OLG Youth Choir Shines on Stage

They’re usually singing from the choir loft, but this summer, the Our Lady of Grace Youth Choir, Howard Beach, left the loft and brought down the house with their production of “Singin’ in the Summer.” Performing for more than 300 family and friends, youth presented a free concert under the direction of Steven Eriquez, choir director. Musical selections included “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Splish Splash,” “What a Wonderful World,” “Happy,” “Let It Go” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
The Youth Group will present an encore concert, open to the entire diocese, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the school hall. For tickets, call Steven Eriquez at 917-836-4985.
(Photo courtesy Steven Eriquez)

Now is the time to register for the 33rd annual Great Irish Fair of New York’s 5K Race/Run/Walk, Sept. 13, 11 a.m. The race starts and finishes at West 21st Street on the Riegelmann Boardwalk in front of the Old Children’s Building on Coney Island Beach. All runners have complimentary entry into the fair and complimentary food vouchers for that day. Prizes will be awarded to the top runners.
Registration is only $20 through Sept. 8, and $30 up to and including the race day. Discounts for youth. All registration fee proceeds go to the Futures in Education Scholarship Fund. Contact Tim McGuire, 212-464-7662 or TBM424@gmail.com.

Divina Lopez and Connie Cuzco

She’s in the Army now! Connie Cuzco, a founding member of the Troopers of Faith youth ministry at St. Teresa of Avila, Woodside, has just left for basic training in the U.S. Army. A former catechist and hospitality coordinator at the parish, Cuzco will prepare to become a chaplain’s assistant. Hooah!

Tablet TALK Quote of the Week: “Everything God does is purposeful. And since God is in each of us, each of us has a purpose.” – Iyanla Vanzant, life coach

Richmond Hill resident Helen Aviles wants you to roll up your sleeves! Aviles, who has helped organize the blood drives at Holy Child Jesus Church, is planning another drive on Sept. 28 to meet the critical need for donations. The doors open at 8 a.m., and donations will be accepted through 1:45 p.m. For details, email Aviles at helenaviles@gmail.com.

Summer is almost over. You’ve probably tended to your children, garden and the many issues that crop up in everyday life. Have you had time to take care of your marriage? If not, set a weekend aside for a Worldwide Marriage Encounter. For information about upcoming weekends, visit wwme.org or call 1-877-NYS-WWME, option 2.

Michael Theisen and Father John Sureau will be the speakers at the “Called and Gifted” Youth Ministers Conference, Sept. 13 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Center, Lindenhurst, L.I. To register, or for more details, contact Marianne Sheridan, 516-678-5800 or msheridan@drvc.org.

Immaculate Conception Church, Astoria, is celebrating its 90th anniversary. To honor its history of faith and service, there are some major events on the horizon, including a celebratory Mass with banners and a procession on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. The celebrant will be Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez. For more details, call 718-728-1613.

Dr. Rodriguez

St. Francis College Welcomes New Dean Of Students

St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, is pleased to welcome Dr. Jose Rodriguez as its new dean of students. An experienced administrator and educator, he is ready to forge new relationships and support St. Francis students when the school year begins.
Dr. Rodriguez comes to St. Francis College from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where he was vice president of Campus Life and Global Initiatives. He previously served as dean of students at St. John’s University.
(Photo courtesy St. Francis College)

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Ben Mockford (Photo courtesy St. Francis College Athletics)

Former St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, basketball standout Ben Mockford signed a pro contract with Caceres, a team in the Spanish Basketball Federation.

The native of Shoreham-by-Sea, England, averaged 12.0 pts. per game and was one of the NCAA’s best three-point shooters last year in his senior season.

This past summer, the former Terrier point guard contributed valuable bench minutes to the Great Britain national team in the EuroBasket qualifying tournament.

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From St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights

Loretto, Pa. – The St. Francis Brooklyn men’s soccer team claimed its second consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament Championship and clinched a trip to the NCAA Men’s College Cup after defeating Saint Francis University 2-1 in overtime. The Terriers have now won six NEC men’s soccer titles, just one behind Fairleigh Dickinson who has seven.

“It’s a great feeling to win today,” said Terriers’ head coach Tom Giovatto. “Saint Francis was excellent today and they gave us a hard time for the entire game. We really kept our shape defensively and didn’t allow them to really penetrate. When they did, Jack {Binks} was there to make the saves. We knew that if we kept it close we would have a chance to capitalize on a set piece and Andy {Cormack} did it again for us. He’s one of the greatest captains in school history. On and off the field, he is one of the biggest reasons why the program has really changed.”

Andy Cormack (Plymouth, England), the NEC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, scored the golden goal on a free kick from 15 yards out in the 94th minute. The senior captain also scored the golden goal via a free kick in last year’s championship game against Bryant.

“I had an idea that I was going to put the ball around the wall but the keeper didn’t go all of the way back so I took the space that was given to me,” Cormack described. “Compared to last year it was a bit more difficult because the angle wasn’t on my side. Last year I had a bit more space.”

There were few scoring opportunities in the first half as both teams were trying not to concede the first goal. In the 42nd minute there was a hand ball in the box on St. Francis Brooklyn which led to a Saint Francis U penalty kick. NEC Defensive Player of the Year Francis de Vries (Christchurch, New Zealand/Cashmere) converted the PK to give the Red Flash a 1-0 lead.

It looked like the Red Flash would take the lead into the half, but a minute later the Terriers would get a PK of their own after a Saint Francis U hand ball inside of their box. Junior Cyril Coisne (Lille, France/Univ. of Montpelier) converted the penalty to tie the game up at one.

Saint Francis U junior goalkeeper Andrew Garcia (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek Regional) came up big in the 78th minute when a tricky shot from Harry Odell (Manchester, England/Cardinal Langley RC) almost made it into the back of the net but Garcia was able to get a hand on it.

The teams played a very evenly matched game as the Terries had five shots on goal with four corner kicks while the Red Flash had six shots on goal and also had four corner kicks.

In addition to Cormack,Vincent Bezecourt, Coisne, and Binks all made the All-Tournament Team for the Terriers.

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From St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights

Loretto, Pa. – The St. Francis Brooklyn men’s soccer team claimed its second consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament Championship and clinched a trip to the NCAA Men’s College Cup after defeating Saint Francis University 2-1 in overtime. The Terriers have now won six NEC men’s soccer titles, just one behind Fairleigh Dickinson who has seven.

“It’s a great feeling to win today,” said Terriers’ head coach Tom Giovatto. “Saint Francis was excellent today and they gave us a hard time for the entire game. We really kept our shape defensively and didn’t allow them to really penetrate. When they did, Jack {Binks} was there to make the saves. We knew that if we kept it close we would have a chance to capitalize on a set piece and Andy {Cormack} did it again for us. He’s one of the greatest captains in school history. On and off the field, he is one of the biggest reasons why the program has really changed.”

Andy Cormack (Plymouth, England), the NEC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, scored the golden goal on a free kick from 15 yards out in the 94th minute. The senior captain also scored the golden goal via a free kick in last year’s championship game against Bryant.

“I had an idea that I was going to put the ball around the wall but the keeper didn’t go all of the way back so I took the space that was given to me,” Cormack described. “Compared to last year it was a bit more difficult because the angle wasn’t on my side. Last year I had a bit more space.”

There were few scoring opportunities in the first half as both teams were trying not to concede the first goal. In the 42nd minute there was a hand ball in the box on St. Francis Brooklyn which led to a Saint Francis U penalty kick. NEC Defensive Player of the Year Francis de Vries (Christchurch, New Zealand/Cashmere) converted the PK to give the Red Flash a 1-0 lead.

It looked like the Red Flash would take the lead into the half, but a minute later the Terriers would get a PK of their own after a Saint Francis U hand ball inside of their box. Junior Cyril Coisne (Lille, France/Univ. of Montpelier) converted the penalty to tie the game up at one.

Saint Francis U junior goalkeeper Andrew Garcia (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek Regional) came up big in the 78th minute when a tricky shot from Harry Odell (Manchester, England/Cardinal Langley RC) almost made it into the back of the net but Garcia was able to get a hand on it.

The teams played a very evenly matched game as the Terries had five shots on goal with four corner kicks while the Red Flash had six shots on goal and also had four corner kicks.

In addition to Cormack,Vincent Bezecourt, Coisne, and Binks all made the All-Tournament Team for the Terriers.

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By Michael Rizzo

Brooklyn’s 12th Street Bar and Grill may not be the first place you think of when considering where to go for a discussion on Catholicism.

But the Park Slope pub was the latest venue where the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Office of Faith Formation held a Theology on Tap event with a presentation on church history.

The scholar on Monday night, Nov. 24, was Franciscan Brother Geoffrey P. Clement, a professor of medieval history at St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, who spoke to about 20 people on Christian and Islamic relations in the Middle Ages.

“This is very relevant today,” he said before his lecture, which is the first he’s done for Theology on Tap. “This is a history which relatively few are fully aware of and with young people not coming to church as much anymore, this is a chance to go to them.”

Lucia Morales of St. Brigid’s parish, Bushwick, came with Sally Flores of St. Rose of Lima, Rockaway Beach. Both are in their 20s and have made Jornadas. Morales said it was the first time they attended this kind of event.

“I think it’s unconventional but progressive,” Morales said. “You can catch up with friends and still learn about your faith.”

Brother Clement’s lecture began at about 7:15 p.m. with the crowd in rapt attention on bar stools and at tables. As perhaps befitting a night focused on the Catholic faith, the TV sets in the bar were showing the basketball game between Villanova University, founded by the Order of St. Augustine, and Virginia Commonwealth. Villanova won.

Brother Clement spoke for more than 45 minutes on the history of Christians and Muslims from the seventh century through the 1400s. He expounded on the conflicts between the two religions as well as the positive aspects of their relationship in trade, culture and learning.

After his lecture, he opened the floor to questions and engaged the crowd for another 30 minutes on topics ranging from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which was a former church, then a mosque and now a museum, to more on the Crusades and the current state of affairs between Muslims and Christians.

“There have been many acts of barbarism by Christians and Muslims through the ages,” Brother Clement said, “but Europe and the West have changed. Some groups in the Mideast have not.”

Jonathan Richardson, from St. Paul the Apostle Church, Manhattan, said he would have liked to hear more about the Church’s stand today on such extremism but found the event rewarding nonetheless.

“Lots of Catholics are interested in the intellectual coherency of our doctrines,” he said. “There’s a lot to learn and this is a topic that shows the interaction that has occurred between Muslims, Christians and Jews.”

Erin Rother sat at the bar during the lecture. She’s a co-leader of the young adult group at nearby St. Saviour’s parish.

“When I got an email about the event, I came to support it,” she said. “Church is good but there could be other settings for Catholics to get together. Events like this attract people.”

Paul Morisi, coordinator of young adult faith formation for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, uses social media to promote these events and sees them as ways for young adults to gather with their peers.

“I wanted Brother Clement to speak about something that young adults aren’t usually exposed to,” he said. “It may not be as glitzy as lectures on the Theology of the Body but Catholics need to know about their whole faith.”

“It was quite interesting,” Sally Flores said. ”Theology is about faith and both the Muslims and Christians were standing up for their faith, not just fighting but learning from each other.”

The Theology on Tap lectures will resume in 2015 with exact dates and locations to be announced.

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The college basketball season can take its toll on a student-athlete. Players must worry about their on-court performance, putting in the necessary practice and workout time, studying film on their next opponent and most importantly, keeping up with their schoolwork.

That rigorous schedule doesn’t leave too much leftover time. However, two local college basketball teams were able to break from their normal time commitments to experience what’s most important about the sport they love.

For the fourth consecutive year, St. Ephrem’s parish, Dyker Heights, basketball program hosted the Swish for Kids Classic Jan. 25 in which the men’s basketball teams from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, and the College of Mount St. Vincent, the Bronx, put on a clinic for children battling cancer and those who have completed their treatment.

Normally held at St. Ephrem’s gymnasium, St. Patrick Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge, graciously stepped up as the event’s host venue after a water-main break damaged the St. Ephrem’s gym floor.

For a few hours, the scoreboards were turned off, the clipboards were put away and the college basketball players were able to brighten up the day for the children going through some tough times.

“This is actually a great day for many people, the kids especially,” said Frank Stella, Swish for Kids chairman and St. Ephrem’s parish athletic representative, who himself is a survivor of Stage 4-B Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“It’s a timeout from their daily routine, just about what you’re going through, what you’ve been through for the survivors and those in remission and just come out and have fun. It’s a really nice day.”

The St. Francis Terriers are off to a roaring start in Northeast Conference league play, but each year, the team makes it a point to participate in the event.

“As you go through the season, you get kind of caught up with the basketball stuff, and you realize that there are things in the world going on that are much more important than that,” said Glenn Braica, head men’s basketball coach at St. Francis. “If we can come here and just put a smile on a couple of kids’ faces for a couple of hours, it’s a great day for us.”

More than double the amount of children took part in the event this year as opposed to years past. Following the morning clinic, 14 Catholic Youth Organization basketball teams played in the Swish for Kids tournament, with all entry fees once again being donated to a great cause.

The funds raised benefit the Francesco Loccisano Pediatric Cancer Foundation, also know as “Frankie’s Mission.” Frankie was a former student at St. Ephrem’s School and Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, who passed away in September, 2007 after battling bone cancer and leukemia.

“Our organization is all about being there with and for the families,” said Camille Loccisano, Frankie’s mother and the foundation’s director.

“We help them financially, but we still give a lot of emotional support. Whatever it is that they need for us to do, we are there. It’s what my son wanted. Frankie said, ‘Mom I want my own foundation, I want to help families.’ And that’s what we do.”

For the second year, Mount St. Vincent’s team came down from the Bronx for the event. The team’s head coach, Brian Nigro, was one of Frankie’s teachers at Xaverian.

“We’ve talked about this event for the past week to truly realize how important it is and how lucky they are to be healthy, be in college and to have the opportunity being handed to them by their parents and by their school,” Nigro said.

The day was made possible thanks to Investors Bank, the event sponsor, and Harbor Fitness, which provided pizza for the basketball participants. The day wrapped up with an awards ceremony in which the kids ran through high-fiving a valley of college student-athletes and then receiving a medal and plaque, sponsored by Crown Trophy.

The kids may have instantly looked up to the basketball players as their heroes, but in fact, the reverse is more so true.

“They (the children) go through a lot…more than most people probably go through in a lifetime, but they can come out here and still have fun and smile and inspire the rest of us to really appreciate everything,” said Caitlin Herbert, a coach for St. Ephrem’s youth basketball instructional program. “It’s a very emotional thing.”

Even if just for a short time, the kids and their families were able to forget about their treatment schedules and medications and just be kids for a change.

As such, Swish for Kids continued its mission of being an event that transcends the realm of sports.

To make a donation to help a family struggling with pediatric cancer, visit www.frankiesmission.org.

Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.

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St. Camillus Catholic Academy, Rockaway, celebrated community during Catholic Schools Week. Local Police Officers Borgi and Santi along with community affairs officers from 100th Precinct and the school safety division gave a fun and educational presentation at the school on Jan. 29. Afterward, under the direction of parent Stacey Haggerty, second graders and their parents walked to the 100th Precinct and delivered sandwiches, cake and thank-you notes, above. The school also held a dress down day and raised $680 to benefit the community of Our Lady of Sorrows parish, Corona, which is still recovering from an early January fire.

• • •

Tablet TALK readers, mark your calendars because Jesuit Father James Martin is coming back to Brooklyn.  On Feb. 24, he will host a 7:30 p.m. discussion at Mary, Queen of Heaven parish, Old Mill Basin. He will discuss several of his books, including “My Life With The Saints,” with attendees. His books will be available for purchase that evening.

All are welcome to attend the talk, which will take place in Msgr. Jamie Parish Hall. For more details, call the parish rectory at (718) 763-2330.

• • •

If you’re looking to meet other Catholic young adults, look no further than St. Sebastian parish, Woodside, which has an active young adult group. The next gathering is Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7:54 p.m. in the convent.

• • •

Treat yourself to a fun and fashionable night out when St. Mary’s Church, Long Island City, hosts its Fashion Show and Dinner, Feb. 22 in the parish hall.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children ages 7-13, and free for little ones. For advance tickets, call (718) 786-0705.

• • •

The Commodore John Barry Club of Brooklyn is pleased to announce a contest opportunity for undergraduate college students who are interested in researching Irish American history and contributions.

The club is calling for students to submit a 1,000- word research paper on Commodore Barry’s accomplishments.

The contest deadline is March 1 and cash prizes will be awarded.

For full details about the contest, visit www.commodorebarryclubbrooklyn.org, or contact Brian Kassenbrock, director of public relations at 718-748-0624.

• • •

Don’t miss your chance to see The First String Players at Our Lady of Mercy, Forest Hills, present “Lend Me A Tenor,” this weekend in the parish hall. Performances are Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call (718) 268-6143.

• • •

On Monday, Feb. 9, Father André Cirino, O.F.M., author of “The Cross Was Their Book: Meditations on St. Francis’ Prayer before a Crucifix,” will visit St. Francis College to talk about the Crucifix of San Damiano.

The Crucifix of San Damiano lies at the heart of the Franciscan Order and impacted the lives of both St. Francis and St. Clare.

The talk will be held at 4 p.m. in the Brooklyn Heights’ college’s Maroney Forum for Arts, Culture & Education. The event is free and open to the public.

• • •

Did you know that the Sacred Heart League at St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood collects hand-made lap blankets for American Veterans? For more details, call (718) 821-6447.

• • •

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Members of the music performing groups at Our Lady of Guadalupe School (OLG), Dyker Heights, were recognized for their feats with a mid-year party. Student-musicians, above, were praised for their dedication by Principal Sister Dolores F. Crepeau, C.S.J. Each student received a medallion and thank-you card from the school.
A third of OLG students in grades two through eight belong to the choral juniors, choral group or tone chime choir, and some are in the parish children’s choir. Directed by Janet Cullen, students perform for school concerts and special events, including singing with the Metro Chamber Orchestra in Puccini’s “Turandot” at St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral.

• • •

Save the date! Father Patrick Griffin, C.M., special assistant to the president of St. John’s University, will lead a Lenten Mission at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament parish, Bayside, March 2-4.
The theme is “Family, Holy Family and Holy Families,” and sessions will be held twice daily: after 9 a.m. Mass and 7:30-8:30 p.m. in church.
All are welcome to attend. For more details, call 718-229-5929.
Congratulations to the eighth graders at St. Mark School, Sheepshead Bay, who received their school rings on Feb. 13. Many special events await them as they prepare for graduation.

• • •

State Senator Marty Golden’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is now underway.
The state senator is offering free tax preparation services for residents of his district who earn less than $30,000 annually. His district covers parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach and Marine Park.
Appointments will be available at his Bay Ridge district office, 7408 Fifth Avenue, on Sundays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Mondays, 6-9 p.m., through April 15.
Services will be provided by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, or to check if you live in his district, call 718-238-6044.

• • •

Men, make this a life-changing Lent. Sign up for a Men’s Cursillo Weekend, Feb. 26 to March 1 at St. Josaphat Retreat House in Glen Cove, L.I.
Don’t pass up this opportunity to grow in your relationship with God through prayer, reflection, Mass, spiritual presentations and the sacrament of reconciliation in the company of other men who are seeking that same closeness with God.
The cost is $25 for the weekend. To register, contact Rich Grillo at SaRi77@aol.com.

• • •

Visit the shrines of Italy, May 12-21 with St. Joseph College, Clinton Hill and Patchogue, L.I., faculty members Sister Grace Rowland, C.S.J., and Father Francis Pizzarelli, S.M.M. For a detailed brochure, contact Sister Grace at 631-654-0199 or growland@sjcny.edu.

• • •

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Dr. Dennis Ryan, longtime professor of religious studies and philosophy at the College of New Rochelle, who recently received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Catholic Historical Association for promoting Catholic studies.
Dr. Ryan has his roots in the Brooklyn Diocese. He grew up in Immaculate Conception parish, Jamaica Estates, where his father was a well-known physician.

• • •

And speaking of Jamaica Estates, did you know that the Immaculate Conception Passionist Monastery has a new online newsletter? Check it out at www.monasterymoments.com.

• • •

Event update: “The Crucifix of San Damiano” presentation by Father André Cirino, O.F.M., at St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, has been rescheduled to Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. in Room 4202.
The event is still free and open to the public.

• • •

Father Charles Mangano will lead the first night of the Wednesday Lenten Vespers series at St. Athanasius Church, Bensonhurst, on March 4.
Father John Campoli will celebrate a Healing Mass on March 11. “Trust Magic on Forgiveness” will be the theme when Father Jerry Jecewiz visits March 18. Al Barbarino will share faith and music on March 25.
Services begin at 7:30 p.m. Call 718-236-0124.

• • •

Send items for Tablet TALK to megiossi@desalesmedia.org.

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The St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, men’s basketball team is red hot, having secured first place in the Northeast Conference play and gaining home court advantage throughout the upcoming playoffs.

The team has been led by guards Brent Jones and Tyreek Jewell and forward Jalen Cannon as the Terriers attempt to earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. St. Francis, Army, the Citadel, Northwestern and the College of William and Mary are the only five Division I basketball teams in the country to have never made the “Big Dance.”

However, with all the success the current team has experienced, it’s important for these players to realize the opportunity they’ve been given to receive a top-notch education while also playing the sport they love at a competitive level.

Years ago, that opportunity was just a dream for African-Americans. So as celebrations of this February’s Black History Month come to a close, let’s take a look back at the man who paved the way for countless St. Francis College student-athletes to achieve their dreams.

Just a few months after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, a five-foot 11-inch, 180-pound guard named Levi Bough became the first black player in the 52-year history of St. Francis basketball.

“Yogi,” as he was affectionately known, was born in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1921. At just two years old, his family migrated to the Bronx, where he attended Morris H.S. Growing up, Bough was a talented athlete, especially on the basketball court, and also excelled in his studies. He would often stay up all hours of the night studying by the light of a kerosene lamp.

He attended Virginia Union University, Richmond, Va. – a historically black university – for his freshman year of college. But just like so many African-Americans during World War II, Bough was drafted into the U.S. Army in April, 1942 and was assigned to the 761st Tank Battalion – known as the “Black Panther Tank” since it consisted of mostly black soldiers.

The battalion landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, on Oct. 10, 1944, and was assigned to Gen. George Patton’s Third Army. Their fighting abilities were crucial in helping the Allied Forces invade Germany.

Bough spent a combined three years and nine months fighting in Europe. He met his wife Charlotte in Teisendorf, Germany, and upon his return to America, he received a basketball scholarship to St. Francis College. He was the oldest member of the team at 24 and was the only married player as well.

At that time, racism was much more rampant in the south than the north, so Bough was accepted fully by his teammates, including small forward Roy Reardon, currently a partner at the Simpson Thacher law firm in New York City.

Great Rebounder

“He (Bough) was a great leaper, great rebounder,” Reardon said. “He was a great teammate because he was always smiling and happy. He was incidentally an excellent student, really good. There was never any discrimination that I sensed either at St. Francis nor at any other place that we played.”

Prior to Reardon’s arrival however, there was an incident of racism involving Bough, as reported in the Jan. 28, 1948 issue of PM, New York City’s liberal-leaning daily newspaper:

“St. Francis announced yesterday that Levi Bough, the first Negro ever to play varsity basketball at the college, will go to Baltimore with the team for the Loyola game a week from Saturday, but will stay at a separate hotel.”

There may have been other minor incidents, but it was Bough’s personality and hustle that allowed him to assimilate well with his teammates. He wound up spending three years with the Terriers, mostly as a reserve player, where he averaged 1.6 pts. per game.

Bough graduated St. Francis in 1950 with degrees in philosophy and psychology and then received a government scholarship to continue his education in political science at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He also played basketball there – and was even the team’s trainer – and led the squad to four Swiss University championships.

He earned his living in Switzerland as a gas station attendant and later a furniture salesman, all while remaining a basketball trainer and coach. Including his time as a player, Bough was part of 18 championship teams. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 87.

Surely the name “Levi Bough” is not among the memorable names of Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers or Jesse Jackson celebrated during Black History Month, but he paved the way for the current African-American members of the Terriers to have a chance to play.

So as the Terriers attempt to achieve history in trying to earn their first NCAA berth this season, it was Bough who initially changed the course of history at St. Francis.

Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.

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St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights is one of five Division I schools – along with Army, the Citadel, Northwestern and the College of William and Mary – to have never made the annual NCAA Tournament.

Despite a valiant effort Tuesday night in front of over 1,000 fans in the Northeast Conference (NEC) title game, that streak will continue for at least another season.

The Terriers dropped a heartbreaker, 66-63, to Robert Morris University, Moon, Pa., at the Pope P.E. Center. Robert Morris thus earned the automatic bid to this year’s March Madness tournament.

Regular-season NEC champs St. Francis remain the lone charter member of the NEC to have never won the conference title.

“Obviously it’s very disappointing…the result tonight,” said St. Francis head coach Glenn Braica, the NEC Coach of the Year. “But I’m also real proud of my guys. We’ve had a great run. After going 0-5, they’ve gone 23 of 29 games.”

The Terriers were paced by Tyreek Jewell, who poured in a game-high 19 pts. NEC Player of the Year Jalen Cannon notched a double-double with 10 pts. and 12 rebounds. His 21 double-doubles this season set an NEC record.

St. Francis led by six pts. at halftime, but Robert Morris had all the momentum for most of the second half. The Colonials led by 10 with just under six minutes to go.

But the Terriers roared back to cut the deficit to one with 16.2 seconds to go. Down three a few seconds later, Jewell was fouled beyond the three-point line and had a chance to tie the game with three free-throws. However, he missed the first two and was forced to miss the third.

After Robert Morris missed both free-throws at the other end, Terriers’ forward Lowell Ulmer grabbed the rebound and heaved a three-quarter-court shot. The ball looked to be on line, but it hit the back of the rim and bounced out, giving the Colonials the NEC title win.

“This atmosphere that we had tonight…no one though that was possible at St. Francis College, and we had that here tonight,” Braica said.

It was an exciting run for St. Francis, who will play next week in the annual NIT Tournament. It’s the college’s fourth-ever berth in the NIT and first since 1963.

“It’s disappointing, but we can’t really think about it since we’ve got the NIT coming up,” said Cannon, who is the career leader in point and rebounds at St. Francis. “We need to use it as motivation and put our best foot forward and keep going.”

All photos by Jim Mancari.

Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.

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From St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights

The St. Francis Brooklyn Women’s Basketball Team are your 2014-15 Northeast Conference Women’s Basketball Champions after defeating Robert Morris, 77-62, in Moon Township, Pa. The Terriers are headed to the NCAA Tournament and will be going dancing.

St. Francis Brooklyn is the first team to go on the road and win all three games to be crowned Northeast Conference Champions. They are also the first #5 seed to take home the championship trophy.

This is the first championship for St. Francis Women’s Basketball in program history. Sarah Benedetti was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a career and game-high 29 points in the victory.

Benedetti said, “It is a great feeling. I always loved being the underdog and this is the true underdog story. It feels amazing. We have never been in this situation before, but our experience with our 4 seniors and one junior really builds our team chemistry and that helps us when we had to make big shots to win the game.”

An emotional John Thurston said after his Terriers won their first championship, “I want to thank the NEC for putting on a great tournament. They have been so helpful with every step of the way. Congratulations to Robert Morris. To have a team in the NCAA and another team make the finals, it is like us with two teams to make the championship game, your name is out there with some elite programs.”

He added, “To Sal and his staff, it is so hard to beat Robert Morris, they are extremely talented. They are so well coached and tough to prepare for. They had a great season. To Irma Garcia, we are so grateful for her dedication and support. Without her vision and support with women’ basketball, we wouldnt be here. Irma, and so many other people at St. Francis Brooklyn who have been there for years and have not been able to see a championship , we are grateful to bring them this trophy.”

Eilidh Simpson and Jaymee Veney both added 14 points and 5 rebounds a piece.St. Francis Brooklyn took a 32-29 lead into halftime. They turned it on from three-point range in the second half, converting on seven of nine from beyond the arc. As a team, the Terriers shot 10-for-17 from three point range and outscored the Colonials 30-21 from beyond the arc. Overall, St. Francis Brooklyn shot 48.2 % on 27-for-56 shooting.

Simpson said, “Robert Morris played a great game. The first half was a back and forth battle. The second half of the game we were able to pull away after Sarah made some big shots. It was an unreal feeling coming down the stretch. We went to double-overtime with Central Connecticut, so we know it is not over until that final buzzer sounds.To win with these guys is the best feeling in the world”

Veney said, “You never have a feeling of relief when you play here. Robert Morris is a great team, and they are always in it. To win on the road and beat such a great team is extremely rewarding.”

St. Francis Brooklyn and Robert Morris traded baskets in the first half, but the Terriers were able to separate themselves from the defending Northeast Conference Champion Colonials in the second half. The Terriers would lead by as many as 18 points at the 6:53 mark.

As the story has been all season, St. Francis Brooklyn was nearly perfect from thee free-throw line, shooting 13-for-14 from the charity stripe, compared to Robert Morris who shot 3-for-8 from the line.

The key stretch in this championship game started at the 11:25 mark when Benedetti hit a three, Fechko scored two layuups, then Alex Delaney and Eilidh Simpson hit back to back threes to give the Terriers a 60-44 lead with 8:29 to play.

Robert Morris would pull within 10 with 4:31 remaining after a Ashley Ravelli three-pointer. Simpson responded with a three on the next possession and the Terriers would go on to secure their first Northeast Conference Championship.

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Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Al O’Hagan of the Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted the annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast at Brooklyn Borough Hall. St. Francis College President Brendan Dugan was honored as the Irishman of the Year. Also feted were Judge Elizabeth A. Foley, the William T. Bellard Award; Kevin Peter Carroll, the Paul O’Dwyer Award; and Mary Lawler, the Commodore John Barry Award. Entertainment was provided by the O’Malley School of Dance and Sheila McGuirl. Father Kevin Sweeney gave the invocation. (Photos by Ed Wilkinson)

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On a snowy first day of spring, members of Holy Child Jesus parish, Richmond Hill, raised over $600 at the third annual Lenten Soup Supper to benefit the parish’s outreach mission and food pantry, led by Walter Cooper. The evening was hosted by both the English and Spanish RCIA members and served by Deacon Chris Heanue’s Confirmation class, as well as Brownies and Girl Scouts. Music was provided by Steve Pulick and the youth choir. Bishop Octavio Cisneros, pastor, also attended the benefit.

• • •

Easter will be particularly joyful in Forest Hills thanks to the good people of Our Lady of Mercy parish. Parishioners donated canned goods and cash to provide holiday dinner baskets for 35 struggling families.

• • •

St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Greenpoint, is trying to start a Polish-speaking Knights of Columbus Council this Eastertide. They’re looking for Catholic men, age 18 and older, who practice their faith, care about family values and want to help the community. If you’re interested, call Father Marek Sobczak, C.M., pastor, at 718-388-0170.

• • •

St. Sebastian’s Service Awards

Servant hearts abound at St. Sebastian, Woodside, where the fourth annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Party, March 22, was an occasion to honor three individuals who have generously served the parish community. Father Kevin Abels, pastor, proudly presented awards, from left, to Sister Theresa Ryan, S.C., longtime mission coordinator at the parish school; Robert Haggerty, accepting on behalf of the late Margaret Haggerty, who dedicated her time and talents to the parish center, and Msgr. Michael J. Hardiman, former pastor.

• • •

Our Lady of the Angelus, Rego Park, is sponsoring a Divine Mercy Pilgrimage, April 12. For more details, call Barbara Johnson at 718-592-9329.

• • •

Correction: On the March 14 Tablet TALK page, the Our Lady of Grace, Gravesend, parishioners bidding farewell to Father John Tino, from right, were Dolores Stracquadaine, Marie Rocca and Marie Cope.

• • •

A Congress for the New Evangelization, hosted by the Koinonia John the Baptist Community, will be April 24-26 at Visitation B.V.M., Red Hook. For tickets, call Sister Frauke, 917-515-4225.

• • •

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Dr. Sara Haviland, a history professor at St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, who’s been named to the Nerd Scholar list of “40 Under 40: Inspiring Professors.” She was nominated by one of her students, Elizabeth Peralta ’15, who said Dr. Haviland convinced her to stick with being a history major. After graduation this spring, Peralta will realize her dream of going to work at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Nerd Scholar chose professors who leave “impressions on our lives that change the way we think, work and view the world around us.”

In addition to teaching, Dr. Haviland has written the forthcoming book, “James and Esther Cooper Jackson: Love and Courage in the Black Freedom Movement.”

She has worked with the Brooklyn Historical Society’s Students and Faculty in the Archives project to teach history students about using archives and was also part of the American Historical Association’s Tuning Project.

• • •

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Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros recently celebrated a special Mass for Scouts in honor of Scout Sunday at his parish, Holy Child Jesus Church, Richmond Hill. In attendance was the local Cub Scout Pack with retiring leader Dorothy Harley, and Boy Scout Troop No. 0177 with leader Tom Curry. The Scouts and leaders are pictured above with the bishop and transitional Deacon Christopher Heanue.

• • •

Anyone who recently lost a loved one is invited to attend a Memorial Prayer Service at St. Francis de Sales Church, Belle Harbor, this Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m.

Hosted by the parish’s Bereavement Ministry, the event is open to everyone. There will be light refreshments after the service.

The St. Francis de Sales Bereavement Ministry is also hosting a six-week program for people seeking healing following the loss of a loved one. The program will run on Tuesdays, April 28 through June 9, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

To register, call Kay, 646- 552-7820, or Noreen, 718- 945-4235.

• • •

Congratulations to Brooklyn native Kevin P. Hannon, who will be ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Camden, N.J., on Saturday, May 2.

Hannon was baptized in St. Cecilia Church, Greenpoint, and currently attends Holy Angels parish in Woodbury, N.J.

• • •

Our Lady of Grace parish in Gravesend is sponsoring a one-day pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Washington, N.J., on May 13. The bus will leave at 8:30 a.m. and return by 7 p.m.

The donation is $40 per person. For details, call Teresa at 718-375-3864.

• • •

In a celebration of scholarship and leadership, St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, will proudly celebrate its 131st Charter Day convocation by recognizing its top students as well as Brooklyn’s educational, community and business leaders on Friday, May 1.

The keynote speaker and honorary degree recipient is Frank DeRosa, who spent over 30 years as director of communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens.

During the event, the college will induct the new class of Duns Scotus Honor Society Members and formally announce the recipients of the National Grid Scholarship and Internship.

The St. Clare Medal of Service will be awarded to NYPD Detectives Salvatore Ferrante and Fredrick Mitchell of the 84th Precinct. There will also be a special tribute to the 84th Precinct, led by NYPD Captain Sergio Centa.

Andrew Kimball, the CEO of Industry City will be presented with the college’s Kimball DeRosa Entrepreneurship Award.

An honorary degree will be given to 100-year-old Madeline Scotto, a lifelong educator who is now the math coach at St. Ephrem School, Dyker Heights, where she taught full time for 60 years.

The college will also honor faculty, administrators and staff who have served at St. Francis for many years.

• • •

Ozanam Hall of Queens Nursing Home, Bayside, served by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, is looking for a few good men and women — specifically, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to assist the Pastoral Care Department. If you are able to help, call the Volunteer Office at 718-971-2020/2021.

• • •

Father James Devlin, pastor emeritus of Good Shepherd Church, Marine Park, will celebrate a Mass of Gratitude for his years of service to Good Shepherd parish and the Brooklyn Diocese on Sunday, May 3, at 11 a.m. Light refreshments will follow in the school auditorium.

All are invited to attend and extend their good wishes to him. For details, call 718-998-2800.

• • •

Two seniors from St. Edmund Prep H.S., Sheepshead Bay, Mike Pasquarello and Anthony Adamita, will be featured on NET-TV’s show “Active Catholics.”

In this episode they share some of their experiences over the last four years as members of the school’s Ice Hockey Team and Emmaus Retreat leaders. See how they embody some of the most important principles of the Catholic Church: faith, charity and dedication.

The show is scheduled to air April 29 at 9 p.m. on NET-TV, Channel 30 on Cablevision, Channel 97 on Time Warner or stream it live at www.netny.tv.

• • •

Speaking of The NET, Father Cedric Pisegna, C.P., host of “Live with Passion!” seen daily on NET-TV at 9 a.m., will lead a parish mission at Holy Trinity Church, Whitestone, next month.

Father Pisegna will preach at the weekend Masses, May 16-17, and the mission will be conducted Sunday-Tuesday, May 17-19, at 7 p.m. in church.

Call 718-746-7730 or 718-853-7745.

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Usually each year when Mother’s Day rolls around, the spring sports season is right at its peak.

So what better way to ring in Mother’s Day than to recognize one of the diocese’s longstanding sports moms?

Liz Wiatre knows what it takes to be a sports mom, having raised four children – all of whom excelled in whichever sport they played. She was always there to show her support, no matter who had a game or where.

Her passion for sports was developed at a young age, when she followed her father’s lead and became a New York Mets fan when the team was formed in 1962. Growing up, she played intramural basketball while in junior high school at St. Saviour’s, Park Slope.

Aside from just playing though, her love of sports was enhanced as she cheered on her children as they played. The Wiatre family split its time between St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands, and Our Lady Help of Christians, Midwood, with the children’s Catholic Youth Organization sports coming mostly at St. Thomas.

As an experienced sports mom, Liz knows the secret to making sure her children were always aware of her support.

“Honestly it takes complete family sacrifice and dedication and everyone loving to support their family member,” Liz said. “That’s how it was in our house, so much so that as the kids grew up, we would take neighbors to the games. We would have multiple kids with us at all times. It was a really nice experience.”

Along with her husband Fred of nearly 42 years – who is a retired New York City fire captain – Liz was always ready for the next game, whether it be having the uniforms laid out or a refreshing drink or snack ready to go. It’s no doubt that this support helped her children flourish athletically.

“Personally I think sports is very important in a young person’s life,” Liz said. “It makes a difference; it makes you stronger.”

Her oldest son Dan played football – with Fred serving as an assistant coach – basketball and baseball at Nazareth H.S., East Flatbush, before playing basketball at Concordia College, Bronxville, and Adelphi University, Garden City. He is currently the boys’ varsity basketball coach and co-athletic director at St. Edmund Prep H.S., Sheepshead Bay.

Liz’s son Mike was also a sports star in football and basketball at Nazareth and currently a member of the NYPD. His basketball career eventually led him to South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C., where he played in the NCAA Tournament in 2000, with Liz in the stands, of course.

Denise Wiatre graduated as salutatorian from Stella Maris H.S., Rockaway Park, and while there played volleyball, basketball and softball. She continued on to Cabrini College, Radnor, Pa., and Pace University, Pleasantville, N.Y. She is currently an accountant.

Liz’s youngest son Rob is a N.Y.S. court officer and a recent inductee into the St. Edmund Prep Athletic Hall of Fame. He starred for the Eagles’ basketball and baseball teams, graduated as valedictorian and went on to play basketball at St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights.

No matter who had a game, Liz and Fred always made it a point to be present. There were even times when they would leave St. Edmund’s on a Friday night after Rob’s basketball triple-header and travel all the way to South Carolina to see Mike play in his Saturday college game. Now that is dedication!

“My mom has become known throughout the diocese for her support of us and our teams,” Dan said. “She has been at almost every single game each of us played.”

Just because her children are now grown hasn’t stopped Liz from still supporting them athletically. She was a regular at St. Edmund’s while Dan coached his basketball team, and she’s looking forward to watching Rob play softball in Marine Park throughout the spring.

“I’m so proud of all of them and what they’ve done with their lives to this point and will continue to be proud of them,” Liz said. “It really touches my heart that I was able to care for them and hope for many years to continue more.”

Sports will continue to be part of the Wiatre family. Fred still coaches youth football for the Richmond Plainsmen, and now, Denise’s four-year-old son “Little” Danny is starting to play sports, meaning Liz will remain in the fold as not only an expert sports mom but also a “grand” sports mom.

She had certainly done a grand job in providing a nurturing experience to her children, all of whom would agree that their athletic careers were enhanced due to the presence of both of their parents.

So on this Mother’s Day, when we celebrate the impact of moms and sports moms alike, it would be no surprise to find Liz set up at a field somewhere in the city cheering on one or more of her children as they play sports.

Once a sports mom, always a sports mom, and Liz is among the very best!

Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.

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Robert M. Muccigrosso, 73, longtime Catholic educator and Bay Ridge resident, died May 13 following bypass surgery. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anselm Church, Bay Ridge, May 16.

A graduate of Fordham University, New York University and Hofstra University, his professional career includes a total of 17 years as the principal of two Brooklyn Catholic high schools and seven years as the associate superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

From 1963 to 1969, he taught English at Nazareth R.H.S., East Flatbush, before becoming the first lay principal at Bishop Loughlin M.H.S., Fort Greene, in September, 1975.

After Loughlin, he became the associate superintendent for schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, working as chief educational operational officer. He also served as executive staff to the diocesan High School Principals’ Association and supervised both the diocesan special education and drug-abuse prevention programs.

In 1989, he returned to Nazareth as principal, for 11 years. He also served as a trustee at Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, 1987-93. After Nazareth, he chaired the education department of St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, 2003-09, and continued as a consultant until his death.

He published numerous education-related books and articles.

He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Janet, four sons and seven grandchildren.

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Sister Angela Esposito, C.S.J., a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, L.I., for 70 years, died May 11 at Maria Regina Residence.

She entered the congregation in 1946 from St. Thomas Aquinas parish, Brooklyn. She earned her bachelor’s degree in French from Manhattan College in 1956, and from St. John’s University in 1958. Middlebury College awarded her a master’s degree in French in 1965. Her certification in French was obtained from the Sorbonne.

Formerly Sister Angela Maria, she taught at St. Vincent de Paul, Williamsburg, 1948-55; St. Christopher, Baldwin, L.I., 1955-60; Mary’s Nativity, Flushing, 1960-63; Sacred Heart Academy H.S., Hempstead, 1963-66 and 1992-93; Holy Family H.S., South Huntington. L.I., 1966-77; St. Angela Hall Academy H.S., Clinton Hill, 1977-78; St. Francis Prep H.S., Fresh Meadows, 1978-83; St. Mary H.S., Manhasset, 1983-85; St. Jean Baptiste H.S., Manhattan, 1985-90; Molloy College, Rockville Centre, L.I., 1990-92; St. Joseph H.S., Downtown Brooklyn, 1993-95; ATD Fourth World Movement/USA, New York, 1996-2012; and St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, 1997-2000.

She then retired to St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Maria Regina Chapel, Brentwood, May 15. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery there.

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Sister Noraleen Murphy, C.S.J., a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, L.I., for 69 years, died May 3 in Maria Regina Residence.

In 1946 she entered the congregation from the parish of St. Joseph, Brooklyn.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in math from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, 1957; in sociology from St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, in 1971; and in religious education from Fordham University in 1977.

Formerly known as Sister Alma Virginia, she served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Long Island City, 1948-52; Immaculate Conception, Jamaica, 1952-53; Colegio San Conrado, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 1953-57; St. Michael, Sunset Park, 1958-66; St. Ambrose, Brooklyn, 1966-78; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunset Park, 1978-2007.

She retired to Stella Maris Convent, Rockaway Park, and later to Maria Regina, Brentwood in 2010.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place in Maria Regina Chapel, Brentwood, May 8. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery.

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Dear Editor: Thank you for the informative death notice about Dr. Robert Muccigrosso (May 23). I wish to shed some light on Robert Muccigrosso, the man. Bob, as the assistant principal at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, hired me to teach at the school in August of 1973. That began 42 years of mentorship and great friendship.

Bob became the principal of Bishop Loughlin in the summer of 1975 and his new tenure was greeted with an extremely tense labor strike by the teachers’ union. The strike was intensely draining on all sides. In terms of the strike itself, and its attendant issues, Bob had little control, as the strike involved several diocesan schools. All Bob could really do, as a brand new and young principal, was create as solid and positive a learning atmosphere as was possible for the sake of the students and their families.

For four plus weeks, he did this with a calmness, grace and dignity that were emblematic of the way he handled his entire career and lived his entire life.

The school was declared permanently closed to all but the seniors on Oct. 13, 14 and 15. During those three days, the younger students were transferring out to other schools. Everyone’s spirits were down in the dumps. On the afternoon of the 15th, a miraculous settlement was announced. The school was saved but the community was greatly damaged.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, Bob began the task of rebuilding the school and its community, despite its depleted student body and deflated morale. That began five years – from 1975 through 1980 – of Bob’s tenure as principal of Bishop Loughlin being brought back to its former self. He helped to make it a school that went on to thrive through the 1980s, ’90s and these first 15 years of the 21st century, right up until today.

The current students, faculty and staff of Loughlin are wonderful people who have many things and people to be thankful for. One of them is a man who has not worked there for 35 years but whose spirit lives there every day.

Bob brought the same grace and gentleness to Nazareth H.S., St. Francis College, and the entire Brooklyn Diocese through his work in the Education Office and to his family and friends every day of his life.

JAMES DORNEY
Dyker Heights

Editor’s Note: James Dorney also served as principal of Bishop Loughlin H.S.

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