November 18, 2008

Dear Parents and Students, Alumni, Friends of Loughlin, and Prospective Students and Families,

We are in the season of thanks giving.  We at Loughlin have had a fall filled with occasions to be thankful.  First among these was the arrival of our Freshmen class of 242 young men and women.  They completed three days of orientation and successfully moved into the school community.  Our community now numbers 895.

Second, we celebrated 75 years in Clinton Hill/Fort Greene.  On October 12, 1933 the boys from Old St. James marched from Tillary and Jay and joined students at the Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School.  After a mass celebrated by Bishop DiMarzio, 250 students recreated the march.  As this group of students approached the school yard entrance on Lafayette, chanting and cheering, the student body assembled in the yard greeted them with applause.  It was a special moment. The Bishop dedicated a plaque to commemorate the event.  The entire group of students and invited guests sang the school song with enthusiasm.

Third, we have added a “History “of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School to our first floor corridor.  It sketches who we are from the beginning in 1851 to the current moment.  Our first floor corridor also displays our 21 Penn Relay plaques to great advantage.  Loughlin has won more of these awards then any high school in the country.

Fourth, after a 30 year hiatus, Loughlin has fielded a debate team.  On their first outing, a member of the team ranked among the top ten speakers at the tournament.  What a great beginning!

Finally, we hosted the St. Augustine and Bishop Loughlin reunions, as well as the John Loughlin Council Dinner.  Our alumni/alumnae are a dedicated and committed group of men and women.  Those men from St. Augustine share with Loughinites the rich tradition of a LaSallian education begun by St. John Baptist DeLaSalle.  Truly, LaSalle and his educational legacy are a great gift both to the church and to the world.

As I said when I began, we have much for which to be thankful.  We at Loughlin have been blessed abundantly with God’s grace.  May we be renewed in our commitment to share these blessings.
Live Jesus in our hearts!


Brother Dennis Cronin, FSC
President