Cardinal Dolan Celebrates Maria Regina High School’s 65th Anniversary

HARTSDALE, NY — Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, Friday celebrated the 65th anniversary of Maria Regina High School.

School officials said his visit began in the gymnasium where he led a Mass for the entire student body of about 500 young women, as well as members of the administration, faculty, staff, alumnae, board of trustees and invited guests.

Dolan also toured the Hartsdale-based campus, which was established by the Sisters of the Resurrection in 1957. He blessed the school’s latest advanced learning space, an ADA-compliant, state of the art eco-conscious Environmental and Life Sciences Laboratory.

The new lab, completed in time for the 65th anniversary gala in late October, now allows for equitable physical access to the latest science resources and represents the transformation of a traditional classroom space, offering direct access from the courtyard which houses a new community garden.

School President Anna Parra said Dolan's visit was an inspiration “for all who had the good fortune to hear his homily, his expressions of support for the school’s mission in preparing students for post-secondary success and engaging in genuine, one-on-one conversations with him.”

During his homily, Cardinal Dolan spoke about the inherent spiritual power of the school’s name, Maria Regina, which translates as Mary, our Queen. He recounted the events of 1983 when Poland’s Lech Walesa, founder of the then-outlawed Solidarity union and pro-democracy leader won the Nobel Peace Prize which was frowned upon by the ruling Communist regime.

Dolan noted how remarkable it was that Walesa, who was constantly assailed by the Communists, dedicated the prestigious accolade to the Virgin Mother Mary by enshrining it with the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, the nation's most revered icon.

During his blessing of the Sciences Lab, Dolan recognized a plaque on the wall dedicated to the two foundations whose generous grants totaling $100,000 that made the transformation possible: The Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation and The Charles A. Mastronardi Foundation.