by Fr. Robert Abbatiello
Dear brothers and sisters in Saint Francis, peace and all good things to you! As we enter into the wonderful season of Advent, preparing to celebrate our Lord’s birth and awaiting his return in glory, I bring you the greetings and prayerful best wishes of all the friars in the Province of St. Mary.
Our minds naturally turn to gift giving at this time of year, as we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us: His Son, Jesus, through whom we have salvation and eternal life. Of course, there are many other gifts for which we friars are grateful—including our Capuchin fraternity, our families, and you, our friends and benefactors who support us and our ministries with your friendship, prayers, and sacrificial gifts.
This year the friars give special thanks to God as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, N.Y. A ministry of the Capuchin friars, Sacred Heart High School has been educating young men and women and providing for their spiritual, moral, and social development. As a college preparatory high school, Sacred Heart has assisted our graduates as they embark on successful college and life careers. All of our students are encouraged to use their gifts and talents for the good of others, with service as an important and required component of our curriculum. Other Capuchin charisms evident in the high school include prayer, fraternity (friendship), and care for creation.
We thank God for the vision and hard work of our Capuchin friars, assisted by the Sisters of St. Agnes, the De La Salle Brothers of the Christian Schools, and lay men and women who have provided thousands of students with an excellent high school education and a strong foundation for their future. Sacred Heart High School has a 100 percent graduation rate and a 100 percent college acceptance rate! As a graduate of the school (Class of 1978), I am blessed to be serving as its president. My vocation to the Capuchin Order and to the priesthood was encouraged, nurtured, and supported by the many friars who served as administrators, teachers, and staff members while I was a student there. How wonderful it is for me to be back “home at the Heart!” You can learn more about Sacred Heart High School on the pages that follow.
We look forward to the next century of educating young men and women here at Sacred Heart, and we thank all those who support the mission of Catholic education!