Mr. Vega Honored with Mass and Reception

Rafael Vega, Sr. Anita Butler, SP, and Sr. Judith Desmarais, SP

Mr. Rafe Vega was celebrated for his nearly 45 years of teaching at Providence with a special mass and reception in his honor on Sunday, June 25, 2017 on campus in the Student Activity Center. Bishop Gerald Wilkerson and Msgr. Robert Gallagher, both former Providence Board of Regents members, presided over the mass. More than 100 people, including past and present PHS faculty and staff members, alumni and alumni parents, current students and parents, and Mr. Vega’s friends and family members attended the mass and reception.

Although he began his tenure at Providence in 1968, Mr. Vega left PHS on two separate occasions for a total of four years. During his time at Providence, he taught U.S. History and U.S. Government as well as many Religion classes. Mr. Vega has held several roles at Providence over the years including Dean of Boys, Vice Principal, Chair of both the Social Studies and Religion Departments, and Director of Campus Ministry.

In Bishop Wilkerson’s homily, he pointed out that most people in attendance were there because Mr. Vega taught them that “they matter and indeed make a difference.”

He went on to liken Mr. Vega to a “real prophet, deeply in touch with the reality of the world over all these years, but also he has been and continues to be loving and courageous enough to expose what is contrary to the will of God, and has worked tirelessly to galvanize all of us to believe in and work to create a better alternative built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.”

Principal Allison DeFrancesco Castro ‘02 reflected on her time as a student at PHS, particularly as one of Mr. Vega’s students.

“It’s important to remember that there is a distinction between teachers who teach their subjects and teachers who teach the students. Mr. Vega is a teacher of religious studies but I will remember him as someone who taught the students, first and foremost.”

In a moving video presentation created by Cinema Arts Focus Program Director Chris Harty Schaefer and Cinema Arts Focus Program Assistant Sean Mier, Athletic Director Andrew Bencze ‘88 mentioned that Mr. Vega has always been a father figure to him. Head of School Joe Sciuto recounted an anecdote from when he first started working at PHS. He had just finished rearranging the furniture in his office when Mr. Vega stopped by to welcome him and commented on the new layout of the office, noting in particular that the crucifix was in the wrong place and that it should instead be placed in an area where people visiting the office would always see it so they would be aware of God’s presence.

After the video, Provincial Superior Sister Judith Desmarais, SP and Sister Anita Butler, SP presented Mr. Vega with a statue of Mother Joseph. When it was Mr. Vega’s turn at the podium, he reflected on his love for Providence High School and his special affection toward the Sisters of Providence, who always welcomed him with open arms.

Mr. Vega spoke about having wonderful teachers in his life who inspired him to become a teacher. He recounted learning a great deal from them, but once he became a teacher himself, realized he learned so much more from his students. He mentioned various memories from his early years of teaching and brought along with him gifts he had received though the years, including an apple figurine, a tie that had been painted by students back when Providence was an all-girls school, and a placard that a student made that said “Dean of Men” instead of Dean of Boys, which was his actual title.

Never having children of his own, Mr. Vega was especially touched when he spoke about his nephews, three of whom were in attendance, and how proud he was of each of them, even referring to them as his sons.

Though he will no longer be on campus as a member of the faculty, Mr. Vega will serve on Providence’s Board of Regents and his knowledge of PHS will certainly be invaluable.