August 23, 2018

More than 50 SSJs attend dedication of school chapel named for their patron

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

 

SPRINGFIELD – One of the most thought-filled additions to the new Pope Francis Preparatory School was celebrated Aug. 21 as the school’s St. Joseph Chapel was dedicated and blessed by Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski.

During a special ceremony attended by more than 50 Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, many of whom had taught in the legacy schools of Pope Francis Prep, the sisters were praised for their years of sacrifice and dedication to teaching thousands of high school students.

For more than 130 years, the sisters staffed the former Sacred Heart, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Jerome, Holyoke Catholic and Cathedral high schools.

In his remarks to those attending the dedication, Paul Harrington, head of school for Pope Francis, tallied the years of service and number of sisters who served in each school:

• 1887-1963 – 84 sisters served Sacred Heart – totaling 389 sister-years of service
• 1902-1963 – 83 sisters served Rosary High School – totaling 463 sister years of service
• 1912-1963 – 85 sisters served St. Jerome’s – totaling 316 sister-years of service
• 1963-2016 – 78 sisters served Holyoke Catholic – totaling 510 sister-years of service
• 1884-2016 – 261 sisters served Cathedral High School – totaling 3,036 sister-years of service

In all he said there were 434 Sisters of St. Joseph who collectively served 4,714 sister-years.

A permanent tribute to the sisters is the inscription of the name of every sister who has ever served in one of the legacy schools on the windows of the chapel entrance.

Sister Angela Deady taught at Holyoke Catholic from 1974-1988.

“I’m a graduate of Cathedral High School, so when I saw the windows I was looking for those outstanding teachers that had inspired me not only to be a teacher but to be a religious to join them and so I really think it’s appropriate and it will be a blessing for this building to have this chapel dedicated to St. Joseph,” said Sister Deady.

Sister Alice Kenney said she began her teaching career at the high school building nicknamed the “Gas House” on Elliot Street in Springfield. When the “first” Cathedral High School was built on Elliot Street, Sister Kenney taught there and was later principal of Cathedral. She said she was moved beyond words, seeing the names of sisters who had taught at the schools.

“While the bishop read, I couldn’t take my eyes off it,” she said. “There were older sisters, really. And I’m old. I’m 90. But I’m looking at all those old people that I didn’t even know were part of Holyoke Catholic and part of Cathedral.”

Harrington presented Sister Joan Ryzewicz, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph, with a leather-bound book inscribed with the name of every Sister of St. Joseph with her years of service and school, to be displayed in the new St. Joseph Chapel for all students, alumni, and visitors to enjoy.

In her address to the guests gathered for the dedication, Sister Ryzewicz said the chapel was “truly amazing.”

“Our sisters not only poured out love and dedication,” she said, noting that she was a student at the former Cathedral High School. “They poured blood, sweat and tears.”

“We daughters of Joseph are delighted that this chapel will carry the name of our patron, St. Joseph. He was gentle and he was strong – probably what every teacher needs to be,” she said.

A special segment on the new Pope Francis Preparatory School will be featured on the Sept. 1 edition of the Springfield Diocese’s weekly newsmagazine, “Real to Reel.”