Curley Family Inaugurates Anniversary Year

It was a beautiful day on Sunday August 29 as alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, friars and friends of Curley gathered at the Basilica of the Assumption on Cathedral Street to praise and thank God for the first fifty years of Archbishop Curley High School. 

After the procession made its way to the sanctuary, Bishop Mitchell Rozanski, Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, welcomed the assembly to the anniversary celebration.   Fr. Joseph Benicewicz OFM Conv ’78, Curley’s President, thanked Bishop Rozanski and those present for their ongoing support and their participation in this Mass.  Mr. Michael Gaffney and the Luminare Choir and instrumentalists led the assembly in song.  Fr. Donald Grzymski OFM Conv ’70, Curley’s first president, served as Master of Ceremonies.

The readings from the Old and New Testaments were read by Mrs. Marianne Kistner, President of the Parents’ Guild and Mr. Michael DeMarco, long-time faculty member.   Deacon Marty Wolf ’76 proclaimed the Good News from Luke’s Gospel relating Jesus’ parable on humility.  Fr. Joseph Benicewicz delivered the homily connecting the message of the readings with the example of St. Francis, the life of Archbishop Michael J. Curley and the mission of Archbishop Curley High School.   After the homily, Bishop Rozanski installed Fr. Joe as Curley’s 3rd President.

During the Rite of Installation, Fr. Joe was welcomed by representatives of the administration, faculty and staff (Mr. Barry Brownlee, Ms. Cheryl Jose, Mr. John Kogler, Mr. Joseph DellaMonica and Mr. Barry Stitz ’87.  They presented him with a copy of the Curley Mission Statement.   The President of The School Board, Mr. Gary Michael ’71 and the Secretary of the Board, Mr. Larry Boehm ’69, then presented Fr. Joe with a copy of the Strategic Plan.  These serve as the guiding documents of Archbishop Curley High School.

The Liturgy continued with the General Intercessions, read by Sean Gallup ’11, President of the Student Government.  The gifts of bread and wine were presented by Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Ludwig ’91  (Mr. Ludwig is Vice-President of the Curley Alumni Association) as the choir sang “Lord Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace” by John Rutter.

After communion, a memorial wreath was blessed and Douglas Adams ’65, the first graduate to receive a Curley diploma, carried the wreath to the Basilica’s crypt where he and Fr. Joe laid the wreath at the tomb of Archbishop Michael J. Curley, Baltimore’s tenth archbishop.  Meanwhile, Fr. Timothy Kulbicki OFM Conv ’76 presented to the assembly an insightful synopsis of the life of Archbishop Michael J. Curley.

Closing remarks were made, the closing hymn was sung and the liturgy was concluded.   A reception of light refreshments was held in the Archbishop Borders Hall in the Catholic Center.

Special thanks to Mark J. Potter ’80 and the staff of the Basilica for their kind hospitality.