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Miracle in (the) Hudson!

Ladies and gentlemen, as we make our final approach into Journal Square, we will be cruising at an altitude of about 8 feet. Over our right wing, ooops, sorry, there is no right wing, anyway, no big deal, on our right side is that wonderful and recently saved school Hudson Catholic. Wave to Brother Pat and his homeroom!

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Alumni President Letter

Time is passing and so...

My, how the time flies when you’re having fun and—Oh, yeah!—saving your high school.

I can’t believe that it is almost over for this current Executive Board. We have been in office three and a half years, and this past one has been a whirlwind experience. John Lennon gave us some great lines in one of the last songs he wrote, “Beautiful Boy.” I have very often in the past 10 months heard these lines from the song drifting in my mind.

“Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better...
Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans”

This past year has been a great lesson in life and survival for us all, while we were busy making other plans.

I am telling you all of this because I would love to share the fun and the “plans” for the future of our Alumni Association with you. We, the Executive Board of your alumni association, are looking for a few good “young” brother Hawks to join us. We are seeking nominations for the four officers’ positions. If you would like to give up all of your spare time and last drop of available energy to Hudson Catholic Rising, then “COME ON DOWN,” or just drop me a line at alumni@hudsoncatholic.org

Read More.

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2008-2009 Wall of Fame Dinner

The 3 Inductees with Coach Stern

Coach with The Players

The 3 Wise Men

See all the photos here.

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Time is on Our Side... And Yours

To paraphrase an old Rolling Stones song:

Time is on your side. Yes, it is! Time is on your side...to join the Miracle on McGinley, still in the making, otherwise known as "Hudson Catholic Rising!" Become part of the story! We have options for the ways you can add your support, lend your voice, and open your heart to "Hudson Catholic Rising."

We are talking about the ways you can select to make a donation, regardless of the amount, from the comfort of the seat you occupy as you read this on your home computer.

The homepage of www.hudsoncatholic.org contains the “Donate Now” button, which stands ready at all times (no operators standing by but ready all the same) to receive your credit or debit card information, amount of pledge, and the duration of time over which you choose to pay it. The “Donate Now” button contains a feature to accept installment payments.

The most important benefit from the use of the “Donate Now” installment feature is to facilitate participation among the alumni ranks. As important as the pledge totals may be, of equal importance is the participation rate of alumni. We are hoping this feature will invite a greater number of alumni to give, among those who have not been able to do so until now, in any amount you feel comfortable designating.

Literally, no contribution is too small, because we have already proven, across the many years of our graduating classes, that in unity there is strength. Said another way, no single graduate saved Hudson Catholic, but together, hundreds did. If we can increase the sheer numbers of our supporters, it will work to our benefit in impressing potential grant issuers and supporters of Catholic and educational causes, drawing them to our cause.

So, earmarking just a few dollars per month toward helping Hudson Catholic will make a big difference for Hudson Catholic without causing hurt to the personal finances each month.

And like David Bowie sang: “We could be heroes!” Please

Words from Warren

Dear Hawk Alumni and Friends,

Last week, we celebrated mass in the gym for Catholic Schools Week. Fr. Edwin Leahy, OSB, Headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, was the Presider and Homilist. In welcoming him at the beginning of mass, I remarked that on the athletic field Hudson Catholic and St. Benedict’s are on opposing teams, however, when it comes to Catholic Education, we are all on the same team! Fr. Leahy has led St. Benedict’s for over 30 years. He is a great example of the loyalty and dedication that so many people have to Catholic Schools, and he is a role model for me as I lead our alma mater.

In the Gospel reading from that mass, Jesus tells his disciples that God’s Kingdom is like a mustard seed. A mustard seed is the smallest of all plant seeds and yet, when it is planted, it grows to be so large that birds can build nests in its branches and people can find comfort in its shade. It is amazing that even the smallest of God’s gifts can grow to be so beneficial for so many.

As I have been meeting up with more and more of our alumni, many say to me “I wish I were able to do more to help Hudson.” My response to them is always the same: “Thank you for doing what you can.” When you look at what are considered outstanding alumni associations, you discover what makes an association strong is not a few people doing a lot but a lot of people doing what they can. This is the story and the success of Hudson Catholic Rising!

Rev Warren Hall, ‘81 President/Principal

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Comings and Goings

Hudson Catholic is more than a school. It is a family. That is something we have heard often, and it is something that we saw proven true this past year in ways we probably couldn’t have imagined before April 2008.

Like any other family, we celebrate the good times and the milestones in our family members’ lives. Like any other family, we mourn and remember those members of our family who have gone before us. But we also celebrate their lives.

As we continue developing the e-newsletter, we want to make sure we take the time to celebrate, as well as the time to commemorate our lost Hawks; so we have created “Comings and Goings.”

We encourage our readers to submit marriage, birth, promotion notices, and anything else note-worthy. We will try our best to publish as many as possible each month.

Here is the first one we received. Read More.

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Newsletter Submissions

Please send articles, pictures and content suggestions for future e-newsletters to:

Brian J. Slattery
Class of '94
bslattery@hudsoncatholic.org

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Web Developers and Electronic Media Artists Wanted

If you have experience with web development or any related fields and would like to help out with this e-newsletter or the school web site, please contact:

Steven Cappiello
Class of '88
scappiello@hudsoncatholic.org

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In The Halls and On The Field

Brother Patrick King, FSC, has been named Grand Marshal of the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a fitting honor for an outstanding Irishman and dedicated educator, who has taught the young men of HUdson Caholic so well for so long. If you are not able to make the Evening with Bobby Byrne this Saturday, feel free to send your congratulations to Brother Pat to me at bslattery@hudsoncatholic.org. I will pass them along and try to include as many as possible in next month’s e-newsletter. Also, there will be other events in which you can participate, including the actual parade in March. Stay tuned for more details.

As you know, our football team made history this year by making it to the State Finals for the first time ever. All players, past and present—all Hawks—should take pride in this achievement. Not only was this a great and historic year for the team, but there were several personal achievements for senior members of the team, as well. Several of our seniors will be receiving football scholarships and playing college ball. Brian Eastman will be attending and playing for Rhode Island. Juilan McCall is going to be playing at Maine. Kadeem Williams will be taking the field for Albany. And Jason Hendricks will be playing for Pittsburgh. He is the first player in five years to earn a football scholarship to a Division I school. When asked about this new chapter in his life and football career, Jason said, “I really can’t wait to start there. When I went there for a visit, I didn’t even want to leave. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

We congratulate all our scholarship winners and wish them well.

Also, at last week’s Football Banquet and Wall of Fame Dinner, three Brother Hawks were recognized for their dedication to Hawk Football. Len Anglin, ’69, Jim Green, ’85, and John Lionakis, ’96, were inducted into the Wall of Fame. Congratulations, guys.

Elsewhere in Hawk Sports, the wrestling team has captured their second straight Non-Public B North Title and will wrestle in the state finals on February 15, 2009. We wish them the best of luck.

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