New York, New Jersey, & Pennsylvania 2006-2007 | 07-08

New York

Our Lady of Pompeii

The Apostles opened their mission at Our Lady of Pompeii School and parish in Greenwich Village in 1930, when the parish opened a grade school.

Initially the classrooms were full of the children of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the neighborhood. In the 1980s, OLP had a significant number of students from New York City's Chinatown, when its population expanded and St. Joseph's School (also staffed by the Apostles) could not hold them all. Though still educating children from "The Village," the school currently has a multicultural mix of students who live throughout Manhattan, the other boroughs of New York City, and New Jersey.

In residence at Our Lady of Pompeii are (L-R) Sr. Jeanne Marie Vonder Haar, teacher; Sr. Mary Ellen Burns, staff attorney at Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation which serves the largely immigrant population of Washington Heights; Sr. Colleen Patricia Mattingly, teacher; and Sr. Colleen Therese Smith, principal of the school.

Sacred Heart Private

The Sacred Heart Private community serves both Sacred Heart Private School and Santa Maria School in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Sacred Heart Private School, founded in 1934, is a Roman Catholic co-educational elementary school. We serve students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 and follow the educational guidelines of the Archdiocese of New York.

Initially, we educated the children of Italian immigrants of the day. Today we continue to educate children of ethnically diverse immigrants as well children in our inner-city neighborhood. We are committed to educating the whole child in a multicultural atmosphere. Our diverse student population and small student-teacher ratio allow students the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

Founded in 1951, Santa Maria School, a Roman Catholic parish elementary school whose mission to educate the students is inspired by the Gospel of Jesus and grounded in the teaching of the Church, has served the local community of the Bronx for over half a century. The school has remained consistent over these years in providing a safe and reverent Catholic atmosphere as well as a strong academic program for families seeking greater achievement and a better future for their children.

Although in its beginning Santa Maria School educated mainly students whose parents were Italian immigrants, it now educates students of different social, economic, and religious backgrounds from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, admitting children from within and beyond the neighborhood. It is our goal that each of our students will become a positive contributor to the community and to the larger society, exemplifying the values learned at Santa Maria School.

Members of the Sacred Heart Private community are (L-R) Sr. Judith Musco, Principal, Sacred Heart Private school; Sr. Mary Louise Bunnell, Santa Maria School faculty; Sr. Diane Mastroianni, Santa Maria School Principal; Sr. Estelle Barelli, Sacred Heart Private School faculty; and Sr. Carolyn Carlisano, Sacred Heart Private School faculty.

St. Joseph

The first New York mission of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was St. Joseph School, located in lower Manhattan. The Apostles began their work there in 1926 when the neighborhood was comprised primarily of Italian immigrants. Over the years, the population has shifted and St. Joseph currently serves a largely Chinese community. Please see the Fall 2006 edition of the Caritas newsletter for a Spotlight article on the Apostle ministry at St. Joseph School.

Members of the St. Joseph community are (L-R) Sr. Deborah Lopez, Principal; and Sr. Rita Marie Milano, Sr. Alice Legan, and Sr. Ellen O'Connor, faculty members.

New Jersey

St. Luke Convent/Immaculate Heart Academy

In 1990, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus consented to take over the administration of Immaculate Heart Academy, a Regional High School in the Archdiocese of Newark located in the Township of Washington, Bergen County. Sr. Ellen Cronan became the principal and three other sisters joined the guidance department and faculty. Because the convent on the high school grounds had fallen into disrepair in the years preceding their arrival, the sisters took up residence at Our Lady of Mercy in nearby Park Ridge. The sisters never had a formal apostolate in the parish but developed a wonderful rapport with priests and parishioners, including Spanish-speaking immigrants.

In 1998 the sisters were informed that their convent would no longer be available for use because the parish intended to construct a new parish center and needed the space on the property. It was found that St. Luke Parish in Ho-Ho-Kus had a house which could be converted into a convent., and the sisters were welcomed warmly by the parishioners at St. Luke’s.

Members of the St. Luke Convent/Immaculate Heart Academy are (L-R) Sr. Ellen Cronan, Principal, and Sr. Sharon Kalert.

Pennsylvania

Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children

Clelian Heights is a licensed, private, non-profit, educational, residential and vocational facility. Clelian Heights is dedicated to enabling children and adults with developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, to function in the world at their own ability level as contributing and valuable members of society.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and Department of Education license Clelian Heights. Founded over 45 years ago by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, services are offered to all without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religious creed or national origin.
Located in Southwestern Pennsylvania and currently serving 8 counties, Clelian Heights provides a continuum of care for special needs persons. Care begins with an integrated Preschool, advances to a special needs academics environment in the School program that incorporates a transition-to-work program in adolescence, moves on to community supported employment or sheltered employment in adulthood at the Clelian Center where services such as mail operations, packaging, small parts assembly, commercial laundry, etc. are contracted with local businesses.

Clelian Heights is the only facility in the area that offers an Academic program, Adult Day Program, Extended School Year Program, and Residential options for children and adults on its campus.

There are over 80 dedicated teachers, aides, therapists, workshop supervisors, resident staff, nursing, administrative, support staff, and numerous volunteers who share their time and talents with our special needs population.

The Clelian Heights Apostle community: (Front row, L-R): Sr. Margo Rey, Sr. Dolorita Colianni, Sr. Carrie Zagurskie, Sr. Clelia Mazza, Sr. Margaret Ann Calcutta. (Middle row): Sr. Aloysius Como, Sr. Benjamin Merlotti, Sr. Marilyn Lagermann, Sr. Clotilde Como. (Back row): Sr. Charlene Celli, Sr. Rosemary Zaffuto, Sr. Adrianne DiLonardo, Sr. Shawn Lyons.