June 13, 2025

St. Elizabeth’s golf tournament honors past, prepares for future

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Michael Pedro

LUDLOW – St. Elizabeth Parish in Ludlow held its 26^th annual golf tournament, Monday, June 9 at the Ludlow Country Club. The fundraising event helps pay for capital improvements at St. Elizabeth’s affiliated school, St. John the Baptist School, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this academic year.

“Primarily, it’s to update our technology for the school,” said Gary Bourbeau, an alumnus of the school and the advancement director of St. John the Baptist School.

“But we’re also expecting and planning to put a playground in and use it to improve the schoolyard,” he said.

With the momentum of reaching their donation goal last year, the tournament committee was determined to be even more successful this year. Bumping their donation goal to $30,000 from $25,000, the committee geared up for what was to be an exciting day of golfing with family and friends. Several giveaways and contests were announced, including a chance to win a Mercedes-Benz car as a reward for getting a hole-in-one on one of the four Par 3 holes, numerous raffle prizes, and tickets to a New England Revolution soccer game in August. 

The first round of golfing began at 7 a.m. in the morning. Despite the cold, current and former teachers, and school alumni ventured out on the course.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to gather the community together,” said Father David Darcy, the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Belchertown. “I also think it’s a good opportunity to spread the word about the good work that St. John’s school does… it’s a great opportunity to raise money for the school.”

Following the first round of golfing, players and attendees were treated to a barbecue sponsored by Luso Federal Credit Union, complete with hamburgers and hot dogs.

Sandra Donahue Maggi, an alumna of the school in the Class of 1959, participated for the first time this year.

She said she was drawn to the event because of “the fact that I went to school there, and my whole family did, and I enjoyed playing in tournaments with my grandsons.”

Once the second round concluded, it was time for dinner, which was funded in part by Ludlow Construction and ProEast Asset Management. After dinner concluded, a speech was given by grade eight student Michael Peritore.

“I can attest that my time at St. John’s has very much shaped me to be the student, kid, and child of God that I am today,” Peritore said.

“St. John the Baptist is like no other school… I feel as if my educational environment at St. John the Baptist School has prepared me for the next four years.”

This year’s tournament was held in memory of Antonio “Tony” Goncalves, a beloved member of the Ludlow community and member of the golf committee, who passed away unexpectedly on April 6, 2025.