Parents of Alumni Rekindle Marist Connections

Alumni chaplain Fr. Mark Kenney, S.M. presided over the prayer service, which was followed by an address from current president Fr. Bill Rowland, S.M. and the introduction of Incoming Marist President J. D. Childs to those in attendance. Mr. Childs has visited Marist several times this year as he prepares to assume the role of president on July 1, 2023, a day he and Fr. Rowland eagerly await. Going forward, Fr. Rowland will remain an important part of the Marist community as Rector with oversight for the Catholic and Marist identities of the school.

Principal Mr. Kevin Mullally also provided several key updates about the 2022-2023 school year and other timely community events. He remarked on several recent events parents of alumni may remember from their own children’s experience at Marist School, such as the Sing-Off, a yearly singing competition taking place in the Arcade since 2015, and St. Peter Chanel Day, a four-decade-old Marist tradition that parents of alumni who are also alumni themselves likely participated in while they were students at Marist. He invited attendees to visit the Goizueta Center for Immersive Experience and Design on the ground floor of Wooldridge Center, where the podcasting and broadcasting studios are located, the Intelligent Machines Lab houses robotics and engineering classes, and the Immersive Theater hosts temporary co-curricular exhibits. Regarding the latter, he highlighted the recent St. John’s Bible and Civil War Field Hospital immersive exhibits. Mr. Mullally also encouraged families to learn more about the Marist mission in Spain, an opportunity to put faith into action at the invitation of Marist priest Fr. Daniel Fernández, who visited our community in February.

Mr. Mullally noted that the transition of Marist athletics to 6A classification in competition sports has been a successful change. He shared that the continued success the programs have achieved on the field, with few exceptions, is “not based on singular athletic achievement by individuals but is brought out instead because of our communal pursuit of excellence. We all work together to bring the best out of everyone. In that way, we compete not for our own sake, but for that of each other’s and for that of our team.” He went on to say, “We are still, solidly, one of the best athletic programs not just in the state, but in the country.”

The Marist School campus not only features the hustle and bustle of students, faculty, and staff but is also frequented by parents of current students, parents of alumni, and graduates who visit classrooms as guest speakers, attend a prayer group, or meet to plan various service projects, among many other things. Marist parents are just as involved in the daily life of the school as their children, and many parents of alumni continue their involvement with Marist School long after their children graduate. From hosting an intern at their place of work to attending a fine arts performance or athletic match, parents of alumni are invited and inspired to continue supporting the Marist mission of forming the whole person in the image of Christ. Their ongoing connection to Marist is greatly valued and enhances the experience of everyone at the school. Marist is thankful for the steadfast support and active participation of parents of alumni. Events like the Parents of Alumni Reception provide a welcome opportunity to express this deep gratitude.

View photos from the Parents of Alumni Reception.