2023 - Xaverian Winter Magazine
Welcome to interactive presentation, created with Publuu. Enjoy the reading!
Parents, if your son has finished college and you are receiving
his Xaverian Magazine at your home, please notify the
advancement office of his change of address so the magazine
can be sent directly to him. Call 781-326-6392, ext. 6607 or
email mgelso@xbhs.com.
The Magazine of Xaverian Brothers High School | Winter 2023
Chris Bean ’14
A BROTHERHOOD
FOR GOOD
2211827_Cover.indd
12/22/22
5:39 PM
THANK YOU.
Xaverian Magazine
800 Clapboardtree Street
Westwood, MA 02090
781-326-6392
www.xbhs.com
averian
X THE MAGAZINE OF XAVERIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL
From the Head of School
Dear Friends of Xaverian,
he gift you have received, give as a gift. This call is written in the
Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers, and it’s an ethic we
strive to instill in our young men here at Xaverian Brothers High School.
You will find examples throughout this magazine of how they are doing just that.
From volunteering at a summer camp for children and adults with disabilities, to
collecting furniture and household items for people moving beyond homelessness,
to fundraising for cancer research, our young men are heeding the call to “give as
ADMINISTRATION
Head of School
Jacob A. Conca ’94, Ph.D.
Principal
Michael G. Nicholson, Ed.D.
Assistant Principal for
Teaching and Learning
Stephen W. Dacey ’95, Ed.D.
Assistant Principal for Academics,
Grades 9 – 12
Lauren R. Hill, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal for the
Francis Xavier Division, Grades 7 & 8
Joseph D. McGilvray III, Ed.D.
Assistant Principal for Student Life
Joshua M. Tranfaglia, M.Ed.
OFFICE FOR SCHOOL
ADVANCEMENT
Chief Administrator for
School Advancement
Christopher J. Vasta ’00, Ed.D.
Advancement Services Manager
Linda M. Calabrese, P ’20
Director of Data Management
and Operations
Pamela J. Fothergill, P ’07
Advancement Office Assistant
Marissa A. Gelso, P ’19, ’21
Director of Annual and Leadership Giving
David J. Nelson ’02
Director of Alumni and
Parent Engagement
James J. Scholl ’03
OFFICE OF STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATIONS
Director of Strategic Communications
Ann E. Alsfeld
Assistant Director of
Strategic Communications
Kathryn E. Hickey
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Heather M. Schnabel
Graphic Design
Margaret Galeano
© 2022 Xaverian Brothers High School.
All rights reserved.
All of the stories you will read
in this magazine reflect our
mission, a mission that would
be impossible without the
support of our community.
To help keep our mission strong, consider
making a gift to the Fund for Xaverian at
www.xbhs.com/support today!
2211827_Cover.indd
1/4/23
12:02 PM
a gift” in myriad and inspiring ways. This call doesn’t end upon
graduation. Rather, our alumni go forth into the world armed as
servant leaders.
In these pages, you will meet Dr. Jean Raphael ’93, Head
of Academic General Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital,
who works to promote equity in healthcare. You will see
Chris Bean ’14, who aims to educate his community about
sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry. You will read
about Father Chris Peschel ’06, who serves his community
not just from the pulpit, but also by managing the construction
of a new school building. There’s Neal Minahan ’94 who
comes back to Xaverian to share his story of self-discovery
with students so that they won’t feel alone; and finally, there’s
Michael Murphy ’75, who is paying forward the gift he
received—the gift of Xaverian education—to future generations
of Hawks through planned giving.
Though curriculum changes and facilities are expanded
and enhanced to accommodate modern academic and
extracurricular needs, the fundamental call of Xaverian
education remains the same. As we did in 1963, today we
continue to help young men discover and hone their unique
God-given gifts and talents so that they can share them with
a world in need. Through the enduring personal relationships
formed here at Xaverian, we are truly fostering a brotherhood
for good.
Respectfully yours,
Jacob A. Conca ’94, Ph.D.
Head of School
Pictured here are students participating
in recreation time during junior retreat
at Craigville Beach.
Photo by Cooper Witt ’24
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
n 1993, Jean Leclerc Raphael graduated
from Xaverian Brothers High School as
co-valedictorian and was named “most
intelligent” by his classmates in the
senior superlatives. He went on to do
his undergraduate studies at William’s College
before attending Harvard Medical School. Dr.
Raphael completed his residency in pediatrics
and became Chief Resident at Boston
Children’s Hospital. He then concurrently
earned his Master of Public Health from
Harvard and trained in health disparities
through the Commonwealth Fund Harvard
University Fellowship in Minority Health
Policy. Upon graduation from that program, he
was offered a position at Texas’s Baylor College
of Medicine, primarily focused on general
pediatrics but with a secondary appointment
in hematology and oncology. Now, Dr. Raphael
is the Head of Academic General Pediatrics
at Texas Children’s Hospital, overseeing the
primary care program in terms of clinical care,
research, education, and advocacy. He is also
the Founding Director of the hospital’s Center
for Child Health Policy and Advocacy.
It was a long road from his childhood
growing up in a single-family home in
Dorchester, commuting 90 minutes to
and from school, his activities dictated by
the schedule of the 34E Forest Hills bus
because it was his only way of getting home.
But throughout the journey, he knew he
wanted to make a difference for underserved
communities, and he believed helping children
was the best way to do that.
“I’ve always been interested in child health.
Growing up in Dorchester, I wanted to give
back to communities that were vulnerable and
underserved. That was always a passion of
mine. I felt that getting into healthcare would
allow me to take care of families - to take care
of children. The key with children is that there’s
so much potential there. Being able to interact
with them at that stage of development is an
opportunity to transform their lives, and also
the lives of their families as well.”
Now the Boston native who has lived in
Texas since 2006 is busy raising three children.
Despite a 16-year absence from the city, he
considers himself a Bostonian to this day,
checking Boston.com each morning and
raising his children in the proud tradition
of cheering on the Boston home teams. The
Raphael’s are known around Houston as “the
Boston family,” because they’re often spotted
in public wearing Boston sports paraphernalia.
About the move, Dr. Raphael says, “Texas
Children’s Hospital is a large hospital and it
has the great academics that I wanted.” Plus,
he adds, the cost of living in Boston had gotten
more expensive. So, Dr. Raphael and his young
family packed up and they made the move.
No matter where he’s been located,
throughout his career Dr. Raphael has focused
on the issue of equity. He says, “Based on
where I grew up, seeing so many families
including my own deal with a lot of adverse
childhood experiences, the issue of equity has
always been an important one to me. Every
child should have an opportunity to succeed
in the ways that they desire, so that they can
meet the full potential of what they want to be
in the world. That doesn’t exist in the current
landscape because of economics, racism,
bias, access to health care, and issues around
educational opportunity. My overarching goal
Promoting Equity and the
Next Generation of Leaders
Dr. Jean Raphael ’93
Every child should
have an opportunity
to succeed in the
ways that they
desire, so that they
can meet the full
potential of what
they want to be in
the world.
2 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
in my career has been to try to advance health
equity and to increase the opportunities for
children to really succeed in life.”
He’s been able to do this in a variety of
ways. “There have been times when I’ve been
more involved in research on health equity
but now, being in the role of a leader, I have
more influence in terms of what our clinical
care looks like, how we educate our learners
and our faculty about health equity, and also
pushing our group and our institution in areas
of advocacy to ensure that there is equity
within the healthcare system and in the general
society.”
Dr. Raphael says his experience at Xaverian
played a “huge role” in his life. Because he
grew up without a father present, he says the
relationships and role models at Xaverian took
on added importance for him. “Having that
community, that constant nurturing from all
the teachers and the administration, made it a
place I went into every day, and I felt cared for
and nurtured. I knew all of the people around
me were invested in me as a person. I think
Xaverian was such a great match for me in
terms of high school.” He didn’t always think
that, though. Young Jean dreamt of going to
a different area boys’ school. He’d never even
heard of Xaverian. He and his mother attended
a school fair, however, and heard one of the
Xaverian Brothers give a presentation on their
school in Westwood.
“My mom was just so impacted by her
conversation with the Brother who was
presenting. At the end of it, she said, ‘This
is where you’re going,’” he says. “I knew that
conversation meant a lot to her. With the
attention they paid to us that day and when I
visited the school, I was also convinced; there
was no question where I wanted to go. Xaverian
just had the environment and the culture that I
wanted for the next steps of my development.”
There were many teachers along the way at
Xaverian who Dr. Raphael remembers fondly.
Mr. Higgins, Mr. Glinski, Ms. Schofield, Dr.
Eckstrom, Mr. McCready—he rattles off their
names with a smile, talking about their unique
quirks or innate ability to show their students
how to overcome obstacles, to learn, and to
grow in mental toughness. “I can go through
the names of teachers at Xaverian very easily,
but college and med school not so much,”
he says. “It’s because Xaverian was such an
impactful part of my life. I looked forward to
seeing all of those teachers every day because
I knew they cared so much. They didn’t come
just to teach, they came to nurture their
students and make a difference.”
Dr. Raphael is sure to point out though
that the person who had the biggest influence
on his life at Xaverian wasn’t a teacher or an
administrator; it was his best friend, Andres
(Andy) Vizoso ’93. Andy passed away in July
2022 after a battle with gastric cancer. “He and I
were very different people, but we immediately
hit it off,” Dr. Raphael says. “He always inspired
Dr. Jean Raphael ’93 with his children, Zora, Glenna, and Griff
Photo credit to Quy Tran Photography
me, was a great support throughout my time
there, and will forever be part of the foundation
of who I aspire to be.”
Brother Daniel Skala, C.F.X., former
Xaverian Headmaster and current General
Superior of the Congregation of the Brothers of
St. Francis Xavier, remembers Jean as a young
man. “Not only was Jean an outstanding student
blessed with considerable intelligence, but he
also was a humble and compassionate young
man. He had an uncanny ability to connect with
fellow students and faculty, and he was always
ready to help out in any way he could. It was
easy to see that Jean had tremendous promise.”
Dr. Raphael has put that promise, humility,
compassion, and his ability to connect with
others to work fostering the next generation
of physicians. “It’s so easy to get focused on
what you accomplish and what you do, but that
only goes so far,” he says. “It’s so much more
important to consistently think about how you
can help other people get to where they need to
go. I’m most proud of being able to mentor and
provide career guidance to people who also
want to do great work for children and have an
impact on the world. I’ve done research, I’ve
had different leadership roles, I’ve been able
to have a lot of individual success in that way,
but it’s not meaningful to me. It’s the other
part that’s meaningful. It goes back to what I
learned at Xaverian, what’s essential is how you
impact the world.”
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
Justin Fannon, a junior at Xaverian
Brothers High School, distinctly remembers
the day that Pope Francis was elected. It
was March 13, 2013 and he was home from
school that day, sick with an asthma attack.
The memory stands out because March 13 is
also Justin’s birthday. He recalls watching the
proceedings from Rome on his television and
knowing that someday, he wanted to meet
Pope Francis.
Fast forward to 2022 and Justin is an
active member of his parish church, Holy
Name in West Roxbury. During the summer
he earned the prestigious honor of being
selected for a two-year term on the National
Youth Advisory Council. This selective
council is composed of only 12 young people
from across the nation. Their input informs
the work of the National Federation of
Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) with the
aim of empowering “youth to activate their
voices and gifts as members of the Church”
(nfcym.org).
For Justin, his service is born of
frustration with declining youth participation
in the Catholic Church. He wants to see a
change, and he wants to be a part of it. “Our
faith, the Catholic Church itself, seems to be
dwindling away from us,” says Justin. “There’s
no more participation. People blame COVID,
but we need to stop doing that. Personally,
I think the Church helps people. It helped
me navigate through a lot in my life. I want
everyone to have that, because the Church
A Dream Come True, in Service of the Church
isn’t as intimidating as kids might think. It’s a
welcoming place.”
Justin was drawn to youth ministry
because of the example of his older brother.
He looked on with envy and awe as his big
brother took off each week to his parish’s
Youth Service Project meetings with a
large group of his peers. That’s why Justin
joined the same Church group when he
was old enough, only for COVID to hit and
the activity of the group to grind to a halt.
However, his youth minister, Jim Flanagan,
saw something in Justin. It was he who
suggested that Justin consider serving on the
NYAC, and it was through that service that
Justin had the chance to make his dream
from March 13, 2013 a reality.
This October, Justin and his fellow
delegates on the NYAC traveled to Rome for
an audience with Pope Francis. They met
with the Pope’s advisors in iconic St. Peter’s
Square. They went to Mass at the altar in
front of St. Peter’s tomb. And after Mass,
they were blessed with a general audience
with Pope Francis, during which the Pope
encouraged them to bring joy to the world
and keep joy alive in the Church. “That stuck
with me for the next two days, walking around
Italy, thinking about the Pope’s message,” says
Justin. “I was asking myself, ‘How can I do
that? Where? How do I even start?’”
After the general audience, the delegates
had the opportunity to personally meet the
Pope, shake his hand, and, as representatives
for all Catholic youth in America, share
their hopes for the Church with the Holy
Father. What they want to see, they said, is a
welcoming community and safe spaces within
the Church for youth to express themselves
freely. In November, Justin and his fellow
delegates traveled to Long Beach, California
for the National Catholic Youth Conference.
There they shared the Pope’s message of
joy and their hopes for the Church with an
audience of thousands of Catholic teens. Only
a few months into his term, leadership in the
NYAC has given Justin once-in-a-lifetime
opportunities on an international scale, and
he’s grateful for it.
“Meeting the Pope and shaking his hand
changed my life forever. I recognize the
opportunities I have been given, and it’s
helped me develop a real sense of gratitude
for everything I have. I’ve learned that it’s easy
in life to focus on what I don’t have; but now
I want to focus on what I can give, because so
much has been given to me.”
I’ve learned
that it’s easy
in life to focus
on what I don’t
have; but now
I want to focus
on what I can
give, because so
much has been given to me.
4 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
“At Xaverian, there was always a sense
that you don’t live just for yourself,” says
Reverend Christopher Peschel, a
2006 graduate. “You live to be in the service
of others…not in an unhealthy way, but in a
way that honors the gifts you have been given
by sharing them with other people.”
It was this notion of a life lived in service
that led Father Chris to the priesthood.
After attending Xaverian and being an active
participant in the campus ministry program,
Chris went on to study at Franciscan
University of Steubenville. It was there
that he first understood his calling to the
priesthood. “It was a decision of personal
surrender,” he says. “I am here to serve at
the will of others, including the Lord my
God.” Father Chris joined the seminary at
19 years old. He earned a B.A. in philosophy
from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-
Overbrook, followed by a Master of Divinity
and a Master of Arts in Theology from Saint
John’s Seminary.
Now he’s the Pastor of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel in New Bedford, feeling
fulfilled each day by his place in the Church
community and in the affiliated St. Teresa
of Calcutta School. A heavily Portuguese
community, Father Chris is putting his talent
for languages to use, offering Masses in both
English and Portuguese. While he humbly
denies fluency, he is also proficient in French,
Spanish, Latin, and Greek.
The work of a priest for Father Chris, in
many ways, looks like that of a construction
manager. “There’s been two defining
elements of my nine years of priesthood,
and the first one is construction,” he says.
He previously oversaw the renovation of St.
John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro,
and now he’s in the middle of leading a
construction project for his parish school,
turning a former gymnasium into a middle
school. Acknowledging that this work
may seem banal, he says, “It can seem like
you’re a plant manager in some regards, but
there’s also a sense of which you bring in
the element of beauty to it all. When you’re
given that chance to do something artistic,
you recognize that the things we build in the
created world all point us to God.”
The school construction project brings
him to the second defining element of his
priesthood: education. “Whether I’ve served
a parish that had a primary school, or in my
last assignment as a high school chaplain
for an urban Catholic school in Fall River,
and even now with this school here in New
Bedford, I recognize that there’s a sense
of paying it forward to kids who want the
opportunity of an education that is rooted in
Catholic values,” he says. Father Chris looks
back on his 12 years of Catholic education
in grammar school and through his time at
Xaverian, and he recognizes the sacrifices his
parents made to make that possible.
“Being responsible for St. Teresa of
Calcutta School now as a pastor is the pride
and joy of what I do. It’s the heart of being
a missionary at home,” he says. “Mother
Teresa often would remind people that to be
a great missionary you don’t have to go to the
far reaches of the world. We all need to be
missionaries at home—in our own families,
in our own neighborhoods, and in our own
parishes.”
We were blessed with another beautiful early-
fall day at Wellesley Country Club for our
Annual Golf Classic held on Monday,
September 26. This year, 154 friends, family,
and alumni hit the links, helping us raise
$172,671 for our scholarship fund.
Thank you to our sponsors and our golfers!
Fundraising on the Links
Pictured (L-R) are
Adam Evans ’02,
Brad Bestgen ’98,
Andrew Sweeney ’02,
and Michael
O’Brien ’98
Pictured (L-R) are Brian Murphy, Rick Smith ’14, Paul Lyons ’83,
P ’14, ’17, and Steven Lyons
A Missionary at Home
Rev. Christopher Peschel ’06
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
he Ryken Award is bestowed annually as part of
Xaverian Brothers High School’s Founder’s Week,
which celebrates Theodore James Ryken, founder
of the Congregation of St. Francis Xavier (more
commonly known as the Xaverian Brothers). It signifies an
exceptional commitment to Ryken’s vision and dedication to
the core values of a Xaverian Brothers education. Each year,
Xaverian faculty and staff nominate colleagues to win the
prestigious award, and the winner is kept secret until the big
announcement at the Founder’s Day liturgy.
Essential to this plan is Mrs. Julie Horne, P ’12,
’14, ’14, Administrative Assistant to the Administration. It’s
her responsibility to buy flowers for the presentation and set
up a light breakfast reception for the award winner’s family
who are invited to the liturgy but kept hidden until the award
winner is announced. This year, Mrs. Horne had no idea it was
her own flowers she was buying, and her own reception she was
planning.
Congratulations to Mrs. Julie Horne, Xaverian’s 2022 Ryken
Award winner!
“I knew if we told Julie she didn’t need to do the usual tasks
necessary for this liturgy and award presentation, it would ruin
the surprise. She would figure out it had something to do with
her,” says Dr. Michael Nicholson, Principal. “So instead,
we let her plan her own party. It worked. She was thoroughly
shocked when her name was called, and she deserved to enjoy
the experience the same as all previous Ryken Award winners.
Julie is the best, hands down.”
The only hiccup was when Mrs. Horne said she’d stay in the
main office to handle the phones and front door during the
liturgy. Dr. Jake Conca ’94, Head of School, intervened.
She says he told her absolutely not, she would attend the liturgy
— “end of discussion.”
“I couldn’t figure out why he was so snarky about it,” she says
with a laugh. “I was completely overwhelmed. I did not have an
inkling. They really got me good!”
As is customary, Dr. Conca made the Ryken Award
announcement, sharing first excerpts of the submissions
on the winner’s behalf before he revealed the name of the
recipient. He shared that colleagues described this year’s
winner as “possessing a loving, joyful, helping heart, and an
unwavering commitment to Xaverian’s students, faculty, staff,
and administrators.” They said that she continually “lets the light
of Christ shine to everyone,” “treats everyone with respect,” and,
“puts people at ease.” He further shared that, “Her faith, while
kept close to her, is felt by her patient and soothing manner. Our
students appreciate her grace and caring, and our staff admire
her support and kindness, as well as her daily smile.” But it
was when he said that the nominee reads to a blind man in her
Julie Horne
Xaverian’s 2022
Ryken Award Winner
6 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
As a thank you to our
most generous and
steadfast donors, each
year Xaverian hosts the
Francis Xavier Society
Reception. This includes
those who donate $1,500
annually to the Fund
for Xaverian, as well
as those who created
endowed scholarships,
have given for 25 years or more, have pledged a legacy gift, or served
on our Board of Trustees. Our Francis Xavier Society reception
honors those who truly make our Xaverian mission possible. We are
blessed to have these benefactors in our corner! Pictured: George
Papadopolous ’97, P ’28, Andrew Munchbach ’01, and Dave
Nelson ’02, Director of Annual and Leadership Giving
FRANCIS XAVIER
SOCIETY RECEPTION
Matt Hasselbeck ’93, P ’24, Dr. Jacob Conca ’94, Head of
School, and Sarah Hasselbeck, P ’24
free time that Mrs. Horne realized he was talking about
her. It seemed all other faculty and staff had realized by
then who it was, too, and all eyes turned to her as her
name was called: “At this time, Dr. Nicholson and I are
most pleased to present the 2022 Theodore James Ryken
Award to Mrs. Julie Horne.”
The applause was thunderous and the standing
ovation continued long after Mrs. Horne made the walk
from the back of the gym to the stage and was presented
with the award by Dr. Conca and Dr. Nicholson. Her
parents, Tom and Nancy Foley, as well as her sons
Brian ’12, Kevin ’14, and Patrick ’14 (all Xaverian
graduates), were there to congratulate her.
“I am the proud mother of three grads,” says Mrs. Horne with a
huge smile, “and I was so grateful that they could be there along with
my parents. I was overwhelmed.”
Mrs. Horne started work at Xaverian in 2007. She had previously
worked in admissions at St. Catherine’s School, and she came to
Xaverian to serve as an assistant to then Director of Admissions, Tim
McDonough. It was a part-time position, but within a year the
Dean of Students, Jim Spillman, asked her to move to his office as
the assistant. She spent 13 years in the dean’s office (later changed to
the Office of Student Life), serving five different assistant principals
in that time; the last was Dr. Nicholson who went on to become the
Principal. When he did, he took Mrs. Horne with him to the main
office where she now serves with Dr. Conca and Dr. Nicholson.
“Winning the Ryken Award,” Mrs. Horne says, “is such a great
feeling. There are a lot of other people before me who have received
this award who I consider to be really fantastic, talented, smart, giving
people who are living the mission of the school. To be considered
with those individuals and to be nominated by my colleagues, I am so
humbled by that and grateful to be recognized.”
Gratitude for Xaverian is something Mrs. Horne feels every
day. “I’ve always loved coming to work here. And at this point in
my life, that’s important; I really want to enjoy what I’m doing. I’ve
got two awesome bosses, and I feel really lucky that they kept me.
I love the fact that we work somewhere that we have a mission, we
have a purpose, and it serves as a compass for all of us. There’s just
something exceptional here at Xaverian.”
“Like the Ryken Award winners before her, Julie’s character is
the embodiment of our Xaverian mission and the personification of
Gospel values,” says Dr. Conca. “The way in which she supports and
interacts with our students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators
is truly the definition of what it means to be a servant leader.
Xaverian is a better place because she is in our community.”
Winning the Ryken
Award is such a great
feeling…To be considered
with those individuals
and to be nominated
by my colleagues, I am
so humbled by that and
grateful to be recognized.
Mrs. Julie Horne, P ’12, ’14, ’14
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
2211827_TextA.indd
1/4/23
12:16 PM
eal Minahan ’94 had it all going for
him as a young man at Xaverian. He
came from a loving and supportive family,
was a three-sport captain (football, swim, and
track), had many friends, was a student leader,
and did well in school. In his senior year,
Neal committed to play football at Columbia
University. By all appearances, he had it made.
But that wasn’t the whole story.
“It’s almost like I have two sets of memories
from high school,” he says. “I have the fun ones,
the football team, winning games, learning,
XLI, and building relationships with people
who still are my best friends to this day. The
other set of memories are harder, because the
backdrop was that I was struggling to figure out
who I was, and how to deal with who I was in
this world.”
Neal Minahan ’94, a
nationally recognized
attorney and community
leader in Boston, presented
to Without Xception in
October 2022. He’s pictured
here with his classmate and
Head of School, Dr. Jacob
Conca ’94. The two were co-
captains of the 1993 Hawks
football team and remain
friends to this day.
would hurt themself…a younger person who
didn’t have everything going for them in the
same way. If it was this hard for me, what
would it be like for them?”
So he approached the administration with
the idea to host an all-school presentation on
homophobia. They said yes. It was the first of
what became a decades-long program called
“Awareness Days,” during which speakers
address the Xaverian community on a variety
of topics. Though the name has changed, these
series continue to this day.
Neal was honest and generous in his
Without Xception presentation. He talked
about his life, the struggles of not feeling
known, of weathering anti-gay jokes, of
coming out, and eventually, of getting
married with his Xaverian friends by his side.
The thread running through all he had to
share was love.
“I will do the obligatory ‘quote a musical’”
he said with humor. “It’s from Les Miserables
— ‘to love another person is to see the face of
God.’ I wish nothing for all of you but to find
someone you love and who loves you, so you
can create a life and be happy together.” And
then he left the students with some advice:
“If you’re straight, be careful with your
words. Watch what you do and say. Be the
defender. Be the person who stands up. Be
the person who speaks up, because it’s hard
when you’re the person going through this to
speak up for yourself. If you’re gay, know that
there are people who love you. I love you.
God made you and God loves you, and you
have to love yourself, too.”
Acceptance Without
Xception
Neal Minahan ’94
God made you and
God loves you, and
you have to love
yourself, too.
attended the optional presentation. He said
that he knew there was something different
about him when he was as young as 12, but
that it wasn’t until sitting in his freshman
biology class that it suddenly became clear
to him that he was gay. It was a difficult time,
he said. “I didn’t know what to do with that. I
knew I wasn’t going to tell anyone for a while.
And I knew that I had to reconcile myself
with God on this very quickly,” he said. His
thoughts on God at the time were twofold.
They went like this: “God hates gay people.”
And, “God made you. God loves you. God is
accepting.”
He felt that both couldn’t be true, so he
decided to ignore the first one and focus on
the rest. Neal poured himself into sports and
thrived as an athlete, with no one aware of his
internal struggle. In the summer of 1993, he
attended XLI (Xaverian Leadership Institute),
an optional multi-day retreat for rising
seniors run by the campus ministry program.
It was then that Neal first told another person
he is gay, and he picked the safest outlet
he could think of—he went to Confession.
But what Neal went to say, he felt, wasn’t
a confession; it was a revelation. “I am not
confessing anything,” he told the priest. And
with that, he declared, “I’m gay.” The priest,
he said, was “lovely and supportive,” and that
was the first purposeful step for Neal on the
road to self-awareness and acceptance.
“I returned from XLI with this feeling of
responsibility as a senior, a leader. My biggest
fear was that I was too scared to come out
and maybe, because of that, someone else
Throughout high school, Neal felt
anxious, angry, confused, and depressed;
he felt he wasn’t being true to himself. Neal
Minahan is gay, and as a young man in the
early 1990s at an all-boys Catholic school, it
seemed there was nowhere for him to turn
for support. More than 25 years later, this fall
Neal returned to campus to speak at an event
hosted by a club founded to address just
that; it’s called Without Xception. In 2018,
Without Xception launched to acknowledge
and offer pastoral support to students
who are in various stages of awareness,
acceptance, and openness about their sexual
orientation, with the fundamental belief that
everyone is created in the image and likeness
of a loving God, and that God loves all people
“without exception” (CCC 478).
On October 18, Neal shared his story of
self-discovery to a crowded room of students,
faculty, staff, and administrators who
8 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
1/4/23
12:19 PM
REUNION 2022
THE HAWKS ARE BACK IN TOWN
THE ALUMNI
CHRISTMAS PARTY
All Hawks were welcome to ring in the holidays
at Xaverian’s annual Alumni Christmas Party on
Thursday, December 1 at the Dedham Polo and
Country Club. Good cheer was felt by all and
donations were collected for the Santa Hawk
Toy Drive.
It was all about the 2s and 7s for Reunion 2022 as 109 Hawks returned to campus on
Saturday, November 26. This year we celebrated the Classes of 1967, 1977, 1982, 1987,
1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. Hawks gathered in the Simoni Lobby for food,
drinks, and reconnecting with old friends. Many were surprised to see how much the
school has changed since their time as a student! We’re looking forward to welcoming
back the Class of 1973 for their 50th Reunion on May 12, 2023. Pictured left: Tom
Prendergast ’07 and Joe Coliflores ’07
Kevin Thomas ’77, Barry Cullen ’77, Mark Sarkis ’77, Ken Melchin ’77, Pat Sullivan ’77, and Jack McCullough ’77.
Andy Sweeney ’02, Rick Bodio ’01, and Rob Schultz ’98
Rich Haggerty ’73 and James
Arena-DeRosa ’74
Devin Fitzgerald ’04, Dave Nelson
’02, Xaverian’s Director of Annual and
Leadership Giving, and John Brennan ’06
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
2211827_TextA.indd
12/22/22
5:04 PM
drive along Clapboardtree
Street in Westwood produces
idyllic scenes with stately
homes, established trees and
fields, aging stone walls, and plenty of New
England charm. The Bean Farm, right before
the curve to Xaverian Brothers High School,
melds with picture-perfect splendor into its
surroundings. A large antique maroon home
sits close to the road, surrounded by acres
of fields. Bright spots of orange and yellow
pumpkins dot the landscape. Sounds of
roosters, geese, pigs, and a baby calf bubble
through the quiet. And there overseeing it
all in his paint-splattered pants and plaid
flannel shirt is Chris Bean, a 2014 graduate
of Xaverian who went on to study agriculture
at Cornell University. His demeanor is quiet
and unassuming, but his presence looms
large, towering at 6’5” over his domain.
The Bean family has been tilling the
New England soil since they came over
from Scotland not long after the Mayflower
arrived on these shores, making Chris a 14th
generation farmer. He says he “caught the
farming bug” from his grandfather, Charles
Bean II, who established the Bean Farm in
1971. He raised his four sons there, and
Chris and his brother, Charlie Bean IV
(Xaverian Class of 2019), both grew up across
the street from the farm on the land abutting
Xaverian’s property.
When his grandfather passed away in
2010, Chris was just 14 years old in eighth
grade. By that time, he knew he wanted to
continue the family tradition of farming and
he once again brought sections of the Bean
Farm back to life, planting a large mix of
vegetables including sweet corn, tomatoes,
squash, peppers, and pumpkins. Chris started
a wholesale operation selling his produce
to local businesses such as Lamberts, Roche
Brothers, and the High Street Market. He’d
come home each summer when he was in
college and run a small roadside stand on the
farm. And then when he officially returned
home to Westwood after Cornell, he knew
he had to get the farm back to being fully
operational. That’s what he’s done. He’s now
farming most of the family’s 26 acres and
expanding his crop and livestock diversity
each year.
Farming is Chris’s passion, but it’s not
yet his paycheck. He’s working full-time in a
construction company he co-owns, in addition
to his work on the farm (which he describes
as his “part-time job that requires full-time
effort.”) Monday through Friday he’s up at 5:00
a.m. for construction, and he tries to be home
by 3:00 p.m. for the farm. That’s when the farm
stand opens on weekdays. “Then on Saturday
and Sunday, we’re out there at 4:00 a.m. with
headlamps picking corn and we work until it’s
dark at night,” he says. The “we” he’s referring
to are the only two other farmers, James
Curtin and John Rogers, both from Westwood.
CHRIS BEAN ’14 PROMOTES
LOCAL AGRICULTURE
Photo Credit: Will Clarke ’24
10 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
10
12/22/22
5:04 PM
“Without these two men, the farm wouldn’t
be what it is today,” says Chris. He adds,
“Their work ethic is unmatched and I’m
blessed to have them by my side working the
farm seven days a week.”
The Bean Farm is a work in progress, as
Chris describes it, and he’s got a vision for
what it can become. At present he’s growing
a variety of pumpkins, sweet corn, squashes,
watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce,
broccoli, cauliflower, and fresh flowers. He’s
also branched out into animal husbandry
and he’s caring for 150 egg-laying chickens
on the farm in addition to pasture-raised
meat chickens and turkeys for Thanksgiving.
This year he added pigs, a baby calf, and
three rabbits…although the cow and the
rabbits are more to make his customers
smile than to turn a profit. Chris admits he’s
trying to create a memorable experience so
they’ll return time and again. For fall he’s
set up a giant pyramid of hay bales, studded
with pumpkins and a little bench nestled at
the bottom, perfect for fall-themed family
pictures after picking pumpkins out in the
patch. But more important than repeat
customers is teaching people where their
food comes from.
“It’s really sad how little the public knows,
especially in urban and suburban areas
like this, first about how to grow food for
themselves but also in general, how anything
is grown or raised in this country,” says Chris.
“There’s a huge disconnect between the
farm, field, and table. It’s awful. So to keep
something like this alive is a big deal. I want
kids to see what happens on a farm, how the
animals are raised, how the crops are grown,
and all of the hard work that goes into it. It’s
so important.”
When you purchase produce, meat, or
eggs through the Bean Farm, Chris aims
to make it the best product around. He
calls that, “Bean Farm Fresh.” All of the
animals are out in the open air. His chickens
and turkeys are pasture raised. He says
he practices minimal tillage and plants a
lot of crop cover to benefit soil health and
reduce erosion. He doesn’t use insecticides
and instead has an intensive integrated pest
management program. “I try to do the right
thing and use as little chemicals as possible,”
he says. “I learned it from my grandfather. I
do the best job that I can to give people the
best product. That’s what it’s all about.”
Someday he hopes to be able to run the
farm full-time, build a retail building, and
expand his business. In the meantime, he
says, “It’s a hell of a lot of work, but I love
doing it.”
“I want kids to see what happens on a farm,
how the animals are raised, how the crops
are grown, and all of the hard work that goes
into it. It’s so important.”
Photo Credit: Will Clarke ’24
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
11
2211827_TextA.indd
11
12/22/22
5:05 PM
HAWKS LEND A HELPING HAND
GOING TO BAT FOR CANCER
RESEARCH
Written by Alexander Giannacopoulos ’23
Senior Cameron Grindle recently
stepped up to the plate to support cancer
research. He participated in the A Shot For
Life (ASFL) Pitcher’s Challenge where he
raised money for brain cancer research at
Massachusetts General Hospital. A selective
process, Cam was approached by a member
of the ASFL organization and asked to apply.
After interviewing with members of the ASFL
team, he was officially selected (alongside 15
other top pitchers in Massachusetts) to join
the 2022 Challenge.
A Shot for Life began in 2010 when
founder Mike Slonina’s mother was
diagnosed with a potentially malignant brain
tumor. Mike wanted to make a difference, so
he used his love for basketball as a vehicle
to raise money for the MGH Cancer Center
and to spread awareness for early detection.
Though ASFL started with a 24-hour
basketball fundraiser, it has since grown
to include a baseball /softball component,
which is how Cam became involved.
The ASFL Pitcher’s Challenge took place
at Austin Prep High School on September 3,
but Cam began his fundraising for the event
in early August. Through advertising on
social media and posting at local stores, he
was able to exceed his $1,000 goal to bring
in $4,400. In addition to the fundraising
component, the September 3 event consisted
of a home run derby followed by three
pitching challenges.
Cam says he was proud to be selected
to participate and happy to support a cause
he sees as much bigger than himself. He’s
looking forward to his senior baseball season
at Xaverian this spring. After that, Cam will
be competing in the NCAA as a Panther at
the D1 University of Pittsburgh next year.
NEW LIFE FOR THOSE
IN NEED
Written by Declan Little ’24
Each summer, Carter Delleo ’23
can be found volunteering for New Life
Furniture Bank of Massachusetts. New Life
is a nonprofit organization that collects
used furniture and other household items
in order to redistribute them to people in
need, typically those who are moving beyond
homelessness. Carter fell into the role at the
suggestion of his mother, a longtime New
Life volunteer. In the past, his volunteerism
was limited to moving furniture around the
warehouse as necessary, but last summer
he had bigger plans. He started his own
donation drive, complete with advertising
the need, arranging collection, and delivering
donations.
“I was able to fill my truck many times
over the course of the summer,” said Carter.
“Toasters, lamps, side tables, chairs, and many
other basic necessities were donated to the
furniture bank.”
His passion for the work is evident. “I
like the idea of helping the less fortunate
furnish their homes,” he said. “Many take
basic household items for granted, but this
organization opened my eyes to the many
families that are starting out with little to
nothing in their new space.”
SWINGING FOR A CAUSE
Written by Vincent Prezioso ’24
Avery Amato ’26 took on cancer this
summer, and he did it one swing at a time. He
participated in the One Mission Foundation’s
Golf Fights Cancer event, playing 100 holes as
a fundraiser to help children diagnosed with
cancer. Avery raised just over $4,000 for the
cause. The event took place at Juniper Hills
Golf Course in Northborough. According to
Avery, “It was a great day meeting new people
and getting to enjoy the beautiful course.”
Fundraisers like these are important to
Avery, as he’s been participating in various
efforts since he was five years old. Of Golf
Fights Cancer, he says, “I was able to do
something I really enjoy, while raising
awareness for children and their families
navigating their difficult journeys — each one
different, each one its own battle. I want them
to know that they are not alone in the fight
and are never forgotten.”
Avery Amato ’26
Cameron Grindle ’23
Carter Delleo ’23
At Xaverian Brothers High School, service is highly encouraged and it can be an impactful experience for the students
who choose it. Whether it is through programs offered by the school or an outside opportunity, Xaverian celebrates when
students give back to their communities, and we have much to celebrate. Here are seven examples, written by students in
Xaverian’s Communications Corps.
12 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
12
12/22/22
5:05 PM
SOPHOMORES ASSIST
“EXCEPTIONAL CITIZENS”
Written by Kieran Maguire ’24
Each summer, Camp Fatima in
Manchester, NH hosts “Exceptional Citizens’
Week.” It’s a camp for children and adults
with intellectual and physical disabilities that
allows them to participate in fun activities
with other campers, all while under the care
and supervision of medical professionals.
Activities include such summer-camp-staples
as horseback riding, swimming, boating,
and arts and crafts; they’re activities which
campers might not be able to do outside of
camp without the appropriate assistance. But
for one week each summer (thanks in large
part to volunteers), Camp Fatima is able to
offer the experience of being an “Exceptional
Citizen” totally free of charge for all attendees.
This past summer, three of the camp’s
volunteers were Xaverian’s own Eamon
Murphy ’25, Connor Follett ’25,
and Tommy Egan ’25. Together, they
volunteered as waiters, helping to create an
enjoyable environment for campers.
Tommy described this experience as
one of the highlights of his summer, calling
the camp a lively, fun, and most of all,
welcoming environment, for both counselors
and attendees alike. By helping the kitchen
staff to prepare food and organizing special
activities, these sophomores had a personal
impact on each camper. On a larger level,
their volunteerism also assisted the Diocese
of Manchester in moving toward its goals of
equality and inclusivity.
SOCCER FIGHTS CANCER
Written by James Killinger ’24
This fall, Xaverian’s varsity soccer
program teamed up with fellow Xaverian
Brothers Sponsored School, St. John’s Prep, in
a fundraising soccer game in honor of Breast
Cancer Awareness month. Named “Soccer
Fights Cancer,” Xaverian faced the Prep on
October 25 and all of the money raised was
donated to Runway for Recovery. According
to Head Coach Mr. Garrett Bowers
’87, P ’21, ’24, “Runway for Recovery is
an organization for people who have breast
cancer, their families, and anybody touched
by the experience. They help support them
through the whole process.” It all started
with captains Brendan Murphy ’23 and
Declan Stack ’23 who went to Coach
Eamon Murphy ’25, Connor
Follett ’25, and Tommy Egan ’25
Bowers during the summer to express their
idea for the fundraiser and it grew from there.
When the Hawks took the field on October
25, they did so in style. Senior Timmy
Apostolica designed game uniforms and
warm-up shirts for players to wear, careful
to select products that allowed for a profit
margin that could be donated to the cause.
In the end, they raised $7,000. “The process
overall was a team effort,” Timmy said. “After
all the talking among players and coaches, it
was clear that this was something we were
going to do.” Like so many, for Timmy this
fundraiser was personal. “Breast cancer has
significantly affected many people in my life
and in the lives of my teammates. Doing this,
personally, helps me think of my family friend
who I was extremely close to and looked upon
for advice.”
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
13
2211827_TextA.indd
13
12/22/22
5:05 PM
RECORD-SETTING FASHION SHOW
Xaverian’s annual Fashion Show took place on Sunday, November 6 at the Four Points
Sheraton in Norwood. Nearly 400 members of the Xaverian community registered to
attend this special event featuring fun, fellowship, and fashion, and a record-setting
$75,299 was raised. Thank you to
Banana Republic and Milton’s for
providing the fashions. Thank you to
Paula Serani, P ’24 of Salon One for
the professional styling of our models.
Thank you to all of our sponsors and
guests. And thank you to the countless
volunteers who made the event
possible. We appreciate you!
Special Thanks To:
Andy and Helena Jean, P ’25
Heather Delleo and son Carter Delleo ’23
Liam Doherty ’27
Michael Larmond ’23
HAWKS LEND A HELPING HAND (Continued)
TURNING LEMONS INTO
LEMONADE
Liam Doherty ’27 was diagnosed with
Crohn’s Disease at the age of six. At first, he
says he was shy about the diagnosis but as he
got older, he realized he can do something
to help others like him. “My mom told me
to make lemonade out of lemons, so that’s
what I did.” Liam started a lemonade stand
to raise money to find a cure for Crohn’s
Disease. The first year of his stand was in
2017, and he’s done it every summer since on
the Friday before Labor Day. To date, Liam
has raised approximately $100,000 through
his lemonade stands and online fundraising,
which he has donated to Mass General
Hospital. That’s where he goes for treatment.
“My doctor, Dr. Kaplan, has been awesome
for me. He’s so supportive and I can always
talk to him. I trust that Mass General is the
best place to find a cure.”
Though it was Liam’s idea to fundraise
with the lemonade stand, and it’s his goal to
help find a cure in his lifetime, he says it’s the
support of his family, friends, and community
that has made it all possible. “I don’t want
anyone in the future to have to experience
what I went through. As I get older, I’d like
to get to a point where I can raise $50,000
a year and give it to Mass General to help
fund research and equipment. I have a lot of
support. There’s no one telling me, ‘This might
be hard,’ instead they’re all saying, ‘Anything I
can do, let me know.’”
COMMUNITY SERVICE AS
FAMILY TRADITION
Michael Larmond ’23 has been
service-focused his whole life. His mother,
Katrina Huff-Larmond, has instilled this
in him. She is a Town Councilor for their
hometown of Randolph, and when you ask
Michael how he got involved in his various
service efforts, invariably his answer begins
with, “my mom.” However, it’s clear that
this volunteerism is something Michael
enjoys and that service isn’t a one-time thing
for him. He has served for years on the
Randolph Youth Council, working to benefit
the community. Most recently, they ran a
Thanksgiving Food Drive and are planning
a clothing drive next for those in need.
They’ve done hurricane relief efforts, spoken
at public events, and been part of vigils for
gun control. Each Christmas season, Michael
looks forward to traveling to Easton to My
Brother’s Keeper to wrap Christmas gifts
for families in need. He’s been going since
he was 11 years old. Additionally, he and
his mother also participate in the Randolph
spring cleanup each year to help keep their
community clean.
“I believe it’s important to give back to
the community, to volunteer, and to help
others,” Michael says. “You never know
what someone is going through. My mother
always stressed helping the community and
helping others. She has taught me how to be
a good human being.”
14 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
14
1/4/23
12:20 PM
ne of the essential components of
the Xaverian experience doesn’t
take place in the classroom,
on the athletic field, or even at
800 Clapboardtree Street. It takes place at a
small retreat center situated within a quiet
neighborhood in Centerville, just a quick walk
to the beach. Campus ministry sponsored
retreats are one integral element of the
Xaverian experience, and on October 5, 2022,
27 members of the Class of 2024 made the trip
down to the Craigville Retreat Center for this
year’s junior retreat. It’s a two-day experience
geared toward ensuring that participants are
ready for one of the most important years of
high school.
After settling in at Craigville, participants
are divided into small groups. These groups
are helpful for processing the activities they
participate in and the talks that they attend,
as well as for fostering close relationships
among retreatants — whether they come
into the retreat already as friends or just
as acquaintances. It’s what Michael
Heaney ’24 looks back on as one of the
highlights of the experience. “I had a small
The Junior Retreat Experience
group that actually was many of my close
friends,’’ explains Michael, “but I was able to
learn a lot more about them than I would have
in a regular setting.” Retreatants benefit from
talks by peer ministers and campus ministers,
as well as dynamic scenarios that challenge
them to make moral decisions. They also enjoy
some recreational time, whether that’s tossing
the football on the beach or staying in and
watching movies.
The campus ministry program at Xaverian
offers a 12-retreat curriculum that spans
from seventh grade through senior year.
Each retreat has a specific theme that is
developmentally relevant. For juniors, it’s
decision making, and Mr. Robert Gill, P
’26, campus minister, notes that this is by
design. “Our junior year theology class delves
into moral decision making and juniors are
navigating the process of looking into colleges
and making major life decisions. The retreat
theme ties in with that.”
Mr. Peter Welch (who is new to the
campus ministry team this year) adds, “It’s
an important time developmentally when
students are thinking about who they are
and who they want to become. That process
is essential for their relationship with God,
recognizing how God is a part of these
decisions that determine who they are
becoming.”
“Retreatants come to recognize their God-
given gift and power to make decisions for
themselves, but not necessarily by themselves,”
says Mr. Gill. “They begin to see that although
decision making becomes more complex as
they get older, they will always have someone
by their side to help them, whether that’s their
peers, family, or faculty and staff…all the way
up to God.”
Written by Matthew Person ’24 and William Clarke ’24, Communications Corps
Josh Barry ’24, Matt Person ’24, Will Clarke ’24
R.J. McLaughlin ’23
Winter 2023
Xaverian Magazine
15
2211827_TextA.indd
15
12/22/22
5:05 PM
Unforgettable Moments for Varsity Football
HAWKS FLY THROUGH
FALL SPORTS SEASON
he varsity football team had a strong
season with some truly standout
and memorable games under the
leadership of Head Coach Al Fornaro ’78.
New to the coaching staff this year were
two familiar names in both Xaverian and
professional football, Matt Hasselbeck ’93,
P ’24 and his father Don Hasselbeck, P
’93, ’96, ’00, GP ’24. Matt’s son Henry ’24
transferred to Xaverian this fall and served as
the team’s starting quarterback, following in
his father’s and uncle’s footsteps as a Hawk.
Coach Fornaro credits the leadership
of his student athletes for the success of
the season. “We had good leadership from
our three captains—seniors Jon Mould,
Anthony Busa, and Cole Jette—which
helped foster a real team atmosphere among
all of the players,” says Coach Fornaro. In
addition to the leadership of the captains, the
team benefitted from Henry Hasselbeck
throwing for over 1,000 yards and Mike
Oates ’23 running for over 1,000 yards.
The season started off well with the first
victory over Everett High School in six years.
Throughout the season, Coach Fornaro
says, the team was motivated by “the greatest
fans in the land” who went to every game,
even the one in Springfield. Victories over
Bridgewater-Raynham, Malden Catholic, BC
High, Saint John’s High School, and Wachusett
helped solidify the Hawks’ standing as one
of the best teams in the state. Earning 1st
team All-Catholic Conference honors for the
Hawks were seniors Jon Mould, Anthony
Busa, and Michael Oates, and juniors
Henry Hasselbeck, Charlie Comella, and
Jonathan Monteiro.
Copyright Cassidy @Produced4Soul
Henry Hasselbeck ’24
16 www.xbhs.com
16 www.xbhs.com
2211827_TextA.indd
16
1/4/23
12:27 PM
Golf
he varsity golf team, under the direction of Coach Gerry Lambert ’88, went
11-6 on the season and qualified for the Division 1 State Tournament at The
Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill. The Hawks finished in a tie for 2nd, but lost in a
card-off to finish 3rd overall in Division 1. Boston College High School ended up the
champions, while Saint John’s High School (Shrewsbury) finished 2nd. The Catholic
Conference has proved to be an elite one in the world of high school golf here in
Massachusetts. Thomas Constantine ’26 shot the top score for the Hawks with
+2 (74) which was good for 3rd place overall. Team captain, Ryan Scollins ’23,
finished in 14th with a round of +6 (78). He then went on to compete in the
prestigious New England Golf Championship at Mohegan Sun Golf Club, which had
the top 12 golfers from each state here in New England. Ryan represented Xaverian
and the Catholic Conference well shooting a +8 (77) which was good for tied-37th
out of 72 golfers.
Ryan Scollins, Thomas Constantine, and Sean Resnick ’24 were all
named Catholic Conference All-Stars for the 2022 season.
Cross Country
ed by Head Coach Steve Steinbergher and assistant coaches Hannah
Crowley, Dave Palmieri ’93, P ’23, and Chris Diehl 79, P ’12, ’14, the
Hawks cross country program finished the season with a 2-3 record, picking up wins
against Malden Catholic and Catholic Memorial. The team’s performance at the
Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx,
NY, was a highlight of the regular season. Close to 10,000 runners competed in
over 40 races throughout the day and 10 Xaverian runners received medals in their
respective races. Brady Armstrong ’24 and Neilan Fahey ’25 earned medals in
the Varsity D Race. The team’s top seven runners then wrapped up the season at
the MIAA Division 1B Championship with a 20th place finish out of 28 teams. Brady
Armstrong ’24 was the Hawks top finisher, coming in 45th place out of almost
200 runners in a personal best 5K time of 16:55.56. Quinn McCormack ’25
was Xaverian’s second runner finishing in 95th place in a personal best time of
17:45.93.
According to Coach Steinbergher, Captains Brady Armstrong ’24, Ryan
Armstrong ’23, Eddie Doyle ’23, and Adheep Rampure ’23 helped lead the
young team throughout the season. He says, “The team gained valuable experience
for future years as the top 15 runners are scheduled to return for the 2023 season.”
Soccer
t was one of the most difficult schedules in the state for this year’s varsity soccer
team, but the Hawks showed grit and determination, ending the season with a 5-9-
4 record. Under the direction of Mr. Garrett Bowers ’87, P ’21, ’24, the young
team improved each and every game.
Earning 1st team Catholic Conference all-star status for the Hawks were
Brendan Murphy ’23, Declan Stack ’23, and Sean Keevan ’25. Earning
2nd team honors for Xaverian were A.J Keevan ’23, Timothy Apostolica ’23,
Jonathan Black ’25, and Pano Haseotes ’25. In addition to being a 1st team
all-star, Brendan Murphy was also voted as an Eastern Massachusetts All-Star
and had the opportunity to play in the Eastern Massachusetts Coaches’ Association
All-Star Game held at Concord-Carlisle on November 25.
“It was a great season,” said Coach Bowers. “We had terrific senior leadership
and a lot of hope for the future.”
Brendan Murphy ’23
Ryan Scollins ’23
Brady Armstrong ’24
2211827_TextA.indd
17
1/4/23
12:28 PM
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70