Diocese of Metuchen announces Spotlight on Education honorees

Four advocates of Catholics education will be honored at the Diocese of Metuchen’s 2009 Spotlight on Education Dinner at the Pines Manor, Edison, April 22. Two of the honorees are being recognized for their inspirational leadership in Catholic education, and two for their exceptional service to Catholic schools.

Receiving the The Bishop Edward T. Hughes Leadership in Catholic Education Award will be Reverend John Alvarado, Pastor of Sacred Heart, South Plainfield and Reverend Douglas Haefner, Pastor of St. Matthias, Somerset. The schools at both parishes are being recognized at the dinner.

Recipients of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick Distinguished Partner in Catholic Education Award include Dorothy Ellersick and Martin J. Collins.

“In their own way, each of our honorees is committed and dedicated to insuring the legacy of Catholic schools as strong centers of faith formation and academic excellence,” noted Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski.

Involved in many ministries at Sacred Heart, Ellersick serves as the librarian at the parish’s school. “Dorothy has been spreading the Gospel message in quiet and meaningful ways, student-by-student, heart-to-heart for more than 35 years,” wrote Father Alvarado in nominating her for the diocesan award. “She has always been invested in the growth and success of Sacred Heart School.”

At St. Matthias School, Collins established a foundation in tribute to his son, John – a New York City firefighter who lost his life in the tragic events of 9/11. The foundation provides a yearly scholarship to a St. Matthias student in need and the library/media center, now named The John Collins Memorial Library, receives an annual grant.

“Dorothy is a wonderful example of a life-long promoter for Catholic schools and Martin’s contributions have truly made him a partner in advancing Catholic education,” Bishop Bootkoski said. “We are most grateful for their efforts.”

Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish for the past eight years, Father Alvarado is passionate about Catholic education and his leadership comes from a life-long commitment to Catholic schools.

Reflecting on Sacred Heart School, Father Alvarado said, “Our school continues to be one of my greatest challenges and delights. I am proud to say that we represent the most diverse group of individuals of any Catholic School community in the diocese. This too is a great challenge and delight. We are being called to work together, as never before, to build our Catholic schools upon the strong faith foundation set in place by so many who have gone before us. I know who taught me, and what they taught me in Catholic School because it is who I am and what I love to do every day. The gift that I have received is the gift that I now give in love and gratitude.”

At St. Matthias School, Father Haefner’s dedication to Catholic education has resulted in numerous innovative and progressive programs being developed and implemented. Under his direction an Early Childhood Education program was established in 1995 and a new addition built to the school to house kindergarten and pre-school classrooms.

In his written report, the principal who came to do the site visit when St. Matthias School was being evaluated to be named a Blue Ribbon School, an honor the school did receive, called Father Haefner, ‘a Champion of Education,’ adding, “He is a Catholic educator in the true sense of the word and one of his favorite lines is, ‘Everything we do either teaches or misteaches in the name of Jesus.’”

Half of the proceeds from the Spotlight dinner will go directly to the diocese’s Foundation for Catholic Education which provides tuition grants for families in need. As a result, every school in the diocese and families of every parish are eligible to benefit from the dinner.

Sacred Heart and St. Matthias, the spotlighted schools, will share the other half of the dinner’s proceeds.

For more detailed information on the Spotlight on Catholic Education Dinner, the awards, and/or honorees, please contact Barbara Bunag, Events Coordinator, Department of Stewardship & Development at 732-562-2433.