“Memory is a valuable tool in building spirited communication, “Monsignor Michael J. Walsh told the more than 100 guests at the annual Mater Dei Mass of Remembrance Saturday.
Monsignor Walsh, former pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Monmouth, where Mater Dei was the catholic high school from 1962 through 2021, celebrated the annual Mass of Remembrance for all deceased administrators teachers and alumni in which the names of more than 600 deceased persons were read by friends, classmates, parents or other relatives of the Mater Dei family.
The priest also congratulated and thanked the committee that has kept this tradition of Mater Dei alive since it was first started by former teacher, the late Thomas C. Murray. Msgr. Walsh commended the Committee headed by Mari Campanella Kovach, class of 1978, Cathy Daniels, class of 1979 and Tom Dooley, class of 1965, for planning the event, as well as preserving a Necrology of the Mater Dei family.
Kovach continues to invite all interested persons to provide updated information to the Memorial Necrology by emailing her at deckhill@comcast.net
That the tradition will continue in the future was emphasized by Kovach after the day’s event in an e-mail she sent thanking all for their participation in this annual Mass, noting some have traveled a distance to be present for it and all gave time and talents to have it happen. “I am truly grateful for your commitment to Mater Dei’s legacy and your willingness to support this annual opportunity to bring together our Mater Dei community,” the alumna said.
Absent from this year’s traditional mass was the Rev. Stanley Lukaszewski, also known as Father Stas, whose plans to be present were cancelled after he suffered a fall last week and was recuperating from fractures.
The Committee and those attending the mass gave special thanks to Canton Kerrin McCarthy Regan, Class of 2022, organist Diane Testa, and bagpipe Jim Shaw, class of 1976 who played the pipes in welcoming everyone to the mass.
Thanks also went o the hospitality committee which included Daniels, along with Ellen Poole, class of 1972, Maria Miele Skribner, class of 1983, Annemarie Golding McCarthy, Class of 1980, Judy Grandinetti Vogt, class of 1976 and Mary Caruso Corr, class of 1978.
Dr. Ken Dugan, who graduated in the first Mater Dei Class of 1965, came from Missouri to attend and participate in the remembrance. Dr. Dugan said it is a celebration he would never miss,agreeing with Monsignor Walsh on the importance of remembrance, and the joy it brings to recall memories of friends and classmates who helped form our lives.
Administrators remembered at the start of the Necrology, read by John Anderson, Kovach and Daniels, include the founding principal, Mother Bede, OSH, and principals the Rev. William Lynch, John V. Lonergan, Sister Mary Hugh, and Frank Poleski as well as assistant principal Frank Outwater. Teaching staff who were added to the Necrology this year include the late Philip Masterson, Mike Wherry, Jery Schulte,, Anthony Suozzo, James Tancredi, and the Rev. Bob Tynski.
Alumni added this year were Eugene Ambroziak, James Corridon and Karen Jane Halvorsen, class of 1965,
Susan Lentile Vasilev, class of 1966,
James Lentile, Gerry McDavitt, David Trombino and William Henry Vance, class of 1968,
Thomas Manning, class of 1969,
Diane Johnson Engemann, class of 1973,
Priscilla Gordon Potenza, class of 1974,
Michael Donovan, class of 1976,
Mary Dowens Everham and Terry Daly, class of 1977,
Craig Stern, class of 1978,
John Nipar and Norman Whiteman, class of 1979,
Joe Federico and Cheryl Puzzo Betts, class of 1983,
Michelle Horeis Hutter, Ronald Miller, George Rada and Tina Rothermund Evans, class of 1984,
John Condon, Jr., class of 1989,
Ann McGurk Caruso,, class of 1990,
Amy Lynn Smith Gill, and Stephanie Soldo, both of Class of 1992.
