Speaking of speaking, winners have last word

During the recent Albany Diocesan Catholic Schools Speech Contest, students in grades four through nine were asked to write and speak about "Heroes of Catholic Education in America."

Here are their choices:

* Annemarie Schwendler, a fourth grader at St. Helen's School in Niskayuna, said: "Superman is always flying around and saving people. The New York City firefighters and policemen are also great heroes for sacrificing their lives to save others. Even though they don't fly or risk their lives, Catholic school parents are great heroes."

"Parents pay tuition for a Catholic education," she said. "They also pay public school taxes like everyone else does. My parents pay more now to send my brother and me to a Catholic grade school than my mom or dad paid to spend one year at their university."

Sacrificing to send children to Catholic school is a tradition for Annemarie's family. "My grandmother and grandfather had 12 children," she said. "They sent all of them to Catholic schools. In fact, 11 of the 12 went to Catholic universities, too. That's a lot of sacrifices."

Annemarie, who received honorable mention for her speech, said many parents of Catholic school students volunteer in the classroom, lunch room and on field trips. Parents are also involved in planning special events, serving on committees and planning for the future of the school.

Given all of the sacrifices parents make, Annemarie wondered why parents would choose Catholic schools. "I asked my Mom and Dad that question," she said. "They do it because parents decide that it's important to have a strong faith and to be able to make good decisions all of your life."

* Nora Fazioli, a seventh grader at St. Pius X School in Loudonville who won honorable mention for her speech, spoke about the late Brother James Romond, FSC, who served as principal of LaSalle Institute in Troy from 1984 until his death in 2000. Nora said some of the qualities that made him a hero were his kindness and devotion.

"He was always available to talk to, and he was at LaSalle from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day," she said. "Brother James would attend all of the sporting and military events. He knew every boy by name from the sixth grade up.

"A parent who knew Brother said, 'I always felt in the presence of Jesus when I was near him. He made himself available for everything and everyone. I really think about him every day and how he would always give people as much help and kindness as possible. He was very close to Jesus.'"

* Katrina Wingle, a seventh grader from St. Catherine of Siena School in Albany who won third prize for her original oratory, named Rev. Patrick Peyton, CSC, as a hero. He founded the Family Rosary movement in Albany; it is now an international organization that strives to educate people about prayer. A division of Family Rosary is the Family Theater, which produces radio programs, television shows and movies.

Katrina said, "During his final year in the seminary, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He was very weak and was given little hope by the doctors of recovering. Patrick had great faith and prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary for a recovery. His prayers were answered and his health began to improve -- to the amazement of the medical profession."

Father Peyton's work continues to touch those involved in Catholic education around the world, Katrina said. "Family Rosary organizes retreats, conferences, parish missions and days of reflection. They will donate rosaries to schools and parishes," she said. "The Family Theater's [productions] are used in Catholic schools to educate people, mostly teens, on the need for God. Father Peyton's legacy lives on through his work. He has enriched Catholic school religious education curriculums across America."

* Kristen Kunkel, also a seventh grader at St. Catherine of Siena in Albany, won first place for her speech about St. Katherine Drexel, who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Black Americans. She opened approximately 60 schools and Xavier University, the first college for black people in the United States.

"Katherine established many ministries," Kristen said. "She led a life devoted to uplifting the minds and spirits of Native and African-Americans through the establishment of many Catholic schools across the United States. Through education and faith, she opened the eyes of thousands of people to the truth of Jesus Christ."

(Editor's note: First-place winners in the elementary school division were Elise Barker, Sacred Heart, Troy, and Diana Santino, St. Jude's, Wynantskill. Besides Miss Kunkel, a first prize in the junior high division went to Andrea Kannes, St. Pius X, Loudonville.)

(06-13-02) [[In-content Ad]]