After the celebration of the weekly school Mass on Feb. 6, Augustinian Father Donald Reilly, president of St. Augustine Prep, Richland, called Prep benefactor Paul Navone, the namesake of the school’s natatorium, to the center of the Rodio Gym.
Navone announced to the student body his most recent contribution to the school: A new athletic complex near the turf football field. Slated to break ground in the spring, the complex will feature a state-of-the-art weight room, football lockers, a retractable batting cage, concession stand, and public restrooms.
“Mr. Navone’s continued support of St. Augustine Prep is truly amazing,” said Father Reilly. “He understands and lives the mission of ‘Setting hearts on fire with a passionate search of Truth, Unity, and Love.’ He is a blessing to the institution and we greatly appreciate this recent donation as well as his continued ambassadorship to the school.”
On March 4 the sixth grade girls JV Blue Our Lady of Hope Basketball Team won the Gloucester County Catholic Athletic League (GCCAL) Championship Game that was held at Gloucester Catholic High School. The OLOH JV Blue Girls Team had an undefeated 16-0 regular season and won the recent playoff game against the St. Margaret’s JV Gold Team.
At the Championship Game, the OLOH JV Blue Girls Team defeated St. Margaret’s JV Maroon Team by a score of 29-25, boosting their winning streak to 18 games in a row.
The Our Lady of Hope cheerleaders also recently met with success.
The group collected more than 400 donated non-perishable food items and canned goods that were brought to the Kedron Cheerleading Competition which they competed in on Feb. 24 in Folsom, Pa. For having the greatest number of items, the OLOH Cheerleaders were awarded the 2013 Community Spirit Award from among 21 other competing teams.
All collected food items were donated to Philabundance, an organization that helps feed the poor and homeless in Philadelphia and the surrounding area which includes the needy in both Camden and Gloucester counties.
The OLOH cheerleaders also won second place in their CYO Junior Varsity Division at the competition.