Message from the Director of Advancement

Greetings Fellow Alumni,

As we continue our Centennial Celebration (1924 - 2024), I want to thank all our amazing alumni for your continued kindness and generous financial support of Saints and our students. Whether making a gift to our Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, Lenten appeal, Saints Day of Giving, or sponsoring and/or participating in one of our annual alumni events, your gifts make an immediate and lasting impact on our students. Your kindness and generosity have never been greater, and your philanthropic support of Saints based on our lessons of Faith, Service, and Community have never been more important.

As you develop your giving plan for 2025, please consider supporting our students through a gift to Saint Raphael Academy. Please visit the "Give" page on our website (saintrays.org) for some of the ways you can help. Also, please check with your employer to see if they have a Giving Match Program. Usually a very simple process, there is no easier way to increase the impact of your gift than by doubling its impact. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s a great way to support Saint Raphael Academy and our students.

You will notice that this edition of the newsletter will focus on some of the great men of Saints. In March, our newsletter will celebrate National Women’s Month and our 50th Anniversary of Female Excellence at Saints (1974-2024) with 100% of our content focusing on some of the great women of Saints. We are also adding a new feature to our newsletter this month to re-connect with some of the Christian Brothers that served us at Saints and had such an amazing impact on our lives. I hope you enjoy reading their updates and all the spotlights and stories in our newsletters.

Finally, I am very excited to announce and extend a warm welcome to Jennifer Luiz who joined the advancement team as the Assistant Director of Advancement. Jen has worked in our admissions department for over 11 years and has played a significant role in helping to attract and welcome new students to Saints each year. In her new role, Jen will help with planning and executing our alumni events, be the point person for alumni communications and social media updates, and assist me in the advancement office. Jen can be reached at jluiz@saintrays.org and at 401-723-8100 x134. Please join me in welcoming Jen to the advancement team!

Once A Saint, Always A Saint!

Ron Dalton '79 | Director of Advancement

Reggie Browne '25

What is your favorite thing about being a student at Saints?

Thank you for this opportunity, I am thrilled to be a part of the student spotlight. There are so many things I love about Saints. I love that we have a small and tight Saints community where it is so easy to get to know everyone most especially if you're an outgoing person like me. We have a diverse student body. I have made many good friends over the last four years. Everyone is just so interactive and friendly. I love when we walk to classes and socialize as we walk. Our teachers and faculty members are amazing people who do their best in pushing us to reach our full potential, to succeed in high school and beyond. They basically nurture us throughout our high school years.

What is your favorite class at Saints and why?

My favorite classes at Saints would be math and English. Math is a subject I love learning mainly when I understand the concept of the lesson which our math teacher (Dr. Costanzo) helps us with a lot. I love English because it is an interesting class. We have class discussions, and our English teacher (Mrs. Gallagher) makes it very engaging. Overall, I love all my classes here, but math and English are the ones that really stand out for me.

What activities are you involved in at Saints?

I am involved in the Active Minds chapter at Saints. It is a mental health chapter at our school that is affiliated with the KylesCare Organization which is a bigger institution. Basically, we shine a light on mental illness and let people know that it's ok to not be ok. We help erase the stigma around mental health by spreading positivity on campus and on SRA Active Minds social media page. We have green out dress down days and game days where we raise money for the chapter. We have painted rocks around campus with encouraging phrases on them. We grow tulips in the spring. We also draw positive notes on the sidewalks when the weather is good. We have bracelets that are two sided with encouraging notes. We have before and after school meetings every other Tuesday. And we even have therapy dogs come to our campus before exams where students can have a fun time before going into exams. This chapter has so much to offer our Saints Community, and I am really glad that we have it on campus. I am also on the boys soccer team for our school. We won the championship two times in a row during my sophomore and junior year which is pretty amazing.

You recently had the opportunity to attend The McLaughlin Institute for Social Justice. Can you tell us a little about what that was like?

MSJI was an amazing experience. The program opened the eyes of students from across the US and internationally to the sufferings and injustices of the world. Over the two weeks, we visited many sites and participated in helping and caring for the needy. With the little resources we may have, we can use that to better our society. This is what God asks of you, only this...to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly.

Overall, I just love the fact that I attend SRA because it's been nothing but good memories, creating bonds with people that I expect will last a lifetime, exploring new things, and obviously receiving a quality education.

We will always be Saints Strong! Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever!

Austin Haskins '26

What is your favorite thing about being a student at Saints?

My favorite thing about being a student at Saints are the people here. The friends and teachers have made me feel like family since my first day here. I am extremely grateful for the community here at Saints.

What is your favorite class at Saints and why?

My favorite class is definitely Mrs. Nelson's English class. She makes the class fun, challenging, and laidback all at the same time.

What activities are you involved in at Saints?

My first year at Saints I was on the basketball team, but I found a new passion and am now involved in robotics. I am the lead programmer in the club. We've gone to several competitions this year. Our last one was the RI First Tech Challenge Robotics State Qualifier, where we competed against about 15 other teams. We got an award for Best Robot Design in the competition.

Can you share a little bit about the work you did to create the A1 bot in support of mental health?

Outside of Saints, I have a company called Haskins Industries. I founded the company to help as many people as possible. Our newest invention and product is JJ. JJ is an AI 'friend' designed to be the person you can go to for anything. He listens to what you have to say and responds with empathy and compassion, making you feel safe, acknowledged, and supported. I started the company and created JJ in memory of my older brother, Jason, who died of cancer in 2019 at the age of 21. Curing cancer is a little unrealistic for me at the moment, but I can help others in a different way. Time, effort, and determination went into creating the website and JJ. I hope to partner with other organizations that are also working with those struggling with mental health.

Mitch Carvalho | Vice Principal of Student Life

How long have you been at Saints and what positions have you had here at school?

I've been working at Saint Raphael Academy for almost 4 years. My journey began in the physical education department as a PE & health teacher. Coaching hockey and baseball have also become a huge part of my identity. I am grateful for the opportunity to build life skills and develop student athletes while staying connected to sports that I hold close to my heart. This year marks my first school year as Vice Principal of Student Life. I'm truly enjoying this new role and embracing the challenges that come with it.

Have you always aspired to work in an administrator role at a high school?

To be completely transparent, I had no desire for working in education when I graduated college in 2020. I received my bachelor's degree in criminal justice with full intentions to become a police officer. I was a month and a half into the RI Police Academy when I experienced a severe injury to my shoulder. After months of recovery, and months of reflection, I came to the realization that I did not want to go back to policing. I had a voice in my head telling me to find purpose elsewhere. I like to share this story with students, especially upperclassmen, to remind them that life throws you curveballs. Even when you think you have your whole life planned out at seventeen years old, chances are you don't and that's certainly okay. I'm a firm believer that God has a plan for all of us and that everything happens with purpose.

What is your favorite part of working at Saints?

My favorite thing about working at Saints is having experienced how tight knit the community is. The administration, faculty, and staff here really look out for one another. That foundation of kindness and compassion is passed down to the students and that's how we're able to thrive as a high school. Also, working with your mom is pretty cool. Shoutout to Nurse Kathy!

Can you tell us, in a few sentences about life outside of Saints?

Outside of school, I am a dog dad. My puppy Luna is my best friend, and we do just about everything together. I am also a huge sports fanatic & I love traveling to different venues for some of my favorite teams. A goal in life is to make it to all 30 MLB baseball stadiums, almost 33% completed so far! I also love to watch movies, listen to music, and spend quality time with family and friends.

Richard Cipolla | Chief Financial Officer

How long have you been at Saints and what positions have you had here at school?

I started at Saints in July of 2012 as the CFO. Some of the duties include the overall financial operation of the school, building & grounds, liaison with the Diocese of Providence regarding school budget & investments, etc. I also teach one class and am moderator of the Investment Club.

What did you do prior to working at Saints?

Prior to working at Saints, I was the Director of Finance at Monsignor Clarke School in Wakefield for 11 years. Prior to Monsignor Clarke, I was the CFO at Caritas House Inc. (a detox and drug rehab center for 15 years.

What is your favorite part of teaching?

Teaching Personal Finance is the best part of my day. Students get to share their financial fears, questions, and dreams during the semester. They leave with real world skills to help them navigate such areas as student loans, acquiring credit, various insurance categories, and other needed financial skills to move forward in their adult lives.

Can you tell us, in a few sentences about life outside of Saints?

These days, life outside of Saints is spent with family and grandchildren as much as possible. There is no better feeling than a grandchild who thinks you have the answers to all of the world's questions.

Tom Brett '67

What did you do when you left Saints?

Following graduation from Saints, I attended Rhode Island College (tuition $188 per semester), worked at Tarpy’s Meat Packing House and tended bar. I was offered a job by Brother Jerome teaching and coaching but instead, accepted a sales position at Xerox Corporation in Boston.

Do you remain in contact with any of your classmates?

Now that we have a first reunion planned for our 60th year, I have rekindled old relationships with Bill Love, Marc Landry, Roger Farren, Gerry 'Jazz' Griffen, Mike Germani, Jack 'Sand Dune' McCann and Jim Langlois. I stayed in touch with a good friend, Bill Walker, who regretfully passed away 15 years ago.

How has your Saints education and the lessons you learned shaped your life?

I have often spoken about the impact the instruction and discipline of the Christian Brothers, has had on my life. Some of the most important lessons I have taken away from my time at Saints are:

Be Honest. It is always easier to tell the truth no matter what the consequences.
Communicate but listen more than you speak. God gave us two ears and only one mouth.
Show up. 90% of life is being there.
Finish the job. Do not leave anything undone.
From Brother Peter Boniface: “You can’t legislate morality.”

Why is Saints still important in your life and why you have chosen to continue to support the school and our students?

I admire the life lessons that Saint Rays teaches its students. Saints is educating the next generation of learners and leaders who will be an asset to the world long after I am gone. I will be forever grateful to Saint Raphael Academy and want to pay it forward.

Bill Mulholland '71

Can you share a little about what you did when you left Saints including your recent induction into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame?

I spent the 1970's in and out of college (RIJC 1974 and UNC-Ch 1978) and as a VISTA volunteer community organizer (rural Florida 1979). After enjoying that decade, I settled down for a 31-year career as a public servant for my hometown Pawtucket Parks & Recreation Department (1980-2011) and then finished my working days as the CEO of the Pawtucket Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union (2011-2020). In 2024, I was humbled and honored to be inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame for my work with the City, the local cable-access show Good Sports with Bill Mulholland (1992-present) and the Pawtucket Times' Blackstone Valley Memories daily sports feature (1996-present).

Do you remain in contact with any of your classmates?

Once a month, my 1971 grads and good friends, Dick Tierney, Tom MacLane, Brian Randall, Don Larence and Greg Costigan, meet for trivia night at a local watering hole.

How has your Saints education and the lessons you learned shaped your life?

The Brothers nurtured and expanded the basic fundamentals of living a good Christian life, in the classroom, they prepared me for my post SRA education journey and taught me there are consequences to my actions.

Why is Saints still important in your life and why you have chosen to continue to support the school and our students?

The life-long friends and memories I experienced at SRA continue to play an important part in my life. I am always proud to say I am a Saints alum and support Saints in the classroom, on the fields and courts, and on the stage.

Brother Thomas P. Casey, FSC

When were you assigned to Saints and what was your role here?

My history at Saint Raphael Academy totals 19 years. I was assigned to SRA from September 1972 through June 1974 and again from September 1975 through June 1980. During those seven years I taught math and religion. In September 1983 I was invited back to serve as Vice Principal for Academics. I was in that role for 5 years and, in addition to my administrative duties, I taught one math class. I was appointed Principal and was in that position from academic years 1993-1994 through the academic year 1999-2000. For the first several years I taught a math class; when the Creating the Future campaign kicked into gear, I reluctantly had to reallocate my time to concentrate on fundraising.

What are some of your favorite memories of Saints?

Although they evolved and took different form over time, I associate the following general memories of Saints with each of the three decades during which I lived and worked on Walcott Street: community ambiance; ethnic diversity; campus configuration.

Do you stay in contact with other Brothers that were assigned here?

I regularly see the other Brothers who served at Saint Raphael Academy at times when the Brothers gather for an event. Now that the Brothers’ District is no longer confined to the Long Island-New England (LINE) area we may be in communities or ministry sites across our District of Eastern North America (DENA). It has been quite a while since I lived in a Brothers community with a confrere who also served at Saints.

What is the one thing that stands out about your time at Saints?

One thing that stands out to me about Saint Raphael Academy is how it has adapted to the times while staying true to its mission.

Why have you chosen to stay connected to Saints?

I have been blessed to have developed relationships with alumni and former colleagues from my time at Saints and that is one way I have maintained contact with the school. Another tie that I continue to have with the Academy is the scholarship fund that was established in memory of my parents several decades ago. Its corpus has grown, and it continues to provide tuition assistance to students in need.

Maybe you, or someone you know, is interested in living a fulfilling life as a Brother. Visit www.BrothersVocation.org to learn more or contact the Director of Vocation Ministry at BrotherPaul@fscDENA.org

Brother Peter Bonventre, FSC

When were you assigned to Saints, and what was your role?

I was assigned as principal in 1980 and was there until 1983.

Who were some of the people you worked with? Do you stay in touch with them?

Sr. Rosamond Ethier, Sister of Mercy, (now deceased) was there as assistant principal for academics. Joseph MarcAurele was the other assistant principal and also athletic director. We still communicate. We had a strong faculty during my tenure. James Flaxington and Sr. Johnelle Luciani were on the campus ministry team. Coach Thomas Sorrentine (the great Saar) moderated two sports, if I recall correctly. And among the teachers were two young men, David Gaffney (now Fr. G) and Br. James Dries, both still good friends. My secretary was Mary Russell, a fine lady. The Parent's Club was a fine and very supportive group.

What are some of your fondest memories of Saints?

I have good memories of all these people. More specifically, I remember sitting in the stands for the annual Thanksgiving game with Tolman. And we won two state football championships during that time. I also recall the statue of Saint Raphael in front of the school and the annex down the street near St. Joseph Church.

It thrills me that Saints is celebrating 100 years of serving Rhode Island youth.

The first semester has been a busy one here on Walcott Street. The Class of 2028, Reverend Mark Gadoury, and several new teachers arrived for the first time and quickly settled into our community. Time honored traditions such as orientation, opening of school mass, walk-a-thon, Grandparents' Day Mass, Thanksgiving baskets, and Toys for Tots collections took place in between learning, drama productions, and sporting events. The 100th anniversary celebration was kicked off with a special mass celebrated at Holy Family Church (the former St. Joseph Church) and brunch. A second event - a Godspell reunion - welcomed past cast and crew members back for post-show reception. The centennial celebration and 50th anniversary of women as Saints will continue throughout the year... be on the lookout!

Long before the first day of class, fall sports teams began practicing in anticipation of the season ahead. All eight teams proudly represented SRA. Special honors to the girls' soccer team who were undefeated (21-0) and went on to become the D3 state champions and the boy's cross-country team that were division and all-class champs. Individual honors were almost too numerous to mention! Many members from the football team were awarded post-season honors; 1st team all D1 - Armand Northup-Reed, Damien Ocampo, Darrell Palmer, and Dmitry Sermos, 2nd team all D1 - Kimani Buchanan, Tashaad Brown, Brady Platt, Brendan Cardoso, and Logan Magras, and 3rd team all D1 - Johnny and Matt Germain.

Winter sports are well underway at this point. Basketball (girls and boys), cheer, hockey, indoor track (girls and boys), and swim (girls and boys) are competing in their respective divisions and battling for the wins.

Recent graduates have retired their purple and gold and are now proudly representing their colleges in a variety of sports. We hope the lessons in character, discipline, accountability, and teamwork that we taught here at SRA are still in play each time they don their new uniforms! Remember: Once a Saint, always a Saint!

Cross Country & Track

Bates College - JJ Rocha

Iowa State - Darius Kipyego (Olympic Trials) & Devan Kipyego (3:56.37 mile)

UMass Lowell - Pedro Mayol

Western New England University - Josh Farrell

Football

URI - Jalen Antoine, Khamari Brown, Andre Gray, Ethan McCann-Carter, Moses Meus

University of New Haven - Devin O'Malley (First Team All Conference)

Golf

St. Anselm College - Nick Emery

Reservations to open soon...

Registration will open soon...

In this month’s newsletter, we will focus on Matching Gifts. Do you know that 78% of match-eligible donors don’t know if their company offers a matching gift program, and only 7% of donors at companies with matching gift programs actually submit a request. Many organizations and companies are exploring new ways to simplify matching and drive more corporate donations to completion, including matching gift auto-submissions. Companies have guidelines around the percentage of their match, which types of programs they will match to and maximum amounts of match per employee, per year.

For an employee/donor, it is the easiest and best way to drastically increase the impact of your gift to Saint Raphael Academy and all it takes is a few minutes of your time.

Does your employer have a matching gift program? Please take a few minutes to learn about your company’s policy and request a matching gift as often as you can. This simple process can have a significant impact on the school and makes a difference in the lives of our students, allowing some to attend Saints and others to remain a Saint through graduation.

Below is a list of some of the many companies that offer matching gifts. Will you help a Saint by making a gift to Saints and requesting a match today?

Apple

Bank of America

BP (British Petroleum)

Bristol-Meyers Squibb

Charles Schwab Corp.

Cisco Systems

Citizens Bank

Deloitte

Disney

Exxon Mobile

General Electric

Google

Grainger

Johson & Johnson

JP Morgan

Merck

PepsiCo

Sanofi

Starbucks

State Farm

State Street Corporation

The Home Depot

Verizon

Upcoming Reunions

Class of '75

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025

Location: Hilton Providence

Price: $120

Campus Tours: 4:00pm

Dinner: 6:00pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Classes ending in 0 and 5

This is YOUR year to plan your special reunion.

We are looking for members of the classes ending of 0 and 5 to begin planning their reunions. Contact Jen Luiz today if you're interested in helping with planning your reunion.

Be sure we have your correct contact information, so you don't miss any important class announcements.

Update Your Information

Recent Reunions

The classes of 1964, 1969, 1979 and 1999 held their reunions in 2024.

Other classes also gathered for their reunions in 2024, stay tuned to future newsletters for more awesome class photos.

Saint Raphael Academy stands united in remembering the lives of those cherished members of our alumni family who have passed into eternal life since our last publication. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones. Please join us in remembering to honor the legacy, spirit, and the lasting impact of those who, as students, breathed life into the halls of Saint Raphael Academy. We remember the experiences, laughter, and the memories these individuals have left in their wake. Join us as we pause to reflect, to celebrate, and to perpetuate the flame of camaraderie that continues to burn brightly in the hearts of our alumni community. If we have missed the passing of a loved one who is a Saints alum, former faculty, or staff member, please contact Jen Luiz at jluiz@saintrays.org so we can honor their memory in a future newsletter.

Kenneth Andrews '64

Bertrand Brais '66

Edmond Brown '02

Richard Cady '60

Richard Carignan '57

Andrew Casey '55

Peter Charland '74

Francis Condon, Jr. '52

Lawrence Cunningham '53

Joseph Germani '59

John Lambert '49

Kristen Livingston '85

Leo McAlice '47

James McDermott '51

Richard Messier '64

John Ormerod '50

Edward Parker '56

Albert Pugliese '62

Cathy Rahill '81

David Sklarski '76

Nicholas Souza '07

Raymond Tremblay '56

Clifford Wallace '62

Jack Wilson '68

Saint John Baptist de La Salle… pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts… forever!

The Purple & Gold Zone: Your source for Saints gear for the whole family!

You can use the link below to shop and have your purchase shipped directly to you or make arrangements to pick up in store. Whether shopping for yourself, former or current students, the Purple and Gold Zone has you covered.

Visit the Purple & Gold Zone

Alumni: Update Your Information!

Have you updated your information lately? We are missing so many wonderful alumni current addresses and emails and would love to keep you informed on all the great happenings at Saints! Click this link to update your info today! Then check with classmates to be sure they received this newsletter too.

Update Your Information