BRONX, NY—In Gerstner Hall at St. Philip Neri School, school officials, students, and members of the archdiocesan community gathered for a rededication ceremony, reaffirming the school’s commitment to supporting students and their families. The event celebrated recent renovations and the establishment of the St. Philip Neri Catholic Education and Family Center, emphasizing the school’s renewed focus on holistic education and community engagement. Click here to view the press release.
During the October 10, 2024, ceremony, Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, Superintendent of Schools, addressed the students. Sister Mary Grace highlighted the significance of the school’s mission, stating, “This is a great day at St. Philip Neri; for over 100 years, St. Philip Neri has been educating young people with great faith and academic excellence, and you’re the next generation to be educated here, and you have a beautiful, wonderful school to learn in, and we’re so happy to celebrate that.” She added, “You will have a future filled with hope because of the kind of school you went to because you went to St. Philip Neri.”
As part of the ceremony, His Eminence unveiled and blessed a central plaque for the St. Philip Neri Catholic Education and Family Center, recognizing the significant contributions of key benefactors, including the Gerstner Family Foundation, the Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation, the John and Daria Barry Foundation, and Robert Gittings. Their support transformed this dream into a tangible reality, allowing the Center to provide holistic support to families.
Reflecting on the broader vision behind the Center’s creation, His Eminence explained that it was born out of both a dream and a realistic possibility, made possible through the generosity of several benefactors. He stated, “They wanted this to be holistic. It would be about the heart; it would be about the soul; it would be about the body. Because Jesus became one of us, God became holistically one of us.” His words emphasized the importance of addressing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—through the school and Center’s initiatives.
The Center, created by the Archdiocese of New York in 2023, includes the school facility and focuses on offering health and safety initiatives, cultural enrichment, and parish outreach, ensuring families have access to essential resources for long-term success. Presentations at the event demonstrated the strong connection between academic achievement and family well-being, showcasing the impact of family-centered programs alongside academic improvements.
Concluding the ceremony, a Q&A session with students and benefactors followed, highlighting the vital role of community and family engagement in ensuring the Center’s and its students’ success.
###
Photos:
Shown above: Sister Mary Grace Walsh, Superintendent of Schools, stands with student ambassadors of St. Philip Neri School, Bronx. (Gerald Wutkowski Jr. / Office of the Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of New York).
Above: His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, speaks to students and benefactors during a rededication ceremony at St. Philip Neri School, reaffirming the school’s commitment to supporting students and their families. (Gerald Wutkowski Jr. / Office of the Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of New York)
Above: His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, unveils a central plaque for the St. Philip Neri Catholic Education and Family Center, recognizing the significant contributions of key benefactors, including the Gerstner Family Foundation, the Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation, the John and Daria Barry Foundation, and Robert Gittings. (Gerald Wutkowski Jr. / Office of the Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of New York)
Above: St. Philip Neri School students sing their alma mater while waving flags with the school crest and ‘10/10/24’, marking a new moment for the educational community. (Gerald Wutkowski, Jr. / Office of the Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of New York)