Teacher Spotlight

Sr. Bridget 

Sr. Bridget with Chandler Teny ('14)

 

1.  Could you tell us about yourself?  Such as family, where you grew up, education and anything else you would like to share.

 

I was born and grew up in Vandergrift, PA.  I had very loving parents and three older brothers.  My parents and two of my brothers are now deceased.  I attended St. Gertrude grade school and was taught by the Benedictine Sisters.  The parish was staffed by Benedictine priests.  When I was in seventh grade, Sister Bernadine invited me to visit the Aspirants at the Motherhouse in Pittsburgh.  My mother and father agreed I could visit.  I loved it, so I came home and announced that I wanted to return after completion of eighth grade to attend high school and prepare to become a Benedictine Sister.  My parents agreed, however they didn't believe I would carry through on it because I was extremely shy.  That is how I got to be a Benedictine Sister.

 

I started my career in education as an elementary teacher.  At one point I became the Scholastic Director (guiding young women in temporary vows).  At that time I was teaching first grade at St. Peter's on the North Side of Pittsburgh.  The superior asked if I would want to take some counseling classes.  I was excited because I thought it would help me in my work with the young sisters that I was directing.  In the next breath she said that she had been praying to the Spirit and she wanted me to be the Guidance Counselor at St. Benedict Academy.  My response was "What Spirit were you praying to?" She told me to pray about this before answering.  After much prayer, I could not come up with a good reason to refuse, so I started working on my master's degree in counseling at Duquesne University and continue to work as a counselor at St. Benedict Academy for nine years.  The all girls academy closed in 1985.  We were all looking for new positions.  I sent my resume to all the catholic high schools, except Quigley Catholic.  It looked like no one needed a counselor. It wasn't long when I received a phone call from Quigley asking if I could come for an interview.  I started at Quigley in August of 1985.  I thank God everyday that I was not hired at another high school.

 

3.  Being responsible for guiding students toward their future is a big responsibility.  What do you fine hardest and most rewarding part of this responsibility?

 

The hardest part of guiding students is getting them to believe in themselves.  They are capable and with God's help they can succeed.  The most rewarding part is to see them blossom and give their all to succeeding.

 

4.  You have been at Quigley Catholic many years.  While we are sure you have many fond memories of students that have passed through the halls, can you tell us about a few that have left you with some of your best memories?

 

I once had a senior come to me in March of his senior year and ask if it was too late to apply for college. Cautiously I said, no depending on what you want to pursue.  He proudly announced, "I want to major in pre-med."  Because his GPA was not very high, I said that he may need to approach his goal in steps.  He did go to college,  but didn't pursue pre-med.  He successfully completed a degree in business.  Another student would only think about engineering which was fine.  However, at Thanksgiving he stopped and said, "Sister, guess what?  I have changed my mind and I want to be a math teacher.  Those are just  two of many memories I have of my time at Quigley Catholic.

 

5. We understand that being the Director of Guidance takes a lot of time and effort at QCHS, but could you tell us what you do for fun and/or hobbies that you like to do when you are away from the school.

 

I am quite involved in our community so our weekends can be quite full with meetings, spirituality meetings and visits to the sick.  However, when I have free time I enjoy walking, swimming, reading and movies.

 

6.  What do you like best about being part of Quigley Catholic?

 

I like the family atmosphere, the support of the parents and the student's enthusiasm to learn.  Another aspect which I enjoy is how well the faculty interact with each other.  We carry out the Christian message of "See how they love one another."

 

7.  If there was one piece of advice that you could pass on to each and every one of your students, what would that be?

 

God has given you many gifts and talents.  Use all of your gifts and talents to the best of your ability to further God's kingdom.  Believe in yourself.

 

8.  With the retirement of the seasoned teachers last year, what advice did you give to the new teachers about being at Quigley Catholic?

 

I think it is a daunting task to try and fill the shoes of those who have been here for so many years.  My advice was to take one day at a time and soon they would grow into their own shoes. They are all well on their way.

 

1995

 

The newsletter staff would like to thank Sr. Bridget and all of the Quigley Catholic faulty and administration for their dedication to the school.  We would also like to thank Sr. Bridget for taking time from her busy schedule and participating in this Q&A.  It is always interesting to hear what they have to say. 

 

 

Spartan Men's  Basketball 

Front Row: Zach Cardwell, Nick Duer, Jack Allman, Josh Keener, Nick Romano Back Row:  Coach Paul Long, Jake Schwab, Robbie Petukauskas, Jerome Petukauskas, Kyle Cardwell, Tanner Amborse, Eric Hein, Jake Shuster, Nick Schroeder, Coach Bay Petures

Congratulations to the Spartans Boys Basketball team

Under the new direction of Coach Paul Long and Coach "Bay" Petures, the boys basketball team struggled during a year of rebuilding.  Their record did not accurately represent the hard work and the determination of these young men.  Many of their games were close in points, but unfortunately did not result in a win.  We congratulate these young men who continued to demonstrate their passion for the sport, their dedication to their teammates and perseverance through a challenging season.  Even faced with frustration, it always is "A Great Day to be a Spartan!"

We extend to our seniors, Jake  Schwab, Jakob Shuster, Jerome Petukauskas and Nick Schroeder well wishes as they continue on their journey in college. 

We wish the young team the best of luck in their preparation for next year's season.

 

 Alumni Spotlight (Revisited)

Jeff Craig

Class of 2011

I must say that when I entered the seminary in 2012, I could have never expected the journey to include all the many blessings which it indeed already has. In the Diocese of Pittsburgh, we are blessed to be able to say that we have our very own House of Priestly Formation, St. Paul's Seminary in Carnegie. There are many reasons as to why this is such a blessing, such as the opportunity to study with guys who are also from the Pittsburgh Diocese, the ability to be active and serve in the Pittsburgh community (the very community that we will serve as Diocesan priests), and to have a faculty of priest and religious from Pittsburgh that help form us to be the best servants of Jesus possible to the people of Pittsburgh. These are all unique qualities that St. Paul Seminary offers because many Dioceses' do not have their very own seminary and therefore must send their seminarians to seminaries that often times are not real close to the home diocese.

 

At St. Paul's seminary, being able to go and serve at roughly two parishes every month on Sunday's throughout the academic year has always been a joy for me. Being able to volunteer with the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh, the youth group of St. Bernard's parish in Mount Lebanon, and now volunteering at UMPC Mercy Hospital with the Spiritual Care Department have all been gifts to me to be able to give a little back and to be able to see Jesus in every person that I serve. I can honestly say that I am inspired daily by the witnesses that the people of Pittsburgh are for their love of Jesus and His Church and am so very thankful for the opportunity to have been able to grow in my desire to become a priest with them. I really cannot say this enough.

 

One of the most unique blessings we have at St. Paul's seminary is the gift of having our own Bishop, David Zubik, living on the same campus as us. Bishop Zubik is very much a supporter of the community life here at the seminary and is always interested in ways in which the seminary can be a better place of Formation for its future priests. He is here with us for daily prayer and mass in our chapel, he is here for many of house festivities, such as our annual community Christmas party, and he is here to get to know us individually as we continue to discern God's will for us in our lives. Very quickly after I arrived here at the seminary, Bishop Zubik and I both realized that we had a common interest: cars. We both like to research new car models, compare the different designs and talk about unique cars that we have seen or driven (not to mention my twenty year old Toyota, which is definitely...unique.) The three years that I have lived here, Bishop Zubik has taken me to the Pittsburgh Auto Show at the Convention Center Downtown and we always wish we could have more time to look and sit in each car.

 

What is most impressive about the opportunity to get to know and spend time with Bishop Zubik is to just be a witness of his daily life. His humility, life of prayer, charity, and his love for Jesus are just a few of the many characteristics that are inspiring to me and to all the seminarians that call St. Paul's home. He is certainly a role model for us and a wonderful indication of how one truly lives out a life of service to God joyfully and prayerfully.

 

I hope I have been able to display some of the reasons why St. Paul's Seminary is a blessing to me and to the Diocese of Pittsburgh. However, after seminarians have finished getting their degree in philosophy from Duquesne University and have met the requirements of Pastoral, Human, Intellectual, and Spiritual pillars of formation, they are assigned to the next level of seminary formation. There are five seminaries that the Diocese of Pittsburgh sends their seminarians to after Pittsburgh: in Washington, D.C., in Boston, Massachusetts, in Baltimore, Maryland, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and in Rome. After my three years of study and formation here in Pittsburgh at the seminary, I have been evaluated by the faculty in the four pillars of formation, as was just mentioned. Then, after the evaluations are done for each seminarian that is finished with their time here in Pittsburgh, Bishop Zubik prays about where to assign each seminarian. On Thursday, February 5th, Bishop Zubik assigned me to the Pontifical North American College in Rome for five years of study at the Gregorian University.

 

I am extremely humbled by the assignment and am aware of the tremendous challenges that are ahead. Out of all the blessings that studying in Rome has to offer, what I am most looking forward to is growing more dependent on God as He makes this journey with me to the Priesthood. I will certainly become more dependent on God for the varying challenges that come from living in a new country and culture, speaking a new language and taking classes that are taught in Italian, as well as the challenges that come with being away from family and friends for many consecutive months, not to mention during holidays such as Christmas and Easter. However, as I have found out more and more each and every day as I give my life to Jesus, I have come to the realization that whatever is given to God, He gives back so much more. While becoming a priest has many sacrifices, it also has so many blessings. I have never looked back once upon entering the seminary and I am thankful for the graces that God has given me to continue to give Him more and more of myself. The peace and freedom that one experiences by living out the will of God in their lives is second to none. God has a perfect plan for each and every one of us that is fulfilled when we prayerfully seek Him. Even though God's will may not be exactly as what we have foreseen, His will is what's always best for us. With this confidence, I am thankful for the opportunity to study in Rome and live amongst many of our saints throughout the History of Christ's Church. I am thankful for the opportunity to study with about two hundred and fifty other seminarians from the United States also studying for the priesthood at the North American College and with three other seminarians who are already studying there from our very own diocese. I will be thankful to be ordained a Deacon at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in October of 2019, a year before I'll be ordained a priest here in the following summer at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.  I am most thankful to be able to study in Rome as a seminarian for the great Diocese of Pittsburgh and to be able to be formed for the priesthood to become the best priest that I can become. The more people of our Diocese that I meet, the more I recognize that they deserve nothing but the most committed and dedicated followers of Jesus so that together, we may become closer to our Lord Jesus. It is in this relationship with Jesus that we may experience His love that leads us to a radical peace and freedom that knows no bounds and that is not and cannot be taken away by anyone or anything.

 

As an alumnus from the class of 2011, I am extremely proud to have graduated from Quigley Catholic. As I mentioned while recently being interviewed on the KQV radio show Education Plus, Quigley Catholic truly is my pride and joy. It is because of Quigley Catholic that I first encountered Jesus and found that my life belongs in no other hands besides His. It is the wonderful education of a college preparatory school that helped me through college. It is the inspiration of the Christ centered faculty and families that first motivated me to also live a Christ centered life which continues to this day. And finally, it is because I not only see but have also experienced that priceless gift of being able to surround myself in a true Catholic environment for the most formative years of my life during High School that I continue to be a supporter of Catholic education today and always. It is my hope that every student has the same opportunities to experience our God in a similarly profound way. I pray for and am in deep gratitude to Quigley Catholic High School and its families for all of the support and especially for introducing me to not so long ago the one I have given my life to, Jesus Christ. 

 

We wish Jeff all the best as he continues forward on his journey on

becoming a Priest in Rome.  Please keep him in your prayers.  

 

 

Forensics

With Quigley Catholic's strong Mock Trial team, it would only be reasonable to expect that the school's forensics program would be strong.  Well, you are right if you have made this assumption. This year forensics participants had a strong group that headed to the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Finals. 

While at the state competition, TJ Belsterling and Austin Kuntz made the semifinals of prose and impromptu, respectively. Ellen Kruczek finished 6th in poetry, George Burnet finished 3rd in Commentary, and Jacob Stumm was the state champion in the House of Representatives.  Jacob is the first Quigley student to finish first in state competition since Vinnie Tenerelli won in the same category in 2001.

The Quigley Catholic family offers congratulations to all who have participated this year and wish those traveling to Ft. Lauderdale the best of luck and safe travels.

 

 

Class of 2015 Graduation

It's hard to believe, but the newest QCHS alumni, will be graduating in less than 2 months.  As always, it is great to see alumni at the graduation ceremony and see the Spartan legacy carry on to another group of wonderful, young men and women.  If you have the time and live in the area, we would love to see you at this year's graduation ceremony.  The Pomp and Circumstance will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2015.  The ceremony will take place at St. Ferdinand Church, Rochester Road, Cranberry Twp. @ 3pm.  

Come see our latest graduates as they move on to the next adventure of their young lives.

 

 

Planning Ahead!

We all say that time flys and for Quigley Catholic, that is no different.  It has been almost 48 years since the doors to Quigley Catholic opened.  That means that Quigley Catholic's Golden Anniversary is a little over 2 years away and plans are in it's infancy to make it quite a celebration.  Lorraine Walley, yes the same Lorraine Walley that even now has you double checking your grammar, will be heading up a committee of alums that will be charged with making this Golden Anniversary one to remember.  So when you see the following 50th Anniversary logo, it will be the signal that there is important information about this exciting milestone.

 

 

News and Notes

~ Congratulations to Grant Young, QCHS Spanish teacher, and his wife Colleen on the  birth of their son, Ryan Thomas, on March 28th.  The Young family celebrates the addition of their son with their 3-year old daughter, Daphne.  Welcome to our newest Spartan!

 

~ Congratulation to Sarah Hein, Q'11 on her acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh Dental School.  Sarah graduated Cum laude from Grove City College in December 2014 with her BS in Chemistry and minor in Math.

 

~ Congratulations to John Michael Taormina, Q'11 on his acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.  John Michael will graduate from Carnegie Mellon University in May.

 

~ Homemade with Love from the Q Café cookbooks are still available for sale in the main office at Quigley Catholic.  Over 300 recipes  are included in this hard cover book created by Quigley Catholic friends and family.  For just $10/copy, you will find dishes for everyone for every occasion.  Don't miss out.  Get your's while copies are still available.  

We would love to hear from you and have you tell us what exciting things are happening with your life so that we can share it with the Quigley Catholic family.  We are proud that you are part of this family and being family we want to know how you are doing!  If you have a marriage, birth announcement, major promotion or any other information that you would like share, please feel free to e-mail us with the information and we will include it in our next newsletter.

Other News and Notes from Quigley Catholic

 

 

 

It's all about raising FUN

"My Favorite Things" Fashion Show

Josh Keener, Tanner Ambrose, Zach Yanko

 

 

Clothing selections were provided by Christopher & Banks, Steinmart, Macy's, Men's Wearhouse, David's Bridal and Kohls along with accessories from Allen Jewelers.  Adorned in fashions, our models struck a pose to show the guests what is new in the stores for casual, dress and formal wear.

 

Audrey Larimer

Madison Pingley

The generosity of school families and local vendors allowed us to share "My Favorite Things" for raffle chances and silent auction bidding.  These beautiful collections were the major source of the over $10,000 raised for the school.  We thank those who helped organize the event as well as those guests who spent the day with us enjoying spring fashions. 

 

Ms. Elisabeth Talamo

 

 

The weather did not cooperate for the initial plans for Quigley Catholic's annual Night at the Races,  however, we still were  able to quickly organize the evening and reschedule the fun for Saturday, March 14th.  The creatively named horses and jockeys raced around the track, bets were placed and winners crowned.  Over $4,400 was raised for the evening's event. 

Thank you for all who sponsored races, purchased horses and jockeys and attended.

  You are what makes Quigley Catholic one big family!

Plan to join us in February 2016 for another evening of fun!

 

~ Save the Date  ~

Friday, October 9, 2015

The Club at Shadow Lakes

For information regarding donations, sponsorships attending or help in planning the