DIOCESE OF
ROCKVILLE
CENTRE
DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION
The Advocate
Celebrating Faith, Heritage, and Unity
Volume 1, Issue I1I
February/March 2017
Celebrating Black History Month through Catholic Tradition
Inside this issue:
The Changing
Classroom: Supporting
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners
2
The Tomorrow’s
Hope Foundation on
Telecare
2
Saints Around the
World
3
Celebrating our
4
Culture During CSW
Commemorating
Holy Week Around
the World
5
What’s New with the 6
Hispanic Initiative
Editor’s Note
6
In February, we celebrate Black
History Month, and we remember
the contributions of individuals to
our society. The Catholic Church is
very connected to some notable
saints, such as St. Katherine Drexel,
who have diligently supported noble
causes of African Americans. Black
Catholics make up a large part of
the Catholic Church in America. In
fact, according to the National Black
Catholic Congress, nearly 3 million
Catholics of African descent live in
the United States alone.
St. Martin de Porres is considered
the first Black American saint. Born
the son of a freed black slave, at age
11 he became a servant of the Holy
Rosary Dominican priory in Lima,
Peru. In 1603, after years of begging
and catering to the sick, he became
a Dominican brother after his superiors dropped a stipulation which
stated that, “no black person may
be received to the holy habit or
profession of our Order.” After
becoming a brother, St. Martin de
Porres established an orphanage and
children’s hospital for the poorest of
the young. He is remembered for
nursing stray cats and dogs to health
as well. St. Martin de Porres is
attributed with many miracles
through his intercession.
While his feast day is November
3rd, it is fitting that we acknowledge
him during Black History Month.
We can honor him in many ways,
such as volunteering at an animal
shelter or donating to a children’s
hospital.
Saint Martin de Porres is just one of
the many notable Black Catholics to
celebrate during Black History Month.
A Message from the Superintendent
Mission – a powerful word that has an in depth meaning. At NASA, it’s a mission that
takes a task from beginning to end which propels us into unchartered worlds to explore and
investigate the heavens. To someone who has lost their keys, they are on a mission to find
them. Some economists may be working on a trade mission to Europe. All of these are interpretations
of the word mission.
For those of us privileged to work in Catholic education in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, mission has
a far deeper meaning. Our mission is to go out into the world and spread our faith, our Catholic faith, to
all who will listen. To invite, to embrace, to speak God’s love through our words and actions.
God has made our mission very clear, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all
creation.” (Matthew16:15)
Our schools and faith communities are the manifestation of God’s mission on earth. The people we
meet who come from all backgrounds, are part of the wonderful mission we have been given. In our
schools we are blessed to see God’s world growing in the minds and hearts of our students and their
families. We realize that quite often our differences become our strengths.
We must always remember that each of us are God’s own – each called by name - each of us has a
mission to fulfill, namely, to spread the gospel however we can. That is our mission, that is our faith.
Gratefully,
Dr. Kathleen Walsh
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Page 2
The Changing Classroom: Supporting Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse Learners
The Cultural make up of
our classrooms is changing
every day as we welcome
more families of diverse
backgrounds into our
schools. Many students
have a native language other
than English. Among our
schools, we hear Chinese,
Polish, Portuguese, Creole,
Spanish, Korean, Italian,
Vietnamese, and the list
goes on! Students also
bring with them an array of
cultural experiences. Some
culturally and linguistically
diverse learners were born
in the United States while
others may have spent their
early lives in another country. Because of this variety
in language and culture, it is
important to keep a few key
points in mind:



Take a positive stance
towards learners.
Strive to understand as
much as you can about
their cultural, language,
and educational background and look for ways
to build on students’
strengths.

Build an empathetic,
collaborative community of learners. Emphasize through teaching that
all students’ backgrounds
and beliefs deserve respect. Model this behavior and expect students to
actively listen to one another and seek to understand peers’ thinking and
needs.
Support students’
language learning.
Whenever possible,
reinforce language with
visual aids or kinesthetic
movements. Welcome
students to discuss the
content in their native
language. Support
students in developing the
confidence to ask
questions.
Pay attention to body
language. Is the student
uncomfortable and not
understanding a lesson but
is afraid to say? It is important to be aware of
these signs as soon as they
occur so as not to have
them feel overwhelmed.

Create purposeful
learning experiences.
Consider students’
language and academic
backgrounds. Draw on
their experiences in the
U.S. or their experiences
abroad.

Be flexible. Know that
sometimes things will be
lost in translation—
whether it is with the
students or their parents.
Sometimes lessons for
some students may need
to be modified in order to
help them understand.
Do this in a way that does
not make them feel like
they are being a burden.
Most importantly, expect every
student to be an engaged
learner. Show that you care by
seeking support for anyone
who appears not to be involved
or is struggling. Enjoy learning
about the unique students in
your class; after all, they are a
glimpse into our nation’s
future.
Adapted from Klaus-Quinlan, Moker and Sally Nathanson-Mejia. Bridgin Words and Worlds: Effective Instruction for
Culturally and Linguistaically Divers Learners. 2010
The Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation on Telecare
The Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation is celebrating ten
years of supporting Catholic Elementary School students
and schools. Together with some of our students, THF
will be featured on Telecare, the Long Island-based,
national Catholic television network.
One of the episodes examines why the welcoming and
nurturing environment of Catholic schools is inclusive of
different cultures and beneficial to students. Make sure to
tune in!
SCHEDULED AIRINGS:
2/27 8:30pm; 2/28 11:30am; 3/5 7am;
3/6 8:30pm—EPISODE 203—”OUR
DIVERSE COMMUNITY”
3/13 Time TBD—EPISODE 204—”THE
CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIFFERENCE”
3/27 Time TBD—EPISODE 205—
”WHEN I GROW UP”
4/10 Time TBD—EPISODE 206—”OUR
BRIGHT FUTURE”
Episodes re-air for two weeks. Please check
your local listings.
Volume 1, Issue I1I
Page 3
Saints around the World
Saint Casimir

He rebelled against the rich, fashionable
clothes he was expected to enjoy and he wore
the plainest of clothes.

When he was sent by his father to head an
army to take over the throne of Hungary, a
young Casimir turned back. As a result, his
father banished him to a castle in Dobzki,
hoping that imprisonment would change his
mind. This only encouraged him more to
pray, study and help the poor.
Poland & Lithuania
Feast Day: March 4th

Prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir
IV and Elizabeth of Austria.

Despite pressure, humiliation and rejection, he
stood by his commitment to God.
Prayer:
Saint Casimir, help us to remember that our
true King is Jesus Christ and always serve
him joy and love. Help us to turn to our true
Father for guidance and protection. Amen.
Saint Dominic Savio
founded a group he called the Company of the
Immaculate Conception which helped John
Bosco with the boys and with manual work.

Italy
Feast Day: March 10th
Patron Saint of Choirboys and Juvenile
Delinquents.

He joined St. John Bosco as a student at the
Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed
with his desire to be a priest and to help John
Bosco in his work with neglected boys.

A peacemaker and an organizer, young Dominic
St. Louise de Marillac
St. Casimir
Dominic became the youngest saint to be canonized on how he lived his holy life. This was seen
greatly based on a book written by John Bosco:
The Life of Dominic Savio.

Dominic would say, “I can’t do big things. But I
want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for
the greater glory of God.”
Prayer:
O Saint Dominic Savio, model of purity, piety,
penance and apostolic zeal for youth; grant
that, through your intercession, we may service
God in our ordinary duties with fervent devotion, and attain the grace of holy joy on earth,
that we may one day love God forever in
Heaven. Amen.

St. Dominic Savio
“Love the poor and honor them as you would
honor Christ Himself,” is the foundation of the
Daughters of Charity.
Prayer:
France
Feast Day: March 15th
Patroness of Christian Social Workers

Co-founder, with Saint Vincent de Paul, of the
Daughters of Charity.
Loving and compassionate God, we celebrate
with great joy the faith and works of our patroness St. Louise de Marillac. Instill in us the
fire of her love, the tenacity of her belief, and
the tenderness of her care for the most abandoned. Draw us together into the light of your
presence and help us to trust in the power of
your Spirit, leading us to ever closer to you,
who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
St. Louise de Marillac
Page 4
Celebrating Our Culture during Catholic
Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week is such a fun time to share what we love about our schools!
Students of Our Lady
of Providence in
Central Islip were
invited to wear traditional clothes from
their various cultures.
“Each one of us
can be a bridge of
encounter between
diverse cultures
and religions, a
way to rediscover
our common
humanity.”
- Pope Francis,
@Pontifex
Students at St Rose of Lima
School in Massapequa learned
about the cultures of others
around the world. On this
day, they spent the day learning about China and Chinese
culture and traditions.
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For the opening Liturgy of
Catholic Schools Week, St.
Thomas the Apostle School
celebrated the rich cultures
that make up their beautiful
community. The Prayer of
the Faithful was spoken by
St. Thomas students in four
languages: Polish, French,
Spanish, and English.
Commemorating Holy Week Around the
World
Why Easter
Eggs?
Customs and traditions vary
from place to place, and
Christians commemorate Holy
Week in different ways.
Nevertheless, Holy Week is
when all Christians observe the
anniversary of the last days of
Jesus’ life on earth: His
passion, death, and resurrection.
Some countries, such as Spain,
the Philippines, Portugal and
others in Latin America, commemorate Lent with much
fervor. Catholicism was the
official religion in Spain, and
Spanish missionaries brought
Catholicism to the Americans
and the Philippines.
Processions in the Streets
Many cities in Spain and Latin
America have processions as a
way to represent the life of
Christ to every person on the
street. They are a powerful
way to express eternal gratitude for the sacrifice of our
Lord. Some processions
include: The Palm Sunday
procession, The Procession of
Silence, The Via Crucis on
Good Friday, and The Encounter of Jesus and Mary on
Easter.
Music
Probably one of the most
popular Lenten songs in Spanish-speaking countries is
“Perdona a tu Pueblo,
Señor” (Spare Your People,
Lord). It is often sung during
the Procession of Silence, the
Via Crucis (Stations of the
Cross), and Mass.
Alfombras
Many cities fill their streets
with beautiful ornate carpets
called Alfombras, which show
the devotion and faith of
Catholics who dedicate this
work and effort to receive the
Page 5
What does Easter
have to do with eggs?
For the early Christians, eggs were a
symbol of resurrection
and eternal life in
Christ. Hen or duck
eggs were painted,
and each color had a
meaning:
Lent Procession with Alfombras in Guatemala.
blessing of the holy images that
process into the neighborhoods. This tradition symbolizes the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday,
when people spread their coats
on the ground and waved palm
branches to receive Him. This
is a fusion of both religion and
culture, dating from the preColumbian era. The carpet
motifs also include indigenous
designs, animals, and flowers,
depending on the custom of
each country.
Blessed Sacrament at its altar
of repose in seven nearby
Catholic churches from Holy
Thursday night through the
morning of Good Friday. This
custom originated with Saint
Philip Neri in Rome, who
would go with his companions
to visit the four Major Basilicas
and three Minor ones during
Holy Week.
Lenten Dishes
Pilgrimages
In Italy, during the forty-day
season of Lent, some Catholics
make a pilgrimage to basilicas
all over the city, visiting one
church each day. In certain
holy places, some even walk on
their knees to experience pain
and offer it up to Jesus.
There is also a tradition of the
Seven Churches Visitation, or
Visita Iglesia. This takes place
after the Mass of the Lord’s
Supper on Holy Thursday,
when the Blessed Sacrament is
removed from the tabernacle
at the main altar and placed in
an Altar of Repose for Good
Friday into Holy Saturday. The
faithful go on a “mini pilgrimage” to pay a short visit to the
Sure, we know Lent as a time
of sacrifice, but it can be a
sweet season too. The
capirotada is a traditional
Lenten dessert in Mexico
which is a bread pudding made
with fruit. The ingredients
have a symbolic meaning: the
bread represents the Body of
Christ, the syrup stands for His
blood, the cloves symbolize the
nails on the cross, the cinnamon sticks symbolize the wood
of the cross, and the melted
cheese represents the Holy
Shroud.
May you and your family enjoy
the traditions you cherish this
Blessed Holy Week.
Red = the blood of
Christ
Ivory = the shroud
Green = rebirth
Blue = the peace of
the Easter season
Yellow = the early
light of the day of
resurrection
Purple = the passion
of Christ (color of
Lent)
Even though Easter
customs vary around
the world, the decorating of Easter eggs
is common in many
countries. In Mexico
and parts of Central
America, people fill
plastic eggs with confetti and crack them
on each other’s heads!
The Advocate
DIOCESE OF
ROCKVILLE CENTRE
DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION
128 Cherry Lane
Hicksville, NY 11801
Phone: 516-280-2479 x 811
E-mail: [email protected]
What’s new with The Hispanic Initiative?
The Department of Education has begun to introduce a new set of schools to our Hispanic Initiative:
Holy Angels Regional School, Patchogue; St. Christopher School, Baldwin; St. Edward the Confessor,
Syosset; Our Lady of Wisdom, Port Jefferson; and Our Lady of the Hamptons, Southampton, have all
secured Advocates to help them reach out to the Latino communities on Long Island. More schools
will also be joining shortly and are in the process of translating brochures and information to distribute
at Spanish-speaking Masses.
We continue our marketing efforts with Fe Fuerza Vida, and also Latinus Media Network and advertising
in their Latinus magazine and social media outlets to try to reach families in the Latino community. We
were also a part of La Fiesta Radio’s morning show, “Levantate con Ana Maria y Junior” to answer questions about our Long Island Catholic Elementary Schools and encourage listeners to learn more.
A Note from the Editor...
Amazingly enough, this is
already the third issue of The
Advocate that I have had the
pleasure of releasing. The
reaction to the “cultural coverage” has been very positive,
and each time I get more
excited about publishing the
next edition.
Our schools are participating in
more cultural events, and I love
to see the pictures of the
proud kids as they wear the
traditional dress from their
country or bring in one of their
favorite meals from home.
These are beautiful memories
that we can hold on to. While
enjoying the privileges that we
have in the United States, we
can still keep the stories that
make us who we are.
In the next edition of The
Advocate, we will be begin featuring a monthly student spotlight. Whether born in another
country or a child of immigrant
parents, we hope to demonstrate successful stories that
can result from hard work and
dedication.
If anyone you know comes to
mind, feel free to tell me about
them, and maybe they will be
featured in a future issue of
The Advocate. As always, if your
school is participating in a cultural
event or you know of anything
cultural related that you would
like to talk about in the April/May
issue of The Advocate, please feel
free to send it my way!
Blessings,
Nora
Nora Ferreira-Aufiero
Advocate for the
Hispanic Initiative
Recommended Resources
The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from
Pope Francis
By: Diane M. Houdek
With prayer reflections drawn from the
words of Pope Francis, this Lenten
companion helps you prepare for the
Easter season. With Scripture citations
for each day of the season, selections from the Pope’s
writings, and ways to bring the Pope’s message into
your life on judgment, justice, forgiveness and
mercy, The Hope for Lent will lend a moment’s meditation to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary, and
to be surprised by God’s mercy when we least expect
it.
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland
By: Tomie dePaola
The story of Patrick's life, from
his noble birth in Britain, to his
being captured and taken to
Ireland by a group of bandits, to
the "dreams" that led him to convert the Irish
people to the Christian faith. DePaola also retells several well-known legends, including the
story of how Patrick got rid of all the snakes in
Ireland.