Run for the Nuns 2011

It was cold.  And wet.  And a little windy.  But that didn't stop a record 427 brave runners who came for the traditional one-mile "run" on October 1st.

Begun five years ago, this PTO-sponsored activity raises money to benefit Camilla Hall, the IHM retirement community.  Always a popular event, the Fun Run brings parents, students, faculty and staff together for a great cause.

"We raised a net contribution to Camilla Hall of $3,018 thanks to our wonderful school and parish families that made up our 427 participants this year," explains Fun Run Chair Diane Seroskie.  Mrs. Seroskie also thanked Vocelli's Pizza, Adventures in Your Backyard and Morgan Franklin Consultants, all of whom made contributions to this effort.

There was plenty of competition that day, with prizes awarded to our Kindergarten, Third and Sixth Grades who respectively placed first, second and third.

Not to be outdone, was our new Assistant Principal, Sr. Margaret who left her tool belt at home and won her division for the IHM Sisters.

"It sure was damp that morning, but I know I can speak for all of the Sisters in saying we had a terrific time, "says Principal Sr. Nancy.  "We are very grateful to the St. James family for their generosity towards our beloved IHMs.  GO ROCKETS!"

 We love our IHMs

We would like to thank Mrs. Seroskie for these photos.

Mass of Remembrance

As we have previously, we will hold a special Mass on the Feast of All Souls (November 2nd) in honor of those we have lost in the past year.  It is meant to provide comfort, healing and community.  Each person is represented by a lit candle, symbolizing the Light of Christ.  

"On this day, we are meant to honor and pray for all those who have gone before us," says Father Posey.  "But we are more than just individuals -- we are a community.  How much more comforting than to come together and share the sacrifice of the Mass and find God's healing presence as a family."

If you would like to have your loved one remembered, please contact the rectory at 703-532-8815 by October 28th with their name so that we can have a candle in their honor.   

The Mass of Remembrance will be Wednesday, November 2nd at 7:00pm in the Church.

Park Avenue Profile: 

Amy Steinbicker & Karen Salinetti

  (Amy)                                        (Karen with Angela!)

Blessed are the children.  Blessed is their innocence.  Their unconditional love.  Their fidgety little feet.  Their sweet voices rising above, well, everything.

If you're a parent or have ever sat next to one at Mass, you know how challenging it can be to share your faith with an active toddler.  How then, to combine a religious experience with the needs and energies of young children?

If you're Amy Steinbicker and Karen Salinetti, you start (or re-start!) the Nursery.

Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and baptized Presbyterian, Amy laughs when she tells how she eventually came to the Episcopal Church:  "My father had a friend who happened to be an Episcopal priest and when he [moved to our town] we began attending his services."  Confirmed in that faith, Amy was very involved in the religious and community life of her Church.  "There was a lot of fellowship there," she explains, "which is somewhat easier to [attain] since the congregations are so much smaller: 50 to 100 families."

It was after she attended Washington and Lee University in Virginia that she met her husband and began attending Mass with him.  "We were married in the Catholic Church and promised to raise the children Catholic."  She continued to worship at both Churches, but felt that once children came, they should provide a more unified front. 

Thus in 2003 she began her faith journey to the Catholic Church.  "I remember working all day until seven at night and then heading for my RCIA classes!"  Her experience with Protestant and Catholic religions has afforded her a unique perspective in terms of community activities, in particular those concerning families.

After two children (Mary and Luke, both enrolled at St. James School), Amy returned to work part time supporting a human resources association.  She jokes that her journalism degree "didn't exactly pan out," but speaks of her enjoyment in her graduate field of Occupational Social Work. 

In the summer of 2009, Amy and her husband Mark, met with Father Hanley (who was assigned here at the time) to "discuss ways St. James could be a little more 'family-with-young-children-friendly.'  Young parents need to get to Mass; we need [to figure out] what can we do to make that happen for them."   Many parents split the Mass duty, with one staying home with youngsters.  "We need to worship as a community," Amy explains.  She points out the importance of families praying together and sharing that experience.  "I didn't [envision] a nursery of just play," but one where faith and fun are combined.

That summer she was introduced to Karen Salinetti at our Vacation Bible School.  With three small children already, Karen could understand Amy's desire for a child-friendly environment. 

By her own admission, Karen has lived "all over the place."  While her father served in the Army, Karen's family moved every three years.  "When I was young, [and living on base], I thought everyone's dad was in the Army; I thought everyone moved all the time!"  She called Maryland, Illinois, Arizona (Germany twice) and Alabama home throughout her formative years.  "The biggest culture shock I will say was that move from Germany to Alabama!'  She laughs as she says this, holding her newborn daughter Angela.  Who was perfect, by the way.

Raised a Catholic, Karen attended public schools on base, except for three years between third and sixth grade.  "I really liked that atmosphere [of parochial education] and was so pleased when I heard St. James had a school!"

After studying Finance at Jacksonville State University, Karen worked for the FDIC as a Bank Examiner in Georgia.  She met her husband while on an assignment to the Washington, DC area.  Jeff Salinetti is originally from Massachusetts.  They married after he finished graduate school.  Together they have four children, (Jack and Paul currently in fourth and first grades at St. James), Christina (three) and brand new Angela born this month.

Together with Stephanie Kaufmann (who has since moved away), they put together their first Nursery Committee.  This was not the first incarnation of a nursery at St. James; it operated for many years during the late '70s and early 80s. "Amy and Father Hanley were the driving force," says Karen.  "We had lots of support from him and Father Posey."  Karen explains that the nursery incorporates prayer and religious songs with fun.  "We want the kids to have some religious value while they're there."  Karen has wondered whether her young daughter, Christina, got anything from the program.  "She's very shy, so I just didn't know.  But then, we would be driving around and she'd be singing all the songs from the Nursery!"

If they ever doubted their value for the parish, they had only to go on summer break to confirm it.  Karen relates, "[O]h, we'd get a lot calls in the summer.  When we closed, we got so much: 'WE NEED YOU' from parents."

The Nursery operates during the 10:30am Mass.  The children play, pray and sing.  Both Karen and Amy are adamant that "we couldn't run this without our volunteers."  Together they are effusive in praise of their fellow committee members, Kevin Zrenda, Nathan Jones, Betty LeVasseur, Colleen Bucher, Luisa Tolsma, Helen Deloye, Elizabeth Sanchez and Alicia Stanley.  According to Amy, "Elizabeth and Alicia joined the committee even before they had children enrolled in it!"

The nursery acts as a co-operative explains Karen, with parents who use the nursery acting as volunteers.  "We ask that people work once a month; which means working from 10 until around noon.  That includes set up and clean up."  All adult volunteers are VIRTUS trained (or presently signed up to take the course).  Members of our Youth group also help with the children.  Amy is quick to recognize Mary Bellor and Monica Nunez "who have been regular volunteers since the beginning just because they believe in the nursery.  Neither have children in the nursery."

Our Nursery runs because of the dedication of its volunteers, but they can always use more. "The more exposure to the faith, the better," says Karen.  A new group of enthusiastic volunteers has already come aboard.

"We would like to thank our wonderful Maintenance Staff who help us so much: Shane Briggs, Miguel Cruz and certainly Vince Dufrane," says Amy.

"I am so grateful to Amy, Karen and all their fellow parents who provide this service to our families," says Father Posey.  "They have done a tremendous job bringing Christ to our youngest members."

If you are interested in assisting with this valuable ministry, please contact the Nursery Committee at nursery@stjamescatholic.org 

Score One (Two) for Mighty Macs

If you thought good basketball movies only took place in Indiana with Gene Hackman, you're wrong.

Mighty Macs tells the true story of Cathy Rush, the first basketball coach at Immaculata College (now University) in 1971.  Against all odds, with little support and a sketchy roster, Rush and her players make it to the Big Dance and become legends in the making. 

Immaculata University is located in Immaculata, Pennsylvania and is where our IHM Motherhouse is located.  Our IHM Sisters were educated there.

The movie opens this Friday, October 21st and has been receiving terrific reviews.  Make a plan to take the entire family and "BACK THE MACS"

For more information on the movie, or to watch the trailer, click on   http://www.themightymacs.com/

Congratulations to our Kids at O'Connell

Kudos to our St. James Parishioners and former students who continue their academic success at Bishop O'Connell.  Allison Gliot and Thomas Vaughn were named National Merit Commended Scholars.  These students scored in the top 5% in their PSATs. 

Kierson Commons, Suzanne Kenney, Alexandra McKay, Casey O'Reilly, Amanda Toulme and Frank Whitesell were named AP Scholars with Distinction, scoring a 3.5 (out of 5) on all of their AP Exams.  William Ratledge and Thomas Vaughn were noted as AP Scholars with Honors, with scores of 3.25 on their exams.

Students who earned a 3 or higher were Marisa Elias, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Stephanie Guenther and Alexandra Hammer.

If you have ever sat for one of these exams, you know how difficult they are and the tremendous amount of classroom preparation and studying which go into them.  Congratulations to all our students who continue to make us proud.

If you have a student at another area high school, public or parochial/private and would like to share their good news, please contact Christine Hughes at advancement@stjamescatholic.org  We love to celebrate all our kids! 

Saint James School