Memory When the Reverend Stanley Lukaszewski, aka Father Stash, says the Memorial Mass at noon on Saturday, September 26 in memory of all the deceased members, faculty and alumni of Mater Dei High School, he will join with the three graduates who work hard every year to plan and organize the tradition that is not only a tribute to the deceased but also an opportunity for reunion among the living.
The alumni, Mari Campanella Kovach, Tom Dooley and Cathy Daniels, are inviting all who want to attend or participate in the mass to keep the September 26 date open and plan on visiting with former classmates and their families. For anyone wanting to participate in the mass or has other names that should be included in the necrology, which has grown to more than 800 deceased, to contact one of the three of them as soon as possible to be included in the remembrance booklet Kovach also prepares for the annual event.
Tom Dooley, a graduate of the class of 1965, the first graduating class from Mater Dei in New Monmouth, has been part of the mass since 2015, because he felt it was important to honor and remember all those on the lists. Admittedly, he said, he says special prayers for those from the Class of 1965 who have died, since it is his own graduating class and the first graduating class from the high school. He also has special prayers for the Class of 1966, “ as those are two classes who were, and still remain very close. They celebrated their 40, 50th and 60th class reunions together.”
So Dooley offered his help to Kovach, who has kept the tradition alive as she had promised her history teacher J T Murray who started it, and Daniels who was president of the Alumni Association, The group gathers all the names for the Necrology List where every name is read during the mass; it also plans refreshments for all attending the mass and arranges the lectors, music, and parts of the mass that make the celebration personal and meaningful to Mater Dei families. Dooley also was able to schedule Diane Testa as the pianist and Deacon Marty as the deacon for the mass and noted “it’s just a simple way to help and participate in the only remaining Mater Dei tradition.”
“Because Mari promised Mr Murray she would continue it and it’s a very nice remembrance of all the administrators, faculty, students and supporters who were part of the history of Mater Dei for more than sixty-one year’s” makes the annual mass an important tradition, Dooley believes. “Besides, I believe Monsignor Bulman would appreciate this tradition for the school he founded, in order for more students from the Bayshore parishes and other parishes to have the benefit of a catholic high school education. “ The late Monsignor Robert T. Bulman was pastor of St. Mary’s parish for many years and was responsible for Mater Dei becoming the second Catholic high school in the Monmouth County area.
Both Tom and his wife, Marge, also a graduate of the class of 1965, participate actively in the mass in addition to helping plan it. This year, the couple, who have three children and four grand children, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this month. Marge is retired, after a career of half a century in the nursing profession.
Campanella can be contacted at mari.kovach@gtsllc.com, Dooley at tfdooley1947@gmail.com, and Daniels at cathy.daniels@verizon.net
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For Mari and her parents, choosing Mater Dei after she graduated from our Lady of Perpetual Help grammar school in Highlands was an easy decision. Her parents wanted to be sure she continued her catholic education, and Mater Dei High School seemed the perfect place, a bus ride away on the Boro Bus and joining with other OLPH graduates and friends. Today she still recalls she liked everyone of her teachers at Mater Dei, but TC Murray certainly stands out, along with her biology detach “Doc” Keiber, as well as George Hansen, Bob Kitson and her religion teacher, Sister Catherine Tronolone.For Mari and her parents, choosing Mater Dei after she graduated from our Lady of Perpetual Help grammar school in Highlands was an easy decision. Her parents wanted to be sure she continued her catholic education, and Mater Dei High School seemed the perfect place, a bus ride away on the Boro Bus and joining with other OLPH graduates and friends. Today she still recalls she liked everyone of her teachers at Mater Dei, but TC MFor Mari and her parents, choosing Mater Dei after she graduated from our Lady of Perpetual Help grammar school in Highlands was an easy decision. Her parents wanted to be sure she continued her catholic education, and Mater Dei High School seemed the perfect place, a bus ride away on the Boro Bus and joining with other OLPH graduates and friends. Today she still recalls she liked everyone of her teachers at Mater Dei, but TC Murray certainly stands out, along with her biology detach “Doc” Keiber, as well as George Hansen, Bob Kitson and her religion teacher, Sister Catherine Tronolone.urray certainly stands out, along with her biology detach “Doc” Keiber, as well as George Hansen, Bob Kitson and her religion teacher, Sister Catherine Tronolone.
