Saint Rose’s century of Catholic education

HADDON HEIGHTS — Celebrating the 100th year of Saint Rose of Lima Elementary School here with a special liturgy in the parish church on April 12, Bishop Dennis Sullivan praised the students, parents, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and current and past parish priests gathered and absent who have helped the school continue to be a “prophetic choice” in education.

Through “a century of faith, excellence and service” in its mission to teach and form students in the values and morals of Jesus Christ, Saint Rose of Lima School has shown “the boldness of the faith” that is needed, he continued.

Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic, he thanked the school staff and administration for their “yeoman’s work” that has made it possible for in-person learning in the classroom, and hailed the students who have “adapted and excelled in this time.”

Students in attendance included the entire current eighth grade class, who served as greeters, altar servers and singers during the Eucharistic celebration. Their joy to serve and meet the bishop on this important day was palpable.

“I’m honored to be a part of the 100th graduating class,” said Marissa Scullan. Her friend and classmate Jenny Rienstra said she considered herself “very lucky” to be a part of the school and its history.

Dawn Reilly, Class of 1996, is happy to share the Falcon tradition with her children, current Saint Rose students eighth-grader Addison, fourth-grader Tommy and first-grader Mackenzie.

“Saint Rose of Lima has been very formative in the development of my faith and love for education,” she said. She said she wants her children “to experience the same wonderful things that I did,” and is confident that they’ll come out of Saint Rose with a strong faith foundation and well-prepared for high school and beyond.

“Just to see that gym where I used to cheerlead, and now where my daughter plays basketball, is something I’ll cherish forever. It’s really special as a family to celebrate this 100th year,” she said.

Saint Rose of Lima Parish was established in 1896, and ground was broken for the eight-room parish school in 1921. The school was originally staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, and the first graduating class, in 1922, consisted of 13 students. Today the school campus includes a three-story building with 18 classrooms, a library/media and technology center; an art room; a combination accelerated math/foreign language/music room; a cafeteria; and a gymnasium/auditorium combination. The outdoor facilities include a basketball court, children’s playground and open playground. A pre-school, Rosebud Academy, opened in 2016.

After Communion, the appreciative school community presented Bishop Sullivan with a gift basket, which included a beach towel with the bishop’s name embroidered on it, and some treats connected to his Irish heritage — Irish potatoes and various types of cheeses. 

In addition, the creation of the Frank S. and Agnes V. Batavick $100,000 Scholarship Fund was announced. It will aid students needing financial help to attend Saint Rose of Lima School.

Started by their children Agnes (Saint Rose of Lima Class of 1953), Peg (1956), Frank (1959) and George (1962), the scholarship remembers a late devout Catholic couple who moved from Philadelphia to Audubon in 1947 and quickly became valued members of the Saint Rose of Lima parish and school community. Agnes baked pound cake for the annual Christmas bazaar, while Frank built the wooden manger for the church’s Nativity scene.

Their son, George has also begun a matching gift campaign at the school, promising to match the first $25,000 donations for its annual fund this year.

In establishing the family Scholarship Fund, the Batavick children views “Catholic education as an investment in children that will last forever in their lives,” George said.

“Naming The Batavick Family Scholarship Fund after our parents, honors them and thanks them for the sacrifices they made to give all of us the opportunity to attend Saint Rose School. Catholic schools are vital in today’s society as they continue to provide education grounded in the Catholic religion and unchanging values and morals.”