Arlington, Va. — The Archdiocese of New Orleans received the NCEA President’s Award for its leadership and success in reopening schools after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The award was presented by Dr. Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), during the 20th annual Seton Awards ceremony Monday, Oct. 4 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The President’s Award to the Archdiocese of New Orleans honors the resilience and spirit of the archdiocese and its schools in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The award was accepted on behalf of the archdiocese by Michael Begg, president of Archbishop Rummel High School, Metairie, Louisiana, and Dominican Sister Mary Rose Bingham, former principal of Cathedral Academy. Archbishop Gregory Aymond was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.
“The Archdiocese of New Orleans is grateful to you, Dr. Ristau, and to the NCEA for this honor. It is a tribute to our shared efforts to keep Catholic education alive and thriving,” said Mr. Begg after accepting the award. “This recognition shows that you have not forgotten us. More importantly, you continue to support the collective efforts that help make our Catholic mission stronger. Like the rest of the schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Rummel High School continues to face challenges with the same spirit and determination – because our roots are deep,” he said.
Schools in the city of New Orleans suffered the brunt of the storm damage. Almost every school in the archdiocese was affected – if not by the storm then by the turmoil of a transient population and uncertain futures.
While New Orleans public schools declared it would take a year to reopen, some archdiocesan Catholic schools were back in operation within five weeks—sometimes in double shifts and sometimes in inventive new quarters. The archdiocese believed it was critical to reopen schools to stabilize communities, to give residents a reason to return. Parents could concentrate on their own rebuilding effort knowing that their children were being educated in a safe environment. Some schools even accommodated the children of relief workers who were living on cruise ships so that the workers could concentrate on rebuilding.
“Many [children] came to us without their families intact; without a house to live in; without money; without jobs; without clothes; without books; and often times without hope,” Mr. Begg said. “School, then, became family.”
Sister Mary Rose told this story: “A few days after we re-opened, a woman came to me and said: ‘When I saw the Sisters opening the school and the priest saying to bring the children even if we can’t afford it, I knew we were going to be alright. I knew that God had not forgotten us.’”
Although overall enrollment in the archdiocese is 5 percent lower than pre-storm numbers, today 86 of the former 106 archdiocesan schools are operating. There is significant growth in enrollment numbers in suburban areas where population shifts have occurred and there are waiting lists in several schools.
The archdiocese recently completed a strategic study for the future, using demographic information that indicates as much as a 25 percent population decline in the immediate New Orleans area.
Seton awards were also presented at the ceremony on Oct. 4. The 2010 Seton Award recipients are:
Tom M. Benson, San Antonio, Texas, whose philanthropy has benefitted Central Catholic High School, Incarnate Word University and the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas; Loyola University in New Orleans as well as many New Orleans charities as owner of the New Orleans Saints;
Donald and Michele D’Amour, Somers, Conn., major supporters of public and private education in Connecticut and Massachusetts and of Assumption College, Worcester, Mass.;
Lee and Penny Anderson, New Brighton, Minn., major supporters to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and of university humanitarian activities in Cuba and for Cuban students;
Robert A. Smith, La Canada Flintridge, Calif.; for his support of Loyola High School and Dolores Mission Parish in Los Angeles and his leadership of the Catholic Education Foundation;
Frank and Judy Sunberg, Lilydale, Minn., for support of Cretin-Durham Hall High School and the University of St. Thomas.
NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.
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Acceptance Remarks of Sister Mary Rose, OP, upon accepting the NCEA President’s Award on behalf of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, at the Seton Awards 2010 10/4/10
When we ponder the meaning of this award, we come to the realization that we are really acknowledging the providential care of Almighty God and the radiant beauty of man’s free response to the divine impulse of grace. God is with His people and never abandons them. Every time that we choose to do good we have first been inspired by God’s grace and we become a means through which God cares for His people.
A few days after we re-opened, a woman came to me and said: “When I saw the Sisters opening the school and the priest saying to bring the children even if we can’t afford it, I knew we were going to be alright. I knew that God had not forgotten us. I knew we were going to make it.” This seems to illustrate the beauty and wonder of how our good works inspire others to a deeper faith and hope.
We, the Catholic Schools of New Orleans, were not only a means of faith and hope for the people, but all those around the country who were good to us helped our faith and hope increase. We are grateful for the goodness of others. We also want to acknowledge how proud we are of all of the work of the Catholic Church during the recovery of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The city of New Orleans would not be where it is today if it was not for the Catholic Church and the New Orleans Saints.
Sister Mary Rose, OP
Former principal
Cathedral School
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 4, 2010
Acceptance Remarks of Michael J. Begg upon accepting the NCEA President’s Award on behalf of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, at the Seton Awards 2010 10/4/10
Catholic education has deep roots in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The value of this award lies in the fact that it gives us a chance to reflect on what makes Catholic education enduring and resilient – especially in the face of catastrophic events.
I found an interesting analogy that provides some insight. It seems that researchers at the University of Florida have been studying the impact of hurricanes on the urban forests.
Their research showed that trees growing in groups survived the hurricane winds better than individual trees. They learned that, if they have adequate soil space, trees can develop a strong supporting root system.
The researchers also found that trees can lose all or some of their leaves in most hurricanes. However, leaf loss does not mean the tree is dead. With time, trees produce new leaves which are a sign of recovery.
Like those trees, the strength of our Catholic schools is in the group and not the individual. Because of our deep-rooted faith and our common mission, we survived the hurricane winds and waters. In the Archdiocese of New Orleans, our roots are deep – and we share a special soil space that provides a strong supporting root system.
Our Catholic school students, parents, and teachers – the leaves on our holy trees – were lost, torn and scattered across the country by Hurricane Katrina.
When they wanted to come home, they sought out the comforting safe haven that would allow them to get back quickly – the Catholic school.
The Archbishop Rummel Transition School became a place of hope and the beginning of the recovery and rebirth of our community – especially for our young people.
Many of them came to us without their families intact; without a house to live in; without money; without jobs; without clothes; without books; and often times without hope. At first, there were few of the simple pleasures that before were taken for granted. Gone were the familiar landmarks that our children grew up with. Some found that even their churches were not spared.
School, then, became family; it became the center of social activity, and became the tree trunk whose branches held the weight of new leaves.
This recognition shows that you have not forgotten us. More importantly, you continue to support the collective efforts that help make our Catholic mission stronger. Like the rest of the schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Rummel High School continues to face challenges with the same spirit and determination – because our roots are deep.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is grateful to you, Dr. Ristau, and to the NCEA for this honor. It is a tribute to our shared efforts to keep Catholic education alive and thriving. Thank you.
Michael J. Begg
President
Archbishop Rummel High School
Metairie, Louisiana
October 4, 2010
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