MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sister Donna Jo and Sister Martin-Elizabeth were full of Christmas joy as they greeted students and staff at St. Walburga Monastery for Mass. We began our Christmas celebration by gathering as one sacred community to give thanks to our Lord Jesus. Our dear friend, Father James Worth of St. James Parish in Springfield celebrated a most beautiful Liturgy. We remember his inspiring words as he spoke of Jesus being the Truth, the Light and the Way. Father Jim shared that this may not be easy, "We are called to speak the Truth with courage, like Mary's cousin Elizabeth, even when others may not want to hear. " Brittany Henderson of our Gospel Choir sang a very prayerful rendition of "Mary, Did you know", and the Gospel Choir concluded with the entire assembly joining in "Silent Night". It was truly a holy morning. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Para Todos

It was a packed house for the matinee performance of the most delightful Christmas musical entitled "Christmas Para Todos". This special afternoon performance was held for the senior citizens, the students of local grammar schools, and the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburga Monastery. Everyone left having received the true gift of Christmas- JOY which overflowed from the hearts, dance and songs of the cast and crew. Produced and directed by veteran Broadway actress Liz McConahay Wanfried, this high-energy playful theatre production filled the air with the Spirit of Christmas. Many of our students, who have trained and performed with Ms. Wanfried at the Young Artists Institute of NJPAC, brought their high level of experience to the stage Friday afternoon and evening. This was no ordinary Christmas play. The music arrangement was done by Emmy Award winning composer, Gary Schreiner, whose music can be frequently heard on the Oprah Winfrey Show. There were also a few added surprises to the festivities - guest broadway actress Danielle Chambers, whose angelic voice deeply touched each of our souls (she was absolutely magnificent) and the appearance of a British Rock Star (of the Foreigners)!!!!

Need we say more? If you missed Friday's performance, you can catch Monday evening. It is a five star performance * * * * * that you will not want to miss! We give thanks to God for the blessings He continues to bestow on Benedictine Academy. Merry Christmas to all!

Make A Wish ...

Santa rode in on his scooter from the North Pole to thank all the students on the nice list for participating in Macy's Make-a -Wish come true for terminally ill boys and girls. As Santa's elves distributed candy canes, the National Honor Society students were busy collecting gifts for the Christmas Giving Tree and spreading cheer with the Gospel Choir to the patients at St. Michael's Hospital; Junior students were gathering coats for the homeless, and the Theatre Group was rehearsing for the most delightful play - Christmas Para Todos!

"The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces...

let us rejoice and be glad that He has saved us!

Blessed are all who wait for him!" (Isaiah 25; 30)

Bishop Manny Cruz comes to town!

How blessed were we to receive the gift of a visit from Bishop Cruz to Benedictine Academy. His inspiring words of faith and hope will remain in our hearts for months to follow. Stopping in each classroom, the Bishop left his pearls of wisdom... "When you fall, get up" ... "Do not be afraid, God is with us." Perhaps, we were most touched by the Bishop's gentle, humble heart and deep faith in Emmanuel. He shared a most beautiful story about his reunion with a childhood teacher. Flying back to Cuba after 40 years, Bishop Cruz spoke about the Sister who had taught him the faith as a young boy in the back room of a small pharmacy. As we reflect on our own Benedictine school and the Sisters who have dedicated their lives to spreading the Good News of Jesus, we,too, are filled with grateful hearts. WE give thanks to Sister Sharon, Sister Germaine, Sister Martin-Elizabeth, Sister Lucy, Sister Lauren, Sister Donna Jo, and all the Sisters of St. Walburga Monastery for the outstanding catholic education our students have received at Benedictine Academy for almost a century. May God Bless You one and all.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mary , Theotokos, was chosen to be the bearer of blessings to all nations; to proclaim the greatness of God's Name. In December of 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on a hill in Tepeyac, Mexico. She said, "I am your most merciful Mother... I want to show my loving clemency and compassion to those who call upon me in their sorrows." Roses blossomed in the middle of winter as a sign of God's love. And even today, a beautiful rose received is a sign that God hears our prayers and is with us in the midst of our winter sorrows. During our Advent Prayer Service, our Gospel Choir so sweetly sang a responsorial chant as we prayed to Our Lady for her intercession to our Lord Jesus for peace and justice in our troubled world.

P.S. You may be wondering what happened to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception? We celebrated Mary being conceived without sin, destined to be the Mother of Jesus, with an Advent day of prayer, rest and relaxation.

"Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!"

In 1897, an eight year old young girl asked the editor of the newspaper, the New York Sun, if there really was a Santa Claus. " And the editor Francis Church responded,

"....Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. ... . Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. ..."

On Dec. 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas we celebrated the faithfulness, generosity and secret gift-giving of the real Bishop Nicholas of Myra. Nicholas was a saint known as the Wonderworker for the many miracles of love God granted through his intercession for the poor and young children. He became a model for the legend of Santa Claus and the joy of gift-giving during Christmas. Our Campus Ministers, Priscille and her many elves delivered gingerbread houses to all our staff with young children. And everyone was invited to send a letter to Santa Claus with one wish for a better world in the year 2010. Santa will be delivering these letters to Macy's as part of their Make a Wish Program. For every postcard they receive, Macy's will be donating $1. to Make a Wish Foundation for young children with a terminal illness. Doing small things with great love is a tradition at Benedictine Academy!

Advent Prayer

Our school community gathers each Friday for the lighting of our Advent Wreath and to hear God's Word. We prepare for the coming of Jesus in a new way this Christmas Season, a time of tremendous hope. This Advent tradition reminds us of the beautiful words of the Prophet Isaiah: "The people of darkness have seen a great light... you have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing..."

Attitude of Gratitude

Our dear friend and Brother, Rev. William Paige, flew in from a recent engagement in the Dominican Republic to bless our school community with the Word of the Lord. Rev. Bill Paige is a world renown speaker who inspires people, young and old, with his story telling and reflections on the Good News of Jesus Christ. He opened with a letter that he personally carried from one of his retreatants in the Dominican Republic. "To my teachers and friends at Benedictine Academy... I miss you and wish I were back with you all...O.R." Synchronicity. It was a letter of thanksgiving to Benedictine Academy from one of our students who recently moved back to her family's home of origin. She had an attitude of gratitude to B.A. for her education and the sisterhood that she had experienced.

Rev. Bill Paige vividly shared the story of the healing of the ten lepers, explaining how only only one of the ten lepers healed returned to give thanks and praise to Jesus. He pointed to Jesus on the crucifix, hanging life size in St. Walburga Monastery Chapel. Rev. Bill Paige asked, "How often do we say `thank you' to Jesus for all the blessings He has bestowed on us in our lives?" Are we like the one leper who knelt before Jesus to give thanks, or are we like the nine who received the blessing and kept on going with their lives?" Attitude of Gratitude!

Unlike the scripture passage of the ten lepers, we were blessed to have another alumnae return to Benedictine Academy to join us for our traditional Thanksgiving Prayer Service. Ericka Davis flew home from college for the Thanksgiving break, and joined us as she does every year to share in giving thanks and praise to the Lord. We wish all of our Benedictine family and friends, all of our Blog readers, a blessed Thanksgiving. May we always remember to walk with an attitude of gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Charter for Compassion

If you had one wish to save the world, what would it be? The Fetzer Institute engaged the most fascinating thinkers and doers from around the world and asked them this very question. Karen Armstrong was awarded the opportunity and $100,000 to make her wish come true. A Charter for Compassion was crafted by people from all over the world, including the Dalai Lama and our Benedictine Sister, Joan Chittister. The Charter was released to the Global Community two weeks ago on November 12. As our school community gathered for prayer each morning, we listened with the ear of our hearts to the new Charter of Compassion. It is based on the premise that "everybody has become our neighbor, and the Golden Rule has become an urgent necessity for peace in our world." The Peace & Justice Campus Ministers will be designing their own Charter for Compassion and spreading it among students in the local schools. At Benedictine Academy, we believe we are called to be people of compassion and treat everyone as Christ, Himself.

VIDEO CLIP:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CharterforCompassion#p/a/u/0/wktlwCPDd94

VOW OF SILENCE

November 20 marked the 20th anniversary of the United Nations' Convention of the Rights of a Child. Yet, millions of children are trafficked each year, forced to work in slave labor, become child soldiers, are abused, suffer from malnutrition, or are prevented from receiving an education. The O'Ambassador Club decided to take an active stand for social change and become a voice for the voiceless. This past week, Campus Ministry students volunteered to take a vow of silence for the day in an effort to raise awareness of the injustices that their brothers and sisters were suffering around the globe. Wearing a sign that displayed a startling statistic on children being denied their basic human rights, they wore tape over their mouths and refused to speak or even text message. It was a powerful movement to stand up for the voiceless and walk in solidarity with youth around the world.
At Benedictine Academy, our students are making a difference and nobody will be able to keep them silent to make our world a better place . VIDEO CLIP : http://iamsilent.com/

Thanksgiving Food Drive

November is a time to give thanks to God for all the blessings in our life. Student Council and Campus Ministry joined efforts to reach out to the homeless families. The Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless said there were over 900 families without food this Thanksgiving. Hearing the cry of the poor, our students, staff and our families brought in turkeys, canned foods, and all the trimmings to almost fill a whole van. At Benedictine Academy, we believe that we have a moral responsibility to serve the local community. It is just one of the many ways our students have the opportunity to be Service Leaders in our world.

Peer Mentors at Work

The Senior Peer Mentors gathered together to hear God's Word. "Love one another as I have loved you," instructed our Lord Jesus. They discussed what it meant to be family, to be part of God's family, and to be part of the Benedictine Family. Hospitality, Prayer, and Service were three of the cornerstones of our faith that they discussed. Then they put God's Word into action by gathering games and dvd's to bring and share with the children that they were babysitting at the Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless. Their hearts were filled with peace and joy as they spread God's message of love. "Doing small things with great love" (Mother Theresa) is one of the many ways we are touching lives in the local community.

It's Peanut Butter & Jelly Time!

This past Thursday, the school community heard the cry of the poor and decided to take action. Over 80 students gathered together to make almost 500 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, complete with drinks, snacks, and prayers for the Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless. It was a fun-spirited event as students decorated the lunch bags with words of comfort and hope. As the students laughed and worked as one body, other students loaded the car with over 100 jars of peanut butter and jelly in an effort to fill the empty pantry shelves. At Benedictine Academy, we believe we can be the change we wish to see. Together, we can and are making a difference.

SOPHOMORE RETREAT

Jesus often went away from his day-to-day routine to pray and be refreshed.

This past Wednesday, our Sophomores followed in Jesus' footsteps as they retreated from the school day to become refreshed with our Lord.

"Who Moved the Cheese?" Life is not static. To grow, we often need to let go of the familiar or old perspectives that keep us from reaching our goal of true happiness. Are we HEM, or HAW, or SNIFF, or SCURRY? What do we spend our days chasing after? What obstacles are in our path that prevent us from accomplishing our goal? These are only a few of the questions the students discussed and reflected on with Eddie, our retreat guide and friend. The day concluded with a beautiful reconciliation prayer service at the St. Walburga Monastery. Thanks be to God and all of our donors who made this blessed day possible.

ALL SOULS DAY

We remember all of our loved ones and friends who have died, as we pray for their souls to be received into heaven. It reminds us that we may only have today to live our lives fully in love and kindness. We learned to embrace our past for what it is; to let go of old hurts or attitudes; and to move on to receive the new blessings God has for us here and now. A candle representing the Light of Christ was lit, prayers were shared, and memorial stones were received. The healing presence of our Lord touched each of our hearts. We prayed in a special way for family and friends, and in a special way for Rev. Edward Hinds who recently died.

"No One Should Be without One"

Yesterday, our Campus Ministers met with the Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless in preparation for their ministry to provide educational support to homeless children. Beatrice 's Place provides "each child with a one-to-one high school student tutor, who will assist the child with his/her homework, strengthening their academic skills, and mentor the child through troubled times." Our Senior Campus Ministers will also be reaching out to help their little sisters in need during the evening of November 5, while the parent(s) are attending a workshop. The facts reveal that children comprise nearly 1/2 of all the homeless in the United States. Along with the Coalition, we believe we are responsible to build a community of support, compassion and respect for our brothers and sisters in need. At Benedictine Academy, we can and are making a difference!

The Pearl of Great Price

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it...", said Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew. " You are the most precious pearl, a great treasure... I chose you..." This past Friday, our school community was most blessed to hear a beautiful meditation on this meaningful Scripture passage presented by our Convocation Pro-Life speaker for Rachel's Vineyard, Ms. Donna Caprario Augustine, Class of 1972 a Benedictine Academy Alumna. Ms. Augustine was an inspiration to all as she shared the truth about the value of human life (a hidden treasure), the depth of God's mercy, the freeing power of forgiveness, and the hope we have been given through our Lord Jesus Christ. She ended with her sending forth prayer upon the students:

"Go share your light. Walk closely with God and you will know Peace. We wish you Peace."

Ms. Augustine, on behalf of the Benedictine Academy, we wish that the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be also with you. Amen.

Healing Prayer Service

Last Evening, over one hundred family and friends attended a Healing Prayer Service at St. Walburga Monastery. Father Ignatius Okoroji, a Vocationist Priest, offered words of encouragement and comfort assuring us that the power of our Lord Jesus Christ would bring peace and forgiveness into our hearts. As we listened with the ear of our hearts, Sister Donna Jo, one of our Campus Ministers, silently pondered, " Which one of us could not use some type of healing from our Lord?"

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, mother, father, daughter, son, little infant, and Benedictine Sister came forward to receive the healing touch of Jesus through the laying of hands of Father Ignatius.

We were also blessed to have our dear brother, Father James Worth of St. James the Apostle Parish in Springfield, share the gift of his beautiful music to soothe our tired minds and bodies, as members of our Student Gospel Choir prayerfully sang Amazing Grace. This most wonderful service began and ended giving Glory to God.

We pray that the peace and love of Christ be with all of you this day.

Social Etiquette

It has been said that "People who grow up with a knowledge of manners have a lifelong advantage in job situations and relationships". David Brooks, New York Times Columnist recently wrote an article entitled, "In Search of Dignity". He quotes biographer, Richard Brookhiser, when he wrote, "These 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, which George Washington copied from a 16th century French Jesuit guidebook, were not just etiquette tips. They were designed to improve inner morals by shaping the outer person." This past week, the Peace & Justice Leadership Team had the unique privilege to attend a two day Etiquette Workshop on the beautiful bay in Southern New Jersey. "One needs a vocabulary to speak..." was one of the rules. I think we will all agree that rules of etiquette must be revitalized. At Benedictine Academy, we believe that we are preparing our students not only for college, but are forming them to become beautiful young women in our society.

The Living Rosary

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. It is a tradition at Benedictine Academy for the entire school community to join together at St. Walburga Monastery to pray a Rosary for the special intentions of our families & friends, the needs of the world, our priests, and all religious. Ten students from each grade, along with ten staff members and Benedictine Sisters, formed the five decades of the Rosary. The Senior Campus Ministers prayed the Our Fathers in the language of their family heritage, as our Gospel Choir sang Salve Regina to introduce each Mystery of the Rosary. The Rosary was the favorite prayer of Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. It is our favorite prayer,too! Miracles can and do happen. Mountains can be moved... when we Pray the Rosary! Watch and See...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD1hcXdVWmk

Feast of St. Francis

Happy Feast Day Sr.Donna Jo! The Peer Mentors (a/k/a the F.A.M.I.L.Y.) and the Freshmen Students celebrated the Feast Day of St. Francis with cake and good fellowship. St. Francis was a peacemaker and a person of great joy. He saw the beauty of God in all people and creation. Anyone who knows our Sr, Donna Jo, the Freshmen Religion Teacher and Co-Moderator of the Peer Mentors, can attest to the exuberant heart and deep love of God that she shares with Francis. "Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace... where there is doubt, let me bring faith."

Feast of the Guardian Angels

Angels are messengers of God's Love.

Today, we remembered and celebrated our Guardian Angels

as we prayed:

"Angel of God, My Guardian Dear

to whom His Love commits me here.

Ever this day, be at my side,

to light and guard, to rule and guide." Amen

The Senior Campus Ministers were spreading God's messages of love on the wings of angels throughout the halls. They randomly distributed little angel prayer cards and smarties candies, giving witness to our school theme - "Learn to Love and Love to Learn".

Feast of St. Therese'

Happy Feast Day! The Campus Ministers honored the Benedictine Sisters (and Franciscan Sister Donna Jo) with a beautiful rose in appreciation of their unceasing dedication, sacrifice, and deep love of the Lord. St. Therese' said her vocation was to do small things with great love. And although she died at an early age, she promised she would "spend her heaven doing good on earth." May we walk in her spirit and spread God's fragrances of kindness to everyone we meet.

PBJ TEAM BUILDS STRONG

The Peace & Justice Leadership Team headed for the Catskill Mountains for two days for an intense Team Building Leadership Program. They packed little and brought only their determination. Although it was a torrential downpour, they persevered as they climbed 45 foot walls and zip lined across the meadows. Hiking three miles, uphill in the muck, the Peace & Justice Team sang the Benedictine Academy Alma Mater with great joy. Fears were overcome by encouragement and support from each other. Their experiences will carry lasting memories of how they overcame obstacles and became strong!

Being Part of the Benedictine Spirit

Eighteen of our Campus Ministry Leaders had the unique privilege of attending a workshop with Sister Mariette at the Benedictine Spirituality Center of St. Walburga Monastery. The students inclined the ear of their hearts to Sister as she shared her insights and wisdom to the inner workings of the Rule of St. Benedict. "The love of Christ" comes before all else... humility is the staircase to heaven ... obedience means listening to the One who loves you and cares for you. Following our Lord's example, they broke bread together (shared pizza and cookies), laughed together, performed skits of the various parts of the Rule, and ended with joining the Benedictine Sisters in Chapel for Vespers. It was a fun and worthwhile experience for all.

Benedictine Academy is more than a school community. We are members of the Benedictine Family. This Tuesday, our Freshmen Students will be taking a personalized tour of the St. Walburga Monastery. Know we carry all of our families and friends in our hearts and pray for you each day.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

The Opening School Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Padre Pio with the entire school community, family members, and the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburga Monastery. Our celebrant and long-time friend, was Father James Worth of St. James the Apostle Church in Springfield . Father Jim was on fire with the SPIRIT as he shared a thought-provoking homily on new beginnings and the opportunity to make a positive difference in someones life today and in the days ahead. Our Campus Ministry Praise Dancers and Gospel Choir shared their gifts of praise in song and dance, literally touching all of our souls.

At the conclusion of Mass, each new freshmen and transfer student received the gift of the Sacred Bible presented by a member of the graduating Senior Class, in memory of an alumnae, Cathy Donnelly Ferruggia, Class of '62.

Mr. Jennings, our Principal, also inducted the Campus Ministers for the new school year.

Remembrance of September 11

This Friday, we gathered as one sacred community to pray for our loved ones and all who had died in the terrible attack on our nation eight short years ago. As our Senior Campus Minister sounded the bell in remembrance, we listened with the ear of our hearts to the silence and prayed that our Lord would bring peace to our troubled world.

Although we cannot change history, we strongly believe we can Be the Change for a better world. According to the Gospel of Matthew and the Rule of St. Benedict, we were reminded not to hold onto anger or nurse a grudge. "The love of Christ comes before all else... love your enemies... pray for those who persecute you." It all begins with our words, our actions, and the disposition of our hearts. The prayer service concluded with everyone, one family under God, praying our Lord's prayer - the Our Father.

Peer Mentoring Program for Incoming Freshmen

The Senior Campus Ministry Students have been meeting, training, and preparing in anticipation for welcoming the new graduating class of 2013. Their message is simple: Study hard, work to the best of your potential, and get involved in the myriad of sports and clubs that Benedictine Academy has to offer. Our Senior Peer Mentors, known as the "F.a.m.i.l.y." are an amazing group of young ladies. They have undergone an intense training program led by Sr. Rosemary Napolitano, the Director of the Franciscan Spirituality Center. The Peer Mentors delved into such topics as group dynamics, confidentiality, deep listening, peer pressure and current teen issues. A letter explaining the program can be found on Sr. Donna Jo Repetti's, OSF or Mrs. Linda Michalski's Teacher Web Pages. The Senior Peer Mentors are awesome and eager to meet their new sisters, the incoming freshmen, for the new school year!

Mount St. Francis Spirituality Center

"He (Jesus) went to the mountain-top and prayed..." . Following our Lord, the entire Staff went to the Ramapo Mountains to pray and listen with the ear of their hearts. Each year, the Benedictine Academy Staff gathers as one sacred community to pray together, laugh together, break bread together and prepare to begin the new school year with God as our guide. This year, our school theme is Learn to Love and Love to Learn. Having a passion for academic learning and treating each other with respect and care are two of the cornerstones of our Mission Statement at Benedictine Academy. We are on fire with the Spirit to pass the flame of Knowledge and Wisdom to our students. This academic year of 2009-2010 holds new promises of high achievements for our students in the areas of technology, the sciences, the arts and sports.

Good News!

We recently received the Good News from Free the Children. Our O'Ambassador Club documentary, Stop Human Trafficking, was named in the top 10 creative DVD's by Free the Children. A special article will be released in their We Generation magazine this fall and the final judging for the number one DVD will be held next month. Stay tuned for the results. In the meantime, we ask for your prayers as we continue to do the Lord's work by helping the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized. (Oh yes, please pray that we win, too!)

Welcome Back to School

The Peace & Justice Club was excited to begin the new school year at Benedictine Academy. As they reflected on the gift of their education at BA, they were reminded of our many little brothers and sisters who are homeless in the surrounding communities because of the recession. Working with the Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless, they put together 50 school bags with new school supplies for the children. Last year, we raised funds to build a school and clean water system in the Sierra Leone in an effort to stop Human Trafficking. This year, we will be thinking globally and acting locally. Our school theme "learning to love" means to reach out to all our brothers and sisters in need. Performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy are the foundation of Campus Ministry.

Alma Mater

Filled with the Spirit, our graduating students sing with pride the words that have been sung by thousands of young women who have gone before them. The Benedictine Sisters have been preparing young women for over 90 years to become leaders in the global community.

Presidential Service Award

On behalf of President Barack Obama's Council on Service and Civil Participation, 31 students were awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award. The award recognizes their dedication to serving our community with over 25 hours of individual volunteer service. Benedictine Academy is recognized as a Service Leadership School and was required to perform over 200 service hours during the past twelve months.

At Benedictine Academy, we believe we can and will make a difference in making our world a better place.

Baccalaureate Mass

We looked upon the faces of our graduating Class of 2009 and could see their faces glowing. The graduating Class of 2009 now leaves the halo of their presence, their legacy, to light the way for the hundreds of students to follow at Benedictine Academy. We are proud of who they are – their academic achievements, their spirit, and their immense goodness. Our three Bloustein Scholars received full scholarships to the Universities of their choices - Stevens Institute and Seton Hall University. Father ST Sutton gave a beautiful reflection on the Gospel Message, "Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Heavenly Father." Matthew 5:16. The ceremony concluded with the graduates honoring and gifting their parents with the Light of Christ, as Father James Worth blessed us with his gift of song.

Inner City Scholarship

Last evening, one of our Senior students had the privilege and honor of speaking at the Inner City Scholarship Fund. Melanie spoke of her dream to become an English Teacher and how she will be attending Kean University to prepare for her dream come true. She expressed gratitude to the Lord, Benedictine Academy and all the generous donors who made a private education possible.

At Benedictine Academy, our Prinicpal Ken Jennings is emphatic about the importance of a quality college-preparatory education.

Mr. Jennings believes in every student and has faith in every student!

Peer Mentoring Workshop

This Friday, 13 of our Junior Campus Ministry Students attended a two-day intense training workshop at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in Ringwood, New Jersey. In preparation to become the new Peer Mentors for the School Year 2009-2010, topics such as Communication Skills, Group Leadership Skills, Conflict Resolution Skills, the establishment of Boundaries, Trust, Peer Pressure, and Contemporary Teen Issues were addressed. Our Peer Mentors performed role plays, examined various personality types, and identified their gifts and talents. The name of our Peer Mentors, "the Family". is reflective of our students welcoming attitude toward all their new sisters. Welcome Sisters, Class of 2013, to Benedictine Academy!

Hail Mary, Full of Grace

During this month of May, we pray to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and and Queen of Heaven. Our prayers are carried on the wings of angels and placed at the feet of our Most Holy Mother, who brings them to her Son, Jesus. This past week, our Senior Peer Mentors made beautiful blue rosaries with each of the Freshmen. At Benedictine Academy, we believe in the power of prayer. Ruke says, "In times of struggle, my rosary is my best friend. In times of joy, my rosary makes my faith and belief in God stronger."

BA @ Kean University!

As a college-preparatory high school, our students have the unique opportunity to frequent the Kean University Campus and experience higher academic learning. This Friday, our Literary Club participated in a Poetry Fest at Kean University and our Campus Ministry Team Leaders attended a conference on Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight. Two of our students, Alicia and Chelsea, earned 4th and 6th placement in the Poetry Competition!

Meanwhile, our Campus Ministers met Senator Thomas Kean, Jr.; Senator Sandra Cunningham; Kent Manahan, the Chief Executive and former anchor of NJN; Ralph Marra, Jr., US Attorney; and several other distinguished speakers.

Back at school, Senior Students were taking AP Exams, the French Club was attending a local Cafe' to experience the French Cuisine, and a Lawyer Symposium was held for the entire school community. It was a busy week at Benedictine Academy as our students continue to be formed to become Global Leaders in our world.

SENIOR RETREAT

Our Seniors had the most amazing retreat at Stella Maris Retreat Center, Long Branch on April 21 & 22. Greeted by Sister Cecilia, Eddie, and Bill, their enthusiasms and bright smiles enveloped all of us with God's love. Even the stormy weather could not place a damper on the immense joy and beauty of retreating at the beach. We laughed, we cried, we played and we prayed with the Spirit of the Lord in our midst. The theme was "Halo".

"It was a true awakening... the walls we built came tumbling down.

Everywhere I looked , I was surrounded by your embrace.

I can see your halo, you know you're my saving grace.

You're everything I need and more... standing in the light of your halo..."