By Jessica Easthope

Many students at St. Francis Prep are holding rosary beads in their hands for the first time.

If you’re new to it, it can be intimidating. Once you make the sign of the cross – you’re on your way to saying 67 prayers in total – 53 of them are Hail Mary’s. It might sound basic, but a lot of people do it wrong.

“You’d be surprised, there’s a lot of particular things different cultures do, certain prayers people throw in or some people leave out so we just want to give our kids the broadest explanation possible of this is exactly what the rosary is, this is the basics of our faith and what we do,” said St. Francis Prep chaplain Father Ralph Edel.

Every Thursday during October, the month of Our Lady of the Rosary, Father Ralph teaches classes about the prayers.

“In terms of what goes wrong sometimes you have people who think just because they’ve prayed the Hail Mary a million times in their lives they have it down pat so just teaching them to have that concentration in the midst of prayer and really doing our mission which is to teach them how to pray,” he said.

The level of familiarity with the rosary varies from student to student. Junior, Gabriel Harris is just learning.

“I never really prayed the rosary on my own and I was sort of confused but I came to these classes and Fr Ralph was able to teach me and honestly it makes me feel a lot more comfortable because I know what I’m doing right,” Gabirel said.

There are four mysteries of the rosary and each mystery contains five moments in the life of Christ and our Blessed Mother represented by the beads in between each decade.

Emma Bogdan has been saying the rosary since she was little but proves you can still slip up.

“You have to keep trying at it, as a young woman who’s a practicing Catholic it really helps me feel closer to Mary,” she said.

Fr. Ralph says once the students get past memorization all that’s left is Mary.

“That’s really that second level of prayer you hit and that’s where you want to go, so we’re not concentrating so much on the words but getting to the point where we feel comfortable enough with our Blessed Mother to say I want to give to another intention that’s the next level we’re trying to get all of our kids to,” he said.

The goal is to show students the beauty of the rosary is not what happens while you’re praying it but how you live after.

By Bill Miller

LOWER MANHATTAN — The post-COVID economic malaise could not dampen the spirits of Catholic education supporters who happily raised a record $2.8 million Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Futures in Education’s Annual Scholarship Dinner.

About half the goal was reached before dinner was served in the packed grand ballroom of Cipriani Wall Street. But then came the “Angel Auction” handled by Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, vicar for development, and Msgr. David Cassato, vicar for Catholic schools.

The vicars crisscrossed the stage, urging audience members to open their hearts and their checkbooks. They called out patrons by name, challenging them, and cheered the ever-growing bids.

Coupled with the silent auction and other donations, the evening’s proceeds bested 2021’s total of $2.1 million. The audience celebrated with a rendition of “Sweet Caroline,” a favorite often sung by the spirited vicars at various public events.

“It’s a record breaker,” exclaimed Msgr. Gigantiello, following the event. “Never has the diocese raised so much money.”

Futures in Education helps pay tuition at Catholic schools and academies in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Longtime supporters help ensure that opportunity for some 3,000 students.

The event drew a surprise appearance by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who praised the audience for investing in children.

“If you don’t educate, you will incarcerate — there is no getting around it,” he said. “Look over your history. Don’t let anyone try to rewrite the role that the Catholic schools have played in communities.”

“When other private schools were not willing to go into the depths of the crevices of our city, you are willing to do that,” he added.

The event honored two of the organization’s longtime supporters — Gregory Cerchione, lawyer and principal at Subin Associates, and Joseph Cappotelli, former vice chairman of the global construction firm, Structure Tone.

Both men and their families are also beneficiaries of Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Also, special honor was given to Joseph Mattone, founder of a real estate and property management firm and a real estate law firm, both carrying his name. Mattone, 91, was praised for his longtime support of Catholic education.

The parent presentation was given by Toni Totten, who was joined on stage by her sons, Adonnis and Sincere Payne, and grandsons Makai and Ramrin Payne. All four young men are students at Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy in Jamaica.

It was the first Futures in Education gala attended by Bishop Robert Brennan since his installment last November. He gave the invocation. Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio also attended.

Rosanna Scotto, co-host of “Good Day New York” on Fox5 NY, was mistress of ceremonies. Veronica Tsang, board chair of Futures in Education, introduced a video presentation about the organization.

Performances included the National Anthem by Daniel Rodriguez, a musical medley by students of Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy in Astoria, and a few songs from classical vocalist Christopher Macchio.