McAuley Today

VOL. 19 No. 3 Catherine McAuley High School Brooklyn, N. Y. Summer 2009

T he Progression
of a Vision
R iding the waves of time
and change, whether it’s a
cultural, political or economic
change, the one thing that stands
true is our faith. An uncompro-
mising faith stands as an anchor
in uncertain waters. Faith holds
true to the foundation and direc-
tion of our life’s journey. For
Catherine McAuley High School
today, it is the grace of God and
the faith and vision of Cathe-
rine McAuley that urges us on.
She was a woman who refused to succumb to the taunts of fear, bias and op-
pression. In this tradition we are grounded, in this truth and vision we continue
forward bringing about tangible results, transforming lives through the love of
God. So by faith we have reached the end of another successful school year.
To quote Ms. Josephine Valente, “we saved for a rainy day and the hurricane
came!” But thanks to the support of our partners, Boys Hope Girls Hope, Stu-
dent Sponsor Partners, and our ever faithful alums, friends and benefactors we
are riding out the financial storm. Our Raffle netted $16,000. The McAuley
spirit continues on. We had a wonderful celebration of our 25th Annual Re-
union held at Russo’s on the Bay on April 25th, 2009; 203 people attended.
(Reunion story inside). The legacy of Catherine McAuley’s spirit remains the same
as we graduate 55 seniors and all but one are registered for college. The class of
2009 earned 4 million dollars in scholarships. “We continue to walk by faith.”

Preparing Women, Producing Leaders - “Education for Life”

Our Mission
Contents
Catherine McAuley High School,
founded by the Sisters of Mercy,
is dedicated to preparing young
Christian women for life. McAu-
Cover
ley offers a student centered
curriculum and enables the stu- The Progression of a Vision
dent to go foward into society
and contribute positively to her 3
community and world. McAuley 2009 Annual Alumnae Reunion
stimlates students academically,
develops good moral character, Luncheon
awakens inner strength pro-
vides experiences in self aware-
ness and provides social and 4
athletic experiences. Women in Leadership Development

Mercy Core Values 5

* Collaboration
* Compassion and Service
* Educational Excellence
* Concern for Women and
Women’s issues
* World Vision and
Responsibility
* Spiritual Growth and
Development
Catching up with the Girls
Information
710 East 37th Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11203
718-462-7282
Fax: 718-462-7284
www.mcauleybrooklyn.org
mdempsey@mcauleybrooklyn.org

McAuley Today is brought to you by the Catherine McAuley High School’s

Advancement office. McAuley Today is a publication for McAuley’s Alumnae and
Friends. If you have information for class updates, community spotlights, story ideas,
or other comments, please send them to alums@mcauleybrooklyn.org.
Editors
Sister Margaret Dempsey ‘64
Faye Brown ‘94
 2009 Annual Alumnae Reunion

The Twenty-fifth Annual Alumnae Reunion, held at Russo’s on the Bay, was an afternoon filled with
energy and togetherness. It was a memorable day to remember and a heritage to be proud of es-
pecially having the first graduating class of 1944 in attendance. The honorees were Eileen Jor-
dan Shaughnessy ‘47, Loretta Ventura Makrancy ‘64, Kathleen McLeer Tancredi ‘69, and Mary Ellen
Byrnes ‘69. (pictures below) There was a glow on each alums’ face with a common knowledge that
we were McAuleyans educated in the Mercy tradition given the task to be leaders in the home, at
work, and in the community. It is a bond that can not be broken...it is our responsibility to nev-
er forget. We would like to congraulate the anniversary classes of ‘44, ‘49, ‘54, ‘59, ‘64, ‘69, ‘74, ‘79,
‘84, ‘89, ‘94, ‘99, and ‘04 in addition to the teachers and Sisters of Catherine McAuley High School.

Eileen Jordan Shaughnessy ‘47. l to r Mary Ellen Byrnes ‘69, Sister Margaret
Loretta Ventura Makrancy ‘64 with Dempsey ‘64, and Kathleen McLeer Tancredi ‘69.
Peggy Lake ‘64.
Women in Leadership Development
Lendonna K. Thomas graduated from Catherine McAuley High School in
2005. Her aspiration is to be a Physician assistant. This May 2009, Len-
donna graduated from Georgian Court University with a B.A degree in
psychology and minor in biology. She served on the WILD (Women In
Leadership Development) Steering Committee and was the President of the
Black Student Union and Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership Honor Soci-
ety). Lendonna has been a student ambassador. She was one of eleven GCU
students who traveled to New Orleans to offer relief service to the victims
of Hurricane Katrina. Lendonna has been a consistent volunteer at local
soup kitchens and working with the homeless of “tent city” in Lakewood,
NJ. In 2009, she received the “Emerging Leader Award” from WILD.

Going Green

The Beautiful by Nature Green Team

is a group of students from Catherine
McAuley High School that are passionate
about protecting, restoring and beautifying
their environment through teamwork and
daily personal choices. Following one of
Shanady Eugene ‘10 with John.
our Mercy Core Values of World Vision and
Responsibility, saving the environment is a global issue. Through educational workshops and programs,
in addition to planting gardens in various communities, this team hopes to highlight the importance of
saving the earth. Their motto is reduce, reuse, recycle and beautify. On June 12th, Beautiful by Nature and
Mercy Home, a social service agency founded by the Sisters of Mercy to serve persons who are develop-
mentally disabled through residential, supportive and respite programs, joined together to work on an art
project that focused on the importance of “going green” in your personal place of residence. Private prac-
tice determines public accomplishment. The completed artwork will be hung in each home as a reminder
that it is a daily choice to help save the environment.

For more information

about Mercy Home
go to
www.mercyhomeny.org
l to r, Perquita, Stephanie Grant ‘09, and Lucy l to r, Christiana Bernard ‘11 presenting artwork
working together . with Renalta .
 Catching up with the Girls
“Today, in our mid 60’s, Gloria Acacia Mecca ‘62 and I are

still playing tennis. Incidentally, as residents of Scottsdale

Arizona, both Gloria and I met on the tennis court three

and one half years ago before a mixed doubles match.

While talking we realized that we attended the same

Catholic High School in Brooklyn, New York. The gym

and dance classes as well as the spiritual guidance of-

fered as part of the curriculum at Catherine McAuley High

School enabled our mental awareness, anatomy and

bones to develop strong and limber. Small world? Yes!”

...A note from Anne Owens Rink ‘59

l to r, Gloria Acacia Mecca ‘62, Anne Owens Rink ‘59

Opportunities to Give...
Mercy Secondary Education
Association is having their meeting in
Belize in October. We would like to
send two teachers to the meeting. If anyone has American Airlines frequent flier
miles to donate please contact Sister Rosemary Maguire at rmaguire@mcauley-
brooklyn.org or call 718-462-7282 ext. 14. Now you can donate your
frequent flier miles for a good cause!

Challenge Grant!
We have been offered a challenge grant from Patricia Doran Dillon ‘45 in the

amount of $10,000. Let’s see if we can match the grant for the 2009 Annual fund

by August 31st! An envelope will be included.

(Please specify challenge grant)

 710 East 37th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11203

Congratulations to the Class of 2009...

l to r, Ms. Josephine Valente, Sister Margaret Dempsey ‘64, Zakia Hall ‘09, Ariel DeRoche ‘09, Ms. Peggy Lake ‘64, and guest speaker Dr. Carol McIntosh ‘79

From the Faculty and Staff of Catherine McAuley High School!