E VE NT S AND RE CAP
Grandparents
Appreciation Day Arrupe Leaders Summit
Thank you to the students, parents, and
grandparents who attended our annual
Grandparents Appreciation Day Mass &
Breakfast! Thank you also to the Estrella
family for accepting the Dagger John Award
on behalf of the late Rosanna Estrella. The Arrupe Leaders Summit is social justice retreat sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity
Network. It is designed to train high school students to be social justice leaders in their
schools and in their world.
Left to right in photo: Justin Lazu, Michael McLaughlin, Jack McBride, Kenneth Daniel,
Michael Blackwell, Patrick Mehler.
Abraham House
As part of our year-long exploration of the
theme of Criminal Justice: Reconciliation
and Redemption, The Prep sent a visiting
team of faculty and students to Mott Haven
in the South Bronx to meet with staff at
Abraham House to discuss ways the two
institutions might collaborate. Founded by
a Catholic priest and nun and supported by
Catholic Charities Alliance, Abraham House
provides alternatives to incarceration and a
holistic, family-based program of services
to first-time nonviolent offenders and their
families in order to try to break the cycle of
recidivism.
Refugee and
Immigration Assembly
Apostolic Preferences
A Man for Others
At Junior Convocation in the University
Church, Christopher Betancourt ’20
received the John Haley ’87 “Man for Others
Award”, given each year to a junior who has
exhibited the qualities of a “man for others”
- putting the needs of others before his own
and committed to promoting justice.
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RAMVIEW
In February, the Society of Jesus announced its Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP) for
the next ten years. They are the fruit of a process of discernment lasting almost two years,
in which all Jesuits and mission partners within Jesuit apostolates were asked to provide
input. The process concluded with a confirmation from Pope Francis in a special meeting
with Superior General Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ. The UAP give a horizon, a point of reference to the
whole Society of Jesus, including apostolic works like ours at Fordham Prep. They capture
our imaginations, awaken our desires, and unite us in our mission around four areas vital for
our world today. http://jesuits.org/news-detail?TN=NEWS-20190216114143
May the Universal Apostolic Preferences be a source of inspiration for our mission and work
at Fordham Prep over the next ten years.
As a follow-up to our Faith Doing Justice
Summit in the fall, the Global Ed Committee
asked the Prep to reflect on the plight of
immigrants and refugees, particularly those
who are incarcerated. Lidia Bastianich
P ’85, GP ’18, ’20, shared her family’s story
as refugees who came to the U.S. from
Yugoslavia at a junior assembly. C. Mario
Russell, Esq., Director of Immigration and
Refugee Services at Catholic Charities NY
also spoke about his organization’s work to
assist refugees.
DIVERSITY SUMMIT
The annual event took place on April at the Marist Brothers Retreat House in Esopus, NY.
Sponsored by the Diversity Committee (comprised of faculty members) and the Diversity
Alliance (comprised of students), the Summit brings students together across race, ethnicity,
gender, religion, nationality, socio-economic status, ability, sexual orientation and other
aspects of cultural identity. Through workshops, guest speakers and discussion, students
engage in an honest, open and interactive dialogue about the cultural climate at Fordham
Prep, learn from student experiences and discuss plans to cultivate a Prep climate that
promotes equality and the dignity of all members in our community.
Wall Street Forum
Fordham Prep hosted over 100 alumni, parents and friends at the Yale Club for the 2019
Wall Street Forum & Luncheon on May 16. This year’s speaker was Jim Harrison ’69, CEO of
Party City Holdings, who spoke of his industry expertise and unique ability to grow a vertically
integrated business which were instrumental in the successful integration of Party City and
its subsequent initial public offering in April 2015. Our moderator was Alexis Christoforous
Kilb, P ’22, a Yahoo Finance reporter and news anchor.
SUMMER 2019
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