January 30, 2021

Pope Francis hosts fundraiser to benefit Bishop Feehan hockey player seriously injured

REGIONAL
Staff report

The Pope Francis hockey team wore green in honor of A.J. Quetta, who was seriously injured in a hockey game last week. The school held a fundraiser for the Bishop Feehan High School senior, Friday, Jan. 29. Contributions can also be made online.

SPRINGFIELD – Pope Francis Preparatory School students in Springfield held a dress down fundraiser, Friday, Jan. 29, to benefit A.J. Quetta, a member of the Bishop Feehan hockey team seriously injured in a game last Tuesday in West Springfield. Pope Francis was playing Bishop Feehan Catholic High School from Attleboro, Mass., when Quetta hit the boards headfirst in a horrific accident.

“Immediately following the tragic accident on the rink this week, the Pope Francis Prep community immediately asked, ‘how can we help?’ While there remain many unknowns about the future for A.J. Quetta, the one thing we know is that A.J. and his family need help,” said Paul Harrington, head of school at Pope Francis.

“This help is coming in many different forms, from the immediate response of our boys to pray with the Bishop Feehan team on the ice after Tuesday’s game, to the overwhelming response from the hockey community at large, to the generous hearts of people far and wide who have responded to help the Quetta family,” he said.

According to the Go Fund Me page set up on his behalf, Quetta suffered a spinal cord injury. He was initially rushed to Bay State Medical Center in Springfield and later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he underwent surgery. So far more than $600,000 has been raised for the high school senior on the Go Fund Me page. Pope Francis Prep. will be collecting money for the Quetta family through Sunday, Jan. 31 at popefrancisprep.org/fundraiser-for-aj/.

“Our boys’ hockey team coordinated a dress down day for today, encouraging their peers to dress in green and to make a small contribution that will be donated to the Quetta family. Nearly every student on campus participated. We have also invited our remote learners, parents, alumni, and friends to join us by making a contribution online through our website. The response has been amazing and by Friday morning, we have had more than 400 gifts. The online opportunity to give will remain up through the weekend and we will send one gift on behalf of the entire Pope Francis Prep community to AJ and his family early next week,” Harrington said.

When donating on the Pope Francis Prep page, people can write messages of encouragement to the family. Pope Francis also is selling #10 stickers, in honor of Quetta who wears that number for the Shamrocks.

Across the state, the sports community has rallied with the Jacobs family and the Boston Bruins foundation pledging $100,000. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots also matched up to $25,000 in donations on the “Greg Hill Show” on WEEI Sports Radio.

While the fundraising for Quetta has surpassed the initial $10,000 goal and donations continue to pour in, people all across the state and beyond are joining in prayer for Quetta’s recovery.

“From Pope Francis Prep to Bishop Feehan, our message is simple: We are communities of faith united by our Catholic school missions, and when the members of one community are suffering, we are called to serve, to provide love, and to offer our support. We continue to pray daily for the recovery of AJ and for the strength, health, and wellness of his family and the Bishop Feehan community.”