On September 10, 2025 the Notre Dame Academy Board of Trustees unanimously selected Linda D. Anderson, M.Ed., as the Academy’s next Head of School, succeeding Dr. Marilyn Tencza, ’71.
Linda currently serves as Academic Coach at Athol High School and previously was Principal of St. Bernard’s High School (2019–2024). At St. Bernard’s, she led a comprehensive school transformation rooted in Catholic mission, resulting in increased enrollment, a strengthened academic program, and enhanced student outcomes.
Linda began her career teaching English Language Arts, Latin, philosophy, and psychology at St. Bernard’s High School, where she fostered a student-centered approach to instruction that blended classical tradition and inquiry with 21st-century, evidence-based pedagogy. In 2019, she was appointed Principal of St. Bernard’s by the Diocese of Worcester. In that role, she oversaw all academic, operational, financial, and spiritual aspects of school life. She partnered with the newly formed Board of Trustees and the Diocese to establish St. Bernard’s as an independent Catholic high school, then successfully guided the school through the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, the school revamped its curriculum, more than doubled its enrollment, and secured financial stability while fostering a culture of excellence, faith, and belonging.
Linda holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and Learning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Early in her career, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year and twice received the National Honor Society’s Excellence in Character Award. She was named to the Worcester Business Journal’s 2021 “40 under 40” class and her transformative approach to leadership has been featured in the Boston Globe, Harvard Education Magazine, WCVB News, and the feature-length documentary All In: Miracle at St. Bernard’s.
Linda shares: “As a product of both Catholic and all-women’s education, I am keenly aware of the ways that both traditions inform and inspire the minds and hearts of young women, preparing them for lives of leadership, scholarship, and service. I am honored to serve the NDA community in this role; the traditions and charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are alive and vibrantly present in our students, teachers, and community, and I can’t wait to help carry their mission forward as we usher our school into its newest iteration.”
Linda will work closely with Dr. Tencza and a Transition Team appointed by the Board of Trustees over the coming months. She will be on campus full-time starting in January, and will officially assume the role of Head of School on April 1, 2026. To ensure a seamless transition for the entire NDA community, Dr. Tencza will remain with the Academy through June 30, 2026
Linda was raised in the Worcester area and attended Trinity Catholic Academy in Southbridge, Massachusetts and graduated from St. Peter-Marian High School. She currently lives in Westminster with her family, including her two children, Grace and Teddy.
As Notre Dame Academy approaches its 75th anniversary, the appointment of a new Head of School marks a truly historic and inspiring milestone. For three-quarters of a century, NDA has proudly educated and empowered young women in Worcester and across Central Massachusetts. Rooted in this legacy, the Academy continues to stand strong in its mission while embracing a bold vision for the future.
This leadership transition is not only an occasion to honor the remarkable achievements of the past 75 years, but also an opportunity to shape the next chapter of growth, academic excellence, and commitment to faith and service. As the only all-girls independent Catholic school in Central Massachusetts, NDA’s mission and impact remain as vital, dynamic, and inspiring as ever.
We are thrilled to welcome Sister Maria Delaney, SNDdeN as our graduation speaker at NDA's 70th Commencement celebration on May 22nd!
Sister Maria Delaney SNDdeN has been a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 61 years. Her professional journey includes extensive experience in secondary education and administration, as well as ten years as the founding Executive Director of the Notre Dame Education Center in Boston.
For twelve years, she served in Rome, Italy, as a member of the Congregational Leadership Team of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In this global role, she had the privilege of visiting sisters and ministries across five continents.
Sister Maria has also served on the Board of Directors of the International Catholic Education Association, which enabled her to visit numerous Catholic schools around the world, particularly in underserved regions. Back in the United States, she spent seven years as Director of the US Office of Sponsored Ministries, supporting schools and health centers bearing the SNDdeN name and collaborating with Notre Dame institutions internationally.
More recently, she was part of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur NGO delegation at the United Nations. She currently serves as a member of the US East-West Province Leadership Team.
Sister Maria Delaney’s lifelong commitment to education, global service, and compassionate leadership makes her an inspiring voice for our 2025 Notre Dame Academy graduates. Her experience across five continents and her unwavering dedication to justice and faith in action offer a powerful example of how to lead with purpose and make a difference in the world.
Georgia Sgouritsas Beland ’26 is ON PAR for GREATNESS
Proudly highlighting Notre Dame Academy Junior Georgia Sgouritsas Beland ’26, an exceptional athlete and leader on the NDA golf team, who was recently featured in the Telegram and Gazette’s Scholastic Spotlight profile.
A four-time T&G Super Team selection and 2021 Hometeam Player of the Year, Georgia is dominating the course again this spring—she’s medaled in the first seven matches and has helped lead the Rebels to a 3-3-1 start. With a powerful drive and remarkable consistency, she’s cut her handicap from 6.8 to a stellar 4 in just a year. As a team captain, she plays a key role in mentoring younger teammates and keeping the sport competitive and fun.
Off the course, Georgia continues to impress. She’s a dedicated student enrolled in advanced honors microbiology and precalculus, as well as AP English and U.S. History. Georgia dreams of playing Division I college golf and becoming an orthodontist—goals she’s already pursuing by spending this summer gaining hands-on experience at Central Mass. Orthodontic Associates. Her drive, discipline, and leadership make her a true role model.
Join us in celebrating eighth-grade cross country and track star,
Lily Longton '29!
Recently featured in the Worcester Guardian, Lily is making waves as one of the top young runners in the state, setting records and competing at an elite level, proving that hard work and talent know no limits!
This past fall, she delivered a dominant season as a member of the varsity cross country team. Competing against upperclassmen from 12 teams, she secured first place in five out of six meets, proving herself as a top contender. One of her most remarkable achievements came at Worcester Tech, where she set a new course record.
Lily showcased her talent on a larger stage at the Wachusett Invitational, earning a medal with a ninth-place finish in 22:35 against runners from several large schools. She continued her impressive performance at the Division 2C State Meet on November 9 at Fort Devens, clocking a time of 22:08. This outstanding run made her the only eighth grader to place within the top 30, solidifying her status as one of the most promising young runners in the state.
Congratulations to Lily for her amazing achievements!
NDA Senior Brigid Burke ’25 is a powerhouse—an athlete, a devoted volunteer, and someone who truly understands the bigger picture in life!
Catch her front-page feature in the February 28th edition of the Catholic Free Press and be inspired by her incredible journey of faith, sports, and community service. Brigid’s dedication and heart make us so proud, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things she’ll continue to accomplish College of the Holy Cross and beyond!
A huge shoutout to the Catholic Free Press and Bill Doyle for this fantastic feature!
NDA Sophomore Maddie Wilson '27 was recently featured in WCVB Channel 5’s inspiring '5 FOR GOOD" segment! This incredible spotlight showcased Waypoint Adventure, a Lexington-based nonprofit dedicated to making outdoor activities more accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Born with spina bifida and a passion for speed, Maddie has been racing in her wheelchair since she was five years old. A true track star, she made history as the first high school female wheelchair athlete to compete at the New Balance Nationals.
But until recently, Maddie had never felt the exhilaration of cross-country skiing. Thanks to Waypoint, she embraced the challenge and discovered a whole new way to push her limits. While skiing together, she shared her inspiring journey of growth and determination with WCVB Channel 5 anchor Erika Tarantal.
"They've all kind of helped me get through what I need to learn so I can go out there by myself." Quickly skiing independently, Maddie said, “I like the hills personally."
Check out Maddie’s interview, where she shares her love for speed here!
NDA couldn’t be prouder of her unstoppable Rebel spirit and determination to break barriers and inspire others!
2024 Commencement Speaker
NDA is excited to announce that Mary Kiritsy Foley, Executive Director of the Medicaid|Medicare|CHIP Services Dental Association (MSDA), and member of NDA's class of 1974, will be our commencement speaker for the upcoming 2024 Notre Dame Academy Graduation on May 23rd.
Read more about Mary below:
Ms. Foley serves as the Executive Director of the Medicaid|Medicare|CHIP Services Dental Association (MSDA), a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting oral health equity for America’s most vulnerable populations by collaborating with government agencies. A proud alumna of Notre Dame Academy's Class of 1974, Ms. Foley's journey over the past five decades has been marked by remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication.
After graduating from NDA, she pursued her bachelor’s degree in health science at Worcester State University and later earned a master’s degree in public health, specializing in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, from the University of Massachusetts, School of Public Health and Health Policy. Ms. Foley began her career as a licensed dental hygienist in Massachusetts, balancing her clinical work with raising a family. Her transition to public health occurred two decades later when she assumed the role of Director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Oral Health.
In 2005, Ms. Foley relocated to Washington DC to spearhead a national initiative focused on improving oral health for low-income pregnant women and infants. She served as an advisor to various federal agencies, including the Office of Head Start and the CDC. Returning to Boston in 2007, she took on the role of Dean at the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, where she significantly expanded enrollment and introduced a master’s program in Dental Public Health.
Ms. Foley returned to Washington DC in 2009 to concentrate on healthcare policy, advocating for enhanced dental coverage for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. Notably, her collaboration with the National Council on Disability in 2023 resulted in a groundbreaking report to Congress and President Biden, yielding pivotal policy recommendations that transformed healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through her tireless efforts, Ms. Foley continues to champion the cause of equitable oral healthcare, leaving an indelible impact on communities nationwide.
NDA NAMES LINDA D. ANDERSON NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL
On September 10, 2025 the Notre Dame Academy Board of Trustees unanimously selected Linda D. Anderson, M.Ed., as the Academy’s next Head of School, succeeding Dr. Marilyn Tencza, ’71.
Linda currently serves as Academic Coach at Athol High School and previously was Principal of St. Bernard’s High School (2019–2024). At St. Bernard’s, she led a comprehensive school transformation rooted in Catholic mission, resulting in increased enrollment, a strengthened academic program, and enhanced student outcomes.
Linda began her career teaching English Language Arts, Latin, philosophy, and psychology at St. Bernard’s High School, where she fostered a student-centered approach to instruction that blended classical tradition and inquiry with 21st-century, evidence-based pedagogy. In 2019, she was appointed Principal of St. Bernard’s by the Diocese of Worcester. In that role, she oversaw all academic, operational, financial, and spiritual aspects of school life. She partnered with the newly formed Board of Trustees and the Diocese to establish St. Bernard’s as an independent Catholic high school, then successfully guided the school through the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, the school revamped its curriculum, more than doubled its enrollment, and secured financial stability while fostering a culture of excellence, faith, and belonging.
Linda holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and Learning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Early in her career, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year and twice received the National Honor Society’s Excellence in Character Award. She was named to the Worcester Business Journal’s 2021 “40 under 40” class and her transformative approach to leadership has been featured in the Boston Globe, Harvard Education Magazine, WCVB News, and the feature-length documentary All In: Miracle at St. Bernard’s.
Linda shares: “As a product of both Catholic and all-women’s education, I am keenly aware of the ways that both traditions inform and inspire the minds and hearts of young women, preparing them for lives of leadership, scholarship, and service. I am honored to serve the NDA community in this role; the traditions and charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are alive and vibrantly present in our students, teachers, and community, and I can’t wait to help carry their mission forward as we usher our school into its newest iteration.”
Linda will work closely with Dr. Tencza and a Transition Team appointed by the Board of Trustees over the coming months. She will be on campus full-time starting in January, and will officially assume the role of Head of School on April 1, 2026. To ensure a seamless transition for the entire NDA community, Dr. Tencza will remain with the Academy through June 30, 2026
Linda was raised in the Worcester area and attended Trinity Catholic Academy in Southbridge, Massachusetts and graduated from St. Peter-Marian High School. She currently lives in Westminster with her family, including her two children, Grace and Teddy.
As Notre Dame Academy approaches its 75th anniversary, the appointment of a new Head of School marks a truly historic and inspiring milestone. For three-quarters of a century, NDA has proudly educated and empowered young women in Worcester and across Central Massachusetts. Rooted in this legacy, the Academy continues to stand strong in its mission while embracing a bold vision for the future.
This leadership transition is not only an occasion to honor the remarkable achievements of the past 75 years, but also an opportunity to shape the next chapter of growth, academic excellence, and commitment to faith and service. As the only all-girls independent Catholic school in Central Massachusetts, NDA’s mission and impact remain as vital, dynamic, and inspiring as ever.
Chief Advancement Officer
Notre Dame Academy is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sherri Pitcher as the school’s next Chief Advancement Officer. Sherri has a proven track record in marketing, community relations, and fundraising, as well as a passion for our mission and the hallmarks of a Notre Dame education.
Sherri comes to NDA after working as a Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development at Fontaine Bros. She was responsible for organizing and directing new business development initiatives, creating community partnerships, and providing guidance for brand marketing.
Prior to working at Fontaine Bros, Sherri served as the Senior Vice President, Chief LifeDesign Officer for Fidelity Bank, where she engaged with community stakeholders and directed the bank's philanthropic support. Sherri was also a Senior Director of Economic Development for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce for several years, where she organized and programmed the Chamber’s Women’s Information Network (WIN) Program. Sherri started her professional career as a Media Planner.
As the Chief Advancement Officer, Sherri will oversee a fully integrated advancement effort for NDA. Joining our community that values diversity and belonging, she will be responsible for the overall strategy, design, and coordination of philanthropy and engagement for our Office of Advancement, continuing to grow our network of support.
Sherri is a graduate of Fairfield University, earning a BA in Communications. As a community volunteer, she has many current and past leadership roles at many non-profit boards including the EcoTarium, Worcester Redevelopment Authority, Worcester Public Library Foundation, Worcester Regional Research Bureau, and Worcester Garden Club. She has been a member of many community fundraising teams, including the YWCA and the Women’s Initiative of United Way of Central MA. Sherri is also a six-time marathon finisher, including the Boston Marathon (2), Burlington, VT, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, and San Francisco, CA.
Please join us in welcoming Sherri to our NDA community.
2023 Commencement Speaker
NDA is excited to announce that Paula Ebben of WBZ/CBS Boston News and a member of NDA's class of 1985 will be our commencement speaker for the upcoming 2023 Notre Dame Academy Graduation on May 25th.
Read more about Paula below:
Multiple award-winning journalist Paula Ebben is an anchor at WBZ-TV in Boston. Ebben is also an anchor for WBZ's streaming news service: CBS News Boston, and reports across all newscasts including WBZ-TV News' "Eye on Education" reports.
During her two-decade broadcast career, Ebben has also received a 2014 Columbia du Pont Award and a 2013 Peabody Award as part of WBZ-TV's team coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombings. She has been nominated for multiple Boston/New England Emmy Awards for Anchor, Reporter, Consumer Reporter, Education Series, and Writing, and won for Reporter in a WBZ Special on the Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions. In 2005, Ebben was awarded a regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Feature Reporting. In 2011, she was chosen to report for all CBS stations from The 2011 Royal Wedding in London, England. She has also reported from the Democratic ('04) and Republican National Conventions ('04 and '16) and many New Hampshire Primaries. She has interviewed first lady Michelle Obama at the White House, reported from the Canonization of the Popes in Rome, and covered the three-city visit of Pope Francis to the United States. She has also had the opportunity to co-anchor Championship Parades for The Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and New England Patriots.
Ebben is a Central Massachusetts native raised in Shrewsbury, MA. Before joining WBZ-TV in 2002, Ebben previously worked as an anchor and reporter at New England Cable News. Before joining NECN, Ebben was an anchor and reporter at WGMC-TV in Worcester, MA.
Ebben graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, and cum laude from Boston College with a BA degree in English. She serves on the Board of Directors of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Boston's foremost agency helping homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. She also supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Ebben and her husband Bill reside in the Greater Boston area. They have four children.
NDA Celebrates Black History Month-Non-Racism vs. Anti-Racism
As Black History Month comes to a close, it is important to recognize that February is not the only time we should be celebrating Black excellence. We need to take a stand against racism and support people of color during all months of the year. But, it is not enough to simply be “not racist”. We must actively be anti-racist, fighting intolerance and discrimination in our communities.
Non-racism is, to put it simply, not being racist. But, this should only be the first step in our journeys of acceptance, love, and justice. Stating that you are “not racist” is great, but it doesn’t solve the overall problems that people of color face in the world. Racism is not just large acts of violence and hate groups, it can also come in subtle forms. Stereotyping, microaggressions, and lack of representation are all acts of racism, as well.
The first step in being anti-racist is to take a step back and be willing to educate yourself. It is okay to be in the wrong, but what is important is being able to grow from mistakes. You should seek out the voices of people of color who advocate for change and amplify them. The key to anti-racism is action. Action does not necessarily always mean protesting. It can be donating to funds, choosing to support black-owned businesses, educating the people around you, and so on. Students can use their voices to speak up for those in need and spread awareness to friends and family. Parents and alumni can choose to shop at Black-owned businesses, donate to charities, and have insightful conversations about modern-day activism with their loved ones. Faculty can make sure to incorporate Black history into their classrooms with activities, history lessons, literature picks, and important Black figures and discoveries in their fields. Below, we have come up with a list of reputable charities, education resources, and organizations that can help you take an active role in being anti-racist, as well as some local Black-owned businesses you can support. Happy Black History Month!”
- The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America by Khalil Gibran Muhammad
- We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden
- March (Books One, Two and Three) by Andrew Aydin and John Lewis - PODCASTS
- Code Switch
- Pod Save the People
- School Colors
- Race through education
- A Black Educator’s Truth
- Speaking of Racism
- Black Girls Heal
- Black Girls Teach the Podcast
- Black on Black Education Podcast
- Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
YOUTUBE CHANNELS
- The Wise Channel
- TED
- Race Forward
LOCAL BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES
- Taproot Treasures (1200 West Boylston Street, Worcester)
- Demoiselle Accessories (342 Main Street, Worcester)
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
- List of Shows A to Z | Black History & Culture | PBS
- Color blind or color brave? | Mellody Hobson - YouTube
- This Is How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Black Women: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a23100351/racial-bias-in-healthcare-black women/
- Advocacy for Black Lives: https://www.povertylaw.org/article/advocacy-for-black-lives/
- Cared Calgary Anti-Racism Education: https://www.aclrc.com/forms-of-racism - What to know about microaggressions: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/microagressions
- When Black Women Lead, We All Win: 10 Inspiring Leaders Show Us The Way: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marianneschnall/2020/08/17/when-black-women-lead-we-all-win/?sh=5d42f2bf4513
- Code-switching: 4 Forum voices on what it is – and why we need to talk about it: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/code-switching-systemic-racism-work/
It is my great privilege to be here with you, Bishop McManus, teachers and staff of Notre Dame, parents, family members, members of the board, and especially with you class of 2021 on your graduation day! Thank you so much for having me.
It is remarkable when I look out on this scene just how familiar it is. I graduated 46 years ago and it is a strange déjà vu I'm having right now: same diplomas, same yellow roses, same Sister Ann, same Sister Evelyn, same Patty Provost…
However…I don’t mean to suggest that nothing has changed: as a matter of fact…(presented school uniform) I wore this every day for 4 years!
Uniform notwithstanding…The familiarity of this place is a wonderful and affirming segue for the message that I chose for you today and that is: in this wildly changing world, there are some constants in life, and if we can discern them amidst all the noise and chatter we are in a much better place to frankly maintain our personal sanity be a nurturing presence for those we love and make a positive difference in this world.
Just the fact that this school exists (and a women’s school I will add) based on a tradition begun almost 220 years ago attests to constancy in a real way. The reason I want to talk about things that don't change, is because as citizens of the 21st-century we are led to believe that everything is up for grabs everything is in constant flux all is changeable and that truth is relative in the sense of your truth and my truth, And what a year we've had! It's just hard to discern what is real never mind what is true! Is it real news or fake news? Is it mask / no mask / double mask vaccine / no vaccine / which vaccine? There's just so many voices to listen to! It’s very confusing! absurd even! We do well to remember what Voltaire said when he warned us: “those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities”.
So what we need is a rock to cling to, a little patch of ground, a little country on which to stand amidst all the earthquaking chaos that surrounds us. And this is especially important as you go forth from Notre Dame, as you enter the larger world and as you sort out your place as mature women within it.
So I’m going to share some big ideas, rocks to stand on, that come to me from my family, my education, from my work with people with disabilities, from my community life in offering our home to people who don’t have a home and certainly from my faith as a Roman Catholic.
There is indeed objective reality and such a thing as truth with a capital T. Not only religions, but most ancient and current wisdom traditions acknowledge absolute truths. They describe them as gifts provided by a creator divinity for our own good and for the good of all humanity. Yet even a notion as basic as this one has been called to question.
But this is my point: truth about how the world works and about what is important in life is accessible to us, we just need to know where to look for it. If we focus on the popular and the powerful we will miss it, because the powerful have a vested interest in perpetuating deceptions to keep themselves in power. So if not from the powerful then from where? From the poor, the impaired, the vulnerable, the lowly. The least among us are so often in the best position to teach us about important truths, especially the ones that the world spends much time, talent, energy, and money trying to deny. One big truth is suffering is a part of every human life.
Now I know that suffering is not a typical topic for a graduation speech! But bear with me: when we can unflinchingly stare suffering in the face, so often what we find hiding in the pain is wisdom and love. I speak from my experience of opening our home and sharing our life with homeless people, and from my work with people with disabilities, but I learned it first here at Notre Dame first.
In the early 1970s the Love In Action program at Notre Dame was relatively new. My best friend Sharon O'Connor and I decided that we would volunteer at the Saint Francis home, each one of us adopting a grandmother to spend time with. We met Sharon's grandmother first and she was charming! They planned on going shopping and having lunch and they just really enjoyed one another's company right away. And then I was introduced to my grandmother. Mine was severely mentally affected. She talked constantly, I couldn't understand a word she was saying and probably the worst thing was, she couldn't make eye contact with me, she looked at me, but beyond me and frankly I was afraid of her.
So I resolved to get a new grandmother: someone nice, someone witty like Sharon’s. Well that night at dinner, my father as he always did went around the table and asked each one of us what did you do today? So I told him I was at the Saint Francis home but I got a kind of a loser grandmother and so I was planning to frankly trade her in for a better one. My dad just looked at me. Made me uncomfortable. Obviously, he didn’t get it. I said she didn't even know whether I was there or not! My father then said: “Oh. I thought the name of the program was love in action. It's hard to love when you're not even in the same room.”
So I went back and I stayed in the room and I listened. And as the weeks went by I could discern a pattern in her constant monologue: I heard her say her grandfather had lost his mind in World War I and her husband had lost his life in World War II. She lost her son in Vietnam. She was singing the song of suffering and I just witnessed it.
And one day she greeted me! Another day she told me she liked my company! We never really had what you could call a conversation but we definitely had a connection and for me that was formative.
You see the word compassion means a sharing in another’s suffering. This woman taught me that compassion is not so much something you give as it is something you receive and share. That is an essential lesson that I cannot stress enough.
So my first piece of advice to you (because I get to do that from up here) is don't run away from suffering people. Even seek them out. And even if you can do nothing for them but offer your presence as a gift - that is love, true compassion. Not a small matter! Now you're going to get busy in life and this will not come naturally, to spend time with suffering people. But if you can manage to regularly make that time even for just a few hours here and there, your life will be richer than if you spent those same hours gainfully employed, making only money.
Another big truth that has been passed down from the ages since ancient times, by every culture, in every place, until now, is that we human beings have a transcendent nature, a spiritual nature, we are more than our material physical bodies. Therefore our souls, along with our bodies, need to be nourished or else we perish the same way we would if we were being starved of food.
And so when we make time for prayer, reflection, silence and contemplation it brings forth an understanding that we are not the center of the universe but at the same time it provides the certain knowledge that each one of us is of inestimable worth, a unique and an unrepeatable and therefore precious entity, infused with a spark of the divine.
And therein lies our beauty and our dignity - a dignity that can never be destroyed
not by a bad boss
nor an abusive relationship nor a catastrophic illness
not by the betrayal of a friend nor by a failed marriage
nor by our own weakness and sinfulness not by anything.
Our dignity as human beings is a given whether we know it or not. But when we cultivate our inner life we develop an appreciation for it, a certain knowledge of it - and that we can take to the bank - that carries us through life.
I was evaluating a human service agency that runs living arrangements for people with psychiatric problems. One of the people served joined our final administrative interview. This guy had had enormous suffering in his life: he had lived in a mental hospital for 40 of his 60 years, he had gotten beaten up and lost the use of his left arm, he was experimented on with all kinds of drugs… when I asked if he wanted to make a statement for the evaluation team he stood up, straightened his back and said in a steady and powerful voice: “many call me mentally ill, but no one, no one, can call me morally ill.” This man understood his inherent dignity and it got him through extreme adversity.
So my second piece of advice is to take the time to nurture your soul. Spend time in silence, alone. Turn off the screens and take out the earbuds. Spend time in nature. Put it on your bucket list to go on a silent retreat that lasts longer than one day. Cultivate a habit of contemplation and reflection, and in doing so appreciate your beauty and your dignity and the dignity of those around you.
And as I wrap up here I'd like to speak to you as a woman. Don't let anyone tell you that the only difference between men and women is anatomy, or preference, or sensibility. All wisdom traditions tell us that there are deep-seeded aspects of our souls as women that complete us. Our spiritual identity as life-bearers, present in us whether we have children or not, is what distinguishes us as necessary beings in the world and distinct from men.
Yet so often we are encouraged to be caricatures of men: the high powered businesswoman,
the hard-bitten politician, the gun-toting detective, the fists-swinging lawyer…
These are the archetypal images we are told make up the successful woman.
Certainly strive for excellence in whatever you do, but bring compassion with you. Appreciate your womanly nature as life-bearer in the broad sense, as sister, as auntie, as listener, as gentler, as healer, as nurturer, all so vital in this iron-bound, chilly and troubled world. Dostoevsky said “the world will be saved by beauty” and that is us!
So appreciate that. And one another. Cherish the friends you have made at NDA. Stay close to one another and to the school.
And hang onto your NDA artifacts.
Who knows? Maybe in 40 years, you’ll get to be the graduation speaker…
Thank you, and God bless!
Jo Massarelli is a 1975 graduate of Notre Dame Academy and a 1979 graduate of Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Comparative Theology. She is the Director of the SRV Implementation Project, a human service training and consultation concern. She divides her time between teaching and working with families, human service staff and people with impairments to bring about positive change, one person at a time. She is the founder of the Medical Safeguards Project, teaching physicians and nurses about the particular vulnerability of impaired people in medical settings and how to provide them state-of-the-art care. She has taught at workshops and lectured at conferences across the United States, Canada, Japan, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand to a variety of human service workers serving a wide range of people devalued due to mental impairment, mental disorder, physical impairment, age, and poverty. Ms. Massarelli has evaluated dozens of human service programs for children, adults and elders, including residential, day and work programs, schools, hospice, services, prisons, and homeless shelters. Jo Massarelli and her husband Marc Tumeinski are members of the Catholic Worker in Worcester, responding to the needs of homeless people in the downtown neighborhood where they live. Appreciating the ideal of voluntary hospitality, they welcome homeless people to live with them and share their lives together as valued members of their household.
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