Welcome to the April issue of On the Hill, Mary Help of Christians Academy monthly e-newsletter. On the Hill offers an inside view of life at Mary Help and all the other remarkable things that happen on campus each and every day. Read on to see for yourself the difference a Mary Help education makes...
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Dear MHC Academy Family and Friends,
Spring and the flurry of new life it brings has also brought innumerable events to campus - the First Annual Great North Jersey Teen Job Fair, open houses, camp preparations, Spring sports, orientation for the class of 2026 - so much is going on! We thank God for the way life continues to spring forth at MHC Academy.
We are nearing the close of the academic year. We are nearing the completion of the construction of our chapel. We are nearing the end of our fundraisers for new bleachers. We are nearing the completion of the upgrading of our campus. As humans, we are programmed to look to completion and to envision a future.
Our seniors, in the class of 2022, also are nearing the completion of their career here. As we hear seniors accepting offers from colleges and universities, we begin to dream with them of the future God holds in His hands - for them and for us!
In the book of Jeremiah, (29:11) we read, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord,, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” This hope, also is characteristic of our patron, St. John Bosco, should be ours, as well. Let’s live this present moment in love and look to what lies before us with a sense of hope!
Sincerely,
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GREAT NORTH JERSEY JOB FAIR
The Great North Jersey Job Fair was a great success! With over 25 businesses registered, and close to 150 students from 27 schools attending many connections were made! Thank you to Mrs. Denise Monasteri, Mrs. Laura Reynolds, Mrs. Sheree Green and the Mary Helpers in the business classes who all had a hand in this event!
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INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
The Class of 2022 hosted an international night with food from dozens of different countries. This was the first international night MHC Academy was able to have since the pandemic began in 2020! It was a lively evening of delicious dishes, festive decorations and socializing among friends and family.
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STATIONS OF THE CROSS
On Wednesday, April 13th, the MHC Academy family prayed the Stations of the Cross together before the Easter Triduum. Artwork for each of the stations was submitted ahead of time by students, in addition to the reflections accompanying them. Thank you to Sr. Kelly and to all the students who contributed in any way!
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NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION
The Regina Mundi Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 25 new members - four seniors and 21 juniors. Members are selected for their excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. Congratulations to all the inductees!
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CHEMISTRY CLASS
Students in Dr. Joseph DaBronzo's Chemistry classes conducted an experiment related to combustion reactions. They demonstrated how when isopropyl alcohol is lit in a plastic bottle with the opening sealed, oxygen is consumed and the bottle implodes. When oxygen is reintroduced, the bottle expands again and the product of the reaction is water. Don't try this at home! Dr. DaBronzo held the experiment outside with all the proper safety precautions in place! The classes also tried their hand at making "elephant toothpaste."
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EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH
The Grade 8 English class researched the life and work of famed American author Edgar Allan Poe. The groups chose their own method of presentation: poster, PowerPoint, or a Question and Answer panel discussion.
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BLEACHERS FOR BLUE JAYS!
We're close to our goal of $150,000 for new state-of-the-art bleachers for our gymnasium! The new bleachers will have safety features like handrails and a cut out area for those needing wheelchairs. Thank you to all who contributed thus far. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
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SENIOR ATHLETES
All the senior athlete banners are up now at Sacred Heart Hall. Congratulations to all our athletes from the Class of 2022!
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SOCIAL MEDIA CLUB
The MHC Academy Social Media Club has started a school TikTok! Have you seen it yet? Make sure to follow us and send us any ideas for what you want to see!
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“From division to unity” that is the motto for this month and how timely in our world today! Sr. Ida Grasso, known to many as “Mother Ida” for the positions she held both here in the United States and in several other countries, knew this motto and took it to heart. In the wake of Vatican II there were many changes in the Church and those who lived at that time could tell you about many changes within religious life as well. Some orders disregarded their habits, some their communities, and some their desire to be connected to the Pope in Rome.
In her autobiography Mother Ida wrote about our own sisters, “It was necessary to support, encourage, and even defend the Sisters tempted by feelings of inferiority because they were considered backward, and derided as ‘pre-conciliar’ Religious.” When news came that Pope Paul VI was writing a document on religious life, many Major Superiors in the US came together to protest and declare that they did not need “Rome to tell us how to live our lives.”
Mother Ida and indeed the ideals of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello would be different. The Salesian charism promotes unity with the Pope and the Church at large. We may have diverse expressions but we have one faith. Many other Major Superiors wished to express their support of the Pope and Mother Ida traveled to Rome herself to deliver the letter. There are many voices in our world today that divide and separate. How can we listen to the voice of Jesus and be courageous in our responses?
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MHC Academy
659 Belmont Avenue
North Haledon, NJ 07508
P. 973.850-7467
F. 973.790.6125
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