A Message from the President

Dear Friends,

Here it is another school year. I want to give a warm welcome to our new 6th and 7th grade students as well as a welcome back to our returning students. I hope this year brings you many rewarding challenges that will make you grow stronger academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Please know that you have the best teachers and staff in the city of Camden who "have your back" and your best interests at heart. Lean on them for they bring to you a wealth of experience, knowledge, and compassion.

It is also a special year for us at San Miguel because we are in the midst of celebrating 100 years of education here on the corner of 4th & Spruce Streets. Beginning in 1908 until the mid 1970s, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School educated scores of children living in South Camden. Our official start of the centenary celebration will be a Mass and & Luncheon on Sunday, 25 October at 1pm.

The purpose of the celebration is two-fold. To root our boys in the history of OLMC School and to provide them with a rich history of generations of immigrants who sought an education and then became beacons of hope in their community. Second, those who attended OLMC School paid very little in tuition due to the contributed educational services of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the sheer number of parishioners who gave to the Sunday collection. Stories abound how Father Michael would pay for students' tuition when families experienced financial difficulties without the expectation of repayment. In talking with the 100th Anniversary Committee, it was agreed that a "100 for 100 Campaign" would be established to honor people like Father Mike who ensured, that despite financial difficulties, students would continue to receive a Catholic education. The Committee is inviting at least 100 OLMC alumni to step forward and to donate $100. This campaign will establish the beginnings of a scholarship endowment that would ensure that boys attending The San Miguel School would be able to receive a Catholic education without worry about financial duress.

I leave you with final thought from Pope Benedict's talk he gave to Catholic educators while visiting the USA in April of 2008. His quote reemphasizes the importance of our mission to providing

"...Countless dedicated religious sisters, brothers, and priests together with selfless parents have, through Catholic schools, helped generations of immigrants rise from poverty and take their place in mainstream society. This sacrifice continues to today. It is an outstanding apostolate of hope, seeking to address the material, intellectual, and spiritual needs of over three million children and students. It also provides a highly commendable opportunity for the entire Catholic community to contribute generously to the financial needs of our schools. Their long term sustainability must be assured. Indeed, everything must be done, in cooperation with the wider community, to ensure that they are accessible to people of all social and economic strata. No child should be denied his or her right to an education in faith, which in turn nurtures the soul of a nation." (Address of Pope Benedict XVI to Catholic Educators, 17 April 2008)

The Brothers of the Christian Schools have proudly picked up the torch left by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The Brothers continue their 325-year legacy of offering a human and Christian education to those families of modest means at the corner of 4th & Spruce Streets. Now more than ever, the need for a quality Catholic education has never been greater!

Live Jesus in our hearts! Forever!

Br. Joseph W. Juliano, FSC
President@SanMiguelCamden.org