Hall of Fame

This past Saturday, I was inducted into the St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School Hall of Fame along Mrs. Barbara Maher, The Ferraro Family and Rev. Msgr. James Kissane. It was a tremendous honor - one that was both very affirming and humbling, most especially when I consider this year's inductees and previous honorees.  Even more humbling was the tremendous visible support offered by family, the St. John's, Our Lady of Lourdes and Hope House communities and the members of the Seminary community who attended the dinner.





The Inductees: Mr. Walter D. Lace and Msgr. James Vlaun



 Below are the words I shared after being inducted into the Hall of Fame by Msgr. James Vlaun, past Chaplain and Mr. Walter D. Lace, Principal:

"I come tonight with three reactions – shock – humility – gratitude.

Shock. First, and those of you who know me already know this – I hate this stuff. And I want you to know how it happened. Last January Mr. Lace mentioned, “You know, Johnny, we need to honor you at the Hall of Fame….” and I said, “No, no, I don’t think so” and never heard about it again until during my pastoral work this summer at Good Samaritan Hospital came to me and said, “Congratulations you’re being honored at St. John the Baptist”. I replied, “What?” and she showed me the SJB Family News with my picture on it…so lesson learned – in the future be definitive.

Family Picture!



 Humility. Truthfully, I come here tonight very humbled and truthfully one does not feel worthy of this for two reasons. First I see who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and who is being inducted this night. The wall in the South Lobby is filled with women and men, families and communities who have in some way – directly or indirectly –given more to me than I could ever hope to offer to St. John’s. For this community accepted an awkward, uncomfortable fourteen year old freshman in 1989 and molded and formed him. This community through the actions and support of Dr. Joanne O’Brien, Msgr. Vlaun and Mr. Lace gave an opportunity of a lifetime to a 20 year old to serve as a teacher and campus minister and eventually social worker, It is this community that encouraged me to continue to learn and go to school and to develop. It is this community – of students, alumni, teachers, family, friends and so many others – who in large part sent me to the Seminary. And even to this night, a community that continues to pray for, support and encourage me in so many ways.

Some members of the Seminary Community: Sr. Mary Louise Brink, SC, Collins Adwutum, Lawrence Onyegu, Jacob Onyumbe, Msgr. Joseph DeGrocco, Paschal Choi, Daniel Opaku-Mensah, and John Kwon.

   Gratitude. You see it’s because I have been given so much that I come with gratitude….gratitude I suppose for those circles that Fr. Jim spoke about. Grateful for family….who has constantly provided support and encouragement and space – I can’t tell you how many family events I’ve had to be late or to miss for something involving work or parish. Grateful for this community of course as well as parish who is here tonight – a parish where I was born and raised and again given the opportunity to minister and serve…Grateful for the community of health care ministry and Hope House…again given more opportunities to discover more about myself and the limited way I can God’s gifts for the better. And grateful for the perhaps the “newest” community on the block –the men and women here from the Seminary. I’m honored that administrators, faculty and staff have come tonight – for while St. John’s accepted a 14 year old freshmen, this community accepted a 34 year old awkward freshman last year. You will see a number of men I live with here tonight. In most cases they have traveled the world to come to this place and in coming to know them, I’ve come to know what true sacrifice, humility and service are about – again another opportunity and experience I’ve been given. 


Good friends from parish and beyond who attended the dinner.



In that spirit of shock, humility and gratitude – I thank you for doing what good community – what good family – does so well: surprises you again and again, gives you opportunities to recognize how God might in some way work through and time and time again – give you reasons to give thanks again and again for a lifetime of support, empowerment, strength and support. For that I am most grateful."