• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Bishop Robert Barron
          • George Weigel
          • Question Corner
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Suzanna Molino Singleton
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Paul McMullen
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Father T. Austin Murphy Jr.
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • Subscribe
Members of the class of 2017 at Mercy High School, Catherine Zuzarte, left, and Christine Joy Escobar, point to their family origins of Pakistan and the Philippines, respectively, on a globe in the school’s library. Both were archdiocesan Distinctive Scholars. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Mercy High School offers international scope

Mary K. Tilghman June 24, 2017
By Mary K. Tilghman
Filed Under: Local News, News, Schools, Urban Vicariate

Christine Joy “CJ” Escobar, a native of the Philippines, and Catherine Zuzarte, a first-generation Pakistani-American, often feel torn between the lands of their parents and their American community.

At Baltimore’s Mercy High School, however, they always felt at home.

Both young women donned uniform blazers with lapels filled with pins, signifying various activities and awards. Along with Ashley Wagner, both were named as Mercy’s Archdiocese of Baltimore Distinctive Scholars.

Zuzarte, the daughter of Christine and Edward Zuzarte, is a parishioner of St. Joseph in Fullerton. Born in South Carolina, she moved to Baltimore at age 1. She is headed to the University of Maryland in College Park, to study physiology and neurobiology, with plans to attend medical school.

Escobar, the daughter of Clara and Rolando Escobar, was 5 when she moved to the United States from Cebu, Philippines. A parishioner of Sacred Heart in Glyndon, she plans to study computer science and music composition at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Zuzarte, who served as senior class president, said she sometimes feels disconnected as a first-generation American. Her parents, for instance, speak Urdu; she does not.

It requires “a weird balance between two cultures,” said Zuzarte, who participated in Mercy’s First Generation Club.

Escobar, meanwhile, said, “I do experience culture shock,” both in the Philippines and in this country. Things such as food and language make her feel different though she finds Filipino food can be a comfort, too. “It’s nice to have a little home here,” she said.

Faith provides another connection, added Escobar: “It reminds me that I can still be myself even when people are not like me.”

Zuzarte knows high school students can sometimes be rude to people who seem different – but not at Mercy.

“Everyone’s accepting of (different) cultures around here,” she said.

Escobar selected Mercy sight unseen after Catholic High School Night at her parish school in Glyndon.

“I never even had stepped on campus. I already felt a very welcoming atmosphere,” she said.

“One of the core values of the Sisters of Mercy and of Mercy High School is hospitality, so we make every effort to welcome all students and families,” said Tess Veloso, Mercy’s director of communications. “If CJ and Catherine felt welcomed it wasn’t because they were singled out, it was a genuine response on the part of the Mercy community.”

Escobar found her place in music. A voice, piano and guitar student, she participated in the Madrigals and the Ensemble Players. “That’s one of the places I felt the most unity,” she said.

“The quality about CJ that I noticed the most is loyalty,” said Eugene Sung, math and music teacher, who praised her commitment to the Ensemble Players. “Most of our rehearsals take

place before school (starting at 7:15 a.m.), and it was very rare that CJ would miss an early morning practice.”

Zuzarte ran indoor and outdoor track all four years and cross country as a junior and senior, captaining all three teams.

“We got really close,” she said of her athletic teammates.

In the Women in Medicine program with Mercy Medical Center, Zuzarte’s project focused on destroying the stigma of mental illness.

“Catherine is a natural leader taking on numerous roles within her class and within the school. Her peers gravitate to her, especially enjoying her kind spirit and loving soul,” said Nancy Uryasz, science department chair.

“What I am going to miss most,” Zuzarte said of Mercy High, “is the relationships I’ve made with my friends and teachers, and the support that they give me to keep going even when times get hard.”

“What I will miss the most about Mercy,” Escobar said, “is definitely the community. The hospitality and sense of belonging is what first brought me to the school.”

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Mary K. Tilghman

Mary K. Tilghman

Mary Tilghman is a freelance contributor to the Catholic Review who previously served as managing editor, news editor and staff writer for the Review.

A parishioner of St. Ignatius in Baltimore, she and her husband have three adult children. Her first novel, “Divided Loyalties” (Black Rose Writing), a historical novel set in the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam, was published in 2017.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Deacon Davis, who served Overlea parish for decades, dies at 84

Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography

Pasadena parish cites pandemic in decision to close preschool

Father Snouffer, information technology trailblazer for archdiocese, dies at 83

‘Blessing bags’ a focal point for merged St. Casimir Parish during pandemic

Latest World News

Health care chaplains in Baltimore and beyond embrace self-care in COVID-19 work

Religious order withdraws request to transfer founder’s remains to U.S.

Heroes of love: New pathway open for future saints

Bishops: If passed, Equality Act will ‘discriminate against people of faith

Cardinal prays on CNN program marking 500,000 COVID-19 deaths in U.S.

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Archbishop Lori reflects on the Year of St. Joseph
  • Health care chaplains in Baltimore and beyond embrace self-care in COVID-19 work
  • Religious order withdraws request to transfer founder’s remains to U.S.
  • Deacon Davis, who served Overlea parish for decades, dies at 84
  • Reason for celibacy/ Blessing for non-sacramental marriage?
  • Archdiocese of Baltimore plans ‘Safe Haven Sunday’ to fight pornography
  • Heroes of love: New pathway open for future saints
  • Some English Catholics object to transfer of nun’s remains to Philadelphia
  • Bishops: If passed, Equality Act will ‘discriminate against people of faith
  • Pandemic Stories (or why there’s a Nerf gun in the tub)

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED