Earlier this week, I had the privilege of sitting down for lunch with Chris Farrell, the President of Paramus Catholic High School โ my alma mater and the largest Catholic high school in the state of New Jersey. His energy and commitment to the school and to Catholic education is both admirable and deeply empowering.
It’s hard to believe that sixty years ago, in September 1965, PC โ as we fondly call it โ opened its doors to its first freshman class. Who could have imagined back then what would grow from that single act of faith shown by then Archbishop Thomas Boland of Newark?
The following September, my older brother Dennis enrolled at the school (Class of 1970), paving the way for me (Class of 1973) and my brother Matt (Class of 1978) to follow him in what for each of us were life-changing moments in our faith journey.
Spending time with President Farrell rekindled so many great memories of my first days of freshman year as a fourteen year old back in September 1969 and meeting more than 100 new classmates who opened up this new world for me going far beyond the safe confines of my hometown of Ridgewood, NJ.
For the first time, I found myself surrounded by classmates from towns, cultures, and life experiences very different from my own โ and my world began to expand in ways I never expected.
Moms and Dads โ who just like my own parents โ invested whatever they could for their sonโs education, hoping each of us would have better opportunities than they had. What a selfless gift our parents gave us!
Today, Paramus Catholic reflects the richness and diversity of the communities it serves with the most diverse student population among its peers and now a fully coeducational experience unlike those early days when the boys and girls had separate schools.
Its mission of providing a faith-based education is more vibrant than ever, opening doors for young people and helping many become the first in their families to attend college. That is truly Godโs work in action.
PC’s remarkable journey reminds me of an iconic line from the movie ๐
๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ that I used in my commencement address to the graduating Class of 2007:
“๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ช๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ข๐.”
Those early leaders of PC โ Brother James Kelly, Brother Michael Corry, the great faculty, staff, students, and their parents โ are a true testament to that legacy and today โ Chris Farrell and his team โ are continuing to build a more sustainable future for our school with that same conviction and core faith values.
Wishing Godโs abundant blessings on Paramus Catholic, its mission, and everyone who believes in the transforming power of a faith-based education, Dr. K ๐๐โค๏ธ
#ParamusCatholic #CatholicEducation #FaithInAction #Leadership #Legacy
