St. Stephen's hosts first alumni weekend

Warwick - Last Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, St. Stephen - St. Edward’s School, 75 Sanfordville Road, Warwick, held its first alumni weekend. Alumni from the past 40 years were invited to return to the school for an alumni basketball game on Saturday evening and, for some, to participate as altar servers, lectors and musicians during the 12:15 Mass on Sunday. Immediately after the Mass, the alumni and other guests were invited to a brunch and a tour of the expanded facility. Co-chairs of the event, Mary Juliano and Eileen Sanchez, both serve on the executive board of the Home School Association. “We’re hopeful,” said Juliano, “that the First St. Stephen - St. Edward’s Annual Alumni Weekend will serve as the catalyst for a formal Alumni Association.” Juliano and her husband, Dr. John Juliano, have four children attending the tuition-supported school and another who recently graduated from St. Stephen’s. “We are thankful,” said Father Michael McLoughlin, pastor of the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr, “that we have the strongest Catholic School in Orange County.” Among alumni and teachers who returned to Warwick just for the occasion were Sr. Jeanne Miceli, OP, who served as principal of St. Stephen - St. Edward’s School until 1993 and Sr. Mary Murray, OP, who taught at St. Stephen’s until 1995. Former teacher Karen DeVora and former librarian Nelli Fahey also joined the celebration. Alumni who participated in the Mass were altar servers Eric Hilley and Jonathan Scharfenberger, class of 2003, and Andrew Shanahan, class of 2006. Musicians were Katherine Juliano, class of 2005, and Kathy Kobylarz, class of 1971. The lector was Kimberly Scharfenberger, class of 2005. Casey Van Duynhoven, class of 1973, read the announcements. The school’s former principal, Sr. Jeanne Miceli, is now teaching English at Aquinas High School in Manhattan.