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Dear Families,
The 500-meter freestyle event at a swim meet seems torture to me! I get breathless even thinking about it! Any event where teammates have to bob number placards underwater at one end of the pool to alert swimmers that they’re on lap number 19 is way too long for me. The fastest time for the winning high-school student may come in at about five minutes, but inevitably, for either team, there will be that one, last swimmer, dutifully plodding away two or three minutes after the first has hit the finish. The coach, team, and fan interaction with that one last swimmer always inspires – and rather amazes me. When he or she hits the final lap, the coach is usually still walking along the side of the pool encouraging, and teammates and fans of both teams are cheering and applauding, sometimes wildly. The spirit generated is powerful.
Think about that scene a bit, and you get some insight into the Communion of Saints. I asked students in Theology class this past week, “What holiday is coming up?” As I expected, many said, “Halloween,” but a couple added, “All Saints Day.” As you know, Halloween, this Tuesday, now a billion-dollar secular holiday, transmuted from an 8th-century Christian remembrance of the dead, that itself grew out of centuries-old pagan Celtic lore. On Wednesday, November 1, then, we celebrate All Saints Day, and on Thursday, All Souls Day.
Some of us are familiar with the prayer “The Apostles Creed,” a statement of Catholic beliefs where, toward the end we say, “I believe in the Communion of Saints.” In case you’re not sure what that’s all about, think back to the pool! Though we’re still perhaps plodding along in our “race,” maybe hitting bad days, times when the finish line seems very far distant, when we’re really dragging, we’re being cheered on. The saints are there for us, praying for us! The New Testament Letter to the Hebrews tells us: ” Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This “great cloud of witnesses” is all the saints, people – often quite ordinary -- like you and me, but with great love of God, whose lives “give witness” to the inspiration that we, too, can “do it.” They don’t run the race for us, but they cheer us on. God is the goal.
What’s more, as aspiring saints ourselves, as members of Jesus’ Mystical Body, we are all part of this “communion of saints.” Each of us can cheer others on, can support those who are dragging, can be the lift others need. We use our own language for this idea of “mutual support” when, in our Malden Catholic Mission Statement, we call ourselves an “inclusive community of faith,” or in our Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools Charism Statement, we say that we endeavor to “mutually help, encourage, and edify one another, and to work together.” As we honor all the saints this week, thankful for the models they have been, and as we remember with love our faithful departed, let us be grateful for the communion we share with them and mindful of the “cheer” we may be to others. Our school community this week will be praying for you and for those gone before us in faith. We invite you to submit the names of your loved ones through this link to be remembered by the Malden Catholic community at our All Saints' Day Mass on Wednesday, November 1, and at our Friday Masses during the month of November.
Sincerely,
Brother Thomas Puccio C.F.X., Ed.D., H'18
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Monday, October 30
Day E
Second Quarter Begins
Tuesday, October 31
Day D
Halloween Costume Day
Baby Clothing Drive Ends
Wednesday, November 1
Day C
Praying of the Rosary - 7:25 AM
All Saints Mass - 1:15 PM
All students must arrive to school in Mass Day attire.
MC Parent Club Meeting - 6 PM
Thursday, November 2
Day B
Weekly Mass - 7:25 AM
Friday, November 3
Day A
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We are providing the MC weekly dining menu in the President's Update to make it easier for students to plan lunch throughout the week. The menu is also available through the Malden Catholic Mobile App along with easy access to the online portal for adding money to student lunch accounts. | |
Thea Sanzone '24 Featured on "CBS News' BZ's MVP of the Week" | Thea Sanzone '24 was featured on "CBS News' BZ's MVP of the Week" for her remarkable comeback from a serious injury last summer, allowing her to continue as a member of MC's swim team. Despite being told that she would not be able to compete again, Thea's determination defied the odds, and she currently guides her team towards an undefeated season. You can watch her inspiring story in the video through this link. | |
"Keep going," Malden Catholic swimmer Thea Sanzone overcomes tragic injury to compete at high level | Thea Sanzone was told she would never return to competitive swimming after an accident slashed her arm to the bone. | | | |
School and College Counseling | | |
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College Visits
College representatives will continue to visit Malden Catholic until mid-November. We encourage all Grade 11 and Grade 12 students to sign up to meet the representatives 24 hours in advance in Naviance. All college visits are held during lunch in the MC front lobby from 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet the college admissions representatives who will likely be handling future applications. Below is a list of colleges and universities that are currently registered for the upcoming week. Please note that these dates are subject to change. Students should reach out to their school counselor with any questions.
Monday, October 30
Suffolk University
Westfield State University
Tuesday, October 31
Bucknell University
Keene State College
Thursday, November 2
Assumption University
Woodbury University
Friday, November 3
Bentley University
Merrimack College
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MC Parent Book Club - 10.30 at 6:30 PM | |
The MC Parent Book Club Meeting will be held on Monday, October 30 at 6:30 PM in Malden Catholic's Campus Ministry Center.
The September MC Book Club will be discussing Ghost Story by Peter Straub, a thriller about four aging men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, where an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past.
Please contact Vange Egizi at [email protected] if you are interested in attending.
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Baby Clothing Drive - through 10.31 | Campus Ministry will continue collecting new, unused baby clothes for infants under 18 months up to children of age six until Tuesday, October 31. Items such as diapers, cleaning wipes, all-purpose cleaning products, blankets, mittens, and hats will be collected and donated to Housing Families Inc. in Malden. All donations can be made in either the donation bin in the main lobby or in the Campus Ministry Center. | |
Halloween Costume Day - 10.31 | |
On Tuesday, October 31, students are encouraged to participate in MC's free Halloween Costume Day. Please keep in mind the following guidelines:
- No costume masks, face paint, canes, sticks, or weapon-like items of any kind
- No fake blood or other substances
- Students may not wear anything suggestive or provocative in nature
- No underwear as outerwear
- Nothing that promotes the use of illegal substances or activities, derogatory or disrespectful or portrays violence
- Students must show respect to other students by not choosing costumes that are insensitive and/or offensive to the diverse backgrounds represented by others
- Any student choosing to not wear a costume must be in regular MC dress code attire
- Anyone who does not follow the Halloween Costume Dress Code will be subject to the dress code violation consequences or further disciplinary action and may be sent home to change
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MC Parent Club Meeting - 11.1 at 6 PM | |
The next Malden Catholic Parent Club Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 1 at 6 PM in the cafeteria. The Parent Club will host an "Evening for the Arts" featuring selected art pieces from Br. Rice, MC students, and the featured artist, Youveline Joseph.
Official Parent Facebook Group
Be sure to join the official Parent Council Facebook Group for updated news and information. Click here to join the group or go to: www.facebook.com/groups/maldencatholicparents
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Thanksgiving Food Drive - 11.6 to 11.17 | |
MC's Thanksgiving Food Drive will run from Monday, November 6 to Friday, November 17, and MC will be collecting food items for each grade to donate to the Peabody charity, “Gina’s Giving Back.” All donations should be dropped off during homeroom.
Items Needed by Grade
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Freshmen – Boxed Mashed Potatoes and Boxed Stuffing
- Sophomores – Cranberry Sauce and Canned Vegetables
- Juniors – Large Bottles of Juice and Jars of Gravy
- Seniors – Brownie, Cake or Cornbread Mix
Interested in earning Christian Service hours? Students will earn four hours of service for one of the following:
- Bring in homemade, individually wrapped baked goods by Friday, November 17
- Help deliver food drive items with Gina's Giving Back on Tuesday, November 21
If you have any questions, please speak to Mrs. Connolly or Brother Puccio.
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Parent/Teacher Conferences - 11.9 at 3 PM & 6 PM | Malden Catholic parents are strongly encouraged to attend Parent/Teacher conferences to discuss their student's progress on Thursday, November 9. Parents may attend either the first session from 3 - 5 PM or the second session which will be from 6 - 7:30 PM. | |
Make-A-Wish Ice Cream Fundraiser - 11.14 | |
Over the past few years, the Ice Cream Bon Bons have been a tremendous hit for the holidays, and it's time again for MC's Make-A-Wish Club to partner with Philip R’s Frozen Desserts to benefit Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Bon Bons may be purchased for $17 through this link. Please write your order in the message box with your name, phone number and Malden Catholic.
Orders are due by Tuesday, November 14 and pickup will be on Friday, November 17 from 2:30 PM - 3 PM in MC’s back parking lot. All orders must be prepaid via Venmo to Philip Rotondo - @PhilipRs. If you have any questions, please contact Philip Rotondo at [email protected].
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Senior Yearbook Portraits - 11.18 | |
All Seniors must arrange to have their yearbook photograph taken before November 18. Portraits will be taken by Prestige Photography facility in Woburn at 102 Cummings Park Drive.
For those who have had their portraits taken, please remember to select your yearbook portrait through the following directions:
Instructions to Select Senior Portrait Yearbook Image online:
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Go to shop.prestigeportraits.com and create an account, if you have not done so already.
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Enter your specific Session ID & Access Code numbers provided to you on the proof sheet of images, or on the receipt from the photographer. (Check for emails from Prestige as well and if you do not have that information, contact Mrs. Jeannine Reardon for your session ID/access code.
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Once on the home page, select View Portrait Proofs tab (under Get Started Here) to view images and select a yearbook choice. The "Select Your Yearbook Image" will be front and center at the top of the website above the images/proofs.
Please note, after the online pose selection deadline has passed, this option will no longer be available.
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What's Happening Around MC? | | |
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College Financial Aid/FAFSA Review | We would like to thank Lynette O'Leary and Brian Gardiner from College Affordable for joining us last Thursday to review the College Financial Aid process and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is required by all colleges for financial aid purposes. The presentation slides can be found on MC's website through this link. | |
Principles of Biomedical Science | Over the past six weeks, students in MC's Principles of Biomedical Science class gathered and analyzed data from a mock crime scene using polygraph tests and DNA analysis. They presented their findings to MC faculty and staff members, who played the role of "commissioners" for the project. | |
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Dartmouth Book Award Dinner | Last week, Shelby Connors ’24 attended the Dartmouth Book Award Dinner sponsored by the St. Botolph Club in Boston. Shelby was the recipient of the Dartmouth Book Prize last year as one of the top-performing students in MC's Junior Class. | |
MC Leadership Series Featured Speaker, Tony Thompson | MC was pleased to welcome Tony Thompson, an award-winning author, speaker, and entrepreneur, who delivered his inspiring message to Grade 11 and Grade 12 students on living with intention, building culture, and achieving success. This was followed by a workshop with selected student leaders. We would like to thank Tony for visiting Malden Catholic and for sharing his story with us! | |
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Students in MC's Sculpture class made plaster masks for Halloween as part of an assignment to practice their form-making skills. Take a look at the stunning works of art that are displayed outside the art room. Great job! | |
Plus Ultra Awards - September | |
Each month, faculty and staff are asked to nominate students, faculty, or staff who they feel have done something to personify one of the five Spiritual Values of Humility, Simplicity, Compassion, Trust, and Zeal. The idea is to recognize members of our community who go More Beyond and exemplify our motto Plus Ultra. Malden Catholic is proud to recognize the following people for going More Beyond.
This month’s Plus Ultra Award recipients are:
- Humility - Botao Mo '27
- Simplicity - Joseph Navarro '26
- Compassion - Mr. David Murray
- Trust - Jessica Berlus '24
- Zeal - Valerie Umipig '25
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MC Welcomes New England Patriots' Matthew Judon and Kendrick Bourne | Last Friday, MC welcomed New England Patriots' Matthew Judon and Kendrick Bourne to Brother Gilbert Stadium for MC’s final Catholic Conference home football game. During the game, the NFL players joined our student section to cheer on the Lancers! | |
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Stay updated on all communications regarding fall sports by visiting the MC website or subscribing to text alerts through this link.
The MIAA Tournament pairings will be released this week and updated information for events may be found at: MIAA Tournament Information.
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Monday, October 30
TBD Girls Varsity Swimming @ Boston Latin HS (tentative)
4 PM Boys JV Football vs Catholic Memorial HS
Tuesday, October 31
No events scheduled
Wednesday, November 1
No events scheduled
Thursday, November 2
TBA Girls Varsity Cheer @ North Reading HS Competition
Friday, November 3
6 PM Boys Varsity Football vs TBD
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The MC Spirit Store is Now Open! | The MC Spirit Store is now open until Sunday, October 29 through this link. Many items are customizable with name, number or sport. MC's Varsity Letterman Jackets are also available until 10.29 and orders may be placed through this link. | |
Fall Senior Athlete Banners | Senior Banners may be purchased from Dracut Threads through this link. Banners will require a two-week turnaround. The banners will be hung for the fall season and then hung outside with the senior banners from all the seasons. Seniors will be able to take their banners home following graduation. Any questions about Senior Banners may be directed to Assistant Athletic Director, Matt Blair at [email protected]. | |
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