Frederick Douglass: My Little Valentine

The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington D.C. celebrated the life and accomplishments of Frederick Douglass, the Father of Civil Rights, this past weekend.   Douglass, an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln, was instrumental in the emancipation of all races.   A freed slave himself, he spoke:  "To those who have suffered in slavery I can say, I, too, have suffered... to those who have battled for liberty, brotherhood, and citizenship I can say, I, too, have battled."

He was a "powerful orator and influential political figure, using his personal experience to give a human face to the sufferings of slavery." (New Bedford Historical Society)  Fred Morsell, an actor/educator on Frederick Douglass gives us an inkling as to the greatness of this American hero.

The three essential messages that Frederick Douglass has passed on from generation to generation to his great great great grandson, Ken Morris, Jr. and now to us are:
Believe in, have faith in, and trust in yourself. 
Take advantage of every opportunity that is provided to you. 
Use the power of the written and spoken word to effect permanent positive changes for yourself and the society in which you live.

 Mr. Timothy Mulvey, the U.S.Department of State Communications Advisor for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, opened the ceremony sharing our nation's concern and efforts to eradicate Human Trafficking.  We hope to meet with Mr. Mulvey during his visit to the tri-state area at the end of March.

We are also pleased to announce that Benedictine Academy is in partnership with the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation to change history once again and stop human trafficking, a 21st century modern day slavery.  Ken Morris, Jr. will be visiting our school on Friday at 1:00 p.m..  If you are interested in meeting Mr. Ken Morris, please call Mrs. Michalski, Campus Ministry, at (908) 352-0670, ext. 125.  All family and friends are welcome to join us for this special presentation.

Happy Valentine's Day, Frederick Douglass!

DROP EVERYTHING AND SERVE DAY

Listening with the ear of our hearts, the entire student body and staff DROPPED EVERYTHING AND SERVED the hungry, the homeless and the lonely on this last day of Catholic Schools Week. After Mass, the underclassmen went to the Community Food Bank to help sort and pack the generous food donations of the local community. We also made a dollar contribution to the foodbank to help provide for those who have less than us.

A Special Thanks to the African American Club and Students In Action.

The Senior Class took a short journey to BUILD-A-BEAR workshop to each make a bear for the litltle children at the Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless.    St. Paul reminds us that there is no greater gift than the gift of love.  How blessed are we to be able to share the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the world!

Service Leadership at Benedictine Academy is not just a requirement, it is our passion.  We believe we have a shared responsibility to deliver happiness by helping those in need.  Turn the world upside down and inside out and you will see that every time we help the least of our brothers and sisters, we are really caring for Jesus in the disguise of the poor.

 It is such an honor and a privilege to be able to be able to touch the hands of Jesus in the elderly, the lonely, and the forgotten. 

Thank you Benedictine Academy.

Feast of St. Blaise

This First Friday, we clebrated the Feast of St. Blaise as one sacred community at the St. Walburga Monastery.Our celebrant this month was Father Jack Martin of Elizabeth and he was absolutely awesome.   The chapel was filled with the Spirit as he gave a most inspiring homily on the meaning of what it means to be a Christian and the joy of serving.  "We cannot change the world, but we can make a difference.  We can all do something!"  

Wonderful Music was in abundance with Sister Karin on the piano, two singing groups, and Father Jack playing his guitar as he sang, "Let me be a little kinder..." .

   Mass concluded with the honoring of this month's Students In Action Unsung Heroes.  Based on a school-wide poll, there were three outstanding young students - Rose, Kayla, and Gabby - whose dedication and love for the daily  sacrifice and care of their elderly grandparents with significant illnesses.  

Sister Donna Jo, who cared for her own mother for over seven years after her mom suffered from a severe head injury, gave a beautiful reflection on the meaning of Compassionate Action. 

100th Basketball Win!

Today we celebrated Basketball Coach Mike Jones for his 100th basketball win at our school Pep Rally.

It is no coincidence that Coach Jones first name is Michael after Michael the Archangel. He is our Guardian Angel who blesses Benedictine Academy on and off the court. A handsome tall defender of truth, goodness and the faith, he stands over six feet tall with an engaging smile that welcomes every person he meets.  For every one of the 100 winning basketball games he has coached, he has touched the lives of 1000 more! 

May God Bless our Coach Mike Jones as he has blessed all of us. Amen.

A special thank you to Mrs. Anderson who quietly works behind the scenes taking amazing photographs, creating delicious banquets of food for our guests, arranging important meetings with the Assemblyman, dreaming of awesome basketball trophies to honor our Coaches, and developing sponsorship opportunities for our BA community.

HAPPY SHOES DAY!

Forest Gump once said, "You can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear... where they've been and where they are going...".

Our student community has been going strong over the past five months answering the needs of our local and global communities. In thanksgiving for their generous hearts and service outreach, we celebrated with a free wear your favorite shoes day! All students could dress out of uniform and have a free jean tag day. A BIG THANK YOU from the Students In Action Leadership team!

National Freedom Day

Today is National Freedom Day. National Freedom Day commemorates the date almost 150 years ago when Abraham Lincoln, signed a joint resolution for the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution. The proposed amendment was made to outlaw slavery.

Frederick Douglas, the Father of Civil Rights, insisted that “education…means emancipation". During this week of the celebration of Catholic Schools Week, we thank God for the gift of Benedictine Academy and of what we learn about our differences and the truth that we are truly one human family. Whatever hurts my sister does really hurt me, and whatever helps my sister, does help me.

Ms. Powell established a scholarship at St. Joseph's school in Mendham in memory of Corporal Kevin Reinhard, a brave soldier who recently lost his life defending the freedom of our country.

Let us pray:

Lord, our Creator,

Today, we are so grateful for this land of America, the land of the free.  We pray for Corporal Ryan and all the men and women in the armed services.  Let us all live in the freedom you have given to us. That we may all live in peace and liberty as one nation under you, our God.  Amen.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Benedictine Academy opened its doors almost one hundred years ago.  Today, the future is bright as we continue to grow by leaps and bounds.  The Spirit is our guiding force in our strategic planning and curriculum development.  The academics are rigorous and the service leadership opportunities earn state and national recognition.  Our strong college-preparatory credentials yield college acceptances ranging from Princeton University, Notre Dame, Fordham University, New York School of the Arts, Spelman University, to Berklee College of Music.  Our track team and basketball team are news-worthy, not only for their division wins but for their outstanding sportsmanship on and off the court. 

  
But it is the Strong Faith of the community, the Catholicity of our teachings, and the belief that everyone is part of the Benedictine family that is our true distinguishing factor.   We are one sacred community and Jesus is the apex of our study, sports, and fellowship.  Every person has human dignity and every one is to be respected as we listen with the ear of our hearts to the needs of the local and global communities. 
  
There are four Benedictine Sisters and two Religious Sisters of other communities on Staff and Teaching.  Instruction in faith development is part of the curriculum; there is daily prayer with the entire school community;  First Friday school-wide Mass (an early morning daily Mass with the Benedictine Sisters, too, if students choose to participate), annual retreats, Christian service requirements and confessions several times annually.  Many schools boast the adage - mind, body, spirit.  We are truly concerned with formation of the intellect in concert with the HEART - physically and spiritually.  
  
Tuition and other basic fees for the school is approximately $6,700 annually, which makes it economically feasible for most families to receive an education superior to the other schools in the surrounding areas.  Students receive a laptop and technologically equipped classrooms with smartboards and wireless internet.  Our graduating Seniors are also blessed to experience an exciting three day tour of our Nation's capitol, along with an amazing Retreat on the beautiful Jersey shores oceanfront.