line, and each student shook the hand of each faculty member. This year, the handshakes took place outside on the path between the dining hall and the chapel. This tradition comes full circle at the Sixth Form’s Commencement in May, bookending the students’ final year with a moment of gratitude, reflection, and connection with their teachers, coaches, advisors, and dorm parents (and, for some, their actual parents!). The Sixth Formers next headed to the Steers Center for Part 2 of their retreat, where they participated in discussions about their Canterbury memories and experiences— both their best and most challenging—and what they envision for their final year at the School (Part 1 took place during the first week of school with students reconnecting and spending time together outdoors). Director of Campus Ministry Devon McCormick opened Part 2 with a reflection, inviting the class to think about the year ahead and what they are grateful for and perhaps even anxious about as they embark on their final year of high school. The students were then given the opportunity to pick out stones that were handpainted with thoughtful words and phrases by artist and Canterbury parent Denise Trach P ’20, ’23.
Olivia Meola ’22 was grateful for the time spent together as a class and the opportunity to reflect on her hopes for the year. “The Sixth Form Retreat not only allowed me to get to know and connect with other Sixth Form students who I did not know very well, but it also allowed me to reflect on myself and the mindset that I would like to be in this year,” she said. “I enjoyed the retreat because it was a time for the whole Sixth Form to come together, focus on ourselves as the leaders of the School, and think about the impression that we would like to leave for the younger students at Canterbury.” The Sixth Formers also had the opportunity to write a letter to themselves with their own hopes, prayers, and intentions for the year. The letters will be opened again during their Sixth Form Reflections Retreat in May. To conclude the retreat, the class was split into small groups and asked to create a Bucket List of 22 items (for the Class of 2022) for their last year, including goals such as reconnecting with someone with whom they have lost touch, trying something new, and making friends with someone who is not in their close circle.
HANYAN CAI ’22
New Sacristans Installed by Fr. Steven DeMaio ’03
Last September, Canterbury installed its 2021-22 Sacristans during the Mass of the Holy Spirit, the School’s first Mass of the year. Thirteen Sixth Form students—
Stella Bandak, Gabriella Cafiero, Isabella Carioscia, Max Cooper, Giovanna Esposito, Giancarlo Faraci, Lindsey Grandolfo, Claire Kessing, Patrick McKiernan, Katelynn Pizzano,
Ashley Regina, David Salazar, and Alex Schneider—demonstrated the personal character, faith, and leadership qualities that define what it means to be a Sacristan. Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24 opened the service with remarks to the community. “I can think of no better opening message as we begin a new—and better—year than to remind and celebrate with the Saints community that it is these very moments when we so powerfully affirm the mission of our beloved School,” she shared. “Moments when we reflect together and support one another; moments when we seek opportunities to be of help and service; moments when we lead with values and justice. These community moments are the glue that binds and buoys us.” Rachel then addressed the newly appointed Sacristans, saying, “Last spring, you each spoke of your individual faith journeys, and while they all took different routes—some ignited by loss or difficult times, others sustained by family tradition that eventually became yours—you have asked to become Sacristans, the highest leadership position at Canterbury, because you want to live and share your faith. Now you must find ways to explain to others why a journey focused on spirituality, service, and love is worth the effort. Your job is not to convince others of what you know and believe; rather, it
RACHEL STONE P ’23, ’24
is to model your understanding of the role you play in the lives of others, to spark conversation about belief and faith, and to be leaders of spiritual growth. Inspire, not insist.” Rachel concluded, “Remember, you may be further along on your faith journeys than many of your peers, so do not allow that difference to create division. Canterbury’s Catholic heritage provides a common focus on our Five Values, regardless of our backgrounds and beliefs. As Sacristans, you must protect and sustain that focus, foster open dialogue, and be the approachable, respected role models you all spoke about during your interviews. As you know, leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility, and none more so than the leadership granted to you today as Sacristans.” Dressed in their traditional robes, the Sacristans sat together during the Mass. After the homily, Rachel invited the group of 13 to receive their Sacristan crucifixes and declare their statement of fidelity and service to the Canterbury community.
The Mass was celebrated for the first time by Fr. Steven DeMaio ’03. Fr. Steve was born and raised in Sherman, CT; graduated from Canterbury in 2003; and matriculated to James Madison University in Virginia, earning a degree in Business Management with a minor in Spanish. In 2009, he was sent to Zambia for six months to work on a sports project, and it was there that he met the Salesians of Don Bosco and began to discern the priesthood. He entered formation in 2010 and was ordained a priest in June of 2021. He now lives in New Rochelle, NY, and works in vocation and young adult ministry. Director of Campus Ministry Devon McCormick reflected on the day and its significance. “It was an immense honor to have Fr. Steve here—he shared parts of his Canterbury story with us, from being a Sacristan who had to learn to work through his actions instead of his words, to being in disbelief that he was actually back celebrating Mass at his own high school. It was so special to have him here, and we cannot wait to welcome him back many, many more times,” she said. “The Sacristan installation could not have been more beautiful. We installed 13 unique leaders—all of whom have their own stories and paths and have so much to give to this community. It was a beautiful way to start their Sacristan journey, and we cannot wait to see what comes from them this year.” Congratulations to this year’s Sacristans!
Third Form Retreat Connects Students to Nature
Third Form students, Sacristans, and faculty traveled to Lover’s Leap State Park in New Milford in October for the annual Third Form Retreat. Led by Sacristans and faculty, the retreat offered an opportunity for Third Form students to reflect on their first few weeks of school and set goals for the year and the rest of their time at Canterbury. Students and faculty advisors discussed challenges they have met so far this year and the people and resources at Canterbury that students may turn to for guidance. The Sacristans led students to stations across the wooded park and to various overlooks of Lake Lillinonah, asking questions and facilitating discussions along the way. Connor Wohlfahrt ’25 shared, “The retreat was a great experience. I went into it thinking I wouldn’t have fun, but, in the end, I had a really great time and learned more about the people around me. I’m thankful Canterbury gave us the opportunity to go!” Director of Campus Ministry Devon McCormick felt the importance of this retreat, both on the Third Form and on herself. “It was amazing to see how quickly the Third Form students entered into ‘retreat mode,’ and how willing they were to go with the flow and be fully present in the moment,” she said. “Friendships were strengthened and forged, and connections with faculty and Sacristans were created—it really was a beautiful bonding experience for everyone involved and one that I think will reverberate throughout their time at Canterbury.” The retreat concluded with time for reflection and sharing in the Chapel of Our Lady.
Fourth Form Students Take Part in EyeOpening Oxfam Hunger Banquet
For this year’s annual retreat, the Fourth Form participated in an Oxfam Hunger Banquet in the Steers Center Ragland Commons. Joined by Sacristans and faculty, the class participated in a simulation that brought statistics about poverty to life. They randomly selected tickets matching real people who are high-, middle-, or low-income earners, demonstrating that where you end up is often the luck of the draw.
The tickets were based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty, and each income level received a corresponding meal. The 20 percent in the high-income tier—representing a minimum income of just $8,486.25 a year—were served a full meal of pasta, salad, and bread at set tables. The 30 percent in the middle-income section—earnings between $2,135 and $8,486.25 a year—ate a simple meal of rice and beans. The 50 percent in the lowincome tier—less than $2,135 a year —had small portions of rice and water and were seated on the floor.
Anne Celestino ’24 drew a highincome card and seeing her peers have vastly different meals had a profound effect on her. “The retreat changed my perspective on my own life,” she said. “I had never realized just how many people are hungry or living in poverty. Only a couple of miles from where I live, there are people who are in need of food. It breaks my heart that I didn’t even realize that until now; it makes me want to give back as much as I can.” The retreat was followed by time for reflection in the Chapel of Our Lady, where students and faculty discussed actionable ways to combat hunger and poverty. Oxfam is a global organization working to end the injustice of poverty and works to help people build better futures for themselves, hold the powerful accountable, and save lives in disasters.
Lessons and Carols Ring in the Season
Lessons and Carols Ring in the Season
Social Justice Series Engages Students
The D’Amour Center for Faith, Service & Justice partnered with multiple student groups for Canterbury’s annual Social Justice Series, which creates spaces for students to deepen their knowledge and engage in conversations around issues that are critical to building a more fair, just, and equitable world. Fittingly, the 2022 series kicked off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a day of service supporting local organizations and the Fifth Form Retreat, which centered on servant leadership and featured an inspirational talk by Sherley Arias-Pimentel ’19 (see page 36). Throughout the day of service, students prepared food and a kitchen “wish list” basket for Dorothy Day House; collected book donations for New Haven Reads; created notes, bags, and cold-care comfort bundles for Loaves & Fishes; gathered Valentine’s Day cards and chocolates for a nursing home and shelters; and assembled arts, crafts, and self-care baskets for The Center for Empowerment & Education. Introducing the Social Justice Series to students, D’Amour Center Director Tracy GarciaLaVigne P ʼ14, ʼ16, ʼ17, ʼ20, ʼ23 said, “This is an opportunity to come together to educate about and discuss issues of race, gender, sexuality, ability, and myriad aspects of our intersectional identities. Through the series, we consider how we can begin to move closer to creating a just, humane, peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world by working together.”
The weekly series offers 12 evening sessions of vital, topical programming and continues through early May 2022:
WEEK 1
The Tuskegee Study and the Impact of Systemic Racism on Public Health and Health Care: A History of Medical Injustice—hosted by Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24
WEEK 2
Interfaith Panel with Imam
Gazmend Aga, Father Joseph
Donnelly, and Rabbi Eric Polokoff: Exploring Differences and Similarities—hosted by the Theology Department and Interfaith Council
WEEK 3
Driving Social Impact Through the Power of Storytelling—hosted by Mallory Weggemann, Co-CEO/Co-Founder & Executive Producer at TFA Group and five-time Paralympic Medalist; and Jeremy “Jay” Snyder ’01, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, and Co-CEO at TFA Group WEEK 4
WEEK 5
Food Justice and Sustainability— hosted by the Sustainability Club
WEEK 7
Buying with Purpose—hosted by the Canterbury Business Association
WEEK 8
Markets and Morals—hosted by History and Social Sciences Teacher Stephen Hewston and Theology Teacher
Amy Omaña ’86, P ’19, ’20
WEEK 9 WEEK 10
An evening with Fr. James Martin, S.J.—hosted by the Sacristans
WEEK 11
Inspired Leadership: A Discussion with Female Members of Canterbury’s Board of Trustees— hosted by the Women of Canterbury
WEEK 12
Understanding Our Community: Exploring the Different Levels of Intersectionality—hosted by English Teacher Olivia Pena
WEEK 6
Queer History & Current Events—hosted by the Gender Sexuality Alliance
Student-Led Conversations— hosted by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Council The Holocaust—hosted by the History Club
SHERLEY ARIAS-PIMENTEL ’19
TALKS SERVICE, LOVE, AND UBUNTU
For their Fifth Form Retreat in January, Canterbury students were treated to an inspirational talk on servant leadership by “the consummate Saint,” according to Theology Department Chair Amy Omaña ’86, P ’19, ’20.
The list of activities and accomplishments for Sherley Arias-Pimentel ’19 at Canterbury is impressive indeed—she was a scholar, vital community member, athlete, co-founder of AHANA (students of African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent), founder of Saints on the Hill, and so much more. As Amy put it, she was “a dynamo.” But even greater than her accomplishments are Sherley’s heart and her desire to help others. As Fifth Form students soon discovered, the seeds of her passion for service were planted by her grandfather when she was a young girl in the Dominican Republic. “My grandfather never said no to anybody,” Sherley told them. “Sometimes I blame him for passing down the gene of not being able to say no to people—as many at Canterbury know, my biggest weakness! It’s funny; his name was Segundo. In Spanish that means ‘second,’ and that man never once put himself first.” She continued, “If the world could just be like my grandfather, treating everyone and anyone with respect, making everyone feel heard and valued, always surrounding yourself with good friends, good food, and good music—I think the world would be a better place. He was a true leader, and growing up, I have seen how much of my grandfather’s spirit has been guiding my life.”
Sherley has certainly carried that spirit forward and was eager to share it with students. “Service is the rent we pay for living. I first heard this quote when I was learning about (former U.S. Congresswoman) Shirley Chisholm,” she said. “When I read her quote, my mind was blown. This is something I feel that God has been showing me through all of the people He has surrounded me with since the moment I was born. But I have never been able to put it into words…and there it was.” Sherley is currently a junior at the University of Richmond, and her goals are, not surprisingly, centered around helping those who are underserved. “I want to elevate the voices of those who have never had the chance to speak. I want to light a stick of dynamite under those systems that continue to divide us,” she explained. “I want to help build a world where food is not a worry, where skin color is not used as a judgement, where quality education is no longer a privilege but a human right, where children worry about scraping their knees and not death by handcuffs or even a gun, where families can freely walk around without being beaten by a stick of normality, where people recognize their true worth.”
Embodying What It Means to Be a Saint
She credits her time at Canterbury with helping her find her calling to serve. “Coming from a family where survival trumped education, I worked hard to be where I am today and understand the privilege that my education gives me,” Sherley shared. “Canterbury is one of the spaces that instilled in me a moral purpose and desire to serve my community.” That desire was further ignited by a motivating trip she took during her time on the hilltop. “Canterbury and Mrs. Omaña gave me the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua, where I spent two incredible weeks working with an organization called the Fabretto Children’s Foundation, which is dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty by focusing its work and resources on improving the lives of children through education and opportunity. The thing that inspires me about this organization is that they work with their community to break the cycle of poverty.”
Embracing Ubuntu
While at Richmond, an equally inspirational travel experience introduced Sherley to a concept that perfectly captured her values.
“Last semester, I studied abroad in Ghana, and part of the program required that I spend four weeks pursuing an independent study project,” she said. “For me, photography has always been my primary medium to share my thoughts, my emotions, and my ideas. I spent my four weeks using photography to form an illustration of a concept called Ubuntu.” So, what exactly is Ubuntu? “The term Ubuntu can be understood as a way of life and a code of ethics associated with the idea that an individual’s humanity is fostered in a network of human relationships,” she explained. “At its most basic core, Ubuntu means humanity. In practice, it expresses empathy and compassion for others through caring, sharing, warmth, and comprehension. Ubuntu calls us to believe and feel and practice the idea that your pain is my pain, my wealth is your wealth, and your salvation is my salvation.” For Sherley, her pictures from Ghana are worth so much more than the proverbial thousand words. “The name of my photography series is ‘Because I Love Them.’ It was inspired by an interview I did with one of the chiefs of the northern region,” she recalled. “When I asked him why he felt like his neighbor’s problem was his problem, he simply answered ‘Because I love them.’ He expressed that he could not see himself progressing without his neighbor. This was truly inspiring to see and capture and live in. Through these photos, my goal is to introduce the ideas and practices inherent in Ubuntu and also use these images to produce a sense of joy. I want these photographs to serve as the beginning of a new language—a language of love, care, and compassion.”
Becoming a Servant Leader at Canterbury
Sherley then encouraged the Fifth Form students to take full advantage of the unique community spirit that defines Canterbury. “Being a servant leader recognizes that progress and success cannot be achieved alone. Growth is communal. Each one of us has a responsibility to take care of one another, especially at Canterbury, where such opportunities are literally built into your daily schedule,” she said. “You have a hundred opportunities every day to make someone’s day brighter, easier, less lonely, more fulfilled, more energized, more fun, less burdened, more supported. You just have to decide to do it.” She concluded: “You are in such a great space to start practicing this skill of student leadership. You are all in a community of people stemming from diverse backgrounds, thoughts, identities, and even cultures. But you are all there with a common goal—education. The unity is already there. Now as a servant leader, your goal is to serve your community, making sure that they are not only receiving an education, but they are also growing as individuals. The word ‘leadership’ can be very misleading because true leadership is never about leading from the front. It is about settling within, it’s about service, and most importantly, it’s about love.”
Wow. The world could certainly use more Sherley Arias-Pimentels.
“Three Amigos” Share Their Faith Experiences with Students
Three dynamic religious leaders talked with 58 Canterbury students about exploring our differences and similarities during a recent virtual interfaith panel. The event, co-hosted by the Theology Department and Interfaith Council, was part of the School’s Social Justice Series. Imam Gazmend Aga, Father Joseph Donnelly, and Rabbi Eric Polokoff—affectionately known as “The Three Amigos”—have led meaningful interfaith prayer and discussions across Connecticut. The three speakers centered their discussion with Canterbury students on a theme—commonality. “To understand one’s own religious beliefs, one also needs to know about other systems and practices,” Rabbi Eric said. “In this way, we become familiar not just with our differences, but we are able to celebrate our commonality.” Father Joe concurred. “Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have more in common than in how they differ. There are real commonalities and beliefs that they share,” he explained. “Religious faith communities have a significant and important role to play in our world. There is a reason people are drawn to one another as people of faith.” He stressed how that is more important than ever in today’s world. “The example of how we live our life— the call to social justice, the call to peacemaking—is at the core of who we are as religious people,” he said. “It has become apparent, both with the culture in which we live and particularly in these years of pandemic, that we are called to exert a different kind of presence in the world.”
And that is a key goal of “The Three Amigos,” according to Iman Gazi. “Whenever we share our stories, we want to see more ‘three amigos’ in every place—three amigos in a school having different friends; three amigos sharing stories and being witness to how the more we know each other, the less prejudices we will have. We will see that as human beings, regardless of our race or our thoughts, we share a lot with everyone.” Their sharing certainly touched the Canterbury students in attendance. “I was inspired by how each of them spoke from the outlook of their religion while also building off each other’s points,” said Sarina Sheth ’22. “The conversation meant a lot to me because it demonstrated the importance of identifying where my own personal beliefs and values intersect with others. Finding that common ground and learning from diverse religious philosophies is critical in order for us all to come together and advance social justice; to be aware of, accept, and embrace each other’s differences.” Veikko Eskelin ’23 felt the same way. “It was refreshing to see three great people, each a leader in their respective communities, uniting to fight back against the division that has plagued humanity for millennia,” he said. “These men truly understand what it means to have compassion, and for that, I have great respect for them.”
A Life-Changing Story and Powerful Message
The event was about driving social impact—and it had a huge impact on Canterbury students in attendance, who will not soon forget the story of Mallory Weggemann and Jeremy “Jay” Snyder ’01. The couple joined about 100 students for “Driving Social Impact Through the Power of Storytelling,” a Zoom presentation that was part of the School’s Social Justice Series this winter. Their story is one of resilience, perseverance, and determination— traits that helped Mallory immeasurably after an unspeakable incident. When she was just 18, she walked in for a seemingly routine epidural injection to treat post-shingles back pain and came out a T10-complete paraplegic. Yet, today, Mallory is a Paralympic Gold Medalist, ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Award winner, successful author and businesswoman, and inspiration to many. Jay was indeed inspired when he met Mallory. “I have had the great fortune of finding my purpose; not just in my career, but in life,” he said. “Mallory and I fundamentally believe that we all have the power to leave a positive impact on our world, evoking change, even if just in our little corner of it. She has helped me become the best version of myself, and to be able to share our life together is such a gift.” Students in attendance were likewise inspired by Mallory’s story, according to Misi Babington, Head Athletic Trainer and Associate Director of Athletics. “She had to redefine herself. Since she was a teen, she has been living with this and figuring out how to navigate it. This is who I am and this is my life and what am I going to do with it? (Television broadcaster) Robin Roberts always said, ‘Make your mess your message.’ And Mallory clearly has.” Jay and Mallory are determined to share their message around the world through TFA Group, an agency and production studio they co-founded to change the perception of disability in our society through the power of storytelling. The company combines their two passions—sports and production—with the goal of providing representation for and telling the stories of Paralympic athletes and other individuals with disabilities.
Jay was glad for the chance to share their experience with students at his alma mater. “Our greatest hope is that we were able to empower them to lead with purpose,” he said. “We wanted to stress the importance of representation and its impact on how we form perceptions in society, which in return directly impacts equity and inclusion. We all have a responsibility to do our part to support a more diverse world.” Mallory’s story certainly showed Canterbury students what was possible. “We were given an insight into her journey as an Olympic athlete, which was truly inspiring,” said Anne Celestino ’24. “It gave me a new perspective on my own challenges and aspirations, and made us all reflect on our current lives and talents.”
The presentation led Jay to reflect on his own time at the School. “Speaking with Canterbury students who were sitting in the very same seats I sat in 20 years ago was surreal,” he shared. “I could not help but think about how far my journey has come and felt beyond grateful for the impact my time on the hilltop had on building me into who I am today.” Language Chair Keiko Mathewson was gratified by how much Jay’s Canterbury education shaped his life and career. “That is always a good thing for our students to hear, when graduates come back and connect their ‘now’ life to what Canterbury meant to them.”
Student Jakari Liston ’22 agreed. “The values that Canterbury instilled in Jay helped him align with what Mallory envisioned, so when they met, he was not afraid of how hard it would be to get that movement going,” he said. “Hearing them gave me goosebumps. It takes one person to kickstart a revolution, and that is just what Jay and Mallory are doing.”
