This edition of Names and Numbers highlights special honors Catholic schools.
2009
The year Dan McGrain began teaching social studies at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn. McGrain, who became chairman of the department in 2018, recently received the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award. The program asks incoming freshmen to nominate “outstanding educators who shape young minds in meaningful ways.”
Brandon Shin, who graduated from Spalding earlier this year, nominated McGrain, saying, “It truly meant a lot to have a teacher at Spalding who was – and still is – truly invested in my success.” McGrain was named the Spalding Educator of the Year in 2016. Outside the classroom, he moderates the Academic Bowl Team and coordinates an annual trip for students to the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting.
1985
The year Sister Denise LaRock, of the Daughters of Charity, graduated from what is now St. John’s Catholic Prep in Buckeystown. Sister Denise and fellow Maryland native Sister Ellen LaCapria were installed as councillors of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul’s Province of St. Louise in St. Louis in July.
In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Denise worked in the vocations office and taught at Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore. She has also taught the children of migrant workers in south Florida, and most recently assisted asylum-seekers in San Antonio, Texas. Neglected as a child, she was raised by Deacon John Martin of St. Peter the Apostle, Libertytown, and his wife, Angela, a story told in the Review in November 2017.
Sister Ellen’s ministry includes teaching art and religion at the former Seton High in Baltimore, 1981-82; and serving as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, 1985-88, and Jenkins Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, 1988-1991. From 2007 to 2017, she served as vice president for mission integration at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore.
784
Runners and walkers who registered for the virtual “Nun Run” Sept. 12, from a total of 23 states, including Alaska, all to benefit the Little Sisters of the Poor and their St. Martin’s Home for the Aged. John Ford and Caitlin Keefe reported the fastest 5K times. St. Ignatius, Hickory, in Forest Hill and St. Francis de Sales, Abingdon, shared the “Parish Pride” award for having the most representatives at the parish level, while School of the Incarnation in Gambrills bested Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville for the “Flying Nun Trophy,” which recognizes the school with the most participants. Trinitarian Father Stanley DeBoe, their chaplain, is pictured in the accompanying photo at the top of this page, celebrating another successful fundraiser with the sisters.
71
Number of students at Sisters Academy of Baltimore in Lansdowne, a middle-school for girls that was gifted the Peace Pole that formerly stood at the Institute of Notre Dame, which closed in June. Christine Szala, the former head of school for IND, left in the accompanying photo, joined School Sister of Notre Dame Delia Dowling, president of Sisters Academy, for a Sept. 14 dedication. “We are delighted to have this piece of Baltimore history on our campus. Many of our students attended and graduated from IND and we are honored and grateful to have this remembrance of our relationship,” Sister Delia said. Sisters Academy, which has been offering virtual instruction, will begin in-person classes and hybrid learning Nov. 2.
62
Young parishioners of St. Joseph, Sykesville, who were confirmed by Bishop Adam Parker Aug. 16 in two Masses at the Carroll County church, including Samuel Barquin, pictured with his sponsor and brother, August. Precautions taken due to COVID-19 included masks being worn throughout the rite and Bishop Parker moving about the worship space to anoint each candidate, rather than having them and their sponsors come forward for the sacrament. Another 21 candidates from the parish were confirmed Oct. 4 by Father John Worgul, of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. All of the liturgies were livestreamed, and available on the parish’s community Facebook page.
60
Years since Calvert Hall College High School graduated its class of 1960, impetus for its members to proceed with a reunion, all while adhering to social-distancing guidelines and mindful that the men are in their late 70s. “Now was the time with God’s blessing to celebrate the gifts from our LaSallian catalysts,” wrote retired Brig. Gen. Joseph Nattans, who hosted the gathering, originally scheduled for June on campus but moved to September, at his home in Owings Mills.
The members of the class of 1960 were joined by Christian Brother John Kane, president of Calvert Hall, and younger graduates, most notably Father Charles Sikorsky, of the Legionaries of Christ, ’82, who celebrated Mass. Pictured, from left, are Richard Unglesbee, Christian Brother Joe Gravenstein (LaSallian historian), Nattans and Robert Patzwall.
6
The number of Loyola University Maryland juniors awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, which will support study-abroad experiences in spring or summer 2021. The group includes one local product, Anna Tignor, a parishioner of St. Joseph, Sykesville, majoring in speech-language-hearing sciences and minoring in business administration.
A member of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, she will study in Rome. In a news release, she said, “As a future healthcare worker, I believe it is critical to have an appreciation of others’ cultures, so my goal is to immerse myself into Italy’s culture to help shape myself into a more well-rounded individual.”
Fellow Gilman winners Alejandra Martinez and Fiona Pierce will study in Leuven, Belgium; Mackenzie Shelley will study in Athens; Joy Walker will study in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England; and Erin Wilson will join Tignor in Rome.
The university produced one Fulbright Scholar for the 2020-2021 academic year. Lindsey Hinczynski, a member of the class of 2020, will use the scholarship to teach English in Kinmen, Taiwan.
Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org
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