Teacher, principal recognized Father Pujol’s calling early on

By Maria Guzzo

Contributing Writer

NEW KENSINGTON – Of the hundreds of graduates of Mary Queen of Apostles School during her tenure as principal, Cathy Collett said the alum she’s most proud of right now is Father Christopher J. Pujol, the Diocese of Greensburg’s most recently ordained priest.

“I believe that Father Pujol was called by God to his vocation,” Collett said.
Testimony from former teacher Janet Casper gives credit to her impression.
Casper recalls seeing Father Pujol in a school hallway years ago.

“I heard a tiny voice in my head that said, ‘He has a vocation.’ I was taken aback momentarily, but then dismissed it,” she said.
Casper said three of his school friends independently commented to her that they thought he would become a priest. Remembering that voice in her head, and with Collett’s permission, she phoned the Diocesan vocations director, who visited Father Pujol at the school.
Father Pujol remembers the visit, and that he didn’t specifically say “no,” but said he didn’t listen to the call until late in college.

“It was more just that I wasn’t ready, but I knew deep down,” he said.
Father Pujol said his time and education at Mary Queen of Apostles School and its predecessor, Mount St. Peter School, formed him to be a man of prayer, where Christ was present throughout the day.

“MQA allowed me to live out my faith, along with my friends, so we could be the future of the Church no matter what our calling was,” he said.

What’s more, he said those three grade school friends attended his ordination.

New Kensington – Members of the Mary Queen of Apostles forensic team took honors in a forensic league tournament Dec. 3 at Archangel Gabriel Catholic School, Robinson. S

• • Sixth-graders Hadassah Cardaro, first and second, poetry; Aby Farmer, two seconds, poetry; Ava Myers, two seconds, drama; Julia Skowronski, first and second, prose.
  • Seventh-graders Emmalin Domiano, first and second, prose.
    Team of sixth-graders Evan Crimmins, Joelle Ondriezek and Carson Gray and seventh-graders Greta Magnusen and and Bria Domiano, two firsts, multiple reading.
  • Team of sixth-grader Addyson Gouza and fifth-graders Martha Palumbo and Zoey Farmer, first and second, multiple reading.

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Arts in spotlight at Mary Queen of Apostles School

By Maria Guzzo

Contributing Writer

New Kensington – Attendees at Mary Queen of Apostles School’s band and chorus Christmas recital and Nativity presentation found standing room only. Residents at two long-term care facilities thoroughly enjoyed students’ Christmas caroling visits. The school’s fall musical performers encountered enthusiastic audiences, too.

Principal Cathy Collett said the fine arts department is thriving at MQA after a pause for the pandemic.
“It is nice to have the arts back in full swing,” Collett said.

Students didn’t seem to lose any momentum after more than a year of modifying their music lessons and rehearsals, said music teacher Tamara Bernot.

“During the time when singing was not permitted, students chanted and hummed songs and focused on learning rhythmic patterns, so the essence of performance was never dimmed,” Bernot said.

MQA concerts returned in December 2021 with a masked seventh- and eighth-grade chorus singing to socially distanced immediate family members in the school gym. In the spring of 2022, just the seventh- and eighth-grade chorus performed, this time maskless. But it was an all-school affair at December’s performance.

Bernot said in-person arts events like the concerts at the care facilities build character.

“It is important for students to learn that performing at nursing homes is an act of compassion and charity. It’s also one of many ways to express joy and happiness with others,” she said. “Students learn that folks at nursing homes share many similar likes to things as they do. Students also engage in conversation with folks and this enhances skills in communication.”
At MQA, band is offered to fifth- through eighth-graders and chorus is offered to sixth- through eighth-graders. Musical theater is available to students in fourth through eighth grades.

The fall musical, “Willy Wonka Jr.,” was co-directed by three alumni who are now juniors at St. Joseph High School, Natrona Heights. The stage manager was also an MQA alum from St. Joseph.

MQA students have also excelled in visual arts, which they study weekly. Students in fourth through eighth grade participate in the Missionary Childhood Association’s annual nationwide Christmas card contest. Two more students won honors in 2022. The school has had eight of its cards win over the past seven years, including two winners each in 2017 and 2022.
MQA art teacher Judy Young said statistics show that students who participate in the arts are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

“Art helps children develop motor skills, teaches them to try new things, to think and be creative. It helps reduce stress and develop social, emotional and interpersonal skills,” Young said. “MQA sees the arts as important for students.”