Our School

The Presidents and Board Chairs from the thirteen schools of the Moreau’s Province gathered together for their annual meeting on October 11-12, 2022. Holy Cross High School was proud to host the first half of the meeting which was led by the Provincial Br. Thomas C. Dziekan, CSC and members of his staff.  The two-day meeting affords this group the opportunity to receive updates on the state of the Province as a whole and the state of the individual Holy Cross schools. Participants share successes and challenges. They also collaborate on ways to further the forward trajectory of the schools.

Those in attendance included:

• Mr. John Barnhardt, President (Bishop McNamara)
• Mr. Robert Summers, Board Chair (Bishop McNamara)
• Mr. Lorenço Jungklaus, Director (Colégio Notre Dame)
• Mr. Ricardo Pires de Camargo, President, School Council (Colégio Notre Dame)
• Mr. Fabio Aidar, Head Master (Colegio Santa Cruz)
• Mr. Ronaldo Almeida, District Superior (District of Brazil)
• Prof. Andre Figundio Silveira, Translator (District of Brazil)
• Mr. John Gerspach, Board Chair (Holy Cross Flushing)
• Mr. Mark Mongelluzzo, President (Holy Cross Flushing)
• Mr. William Gallagher, Headmaster (Holy Cross New Orleans)
• Mr. Carlos Collazo, President (Holy Cross San Antonio)
• Mr. Rene Escobedo, Head of School (Holy Cross San Antonio)
• Mr. Kevin McSherry ’75, Board Chair (Holy Cross Waterbury)
• Dr. Thomas  Pellegrino, President (Holy Cross Waterbury)
• Dr. Elizabeth Guneratne, President (Moreau Catholic)
• Ms. Maritza Ilario, Board Member (Moreau Catholic)
• Br. Donald Blauvelt, CSC, Assistant Provincial (Moreau Province)
• Br. Thomas Dziekan, CSC, Provincial  (Moreau Province)
• Mr. Terry Lee, Director, School Sponsorship (Moreau Province)
• Mr. Sam Laganà, President (Notre Dame Los Angeles)
• Mr. Robert Curis, President (Notre Dame West Haven)
• Mr. David Garamella, Board Chair (Notre Dame West Haven)
• Ms. Pam Jupe, President (San Juan Diego High School)
• Br. William Nick, Board Chair (San Juan Diego High School)
• Mr. Chris Haggerty, Board Chair (St. Edmond's)
• Mr. Domenic Maiorano, Head of School (St. Edmond's)
• Mr. Mark Adams, Board Chair (St. Francis)
• Mr. Jason Curtis,  President (St. Francis)

“I was thrilled to have our school host this year's event, along with our sister school, Notre Dame in West Haven,” said Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino, “We have much to be proud of at Holy Cross, and much to offer the other schools.  Those in attendance, most of whom had never set foot on our campus, were amazed at the beauty of the physical plant.  More importantly, the energy that students, teachers and staff exhibited was contagious, and set a great tone for the entire conference. As Br. Tom remarked at the end of the visit, we truly demonstrated what it means to be Holy Cross educators.”

Student tour guides gave the participants a tour of school. Members of the Holy Cross administration, faculty and student body shared their personal experiences in thoughtful and inspiring speeches and presentations.

“The most profound and impactful takeaway was the immediate sense of extended family in the group,” said Mr. Tommy Pompei, Principal. “For a group of people from all over the world and from a variety of cultures, there was a togetherness born of like-minded and like-spirited people who share a vision of the world for young people rooted in the values of Blessed Father Basil Moreau. When Josh Holland ’22, Victoria Odonkor ’22, and Dr. Alexander Young spoke, the passion, respect, and adoration for the Holy Cross way was palpable. The resounding emotion of the day for me was pride and gratitude for the blessing of Holy Cross for all of us.”

Dr. Pellegrino took away an enormous sense of pride in his school, and an appreciation for his talented team and impressive student body. “Attendees saw the best aspects of what we know to be special about our school.  While the thirteen schools of the Province all differ in terms of size, financial position, and programmatic offerings, there is a clear and almost unspoken tie that binds all of our practices. It is the Mission of Holy Cross, exemplified by the four pillars - the education of the heart and mind, building respect, being family, and bringing hope.  No one doubted after this week the commitment Holy Cross has to these pillars.”