This Sunday’s Gospel has a powerful message on gratitude (Luke 17:11-19).  Jesus cures ten lepers, and realizing they have been cured, only one comes back to thank the Lord.  Even Jesus observes, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?”  It seems so natural to turn to God for a need, but this reading reminds that it is so important to give thanks to God for both answered prayers and the many blessings we have received. The expression “an attitude of gratitude” reminds that the grateful person will not only thank God, but others as well, affecting their entire view of life.  Parents: thank you for all you do to promote the Curley spirit and mission.

-- Fr. Donald

Homecoming reminds us of the many people who make up our Curley Family - students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, alumni parents, and friends! We are grateful that we can come together on days like that to celebrate our school. We know, too, that the year provides many other opportunities for us to come together on campus. We recently hosted our first Parent Connection Event. We will have one of these each quarter, and hope that you will be able to spend time with us as we discuss school business, parent activities, and student events. 

Later this month we have our Open House, a significant event for student recruitment. Consider volunteering one or both of those days. It is a great way to spread the word about why you chose Curley for your son.

Finally, please pay careful attention to the information about the adjusted schedule for Testing Day on Tuesday, October 14th. That is an abbreviated day for our students.

-- Jeremy Joseph ’96

At Archbishop Curley, we believe that prayer is not just something we do — it’s who we are. Prayer is the foundation of a Franciscan life, the heartbeat of our brotherhood, and a vital part of helping our young men grow into men of faith, character, and purpose.

For teenagers, life moves quickly — sports, studies, friendships, and the constant noise of the world can easily drown out moments of silence and reflection. Yet it’s precisely in that silence where God speaks most clearly. Teaching our sons to pause, to breathe, and to speak with God — even briefly — helps them find peace, gratitude, and perspective amid the rush of daily life.

At Curley, we provide many opportunities for prayer throughout the week:

• Daily prayer at the start and end of each day, and before every class.
• Mass offered in the chapel every Wednesday and Friday morning
• Regular Adoration and Confession in the chapel.
• School-wide liturgies and prayer services that mark the rhythm of our faith.
• Franciscan Youth Ministry gatherings, where students pray, reflect, and serve together.
• Retreats that help them encounter Christ in a personal and lasting way.

As I shared with many of you at the Freshmen Retreat, prayer is also a moment of reverence and respect. This is who we are as a Franciscan and Catholic community. Even if a student may not personally feel like praying on a particular day, we remain unapologetically Catholic, and we expect every young man to show respect during moments of prayer. Any behavior that distracts, mocks, or disrespects others while they are praying will not be tolerated. When we bow our heads, remove our hats, or listen in silence, we honor God — and we honor one another.

I encourage you to talk with your sons this week about what prayer looks like in their own lives:

• How do you find time to talk to God during your day?
• What helps you focus when you pray?
• Why is it important to be respectful during moments of prayer at school?

Our hope is that every Curley man learns not just how to pray, but to carry that prayerful spirit into everything he does — on the field, on the stage, at home, in the classroom, and beyond.

-- Friar Chris Dudek

October is a great time to get to know the saints as we prepare for the Feasts of All Souls and All Saints. FYM is once again encouraging everyone to spend some time with the saints while at the same time supporting FYM by participating in our Tiny Saints online fundraiser.

From October 1-31, 2025, all shoppers at www.tinysaints.com will have the option to select Archbishop Curley FYM from a dropdown menu during checkout to support our fundraiser. With more than 200 saint charms and keychains at just $6.99 each, Tiny Saints offers simple, affordable gifts and collectibles that are guaranteed to bring a smile.  

You can enjoy shopping for your favorite saints, patron saints, and even learn about others for the first time while browsing!  Please remember to select Archbishop Curley FYM from the dropdown menu to support FYM.

For more information, please contact Dcn. Tim at tmaloney@archbishopcurley.org

Thank you to everyone who made this year's Homecoming one of the best. It was great to see all of the students participating and supporting each other. 

On Tuesday, October 14, Freshmen and Juniors will be taking the PSAT, Sophomores will be taking the Pre ACT, and Seniors who signed up for the SAT will all be testing that day. Please reference the email that was sent out on October 7th.

October 10th marks three weeks until the end of the 1st Quarter. Please continue to check your son’s grades and reach out to his teachers if you have any questions or concerns, especially if you were unable to attend or schedule an appointment to meet with your son’s teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please remind your son(s) to check Plus Portals on a regular basis and to see his teacher(s) if he has questions. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to reach out to me.

-- Ken Pipkin

Open House will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 25 & 26, 2025. This is the largest recruiting event for the Curley community and we appreciate everyone’s help to make this event a success. We are in need of parent volunteers for several areas throughout the tour route. We are also looking for parent tour guides! Leading a tour alongside your son is one of the most unique features Curley's Open House offers. For all volunteer opportunities available to PARENTS, please sign up HERE.

Students can sign up to volunteer via the Google Form that has been emailed by Mrs. Petr. The Admissions Office will send weekly email reminders to students in order to recruit student volunteers. We are in need of student help in several areas, even if your son is not comfortable yet leading a tour. There will be a tour training for all students prior to Open House. 

Donations are also needed for the hospitality area during Open House weekend. Freshman and sophomore parents are asked to donate cases of 8 oz bottles of water or 12 oz cans of soda. Junior and senior parents are asked to donate variety boxes/bags of 1 oz bags of chips (no pretzel/goldfish/cheez-its please). Items may be dropped off at the cart outside of the Main Office from October 15-23, 2025. 

For any Open House volunteering/donation questions, please contact Caroline Kogler Palmisano, Director of Special Events, cpalmisano@archbishopcurley.org or 410-485-5000, ext. 211.

The Semper Fi Scholarship is open to Catholic students at Curley. The scholarship process involves the completion of an application, along with supporting documents from the parish and the pastor that evidence a commitment by the applicant and his family to living their Catholic faith. Essays from the parent and student are part of the application.

A student may receive this scholarship in any year of his education, and it is renewable on an annual basis (using a simplified application). A committee, comprised of the donor and Archbishop Curley H.S. administration, will determine the annual awards.

The applicant is responsible for meeting the deadline of December 15, 2025, and having all related material submitted by that date. Applications, in print or digital form, may be obtained in the Main Office from Mrs. Raynor.

The C-Notes will hold their annual Bingo on Saturday, November 1, 2025. This event helps fund Archbishop Curley's band, choir and theater programs, and we need your help to make it a success! Get your tickets HERE!

We need donations in the form of baskets that will be auctioned off on the night of the event, and items and gift cards to be given as door prizes. We are also accepting monetary donations that we can use to purchase basket items and door prizes. If you are interested in contributing, go HERE for more information and to sign up.

We will also need volunteers to help run things on Saturday night. If you are willing to donate your time, please go HERE. Your support is greatly appreciated!

In keeping with our theme of Bullying Awareness Month, we wanted to talk a little more about what bullying is and what to look for in your son. 

Bullying is defined as “unwanted, demeaning behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or is highly likely to be repeated, over time.” 

Bullying may appear in many forms. When most people think of bullying, they are thinking of physical bullying, however there is also verbal bullying (name calling, spreading rumors, threats), social (exclusion, public embarrassment), and cyberbullying (online harassment, malicious texts). 

What are some signs you can look for in your son?

• Decreased Self-Esteem
• Withdrawal
• Changes in Sleeping Patterns
• School Avoidance
• Decrease in Instructional Engagement
• Mood Swings
• Loss of Friendships/Isolation
• Unexplained Physical Injuries (cuts, bruises)

If you notice any of these signs, we encourage you to speak with your son about the changes you are seeing. Please also feel free to contact your son’s counselor or an administrator if you are looking for an additional layer of support.

The Maryland State Council of the Knights of Columbus is the sponsor of several high school scholarships, some for children of members (the Frederick M. Gossman Memorial Scholarships), and others for Catholic students in general (the William J. O’Brien Memorial Scholarships). The $1,500 grants may be applied to tuition only for the 2026-27 and subsequent high school years. The application period is now open, and all applications must be received in their entirety by the Scholarship Committee no later than March 1, 2026. Scholarship applications are available HERE. If you have a problem accessing the information, Fr. Donald can get you an application packet.