School celebrates 80th anniversary
BY LAUREN MORTENSON Staff Writer

Top: Therese Callaghan (l-r), Mike Perullo and John Hinton look at old photos. Below: Jim Reilly (l), Edison, and Brother Ronald Cairns observe the new science lab at St. Francis Cathedral School in Metuchen, which celebrated its 80th year on Sept. 19. with tours of the school and classrooms.

METUCHEN — It was a gathering of the past, present and future Friday, Sept. 19, as St. Francis Cathedral School celebrated its 80th anniversary. Teachers, students, parents and principals came together to recognize the Catholic education St. Francis has brought to their lives.

"It's exciting, wonderful to see people so enthusiastic about continuing Catholic education," said Sister Mildred Rossiter, who taught at the school from 1958 to 1960.

St. Francis Cathedral School opened its doors in 1928 under the service of the Sisters of Mercy. For 80 years the school has dedicated itself to giving each student a strong, Catholic education, while emphasizing their motto of "Respect, Justice, and Responsibility."

Monsignor Michael J. Alliegro began the celebration with Mass at 6 p.m. in the cathedral. Altar servers for the evening were students from the 75th class of St. Francis, who will graduate in 2009. The gifts were brought up by a family with three generations of St. Francis graduates: Maureen (Bee) Eveloy, class of 1959, JoAnne (Eveloy) Cascia, class of 1983, and Patrick Cascia, class of 2016.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff

After Mass, a tour of the school was given. Teachers opened their classrooms to former students and teachers, displaying their students' work, tests and pictures in the classrooms and hallway walls. Frances Smith, a former teacher at St. Francis for 20 years, went into the building looking for her old classrooms. What she found was something completely different.

"It was hard to recognize my former third- and fourth-grade classes," said Smith. "It's changed, but wonderful."

Brother Ronald Cairns, who taught at St. Francis from 1974 to 1979, said he was amazed to see the changes to the school. When he was taking the school tour, he said, "Man, I walked these halls for five years; I'm amazed."

Guests were invited downstairs in the cafeteria for refreshments and a slide show. There were tables of memories, broken up into decades from 1928 to 2008. Former students crowded the tables to see if they could find their graduating class pictures. As they sifted through the photographs, they ventured down memory lane with old friends and former teachers.

Representing the class of 1935 was Thomas O'Brien, who said he was just glad he could attend the event.

"St. Francis is a very special place," said Ann Major, who graduated from the school in 1968. "I was a student here, I sent my children here, and I was a teacher and administrator here from 1999 to 2008. It's not the school from my youth anymore, it's a school of the future."

For some, the night was highlighted by seeing familiar faces and gathering at the place where it all began for them.

"Great night!" said Monsignor Alliegro. "I think people who have a fondness for their grammar school make it a great success."

The night turned out about 180 guests in attendance, more than the school could have asked for on a Friday night, said Barbara Stevens, current principal of St. Francis. She said everything went perfectly.

"What a wonderful turnout," said Stevens. "People are thrilled with the way the building has been maintained."

Monsignor Richard A. Behl, who served as the parish's priest for 12 years, said there was no better word to use than "thriving" when describing the success of St. Francis.

"I'm so delighted to return to the Cathedral parish," he said. "Naturally, I'm thrilled that St. Francis is thriving."

And as former teachers reminisced about the changes, current teachers took a step back and enjoyed what future advances have brought for the school.

"It's been great," said Kathleen Kleman, who has been teaching at St. Francis since 1986. "I sent my children here, and now my granddaughter is here," Kleman said.

St. Francis' future graduates thanked past generations by making goodie bags. The bags contained a "St. Francis Cathedral School Supporter" sticker, a St. Francis key chain and Hershey's Kisses. Guests received the bags on their way out.

And as the night came to an end, one former student said she can't imagine her life without St. Francis.

"It was a great decision to send my son here," said Rosemary Federico Kasper, who graduated in 1978. Her son Brian will graduate with the class of 2013. "It's more than an education here, it's an extended family."

Comments on Lauren Mortenson's story can be sent to sentnorth@gmnews.com.