The orange, gold and red of autumn surrounded us at Lake of Isles on Oct. 27, 2024, as Dr. Gail Kingston, superintendent of schools, and Archbishop Christopher Coyne hosted nearly 150 people at the 14th annual Seton Scholarship Dinner. This year, we honored the commitment of three individuals who have dedicated their careers to our diocesan Catholic school system, while enjoying the harmonious voices of the Sacred Heart School (Groton) Choir as they filled the room singing “God Bless America” and “Each of Us Has a Light.” We were also moved by a heartfelt essay titled “What a Catholic Education Means to Me,” written and read by St. Patrick Cathedral School student Sarah Proiette.
In 2010, the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. Award for Contributions to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Norwich was established. The three individuals honored this year for their significant contributions to Catholic education in the Diocese of Norwich were Laurie A. Barrette, a teacher at St. James School, Danielson; Cindy Powden, a teacher at Sacred Heart School, Groton; and a treasured school nurse, Ana Rosa Tejera, RN, at St. Joseph School, New London. Proceeds from the Seton Scholarship Dinner will assist diocesan elementary school students with tuition assistance.
Dr. Kingston noted in her report on the status of the diocesan school system that our diocesan Catholic school students have a 100 percent graduation rate, and 97 percent continue on to institutions of higher learning. Similarly, Archbishop Coyne stressed the importance of Catholic education and its vital role in forming moral, skilled thinkers and compassionate individuals. We extend our gratitude to our honorees for their commitment to Catholic education, to all who attended this important event to celebrate our awardees, to our sponsors and to those who purchased an ad for our program book or donated a silent auction gift. We look forward to seeing you in 2025, with event details available soon.
By Gina Foster
What Does My Catholic Education Mean to Me?
By Sarah Proiette
I walk into this new school, lonely and nervous. Not knowing at all what is going to happen, or whom I’m going to meet. Many things are catching my attention as I walk up these multiple flights of stairs, there are so many crosses, and statues, of Mary, Joseph, and even the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The halls are filled with classes praying, or laughter; not people arguing about rumors someone made on the internet. As I finally find my class, out of breath from the dozens of stairs, I realize I am no longer alone. From this day forward my Catholic education has embraced me, even on the days I am not the best version of myself and I will always be thankful.
What does my Catholic education mean to me? Personally, my Catholic education means a ton of things, from my religion to my mentality. It has helped me cope with the wicked things the devil is doing to destroy this beautiful world the Lord made for us. It has also helped me see the positive sides of negative situations in this world too. Catholic education has taught me many characteristics about myself in my years here during 4th-8th grade. For example, I was taught how to love, and respect other people’s beliefs and morals by collaborating with the lower grades. Let’s just say when I was in public school religion was not a thing, religion was actually silenced instead of spread, so was being cooperative. I have been to many public schools and to be honest I don’t know where I would be today without my Catholic education.
“Education cannot be neutral. It is either positive or negative; either it enriches or it impoverishes; either it enables a person to grow or it lessens, even corrupts him. The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful.” - Pope Francis. This quote encompasses Catholic education in my opinion. Unfortunately in society our educational system is sometimes confused by social media, and the news. I feel that if Catholic education and Christ were in public schools there would be less fights, less shootings, less bomb threats, less threats (in general), or even kidnappings. What I mean by that is if we teach people how to walk in Jesus’ shoes and to venerate God’s law, I feel that when they grow up they won’t see it's acceptable to hurt people as easily as they do today. Catholic education makes a good foundation for most people and I feel truly blessed that I am able to receive my education here.
Catholic education means a lot more than just education if you think about it, because we actually get taught the one and only religion. Another adage is, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” - Jesus. Think about an invasive bug, very fatal to many plants, especially vines. If one of those bugs came from a different plant, for instance, a tree it would start to kill it if it landed on a branch of the vine, slowly eating it away, just like the Catholic religion. To some people it may be very hard to comprehend, but God didn’t put us on this Earth to understand him, he made us to worship him. At a Catholic school you are able to learn the word of God and spread it.
In conclusion I ask for more parents, and children to say yes to Catholic education, just like how Mary said yes to God. I believe that Catholic education built me, it completed me, it evolved me, it did not preclude me like public school. Catholic education allowed me to pray more, think more, and act more Christ-like. My Catholic education did not silence me, it helped me speak out and be confident in my love for Christ. I hope people won’t be silenced anymore like I was, and that Christ can fill the hearts of many more students through Catholic education.