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DECEMBER 1

WELCOME

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Saint Mary School Alumni,

The reaction to my first-ever President’s Alumni Newsletter was overwhelmingly positive! For that I am most grateful, especially at the holidays where we have a unique opportunity to count our blessings and really take stock in all the good God has done for us. Although many struggle during the holidays, either due to loss or unexpected negative life occurrences, we can always take comfort in knowing that we are loved unconditionally by the one true God and that His mercy is more than enough.

As Saint Mary School alumni, I am asking you all to be the “light” to those around us during this special time of year we call Advent. Let us be a gift to others, whether a family member, friend, or a perfect stranger. Your time and attention can be the best gift of all to one in need. As I read just recently, “You might be the best Bible someone will ever read”. God bless you all this Advent and keep Saint Mary School in your prayers as we will continue to pray for you.

Yours in Christ,

Craig E. Palmer

School President

Saint Mary School
cpalmer@stmaryes.org

BOARD CORNER

Stephen J. Nicholl

Board Chair

A seasoned public affairs and foundation professional, Stephen J.Nicholl is the president and owner of NICHOLL & Associates, which provides public affairs solutions to address the complex challenges of corporate, community, governmental, and not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Nicholl most recently served as director of development and stewardship for the Diocese of Trenton, retiring in 2023 after 12 years. In that role, he was responsible for the oversight of all fundraising, donor cultivation, major gifts, events, and philanthropy, including the Annual Catholic Appeal and Faith to Move Mountains. He also oversaw advancement and development activities on behalf of diocesan ministries, 98 parishes, and 35 schools. Mr. Nicholl earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration—Management from Monmouth University.

EVENTS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

NOVEMBER 27

Christmas Market & Breakfast with Santa, see flyer below

NOVEMBER 30

Immaculate Conception

DECEMBER 8

Dedication: Memorial Hall bleachers for Colin Casey

JANUARY 26

FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

A Journey to Classical Education

I was not a person of faith, but when our daughter started preschool at Saint Mary School she naturally started asking questions about God. Those are big questions, and I felt she deserved proper answers, so I started to educate myself about Catholic Christianity by reading. Two aspects of my reading stood out, one for my daughter and one for me:

1. Jesus of Nazareth is the greatest teacher in human history. His lessons on love, kindness, and humility were exactly what I wanted to teach my daughter.

2. Israel means "wrestles with God." Doubt is a part of believing and Jesus' own disciples, at times, doubted him. The church is an assembly of believers who wrestle with God together. This was incredibly liberating to me because I always thought doubt was not permitted – that to believe in God meant no longer struggling with questions of faith. This allowed me to participate; questions, imperfections, struggles, and all. 

Thank you Saint Mary School for inspiring me to begin this journey of Faith, and thank you Holy Spirit for opening my eyes to the Truth of the Gospel.

Thomas Murray

SMS Father of a 2^nd Grader and Pre-K Student

#Giving Tuesday

Join the Spirit of Giving Tuesday

This Giving Tuesday, December 2, 2025, let’s come together as a Saint Mary School family to celebrate faith, learning, and community! Your donation—big or small—helps our students grow in wisdom, joy, and love for God and others. Together, we can keep our school thriving and our mission shining bright!

Your contribution to the Saint Mary School Annual Fund is an investment in the values of Catholic classical education and the growth of the next generation. You can make a difference by donating online, or by sending your donation payable to "Saint Mary School Annual Fund."

EVENTS

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Nate Whitehead '20

Saint Mary School prepared me for college and “the real world” in ways I didn’t fully appreciate until I graduated. Academically, SMS gave me a great foundation that consisted of reading, writing, and mathematical skills that allowed me to get into the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) for high school. More importantly, the school’s emphasis on our Catholic Faith allowed me to grow while learning about who and what matters the most. Going into high school, I didn’t feel overwhelmed because Saint Mary had already given me great academic structure, respect for others, and the mindset that effort matters. In high school, teachers won’t chase you, and the world certainly won’t, but Saint Mary School taught me to take initiative long before that became a necessity. 

My favorite class at SMS goes all the way back to kindergarten with Mrs. Marita Goworek. Even though it has been well over 10 years since I was in this kindergarten class, I remember it like it was yesterday. This class set the foundation for my entire life!  It was where I was first taught about my Catholic Faith, and where I made some lifelong friends. I really do believe that friendships formed at Saint Mary School last a lifetime. The best friend I made in that kindergarten class is still my best friend today! 

One challenge I remember facing was balancing academics with extracurriculars, especially when I wanted to excel in both. There were moments when things didn’t go perfectly, and I felt pressure to perform. Instead of quitting or getting discouraged, SMS taught me to turn to God. That mentality has followed me into high school, and now college, where managing coursework, athletics, and leadership roles requires the same resilience. 

Service was a big part of the Saint Mary experience. Whether it was being a student ambassador or Altar Serving at St. Mary’s Parish (which my brother and I have continued doing), there are always ways you can get involved and make a difference at SMS, whether in school or out in the community.  

My hope for future Saint Mary students is that they embrace everything the school offers: faith, academics, friendships, and service. I hope they understand that these years lay the foundation for who they become, and that they carry their Faith confidently into the world.  

“Passionately Catholic. Academically Excellent. Filled with Joy.” means leading with faith, striving for your best, and doing it with genuine happiness. It’s a balance of mind, heart, and spirit, the same balance I try to carry into my life now. 

While at Saint Mary’s, I was involved in many clubs and sports. That involvement taught me teamwork, responsibility, and leadership skills I still rely on every day. Today, I’m an honors student at Monmouth University, studying Finance with a concentration in Real Estate. I have been elected as the Director of Finance on the Student Government at Monmouth, and last summer I was fortunate enough to get an internship at a prestigious real estate firm in New York City. Saint Mary School didn’t just prepare me for the next step; it prepared me for life!

Nate Whitehead

SMS Class of 2020

MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL

ALUMNI ARE MATER DEI'S "LIVING STONES"

by Cathy Daniels SMS ‘75/MD ‘79

“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:5

As many know, earlier this year St. Mary’s Parish sold the land comprising the Mater Dei Prep complex to Middletown Township in a project supported through Green Acres funding to create Mater Dei Park. Plans for the park required the demolition of the high school building, which is now nearly complete.

Throughout the spring and summer, a small group of concerned alumni collaborated with several contractors to assess the high school building to determine the viability of extracting and preserving the Mater Dei seal, located in the main foyer. Extricating the seal, which was embedded in 18” of terrazzo and rebar-reinforced cement, was deemed a challenging endeavor. In the end, only one vendor, a local house lifter/mover, had the equipment and confidence to do the work safely. The job, estimated to cost at least $20,000, required hydraulic supports to hold up the foyer floor as laborers cut a 10-foot square around the seal. The slab, calculated to weigh thousands of pounds, would then be lowered to ground level and removed from the building. 

As we prepared to launch a fundraising effort, the group learned through conversations with Middletown Mayor Tony Perry that Middletown Township planning officials were already working directly with the demolition company, hired by the Parish as a condition of the sale, to extract and secure the seal for display in the new Mater Dei Park. The mayor assured us that there was no need to move forward with any fundraising or independent vendor contract. Unfortunately, the township’s promise to save the seal was unfulfilled. 

As heartbreaking as the demolition of the Mater Dei building and loss of the seal are to so many, our alma mater’s true legacy goes beyond bricks and mortar. Our physical school is gone but our spiritual house remains. We are the “living stones” of Mater Dei. 

The close-knit community that helped shape each of us lives on in each of us through the blessings of the education we received, the faith we nourished and the lifelong friendships we formed. 

Let it be our sincerest hope that the children and families who visit Mater Dei Park will experience the same joy and sense of community that we cherished while walking the grounds and playing on its fields. May this park become a welcoming space that fosters close connections and beautiful memories for generations to come.

A STUDENT'S GRATITUDE

Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations to the Ave Maria Fund. Your generous contributions have allowed many families to enjoy the excellent academic and spiritual opportunities that come from sending their children to the Saint Mary School. Our son has benefited from your generosity, and it has meant the world to our family.

Our eldest son has gone through the public school system during his entire educational career. However, we felt that we wanted a different outcome for our youngest son. Being parishioners of St. Mary’s for about a decade, we knew that the Saint Mary School was the only option for us. We desired an authentically Catholic education that would form his mind, heart, and soul. And in God’s great goodness, He provided a way for us to make that happen. That way was all of you! The Ave Maria Fund has filled in the financial blanks we were not able to, and we could not be happier that the Lord has paved a way for our son to attend this school. The positive influence from teachers, staff, and peers has made such a difference in his life and in the life of our family. Not to mention the community of St. Mary’s is vibrant and thriving. We are so blessed to be a part of it!

Thank you again for making this dream a reality. We hope to one day be able to pay it forward and assist another family in having the same opportunity. We will keep you all in our prayers. Please know every donation matters, and we are only one family of many who are eternally grateful to have their child attend this beautiful parish and school.

Yours in Christ,

Bill & Stephanie

Parents of Bjorn

Grade 3