With a prayerful gathering filled with energy and surprises, more than 1200 students and staff of Notre Dame Elementary and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin filled McGarry Gym on Friday morning to give thanks for the ministry of President Sister Jacquelyn Gusdane.
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QUIET LIGHT, SO STRONG AND BRIGHT: Sister Jacquelyn admires the glass candle holder made by NDES and NDCL students presented to her by NDES Student Council leaders Jaiden Mangelluzzi and Lydia Gattozzi.
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A LEGACY OF LIFE: Sister Jacquelyn accepts the rendering of Nazareth Garden from NDES Principal Mrs. Barbara Doering and senior Sarah Fox. The garden will be constructed in Sister Jacquelyn's honor near NDCL's Annunciation Chapel.
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GRATEFUL HEARTS: Seated in mixed groups from both schools, NDES and NDCL students extend their hands in prayer over Sister Jacquelyn at the conclusion of Friday's prayer service.
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The event, which marked the first time ever that all students of both schools have come together in one place, celebrated Sister Jacquelyn's decade of leadership on our campus, first as president of NDCL and then as president of Notre Dame Schools. Sister will leave her leadership role on June 30.
The prayer service, which included a traditional May crowning by NDES first graders, focused on Mary's yes to become the mother of Jesus. Mary's faithful, selfless response has been a lifelong inspiration for Sister Jacquelyn, all of our Sisters of Notre Dame, and the educational mission of Notre Dame Schools.
In remarks on behalf of all Notre Dame students, junior Zach Zienka reflected on Sister Jacquelyn's many accomplishments since she said yes to becoming NDCL's president in 2007. He stressed her loving, faithful, and untiring efforts to expect and model excellence for all of our students.
"Sister, you never stopped believing in us," Zach said. "And we promise you today that we will never stop believing."
Zach's final line triggered a flash mob dance of more than 100 elementary and high school students to the song, "Don't Stop Believing." NDCL mascot Tuffy escorted Sister Jacquelyn through the dancers to the stage as the crowd nearly rocked the roof off McGarry Gym with a roaring standing ovation.
Student Council leaders Jaiden Mangelluzzi and Lydia Gattozzi of NDES and senior Sarah Fox of NDCL presented Sister Jacquelyn with several sentimental gifts, including fleece blankets printed with photos of every student and staff member, a glass candle holder made by art students of both schools, and a framed painting of the Annunciation.
Sister Jacquelyn also received an architectural rendering of a prayer garden to be constructed in her honor near NDCL's Annunciation Chapel. The garden will be named Nazareth Garden, recalling the town in Galilee where the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus.