Kelly Fernald, Head of School, Saints Academy

Mrs. Kelly Fernald, Principal

This is my 19th year working in a Catholic School. I have taught grades 3 through 5, but spent the majority of my time in grade 5 (16 years +1 helping with Math) and now this is my 2nd year in administration (1 year as Assistant Principal). I very much enjoyed preparing students for Middle School and helping them with organization and time management. But, it was time to move on and I am delighted to be the Principal of the Saints Academy. I not only get to work with one grade, but all of our students, teachers, and families. I feel like I have always been a part of a Catholic School community. I went to Catholic school from Kindergarten (SMA Danvers & Bishop Fenwick) through my Bachelor’s degree (St, Bonaventure University), I student taught in a Catholic school, and taught at St. Mel’s, St. John’s, and SA. I think being a Catholic school gives us a great advantage in helping to cultivate responsible, respectful, and trustworthy citizens. We are able to use the Bible and Jesus’ teachings to aid students in becoming confident and caring young adults.

My husband Brandon and I live in Danvers with our son, Logan (SA Middle School student), and our Shih-tzu, Baylor. I grew up in Danvers and attended St. Mary of the Annunciation School. When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family: camping, going to the beach, attending Red Sox games, skiing, concerts or plays, and walking.

I am blessed to be a part of this community!

Webster Bull, L’Arche volunteer

L’Arche is an International Federation dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities.

A local “assistant” of L’Arche , Webster Bull, will tell his story of how he came to volunteer at the group, how he finds it so personally fulfilling and how others may get involved.

Focus Fellowship of Catholic University Students

Phillip Wullschleger a focus missionary was the October speaker.   He shared his journey: I’ve lived my whole life in the Catholic Church; however, I didn’t really know Jesus Christ until my least of college.

In my last year of college, a FOCUS missionary invited me out for pizza after mass one day. As a college student free pizza sounds amazing so I agreed to meet with him. When we met I asked him a really basic question about prayer: “why do we pray, and what is its impact” ? We ended up having a really amazing conversation about prayer and in those next few months I began to set out 15-30 mins a day to pray—to talk—with Jesus.

Those months were some of the most transformative months of my life! I learned that our God wants us to tell him everything about our life. Even though God already knows it all he wants us to dwell in his presence. Through prayer I was able to form a relationship with Jesus and our Father like I didn’t know was possible.

I have decided to give God these next two years of my life by being a FOCUS missionary because I want students to have what I got! I want them to have a deep and personal relationship with God because that changed everything for me and it will change everything for them as well.

 

Jennifer Perry and Tyler Maclay of The Open Door

Jennifer Perry and Tyler Maclay presented to the council the services and programs that The Open Door provides.

  • The Food Pantry, which provides emergency groceries to those in need.
  • Community Meals, which offers free, nutritious meals to those in need of food or companionship.
  • Second Glance Thrift Store, which provides the public with reduced-cost clothing and household goods, offers free items to families and individuals through referrals from other agencies, supports recycling for the community, partners with agencies for job training, and raises revenues to support our hunger-relief programs.
  • Mobile Market, a free farmers’ market, which provides fresh produce and groceries at four neighborhood-based, two school-based, and two senior center-based market sites.

 

Fred Johnson, council member, Jennifer Perry, Director of Operations and Tyler Maclay, Engagement Coordinator.

Liberating a Continent

Marcos Enrique Man On A Mission To Grow & Strengthen The Church

Masconomo Council 1232’s November dinner speaker Marcos Enrique is a seminarian with a difference. In his ninth year of studies, he expects to be ordained a deacon next year. Why so long in seminaries in DC and Brighton? After receiving his undergraduate degree at Catholic University of America and two graduate degrees in philosophy, Marcos left the seminary for a period of discernment to put his calling to the test. That time was well spent as a lay Cristo Rey teacher for young men in “underserved areas” in Cambridge and Dorchester, Massachusetts lacking faith-based education.

Marcos Enrique returned to seminary life at St John’s in Brighton where he is pursuing his vocation to the priesthood while working with young people, especially in the Hispanic community in the Dorchester and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods of Boston.

A brother knight asked Marcos how he would recommend “getting through” to youth who seem “turned off” to religion and faith after confirmation. Marcos replied “that is a chronic problem and “too often kids are bored and tune out. We have to make religion relevant to them. Jesus Christ has to come into their lives and light them afire.”

Marcos Enrique knows the New Evangelization. He and his family consisting of his parents and ten siblings live it. At the age of eight, twenty four years ago, he came to America from Spain when the Archdiocese of Boston recruited his parents, followers of The Neo-Catechumenal Way, to minister to the growing community of Spanish speakers as a lay apostolate.

Marcos and his family never looked back. Now he is on his journey toward the priesthood.

Corey Jackson, Citizens for Adequate Housing

Corey Jackson, He is the president of Citizens for Adequate Housing, of the north Shore. They have been keeping families together for over thirty years. Corey is very knowledgeable, and an engaging speaker.

http://cahns.org/

Citizens for Adequate Housing, Inc. breaks the patterns of instability that lead to homelessness for every family served.

Want to help out? Contact us at 978-531-9775 or info@cahns.org and we’ll get you started.

Beth Gillander, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Beth Gillander, the Community Engagement and Recruitment Manager of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Baymakes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 7-12. Bigs and Littles participate in fun, no-cost, low-cost activities together in the community twice a month, for at least a year.

Our smart, experienced staff helps matches build strong, positive mentoring relationships that have direct and lasting effects on the community. Little Brothers and Sisters that participate in our program are more likely to:

Report a boost in confidence
Achieve a higher grade level
Have increased trust in adults
Make better choices and avoid risky behavior

Technology Club, please contact the Community Engagement and Recruitment Manager, Beth Gillander, at 617.956.0211.

FOCUS Lay Missionary Michael Gearing

At its March monthly meeting held at 7 Central, Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus hosted former Beverly resident and Endicott College graduate Michael Gearing, who summarized his role as a Catholic lay missionary in a university environment at MIT. A recent convert to Catholicism himself, Gearing has spent the past two years as a campus representative of FOCUS-Fellowship of Catholic University Students at MIT. There in a secular setting his mission has been to engage students in a dialogue toward Christ and the Christian tradition.

Masconomo Council Grand Knight Tom Finn thanked Gearing for his comments and wished him well for his mission of evangelization among university students.

Gearing1a
Caption: Left to right: Masconomo Council 1232 Grand Knight Tom Finn, Past Grand Knight Arthur Sheehan, and Michael Gearing, MIT FOCUS campus representative.