Hero Cop Talks About Reconciliation

As a token of appreciation, Maria Gambino, Student Council vice president, left, and Kadesha Nicholas, Student Council president, right, present Detective McDonald with a Waterford Crystal cross.

Forgiveness and reconciliation were the focus of a special Lenten assembly at St. John’s Prep, Astoria.

During the prayer service, students were introduced to NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and paralyzed from the neck down while patrolling Central Park in July, 1986.

In an emotionally gripping talk, Detective McDonald shared his and his family’s personal journey through anguish and anger to forgiveness and peace. He explained that if he could not bring himself to forgive the man who shot him, he would have been trapped in anger.

Since 1988, Detective McDonald has traveled to numerous schools and community groups to talk about the need for reconciliation and non-violence among people.

His inspirational message of love and forgiveness touched the hearts of all those present.
Father Christopher Okorie, one of the school chaplains, told McDonald, “You are a true hero.”

The assembly concluded with the Gospel Choir leading the student body and faculty in singing “Amazing Grace.”

St. Fidelis School Salutes

Class of 2007

St. Fidelis School, College Point, congratulates its Class of 2007 for earning scholarships to eight Catholic high schools and gaining entrance into nine specialized public schools. In alphabetical order, the students, their scholarships, and public high school acceptances are as follows: Taylor Azarro, La Guardia Performing Arts, Professional Performing Arts; Chelsea Chan, St. Agnes Academic H.S., College Point; Christopher Choe, St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, Brooklyn Tech, Science Skills Center; Eilish Cooney, La Guardia Performing Arts; Austin Cottrell, Holy Cross H.S., Flushing, St. John’s Prep, Astoria, Brooklyn Tech; Kristina Di Re, St. Agnes Academic, Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, The Mary Louis Academy, Jamaica Estates, Bronx Science, World Journalism Prep; Edward Flanigan, Holy Cross, Bronx Science; Joseph Gowen, Regis H.S., Manhattan, Holy Cross, Archbishop Molloy, Stuyvesant, Townsend Harris; Lauren Haropulos, St. Agnes Academic; Haley Klidas, St. Agnes Academic, St. Mary’s H.S., Manhasset; Xavier Kourkoumelis, Stuyvesant, Townsend Harris; Christopher La Magna, St. Mary’s H.S.; Amanda Livingston, St. Agnes Academic, St. Francis Prep; Anthony Mickalauskas, Bronx Science, Townsend Harris; Grace Park, St. Agnes Academic, St. Francis Prep; Robert Scagnelli, Holy Cross; and Mathew Varghese, Archbishop Molloy, St. Francis Prep, Stuyvesant, Townsend Harris

Youth Views

How do you celebrate Easter?

Alexandra Landivar Archbishop Molloy H.S. Junior My family goes to the Children’s Mass at Our Lady of Mercy, Forest Hills. Then we go to a shrine in L.I., where there’s a Rosary made of bushes. My family and I say the Rosary and visit the Stations of the Cross.	Christina DiLorenzo Archbishop Molloy H.S. Sophomore Easter is a time to come together to remember the pain and suffering of Jesus and to celebrate His resurrection. We go to Mass and then all 26 of us go to my grandparents’ house for a huge Easter dinner

Mohwanah Fetus St. Edmund Prep Senior My family and I go to our church, St. Vincent Ferrer, East Flatbush, in our best church-going clothes and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Afterward, we have a huge feast at home and celebrate the rest of Jesus’ day as a family.	Christina Quintana St. Edmund Prep Freshman On Easter, we go to 11:30 a.m. Mass as a family just like every Sunday. When we go home, we get eggs and gifts. Then we go to my grandma’s house and eat and eat until we’re full. It’s just a day of family.

Angelo Landriscina St. Edmund Prep Senior I always celebrate Easter by spending the day with my family. It is very fitting to celebrate the most important Catholic holiday with the most important people in my life.	Ernest D’Ambrose Archbishop Molloy H.S. Freshman My family and I go to Mass at Our Lady of the Snows parish, Floral Park, for the Easter vigil and then we have paella valenciana, which is rice cooked with many different kinds of fish and seafood.

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